🏃🏃♀️2024, Let's Do This
“I've had this idea to run the length of NZ for some time. It seemed insane (and still does at times), but the more I have battled away, the more the mountain seem worst run ever quote"
Your weekly fix of NZ trail running news
We’re back for 2024, like that knee niggle you hoped was going to disappear over the Christmas break even though all you’ve done is eat & drink too much.
Here's what’s in the drop bag this week:
🏃🏃♀️An Ultramarathon A Day Keeps The DoctorLawyer … Very Busy
🤘The Rock’n’Roll Runner TA Update
🛰️Dot Watching Season Is Upon Us
⛰️⏱️Tararua SK Season In Full Swing
🎯Things You May Have Missed
🏁Upcoming events: Aotearoa Ultra Marathon, Ian Priest Memorial
⛰️💊Mountain Skag Pic of December and The Week
Note: Due to the length, some email browsers will hide some of the content - make sure you click ‘view entire email’ or click through to substack.
That’s right, you can’t get rid of me that easily😜.
I’m super pumped for 2024.
Like, more pumped than Lily from Big Save, who’s selling all her daddy's furniture cause she ordered too many beds again. (You would think he would’ve fired her by now?)
What should you expect from Trail Running NZ in 2024?
Pretty much the same as last year😝.
With a bit of luck and planning, I’m hoping to get to a few events and meet a few more of you cool cats, starting with volunteering at the Jumbo Holdsworth Trail Race on the 27th of Jan.
The race bib will be back on for the first time since I shat the bed at the Tarawera Miler in 2023.
I’ll be racing The Tararua Mountain Race, WUU2K & The A100 (potentially The Faultline Ultra), and I’ll be out on the course at The Mega Munter once again, making sure everyone’s having a miserable time.
Anyway, that’s enough about me.
Let’s look at some of what’s been happening around the country.
An Ultramarathon A Day Keeps The DoctorLawyer … Very Busy
Shannon-Leigh Litt is attempting to run an Ultramarathon a day in January. (That’s 31, for all you peeps singing that song from primary school trying to figure it out).
For those who don’t know Shannon-Leigh, she’s an absolute weapon💪.
She’s the reigning NZ 24-hour track & 100km champion.
She represented NZ at the Trail Running World Champs and won the Naseby 200 miler (and raced and placed well in many others.)
So how’s the the first week going?
So far, so good. She wrapped up the first week today with a 54km trail run through the Dome Valley in Puhoi.
Her PB is 9 days. Watch this space.
Oh, and she’s also racing the Tarawera 100 Miler on February 17th…
The Rock n Roll Runner TA Update
Speaking of running a long way every day …
Rob Soper has made his way from the far North through Auckland, escaped the Tron and is now in the heart of King Country.
26 days into his TA campaign, he has raised $ 4733/$ 6000.
Here are some of his snaps from Instagram.
He’s not looking to break any records. He’s raising money for Gumboot Friday.
The following is from his Give A Little Campaign page.
“I've had this idea to run the length of NZ for some time. It seemed insane (and still does at times), but the more I have battled away, the more the mountain seems climbable.”
“So in December I'm off to give it a crack. I'm going to run/scratch/battle/canoe my way from Cape Reinga to Bluff.”
“As mentioned above, I like many others have had my run ins with feeling, well bloody awful.”
“So I am supporting Gumboot Friday, which provides free counselling sessions to young kiwis. Being able to have a yarn can sometimes make all the difference. It did for me.”
“I know how tough it can be to get help - I've had to. Our systems are stretched, wait times are long, and often it can be a band aid approach. And its not cheap. I figured at $2 a km I'm cheaper than petrol, but that total will help some kiwis who are really struggling.”
😎Rob Soper
Please consider donating if this cause aligns with you and you have some pingers to spare.
(There is no paid subscriber prize giveaway this month; the prize money has been donated to the campaign.)
All the best with the rest of the campaign, Rob. May the niggle & weather gods shine on you favourably.
Dot Watching Season Is Upon Us
If you’re back in the office or never left, at least it's dot-watching season😓.
We’ve got Rob Soper heading down the TA and Allira Hanczakowski heading Northbound on her South Island only (Aka the highlights) TA fastpacking mission.
Allira is currently on her way to Wanaka. You can watch her dot here and follow her on Strava and Instagram.
Comment below, reply to this email or send a smoke signal of where you think they will cross paths on the trail.
The closest person will win this Twilight Mountainskag Cap.
Tararua SK Season In Full Swing
The Tararua Main Range Sub 24 Hour curse has been lifted. It took the sorcery of Sam Hansby (23:12) to break the hoodoo and open the portal for anyone else brave enough to take on the challenge.
Sam already has one notch on his belt before this recent effort. He previously held the solo unsupported record at 21:16. By the sounds of it, he was on track early to reclaim the record, but the wheels fell off somewhere along the way.
When I asked Sam what went wrong, here’s what he had to say.
“I went with pasta wraps this time, they weren’t good.”
Regardless, Sams's job was done, and the curse was lifted.
Just 10 days later, Jonothan Armstrong and Brendan Varty crashed into the Car Park of Glory in 22:57 to be the first, first-time sub-24hr finishers since Arran Whiteford set the solo unsupported record (20:30) back in 2022.
The Valleys SK route is also in full swing, with Peter Mitchell & Callum Mallet (running separately) etching their names in history.
Check out Peter’s trip report here and Callum’s here.
Things You May Have Missed
If you’re in or find yourself in Wanaka, there’s a new running shop in town.
Tarawera Ultra Marathon has had a bit of a makeover. It’s now called Tarawera Ultra Trail by UTMB. It’s also had a bit of a paint job, changing to an insurance company / IRD white and teal vibe.
Upcoming Events
Aotearoa Ultra Marathon
Saturday, January 13
We’re kicking off 2024 with the Aotearoa Ultra Marathon!
It started in 2021 with 80 runners across 3 distances. Through the sh💩thouseness of 2022, it dwindled to 20 odd runners before recovering in 2023 to a field back up over 50 keen beans.
If you’re unfamiliar, it runs all over the Banks Peninsula Christchurch, taking in EPIC pretty good views over Akaroa and Lyttleton harbours.
There are 3 distances on offer:
📏101km 👆4055m (team or solo)
📏53km 👆2278m(team or solo)
📏15km 👆448m
If you’re looking for punishment, the 101km starting in Pigeon Bay has 4055m of vert. You can go halfsies with a mate, as they also have a team option.
If you identify as an Albino, the forecast is not looking good.
The course is run on many exposed farm/4WD roads with some tarmac linking it all together. Controlling your core temperature and running your own pace will be key to avoiding creating your “Worst Run Ever” entry.
I feel dehydrated just writing this🥵.
Check out this video from the inaugral 2021 to better understand the course.
It’s 10 minutes long, but chuck that puppy on 2x speed, and it’s a quick watch.
Late entries are still open if you’ve been looking for an excuse to get out for a long run.
Check out the website for more details, and follow on Facebook.
Ian Priest Memorial
Saturday, January 13
The marathon and half marathon is a bit of a push to call a trail race, but the 60 km does head across the Remutaka Rail Trail, so we’re chucking it in.
This race has a long history. It first started as a hazing event for new members of the Aurora Harriers Club in Porirua, Wellington.
They would line up at Cross Creek Featherstone and run through the length of Upper & Lower Hutt, trying to avoid being assaulted or abused before reaching the safety of the Petone foreshore*
It’s now open to everyone, with a marathon and half marathon as well.
Distances on offer:
📏60km (Starts Cross Creek Featherston)
📏42.2km (Starts Kaitokie)
📏21.1km (Starts Moonshine Rd)
If you’re in the Wellington Region and want to run a PB in a marathon or Ultra distance, this is the race to do it.
The first 7km of the race is uphill, but from there, it’s downhill to the finish. In fact, the marathon loses 300m!
Check out the website for more info, or read Ange Penberthy’s first-hand account, winning in 2019.
*I may be talking absolute twaddle. It's a great community event. Support it if you can.
#Mountain Skag Pic Of December
It’s time to decide the winner of #Mountainskag December.
Make sure you vote for your favourite below.
Which #Mountainskag Photo is your favourite for December?
#Mountain Skag Pic Of The Week
This week’s #mountainskag pic was a tough one.
Gareth Morris went south of the Bombays looking for a hit of the good stuff.
Michael Sutton proved you don’t need a rugged ridge to fill up the cup.
Bex Hutchinson & Kyle Malone went searching in the mighty Kaweka’s.
But … it was this snap from Stephen Molineux from a 3 man assault on the Dragons Teeth High Route that got my heart singing.
… and then he got it racing when he sent this one through
Tag @trailrunning.nz (NOTE THE “.”) and use #mountainskag, DM on Instagram, or email trailrunningnz@gmail.com to enter.
Every entry has a chance to win the monthly giveaway of a Mountain Skag T-shirt or hat.
Next week, we will have the Aotearoa Ultramarathon & Ian Priest Memorial results and whatever else gets blown my way.
It takes hours to write this newsletter but only 8 seconds to forward it to a friend.
P.S. If you or one of your mates is doing something wicked cool and want to let everyone else in on it, email through your dot tracker so I can spam out for everyone to watch.
P.P.S The Worst Run Ever cupboard is empty. If you had a horrible running experience over Christmas, why not share your pain with everyone?
Send them in to trailrunningnz@gmail.com.
Go Shannon-Leigh!