Pursuit in Paradise Aitutaki Marathon

🏃‍♂️🌴 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐀𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 🌴🏃‍♀️

Thank you to all participants for your patience and we apologise for the delay and truly appreciate your understanding and continued support. 💙

Congratulations to every individual who took part in this year’s event. Whether you ran, walked, volunteered or cheered from the sidelines, you helped make the Aitutaki Marathon another memorable celebration ✨

The official finishing times are now available. Meitaki atupaka and well done to everyone! 👏

𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 🌴🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

From stunning lagoon scenery and sunrise starts to unforgettable moments, this year’s event once again brought together runners, supporters, volunteers, and visitors from around the world for a truly special experience ❤️

Congratulations to every participant who took on the challenge, and 𝘔𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪 𝘈𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘢𝘬𝘢 to our local community, sponsors, volunteers, and supporters who helped bring the event to life.

𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟕 𝐀𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧 ☀️

📍 𝟐𝟓 - 𝟐𝟖 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟕

Sunday 25 April 2027 – Briefing / Pasta Night
Monday 26 April 2027 – Race Orientation Day
Tuesday 27 April 2027 – Race Day
Wednesday 28 April 2027 – Prizegiving Dinner & Show

We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to paradise for another unforgettable Aitutaki Marathon 🏝️

📸 Event Photography & Photo Contributions:
𝑇𝑎𝑏𝑏𝑦 𝐵𝑒𝑟𝑔 – 𝑀𝑎𝑢𝑛𝑔𝑎 𝑀𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑎
𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑓𝑦 𝐹𝑖𝑡𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠
𝐾𝑒𝑖𝑡ℎ & 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝐹𝑎𝑔𝑔

From Germany and Austria to the shores of Aitutaki! 🌴

We are excited to welcome Felix, Niko, and runners from around the world to Aitutaki for the 2026 Aitutaki Marathon. It’s going to be an incredible week in paradise! 🌴🌊

𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬
Turama’s German-speaking Market Representative, Ruth Meerkamp, recently had the pleasure of meeting two rising European youth triathletes in Germany – Germany’s Felix Schiller and Austria’s Niko Malleczek.

In conjunction with Turama Pacific Travel Group, long-time Cook Islands supporters Trauminsel Reisen Germany, together with their Destination Manager Andrea Bancilhon, are delighted to be supporting these talented young athletes. Felix and Niko will travel to the Cook Islands at the end of April to compete in two exciting sporting events.

Their Cook Islands experience will begin with the Aitutaki Marathon (26 – 30 April), followed immediately by the Rarotonga Triathlon on 2 May. The back-to-back events promise not only a challenging competition schedule, but also an unforgettable island experience.

As organisers of the Aitutaki Marathon, Destination Management Cook Islands (DMCK), a member of Turama Pacific Travel Group, is proud to welcome Felix and Niko to Aitutaki and looks forward to showcasing the island during the iconic Aitutaki Marathon Pursuit in Paradise week. Their participation highlights the growing international appeal of the Cook Islands as a unique destination for both elite sport and adventure travel.

We don't just run you regard and send you home from the Aitutaki Marathon!
Oh no!
We feed and fuel you first with a race debrief and carbo load before we set you loose in paradise!

Then we feed you again and we dance in celebration of the magic we all enjoyed!
And we hand out some awards!
This year we had the privilege of the Aitutaki Island Mayor Mr Nick Henry, a long time supporter of the Aitutaki Marathon, to present awards to our runners who were thrilled with the honor.

Here again we share a feast for your eyes in more imagery from our recent Aitutaki Marathon captured by the talented Tabby Berg of Maunga Media

Mark your calendars for the 2026 Aitutaki Marathon running on Tuesday 28 April 2026 - see you there!

Words fail to express the magic of the Aitutaki Marathon - so we share images of the epic race captured by the wonderful Tabby Berg at Maunga Media.

Enjoy and while you do - mark your calandars for the 2026 Aitutaki Marathon Pursuit in Paradise to run from Sunday 26 to Thursday 30 April with the main race day to be on Tuesday 28 April!
To find out how to register - write to [email protected]

The annual Aitutaki Marathon is not a race - its a uniquely Cook Islands experience!

In fact - we like to say it’s your holiday interrupted with a run!

In its 8th year of running - Pursuit in Paradise continues its magic of clutching the hearts of runners and supporters and imprinting a special bond to the island of Aitutaki and her people.

Who goes to paradise and runs a marathon?
This year 50 hardy international and local participants lined up before sunrise for the ultimate challenge in paradise not for gold or glory but because they could!
Some trained and travelled from as far as Italy and Germany, others sailed in from the Pacific blue to Aitutaki, saw the signs and lucked in on unplanned Cook Islands experience.

For the first timer – an eye opening and soul awakening experience.
For the initiated – a blessed sense of homecoming.

Truly words cannot describe the experience – but accolades poured out from runners of the uplifting force of support by the people of Aitutaki who manned aid stations and ensured the wellbeing of all participants.
“The support crew out on the course are amazing – they knew our names and cheered us on!” was a praise that poured out across the finish line.

Matching the hospitality of the Aitutaki people – the breathtaking scenery of paradise.
“Honestly during the race when you feel the pain and you are pushing through you just look up at the scenery – and wow!” said Italian runner and first woman across the 21km course finish line Lara Bradamilla.

The 21km course won by Tahitian runner Axel Guillo who set a new race record time of 1:29:45.
Lara’s partner Davide Cervesato took out the overall 2025 Aitutaki Marathon race in a time of 3:41:43 was wide eyed at the finish line – overwhelmed by the experience.
In the 10km race – it was Rupeni Mataitonga from Rarotonga that set the fastest time of 44:58 with Aitutaki’s own Tata Samuel taking out second place.

Top honours overall of the Aitutaki Marathon go to all the people of Aitutaki that shared so freely of your hospitality and supported every runner to the end.

Meitaki maata to event sponsors Tourism Cook Islands that ensured we were able to capture the magic of the Aitutaki Marathon, Etu Moana, Air Rarotonga and supporting partners Tamanu Beach Resort and Aitutaki Village.
Without your support they’d be no magical Aitutaki Marathon.

Where words fail – here are images captured by our wonderful event photographer Tabby Berg of Maunga Media.

Kia Orana,
What a wonderful way to wrap up a week of movement on Aitutaki with our Annual Runway Fun Run/Walk. A great turn out with around 100 runners/walkers.
We are delighted to announce that your very generous donations of $560 will go to towards getting Tain Armstrong to Brazil to make us all proud.
Meitaki Atupaka to all whom showed up yesterday and in particular, special thanks to Aitutaki Airport Manager Mii and your team for allowing us on the runway and looking after us all whilst out there.
There are a few pics and some vids from yesterday.
Again thank you all so very much for supporting Tain.
Meitaki Atupaka e Kia Manuia