Mega Munters, Cookies & Segment Throw down
“I was extremely slow by this point and wondering, 'Why the heck did I decide to do this?”
Your weekly fix of NZ trail running news
We’re here for you, like your partner who reminds you that Sneans were never and WILL never be cool.
Here's what’s in the drop bag this week:
Fiordland Trails Trust, Hydro Half & 10km🏃🏃♀️
Segment Throwdown⚔️
“WHO’S GOING TO
CARRY THE BOATSEAT THE COOKIES?”🍪Things You May Have Missed🎯
Preview: Mukamuka & Mega Munter🏃♀️🏃
Mountain Skag Pic of the Month & 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.
Fiordland Trails Trust, Hydro Half & 10km
Over 450 runners turned up to take part in the Fiordland Trails Trust Hydro Half & 10K.
A great turnout, which will help pump some cash back into the Fiordland Trails Trust coffers to help continue all the great trail work that they’re doing.
Some sizzling times were thrown down, considering there’s over 200m of elevation gain.
Hydro Half - 21.1KM
Men’s Podium
🥇 BEN GATTING - 01:13:03 - Avg pace 3:28 /km
🥈 CRAIG IVERSEN - 01:18:01 - Avg pace 3:42 /km
🥉 LEE COOK - 01:18:57 - Avg pace 3:44 /km
Women’s Podium
🥇 KIMBERLEY IVERSEN - 01:27:01 - Avg pace 4:07 /km
🥈 SOPHIE SHALLARD - 01:30:33 - Avg pace 4:17 /km
🥉 VIRGINIA PILE - 01:35:13 - Avg pace 4:30 /km
Mitre10 Te Anau 10KM
Women’s Podium
🥇 ALICE CUTHBERT - 44:14 - Avg pace 4:25 /km
🥈 TARA SIMPSON - 48:30 - Avg pace 4:51 /km
🥉 ANISSA BROWN - 48:53 - Avg pace 4:53 /km
Men’s Podium
🥇 JAMES MCLEAY - 36:22 - Avg pace 3:38 /km
🥈 KELVIN MEADE - 37:41 - Avg pace 3:46 /km
🥉 RICHARD FORD - 38:28 - Avg pace 3:50 /km
Segment Showdown - Joe Murphy
Joe Murphy sent in this idea, and I think it’s got some legs. Take it away, Joe!
Welcome fellow readers to the inaugural Segment Corner.
Where we throw down, and you throw.. ahem.. well.. go for it.
For those who like to race their mates and explore new routes or have a Strava crown👑 addiction, we showcase a Strava running segment from across NZ for you to seek out and destroy.
We will track the progress and report back on any notable results.
For this month’s segment, we visit inner-city Wellington in the newly created Pukehīnau (Kiwifoot) Reserve Track.
Pukehīnau (Kiwifoot) Reserve
This 440m long beauty sees you run the ups on a downhill route from the inner city suburb of Kelburn through some sweet benched trail - sprinkled with steps and the smell of pine - to arrive in Aro Valley.
Down is -15% grade at -70m over 440m, and up, well +15%🥵.
If that isn't enough, you can also turn around and test yourself on the uphill. It should certainly get the blood flowing😂.
The Crown for the downhill is an achievable 2:20👑 for the boys and 2:56👑 for the girls.
Uphill, a spicier 2:30👑 for the boys and 3:01👑 for the girls.
For those who aren’t in Wellington, if you want to get involved -
Send in your favourite local segment with a couple of photos, and let’s see if we can get a bit of friendly Strava competition going nationwide.
Link to the Strava Segment - Run down
Link to the Strava Segment - Run up
“WHO’S GOING TO CARRY THE BOATS EAT THE COOKIES?”
Now, we all know how important recovery is as runners. Some people are stretchers, others are nappers, and some like paying for little purple pills💊.
I prefer a different type of recovery supplement - Cookies!🍪
If you, too, like cookies - you’re in luck.
2 lucky paid subscribers this week will receive a giant Moustache “recovery” cookie or a box of 6 to help them through the last few weeks of Winter.
To go in the draw, comment below or email trailrunningnz@gmail.com with why you deserve some cookies🥰. (They do Vaygun ones for the #plantbased crew)
Things You May Have Missed
The flying doctor has finally been caught out. He smashed a local Wellington Wild Things FKT 10 years in the future. I knew he was an alien of some description.
Upcoming Events
Mukamuka & Mega Munter
Sunday, August 13th
Mukamuka Munter 32km📏 - 900m⛰️
CR: 🏃♂️Daniel Jones - 2:31 | 🏃♀️ Piret Klade - 3:10
The Mukamuka Munter is the best Wilderness Race south of Kaitokie and North of Picton. It has it all.
⛱️Wild coastal running
🏞️Giant river valleys
👆A near-vertical climb
🙃A neck-breaking descent
🥶A fresh river crossing
🌲Flowing native bush trails
🛣️A tarmac sprint finish.
🌭A guaranteed sausage at the finish or your money back
All of that inside 32 km, only 45 minutes from Wellington.
This year is set to be the biggest field to date. 130+ are registered, and historically there’s always been another 20-30 that rego in the last week and on the day.
It may not sound much compared to Tarawera, but this is a full-on grassroots wilderness race.
No aid stations here. This race is designed to test you and get you out of your comfort zone - but still, an achievable race if you’ve put in the hard work. Pete McFarlane has proved this. He finished the last 2 munters in his 70’s💪.
The race attracts a strong field from the local club scene, with Dan Jones winning multiple times and holding the current CR.
If you want to announce yourself on the Wellington trail scene, it's the race to win.
Mega Munter - 48km📏 - 2200m⛰️
CR: 🏃♂️Sam Hansby - 5:38:69 | 🏃♀️Joane Elleouet- 6:58:57
The Mega Munter, it’s in the name.
Dreamt up by a Mega Munter for Mega munters who want to do MEGA things.
The Mega is the natural evolution of the Mukamuka munter.
It’s only 16 km longer but takes, on average, 2.2x longer to complete🤯.
The highlight is the Eastern Whakanui route which is a 5 km climb through some of the biggest Rimu (or Rata, depending on who’s winning) left in the lower North Island.
It’s designed to test you mentally and physically, with runners coming within 3km of the finish- but having to turn away and run a further 11km with 500M of vert.
This year will be the 3rd running of the Mega. It’s been relatively small (by natural selection and design), with fields of 20-30 in the first 2 years. 35 brave souls have entered this year. Here are what some former victims have said:
“I was extremely slow by this point and wondering, 'Why the heck did I decide to do this?”
-Angus Ward
“This race number will be treasured, I think it is one of the hardest I have earned. I am so proud of Emma and I for this one. We won’t forget it anytime soon!”
-Gwenan Riley
“Like the line from the Godfather III - Just when I thought I was out, they drag me back in!”
-Sean Martin
#Mountain Skag Pic Of July
It’s time to decide the winner of #Mountainskag July.
Make sure you vote for your favourite below.
A - Chris Martin
B - Stephen Bates
C - Elspeth Knewstubb
D - Ali Wilson
Vote below.
#Mountain Skag Pic Of The Week
This week's #Mountain Skag pic is from Scott Bougen.
After being on blast this week from the Kiwis in France training for UTMB, it was fantastic to see some epic images from our backyard💪.
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 more trail-running news, yarns, and glory.
It takes hours to write this newsletter but only 8 seconds to forward it to a friend.
PS - The ‘Worst Run Ever’ cupboard is empty. This is not acceptable! We all need to hear about the time you almost died/shat yourself/took a wrong turn to get us through Monday morning. Send your story to trailrunningnz@gmail.com
I deserve cookies to bribe the race director for the Mega Munter with. And because training for a little race in Tennessee is hard, every bit of recovery would be helpful.
I deserve cookies to bribe others to come running with me!