Far from having a state-of-the-art suit, the superhero who braved the rain to run a marathon in Hamilton yesterday says he was as soaked as the next runner when he crossed the finish line.

In fact, Trent "Marathon Man" Morrow may have been even wetter, his tight-fitting fabric holding the relentless rain and his cape, he said, was noticeably heavier in the second half of the race.

But the Australian, on a mission to promote the benefits of a fit and healthy lifestyle through running, would not have had it any other way.

"That's the way the Marathon Man rolls," he said.

He and about 60 others were competing in the 2012 Arthritis New Zealand marathon, half-marathon, 14-kilometre run and 7km run along the Waikato River.

Mr Morrow, also an ultra-marathon runner, an event ambassador and a corporate speaker, was in the process of completing eight marathons in eight weeks. Yesterday's was the third, and he will be back in New Zealand to compete in a Dunedin marathon to complete his seventh next month.

"It was beautiful, but, in a word, wet," Mr Morrow said of the Waikato course.

However, it was not the wettest of the more than 60 marathons in which Mr Morrow has competed - that dubious title went to an event in South West Rocks, Australia.

Arthritis NZ's northern regional fundraiser, Carol Hall, said the charity had hoped for more entrants to improve on last year, but the rain meant some people who had pre-registered stayed home yesterday.

"They were probably watching the Olympics instead," Mrs Hall said.

Mr Morrow said his reward when he landed back in Sydney last night would be to watch some Olympics himself.

"I'll be sitting back with a pizza watching the men's marathon."

For more about Mr Morrow's races, go to marathonman.co.nz

- © Fairfax NZ News

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