Cook Islanders and visitors can look forward to a fun-filled event a day after New Year’s, as Athletics Cook Islands hosts its first Village Mile event on January 2.

Athletics Cook Islands is calling on those interested to start the year off right, put the cocktail or the book down and do a mile.

The association is encouraging the community of both social and competitive members of all ages to start moving forward into the New Year with a focus on good fitness habits.

Make your New Year’s resolutions of “better health and fitness” and start with this event, the association said.

Athletics president Simone Fe’ao said this is the first time they are holding the Village Mile event and are hoping it will become an annual fixture.

Fe’ao said athletics development officer Ruth Mave has been working with various groups throughout the year who are wanting to improve their health and reach some fitness goals.

“She came up with this idea as a good opportunity for people to start the year on the ‘right foot’.”

And their message to the community is – change starts with one small decision. “Make the decision today and register. Bring a buddy to help you stick to the commitment.”

Fe’ao said the event is open to all members of the community, walkers, runners, athletes, and even babies in prams.

Mave said the event will feature 4 x 1-mile races, one after the other, each starting in a different village.

“You can do one, or do them all.”

The course starts from the Matavera CICC church and will go 800 metres out and return to the church, total distance being 1 mile.

“This means each village will now know how far a mile is so they can use it to measure out their own abilities over the coming months.”

A mile is about 1600m or 1.6km and new members to walking and running can start by going out 800m then bringing themselves back to the start with another 800m.

“Psychologically this is easy to achieve in their minds especially for young and old. Parents with prams can do it and every one can start by walking the distances and then building up to running.

“This way each person can do more than one lap and build up their km per week.

“If they continue to do this, they can build towards the Round Raro 10km race in September.”

Mave said for those who are competitive, the mile run has long been a classic race and the push to beat the 4-minute mile time barrier was long held to be the goal.

“With the village mile it can be run at the fastest pace possible for those competing. Then as part of the endurance of a person they can choose to do one or all four-mile races around the island.”

There is a 45 minutes time allowance between start times from each CICC church, this will give fast competitors time to run and recover and relocate to the next start. 

The final tally will be 6.4km by the end of all four miles. Spot prizes will be given out at a prize giving to be held at the Nikao Social centre at 11:15am.

Registration can be done online; the link is available on Athletics Cook Islands Facebook page. For any queries, contact Ruth at tfcraro@gmail.com.

The Village Mile course is as follows: 1st Mile 8am Matavera CICC to Api Takitumu, 2nd Mile 8.45am Ngatangiia CICC to Api Te Uki Ou, 3rd Mile 9.30am Titikaveka CICC to Bella beach, 4th Mile 10.15am Arorangi CICC to SDA church.