Haere mai! Welcome to the annual Tarawera Ultramarathon, New Zealand’s most prestigious trail ultra. Part of the Ultra-Trail World Tour. Runners can complete the 20km, 50km, 102km distances, or the 100 Mile Endurance Run. The event is based in Rotorua New Zealand. There are seven lakes, forests, waterfalls and the most stunning scenery imaginable.
The spectacular course runs through places of cultural significance to local Maori people. Around 2000 participants with more than 800 international athletes will compete. Some of the world’s best elite trail ultra runners take part. A great first-time challenge, some will run for the personal challenge, train like never before and enjoy that medal at the finish line. Join us in Rotorua and experience this special land and its people. Welcome to the Tarawera Ultramarathon.
The courses are not too hilly. They are runnable, scenic and point to point. Every finisher receives a beautiful wooden medal at the finish-line or pounamu pendant for the 100-mile finishers.
The Tarawera Ultramarathon 102km distance and the 100 Miler are qualifying races for the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. Runners who complete the 102km race within 17 hours or the 100 mile race within 30 hours will qualify to enter the WSER lottery. The Tarawera Ultramarathon (50, 102 and 160k) count for points towards qualifying for UTMB events.
The Tarawera 100 Mile Endurance Run is a challenging ultra-distance race in the Rotorua and Tarawera regions, New Zealand. Completing an anti-clockwise loop, the event starts and finishes at Government Gardens in Rotorua. Runners start in the dark on Saturday morning and many will run for 24 or more hours – finishing on Sunday.
The route features three big climbs over Ridge Dome (Mt Tarawera), Whakapounakau and Tuhoto Ariki. The course features eight lakes, streams, rivers, native bush, planted forests, farmland and volcanic areas. A boatride takes runners across Lake Rotomahana.
The 100 Miler course includes some of the Tarawera Ultramarathon course, the Tarawera 50k and 102k courses and much more. The course features narrow single track trails, wide trails, forestry and sealed roads. Forests, lakes, geothermal features, a boat-based lake crossing and the city of Rotorua. It will be a runnable, moderately hilly trail ultra marathon course.
The Tarawera 100 Mile Endurance Run takes a substantially different course to either of the 50k or 102k ultramarathon courses. The latter half of the 100 Miler course will share some trails in common with the Tarawera Ultra 102k courses.
We expect the winning male to complete the Tarawera 100 Mile Endurance Run course in 14 hours or less. As a rough guide, this a little faster than Western States and much faster than UTMB.
The Tarawera 102k is one of the largest, most competitive and international trail running ultra races in the world. Part of the Ultra-Trail World Tour. It is the most international running race in New Zealand with more than 40 countries represented in this race alone and more than half of the field from outside of New Zealand.
The 102k is everything that trail ultra running should be – fun, competitive, challenging, scenic, friendly and inspiring.
The 102k course is point to point. Combination of trails and forestry roads with native bush, conifer forest, farmland, parkland and thermal landscapes. A very similar course to 2018, but with possibly 1km less distance: Single track 60% | forest track minor forest route 23% | farm/park 5% | forest road 7% | public road 5%
The Tarawera 50k is a brand new event for 2019. It features the incredible trails on the southern side of Lake Tarawera, the redwoods, steaming trails in the Rotorua thermal zone and a finish at the historic Government Gardens, Rotorua.
The 50k course is a combination of trails and forestry roads with native bush, conifer forest, parkland and thermal landscapes: Single track 64% | forest track minor forest route 17% | farm/park 4% | forest road 10% | public road 4%
The Tarawera 21.3k trail run course is brand new for 2019. It is an achievable run (just over half marathon distance) point-to-point trail run featuring Lake Okareka, Lake Tikitapu, The Redwoods and steamy sulphur trails to the finish line. Great kids and family groups. All the fun with less of the run.
On Friday of Waitangi weekend (New Zealand’s national day), this is the perfect excuse to take part in one of the Tarawera Ultramarathon events and then cheer, crew or pace the ultra distance runners on Saturday and Sunday.
The 21.3k course is a combination of trails and forestry roads with native bush, conifer forest, parkland and thermal landscapes.
The courses are not too hilly. They are runnable, scenic and point to point. Every finisher receives a beautiful wooden medal at the finish-line or pounamu pendant for the 100-mile finishers.
Headlamps
All 100 Mile runners will need a headlamp at the race start. You can drop your named headlamp at any aid station if you wish, but must carry a lamp at all times (use your official headlamp tag, provided on your drop bag label sheets, in your race pack). Surplus clothing (which must also be clearly named/labelled) can be left with the volunteers at the start or first aid station and can be picked up at the finish or prize giving. Almost all 100 Mile runners will be running through Saturday/Sunday night and will need headlamps.
Sunrise is at 6:40am. 20k and 50k runners will not need a headlamp at their race start. 102k runners may need a headlamp for the first 20-30 minutes. Note: If you think you will be running in the dark on Saturday night, please pack a headlamp in your drop bag, have one with your crew/pacer or carry a headlamp with you. It will get dark from around 8.30pm.
Some athletes purchase cheap headlamps just for the event that they do not label and do not wish to collect after the event. Any unclaimed headlamps will be donated to the local running club about a month after the race.
Weather Forecast
Temperatures at the race start will be around 12-14 degrees Celsius and will warm up quickly. Temperatures around Blue Lake and Okareka can exceed 25 degrees. Temperatures will likely be in the 20-25 degree range for most of the day.
Cut off times
The cut-offs and required pace will be “extremely generous” meaning you have ample time to walk tough sections, stop at aid stations and still get through. We have no intention of pulling people off the course for going slow.
All runners need to leave the aid station and cross the timing mat BEFORE the cut-off times indicated on each course page. If you return to an aid station after the cut-off, you will be pulled from the run. The aid stations will strictly enforce the cut-off times. This rule is for the safety of all participants. IF YOU MISS THE CUT-OFF, YOU MUST STOP. Significant sanctions will apply to anyone breaking this rule.
Finish Line
There is ample parking at the finish-line and a guaranteed party atmosphere. The race will provide free drinks (a locally-brewed Croucher Beer and other drinks) and fruit for each finisher. Meals and drinks will be available to purchase so pack some money in your finish line bag for extra food and drinks. Hot food will be available until 10pm on race night – stay behind and cheer in the final runners to the finish of an epic day. Bring your appetite!
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My first 102KM race...in a foreign land
The Tarawera Ultramarathon is a point-to-point destination race in the North Island, which starts in Rotorua (148 miles from Auckland) and ends in Kawerau. I heard about this race from … MORE
The Tarawera Ultramarathon is a point-to-point destination race in the North Island, which starts in Rotorua (148 miles from Auckland) and ends in Kawerau. I heard about this race from listening to Ultra Runner Podcast interviews. It’s very prestigious, being the second stage in the Ultra-Trail World Tour. And the videos I found online showed a spectacular course — with trails running through forests, and beside lakes and waterfalls!!!
It is summertime in New Zealand in February, with temps in the 50-75F range. On the day before the race, we attended a Powhiri Welcome at Te Puia — admission for TUM runners and family was free. In the afternoon, we picked up our bibs, dropped off our drop bags, attended a race briefing, and listened to a panel interview of elite athletes. I got to meet a few of them during these events.
The race started at 6am on Saturday. I started conservatively; by mile 20, I started feeling fatigued; the middle miles with the super technical trails and nonstop rollers pretty much sucked the life out of me; and I had to dig deep the last 25 miles just to get through it. I crossed the finish line after 1:30am. Kudos to the organizers and volunteers for staying so late until the very last runner crossed the finish line. After the race, we were given a beautiful wooden medallion.
The aid stations had plenty of food, much of which were familiar — bananas, apples, peaches, grapes, watermelons, oranges, potato chips, sweet snacks, and PB&J sandwiches. The aid stations were themed; the ones I saw at night had lights and music. All the volunteers were most helpful and encouraging.
This was my first 100K race, the longest distance I’ve ever run and, by far, the most difficult thing I’ve ever done, physically and mentally. It was hard being so far away from home and friends — I had no pacers, but I had my husband as my crew chief. I am so grateful for his steadfast support and belief in me.