For many of our members, the Taupō Marathon is the natural next step after completing the Hawke's Bay Half Marathon earlier this year. Others are taking on the half marathon for the very first time, while plenty of the crew are returning for the 10km after discovering just how much they enjoyed Hawke's Bay.

It's also an event the whole family can be part of. We've got a group of enthusiastic kids taking on the 5km, making it a great opportunity for young runners who are keen to challenge themselves and experience the fun of event day alongside the Litore crew.

Last year, Tough Guy Tough Girl Rotorua became one of the highlights of our event calendar. We had a huge Litore crew take on the mud, obstacles and laughs together, and came away with the Team Challenge trophy, awarded to the fastest team of five competitors based on their combined finishing places in the 6km event.

For us though, it's never just about the trophy. It's about getting a big group together, encouraging each other through every obstacle and celebrating everyone's finish. Whether you're there to race, challenge yourself or simply enjoy a muddy day out with the crew, Tough Guy Tough Girl is one of the most fun events we do all year.

SURGE is a new addition to our event calendar, and one we're excited to experience together for the first time.

This hybrid fitness race combines running with functional fitness challenges, making it a great option for anyone who enjoys HYROX style training or is looking to try something different. With no one from the Litore crew having tackled it before, we'll all be learning, encouraging each other and taking on the challenge together. Sometimes the best events are the ones where everyone starts on the same page.

For a group of our runners, the Taupō Ultra 24km is the next adventure.

Many have discovered a real love of running over the past year and are ready to step a little further outside their comfort zone. The 24km event offers a chance to experience trail running on the spectacular Great Lake Trail without jumping straight into a full ultra. We'll be taking on the challenge together, supporting each other from start to finish and enjoying everything that comes with trying something new.

HYROX Melbourne is already on the radar, even though the official dates haven't been released yet.

For some of our crew, it'll be their third official HYROX race after taking on Auckland and Sydney. Each event brings a little more experience, confidence and understanding of the format, making it exciting to see how far they've come. For others, it'll be another opportunity to travel, race together and support one another along the way. That's what keeps us coming back.

Deadly Dozen Hamilton holds a special place for the Litore crew.

It was the first Deadly Dozen event many of us took on, and it quickly became the event that sparked a love for the challenge. Since then we've travelled together to more Deadly Dozen events, celebrated plenty of personal bests and watched members grow in confidence with every race. The Hamilton date is still to be confirmed, but we're already looking forward to getting the crew back together for another crack.

HYROX Auckland was the event that introduced many of our members to the world of HYROX.

What started as a first race for a handful of the crew quickly became the beginning of something bigger. Since then, many have gone on to race in Sydney and are already looking ahead to Melbourne. The 2027 dates are still to be announced, but we'll be back to welcome new faces, support returning racers and enjoy another great weekend together.