Two ultra-marathon runners from New Zealand, Andrew Fifita-Lamb and Lydia Fa’afiu will start to run an arduous 115km around Tongatapu today, August 29.

The Auckland based pair arrived yesterday with a 24-man support crew, associated with Faith City Church in Manukau, Auckland.

The 115km run around Tongatapu could be the first ever ultra-marathon to occur in Tonga. The overnight event was scheduled to start from 4:00pm on Friday afternoon and finish around 10am – noon tomorrow, Saturday.

The run will start outside Apifo’ou College onto Ha’ateiho, then to Niutoua, on to Ha'atafu, down through Hala-Hihifo and into Nuku’alofa.

Essendon Tuitupou, the Pastor of the church said that the group came over to support the two runners.

“Andrew and Lydia have always had a dream of one day running around Tonga,” he said. “Hopefully it’s an opportunity to promote good living and health in Tonga... Most of the people who we’ve come with will run in different parts of the race. Then we’ve got a number of local groups and teams will join in different parts of the race. Our main thing is that hopefully people in whichever village we run through will join in for a little bit.” he said.

The group was welcomed to Tonga with an afternoon tea hosted by the New Zealand High Commissioner to Tonga, Mark Talbot, at the Popua residence on August 28.

Lydia's mother, Silia Work, originally from Vava'u, accompanied the group.