The Spectacle running event is officially underway with runners in the first event, the 100-mile races leaving the starting line at 4am and 8am on Friday morning.
A sub 30 hour finishing time is expected.
The focus moved to downtown Nelson on Friday night with two 10km trail and road races.
12 four-person teams, seven of them youngsters, fronted for the team relay and Tasman Runners made no race of it.
13-year-old Harrison Costley and his three younger teammates Jensie Beloe, Mitchell McLaughlin and Aaron Bonny took 37 minutes and won by more than 10 minutes.
A big field then lined up for the 10km road and trail race local runner Tegan Goodman won comfortably after clearing away on the trail section.
He took 38 minutes and 45 seconds with former Olympian Adrian Blincoe more than two and a half minutes back.
Richmond's Kat Camp was third and the first female home.
Tegan will back up in the masters mile on Saturday.
Another slew of races begins from 3am Saturdaywith 100km, 50km and 22km trail runs before the road events kick off with a kids and junior mile at 4pm.
Roads will be closed in Nelson city including a large part of Hardy St, Selwyn Place, Church Street and Hope St.
Olympians and Commonwealth Games representatives will complete an Elite Mile race - a great opportunity to catch elite runners up close.
Nelson MP Rachel Boyack says it’s really exciting to have this event in the inner city for a second-year running.
“I really want to acknowledge the organisers who had this vision for Nelson and they’ve really delivered on it.
“Last year the community got behind it and I know they will again this year.
"It had real benefits for hospitality and Nelson businesses so I’m really excited to be able to pop down over the weekend and watch some of these races.
“I wish all the runners all the best, especially the ones undertaking these mammoth events."
She says it’s also great that Air NZ have invested in this event and says it’s great to have iconic Wellington band The Black Seeds returning for another “epic set” to close out the second edition of the festival of running.
