Forest Run Fest, Segment Showdown & More
Hannah Oldroyd blazed her way around the course taking the outright win
Your weekly fix of NZ trail running news
We’re here for you like Grandma’s lolly jar. Full of goodies, ready and waiting to brighten your day (not those types of goodies🤣.)
Here's what’s in the drop bag this week:
Forest Run Fest, Christchurch Results🏃🏃♀️
Segment Showdown Update⚔️
Things You May Have Missed🎯
Worst Run Ever🤢
Mountain Skag Pic of 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.
Forest Run Fest, Christchurch
I think my brain is blocking out all forest-related events. Maybe I’ve had a previous trauma that my mind is trying to protect me from😂.
I missed ‘We Run The Forest’ in Rotorua last weekend.
Last week I forgot to preview ‘Forest Run Fest’ in Christchurch.
On Sunday, over 800 runners descended upon Bottle Lake Forest on a typical Christchurch winter’s morning🥶 to get the legs pumping and the lungs burning.
A great turnout. It would seem the message of the event:
“A morning for all levels of walkers and runners, get out there, compete, and breath in the fresh air” has struck a chord with the community.
Forest Run Fest - 21KM
Women’s Podium
🥇HANNAH OLDROYD - 1:23:40 - Avg pace 3:59 /km - 🔥New CR🔥
🥈HOZUMI NIKI - 1:34:56 - Avg pace 4:31 /km
🥉EMMA TIMMIS - 1:35:56 - Avg pace 4:34 /km
The temperatures may have been low, but the fire risk was high.
Hannah Oldroyd blazed her way around the course, taking the outright win at 1:23:40 - 6 seconds clear of Craig McConnochie and over 11 minutes clear of 2nd woman Hozumi Niki.
At the end of the first loop (10 km), Hannah had built a 4-minute lead over Hozumi and was in 2nd outright, 35 seconds back from Glenn Jaques.
She pulled away from Hozumi on the second loop and reeled in🎣 Glenn.
Emma Timmis had a great race rounding out the podium, especially since it’s only a few weeks since her 48-hour treadmill world record of 322.93km🤯.
Men’s Podium
🥇CRAIG MCCONNOCHIE - 1:23:46 - Avg pace 3:59 /km
🥈GLENN JAQUES - 1:24:10 - Avg pace 4:00 /km
🥉CHRIS NORMAN - 1:24:41 - Avg pace 4:01 /km
The men’s race was tighter than my running shorts on boxing day😰.
As mentioned, Glenn Jaques led the field through the first 10 km. Chris Norman was the next through 46 seconds back, with eventual winner Craig McConnochie 1:02 behind.
Great pacing by Craig saw him move from 3rd to 1st through the back half of the race and move to within 6 seconds of Hannah and the outright win.
Forest Run Fest - 10km
Some more tight racing and quick times, with over 300 runners competing in the 10k😍!
Men’s Podium
🥇JOSH NICHOL - 38:00 - Avg pace 3:48 /km
🥈DANIEL WORDSWORTH - 39:10 - Avg pace 3:55 /km
🥉FLAVIO VIANNA - 40:01 - Avg pace 4:00 /km
Women’s Podium
🥇PENNY MOUAT - 40:45 - Avg pace 4:04 /km
🥈LUCY MURPHY - 44:10 - Avg pace 4:25 /km
🥉EMILY TREVAIL - 46:45 - Avg pace 4:40 /km
For the full results, go here, and check out their Facebook Page for photos.
Whoops, That’s Awkward
Apologies to anyone who received the above email.
I had a setting turned on, meaning Substack sent out promo emails automatically.
It’s not my intention to spam the sh💩t out of you.
It’s a bit embarrassing because I would never send out such a bland, boring generic promo! There aren’t even any emojis!
😂💪⚔️🏃🏃♀️🎯⛰️🤢🔨😎💯💩🤣😍😉😆😁😛🙄😬😵🥴
Segment Showdown Update - Strava Club
If you missed this segment a few weeks back, check it out here.
Everyone loves a bit of friendly Strava warfare.
Battling for crowns👑, stealing local legends😎.
The thought of Karen stealing your local legend can be enough to get you out the door, even when you cbf.
So there’s a new club in town - Segment Showdown Club
The idea is simple. Join the club and engage in a bit of friendly Strava warfare.
The first segment which Joe Murphy posted is in Wellington. That takes a fair bit of commitment if you’re from Invercargill.
HOWEVER - let’s take this puppy nationwide.
Maybe you’ve been sitting on a crown for a couple of years and think you’re unbeatable?
Or maybe you’ve tried all you can to get a crown, and you’re convinced they must’ve been on a mountain bike.
Send out the challenge and see if anyone can get close.
This is what you make of it - send your trail running segments to trailrunningnz@gmail.com and join the club.
Current Segment Showdown Status:
It started with a midday bombing raid💣 by Allira Hanczakowski and Stephen Molineux, taking both downhill crowns.
Dave Hume went close but came in 10 seconds behind Stephen.
Tom Peck got in on the act and pilfered the uphill crown by 3 seconds.
Allira couldn’t keep her hands off the crowns and obliterated the uphill segment by 20 seconds💪.
As I write this - Tom Peck has just sweated out his Beervana hangover by throwing his watch down the hill and jogging down to pick it back up.
Pukehīnau (Kiwifoot) Reserve - Run down
🏃♀️👑Allira Hanczakowski - 2:27
🏃👑Stephen Molineux - 1:58 Tom Peck - 1:45🤯
Sarah Mackay - Local Legend - 7 efforts😎
Pukehīnau (Kiwifoot) Reserve - Run up
🏃👑Allira Hanczakowski 2:41
🏃♀️👑Tom Peck - 2:27
The segments are open for action until the end of the month—plenty of time for a Crown Heist.
Things You May Have Missed
Last year the Ring of Fire combined with the Tussock Traverse to create the Ruapehu Trail Festival. Unfortunately, the Ring of Fire is on hold for 2024.
”Reluctantly, we are putting the Ring of Fire on hold in 2024. Although our pinnacle event, it is also our most costly and complex to deliver. We need more time to work through a viable, sustainable future for the event. Thank you for your understanding.”
Everyone's favourite Westie has released a video from his experience traveling to and pacing his friend Thomas Watson in Western States—a great behind-the-scenes look at the big race.
Martin Grethe, AKA ‘Scouse Racing,’ released a great video from the Mega Munter last weekend—a great snapshot of the challenging terrain. Not even wet feet could wipe off his smile!
Worst Run Ever
It’s back! After a short hiatus, everyone’s 2nd favourite running story segment is back.
This week’s story reads like something out of Trails & Boon.
The morning sun☀️ casts a warm golden glow over the valley as I set out on the trail, anticipation bubbling within me. This was it – the run I had been dreaming of. I could finally submit a “Best Run Ever” to Dirt Church Radio.
With each step, the rhythm of my feet🦶 on the earth🌎 became a meditative beat. My worries melted away, replaced by a sense of connection to the world around me.
As I ascended higher, the panorama unfolded – a breathtaking view of valleys and distant peaks⛰️. I paused to catch my breath, taking in the grandeur before me. I felt like a tiny speck in this vast landscape.
The trail took me along the ridge, where I felt on top of the world. A feeling of accomplishment swelled within me – the culmination of months of training and the dream of conquering this trail.
With gravity as my ally, I descended through the bush🌲. The path was a rollercoaster of exhilaration, and my heart❤️ raced with the thrill of it all. Mud splattered my legs as I leaped over roots and rocks.
As the trail looped back toward the start, I couldn't help but smile😊. This was more than a run; it was a symphony of nature, an exploration of my limits, and a celebration of the earth's beauty. With a heart full of gratitude, I penetrated into the carpark and stopped my watch.
F🤬CK I DIDN’T START MY WATCH- WORST RUN EVER!!!
-R Davies
#Mountain Skag Pic Of The Week
For this week's #Mountain Skag, I couldn’t decide🤔. It’s like choosing between a double IPA or a Hazy🍻. Both have their merits and are amazing - so I usually have both🍻.
So here you are - 2 #Mountain Skag pics of the week.
You guys can decide who guys through to the monthly vote.
Allira Hanczakowski
VS
Jessica Campbell
Tag @trailrunning.nz and use #mountainskag 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.
We will be back next week with The Great Naseby Water Race Results, UTMB Preview, and some more things I stumbled across while doom-scrolling on the toilet til’ my feet were numb.
It takes hours to write this newsletter but only 8 seconds to forward it to a friend.
PS: I love reading race reports! I’m in the process of collecting race reports of NZ Trail races to assemble in one spot to make it easy to find them all.
If you want to submit race reports (it doesn’t matter how old), send them to trailrunningnz@gmail.com. If they’re already online, a link is fine!