🏃🏃♀️Rakiura Challenge, Abel Tasman Results
“My first trail race, and I couldn’t be happier. I’m sure some speedy guys will be back next year to eclipse the record, but it’s a cool accolade to hold for the next year.”
Your weekly fix of NZ trail running news
We’re here for you like Grammarly. We get it right MOST of the time. (RAIkura Challenge anyone?😅)
Here's what’s in the drop bag this week:
🏃🏃♀️Raikura Rakiura Challenge Results
🏃🏃♀️Abel Tasman Coastal Challenge Results
🥵The Long Run - Spring Edition
🏁Upcoming events: Taupo Ultra & Crater Rim
⛰️💊Mountain Skag Pic of the Week & September winner
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.
Raikura Rakiura Challenge Results
Firstly, apologies. I had my own Rakiura Challenge last week. I spelt it Raikura 7 times😑.
The Rakiura Challenge team couldn’t have asked for a better weekend.
☀️Primo weather for a sold-out race
🌵Suspiciously dry trail conditions
🔥Blistering times
👨🍳Social Media is full of people raving about their hospitality
There was some great racing at the pointy end, and I’m sure you would be hard-pressed to find someone not smiling ear to ear.
🏃Men’s Podium
🥇Matthew Arnold - 2:32:03 🔥NEW CR🔥
🥈Bailey Powell - 2:32:35
🥉Dwight Grieve - 2:37:24
Matthew Arnold found his second wind to surge down the home stretch to snatch the victory from Bailey Powell and set the new CR.
Not bad for his first-ever trail race. Dwight Grieve, who was in the mix for a large chunk of the race, finished in 3rd with the 5th fastest time to date at the event.
Here is what Matthew had to say about his time at Rakiura Challenge.
“Super stoked to take the win here on Stewart Island, a truly unique setting for a race. Massive kudos to the organisers who made it a bucket list kinda race, from the pre-race meal, to the awesome course, and finished up with a feed fit for royalty after the race.”
“I was pleased with my race execution being my first trail race. Trying to hang on to the back of Dwight & Bailey, who put big efforts in. Underfoot it sounded like it wasn’t too bad compared to previous years, so that definitely helped.”
“Bailey dropped me on the final climb and opened up a sizeable gap, and I thought that was my race done with my hamstrings burning. Luckily I got a second wind once we got onto the final few miles, which were on the road and more my territory, I got the legs underneath me for a fast finish and eventually dipped under the CR.”
“My first trail race, and I couldn’t be happier. I’m sure some speedy guys will be back next year to eclipse the record, but it’s a cool accolade to hold for the next year.”
Matthew Arnold
🏃♀️Women’s Podium
🥇 Virginia Pile - 3:21:33
🥈 Holly Manning - 3:25:08
🥉Charlotte Eden - 3:32:18
Virginia Pile added the Raikura title to her Great Naseby 60 km pairs from August. She was kept honest by Holly Manning and Charlotte Eden, who were ready to swoop in if she failed down the home stretch.
Check out their Instagram for coverage of the vent and full results available here
Abel Tasman Coastal Classic Results
Conditions were perfect on Saturday for 250 runners to take on the 29th edition of the Abel Tasman Coastal Classic. I had roving reporter Gazza Southside on the ground.
Take it away, Gazza!
“First and foremost, Chris Gates retained his Survivor Status, finishing Number 29, but is still keen, after a couple of beers, to knock off 30 on October 12 next year.”
🏃Men’s Podium
🥇David Haunschmidt - 2:23:02 🔥NEW CR🔥 (Post-2017 shortened course)
🥈Vajin Armstrong - 2:31:00
🥉John Yells - 2:33:59
"The “flying Scotsman” made it one-way traffic, leaving the rest of the 250 competitors in his wake."
"At Yellow Point, he had the course record on the post 2017 course all but sewn up."
"He “changed gear” but still set a new course record and finished well clear of the field.”
"Vajin Armstrong ( Christchurch) has worn the Gold in both 2017 and 2019, and he chased valiantly for second, holding out John Yells (Tain. UK) by 3 minutes.
Behind them, Flavio Vianna,( Christchurch) winner of the last two events followed."
🏃♀️Women’s Podium
🥇Hannah Oldroyd - 2:47:59
🥈Ruby Morgan - 3:04:08
🥉Louise Murray - 3:10:08
“Like Haunschmidt, Hannah Oldroyd has a “more than decent “ track record but more on the tar seal than the trails.”
“The “Huddersfield Express “ put that to rest though, with an impressive win in 2.47.59, with only Sally Gibbs getting close to that time with her 2.48.37 back in 2017.”
“She was in a class of her own, with the race for second going to Ruby Morgan (Auckland), shutting out Louise Murray ( ChCh).”
Thanks for the Gazza.
Next year will be the last Coastal Classic put on by the team at Nelson Events (Entries open 1st of Nov.)
They are “hanging up their organising boots to sit in the grandstand” after delivering more than a few trail runs over the last three decades.
That means it will also be the “Last Dance” for The Alpine Lodge, Loop the Lake, on March 23. Entries opened today. Check out www.nelsonevents.co.nz for more details.
One person who sounds like they’ll be back on the start line is Alina Junc. Today’s race was a year in the making. So congratulations, Alina, you can now tick it off. Here is what she had to say about the race.
“The race lived up to the hype! It’s not every day that you get to run one of NZ’s Great Walks, and this race had it all: mint weather, stunning trails, a few uphill segments to keep you honest, sand, river crossings, and a boat ride to the starting line … who’s back for seconds next year?”
Alina Junc
The Long Run | Spring Edition
Wow, hasn’t time flown by?
That went faster than the chance to get a Kepler entry.
‘The Long Run’ is a collection of bonus material for Trail Running NZ Paid subscribers that is released every quarter.
The full post is available here: but you can skip straight to the articles below.
❌Crush The Cargill Is A Fraud - FREE
🔦The Wild - Event Preview(Complete with discount offer)
🏕️Joe Murphy’s 12-Month SK Tararua Challenge
😵💫Backyard Ultramarathons - Here To Stay
👨⚕️10 Quick Hitters with David “The Flying Doctor” Haunschmidt
Now, if you’re the type of person who takes the towels when they stay at a Hotel, Do I have the deal for you?
I’m offering you a 7-day trial, more than enough time to read the bonus material and cancel😆.
Maybe you’ll remember to cancel it. Maybe you won’t😎.
Things You May Have Missed
DoC releases the details of its new Tongariro booking system. No cap, not compulsory … yet.
Worst Run Ever has gone international. Sally McRae has gone to length to document her Worst Run Ever at Tahoe 220. (If you feel sorry for yourself after a run, watch this.)
Upcoming Events
Taupo Ultramarathon
Saturday, October 14th
Taupo Ultra is first up in next weekend’s doubleheader. It’s the second biggest trail event starting with a T in the North Island. It might not attract international attention like Tarawera, but Taupo is a hotly contested title.
Taupo is known for fast, runnable, well-groomed trails. If you want to run your first ultra or set a PB, this is a great place to do it.
There are 4 distances on offer, and the 100 km doubles as the team relay.
📏100km 👆1853m
📏70km 👆1455m (Previously 74km)
📏50km 👆1155m
📏24km 👆966m
The 74km has hit the gym and morphed into the new trimmed-down 70 km. It sounds like a positive change.
From the Taupo Ultra site:
No more long road sections
No need to get to the start by boat. This means we won’t have to implement contingency courses because of wind/weather on the lake.
98% of the course is on TRAIL or farmland!
No limit on numbers in the 74km
However, when I think of Taupo Ultra, my mind jumps to the 100km race and Carl Read. I had the pleasure of seeing him storm past in 2019 like a bat out of hell on his way to his first of two 100 km titles.
So, who better to ask a few questions about Taupo than the legend himself?
You’ve had great success at Taupo - what is your approach to the 100k course?
“My approach to Taupo 100k has always been full jandal from the start. First year I won it I wasn’t to sure how it would go. I was a little cautious but the Second year I was better prepared and Realy pushed it hard from the start & broke the CR. Going 8.03. The way I race is full send from the start. Sometimes that bites me but I’m always keen to be in the mix at the front.”
You’ve competed at both Taupo and Tarawera. They often get compared. Do you find them to be quite similar, or are there some key differences?
“Tarawera & Taupo are both great courses. Taupo is all runable where as Tarawera there are some sections that I hike / walk. They have similar trails which are not to technical. Makes for great running and scenery.”
What is your favourite part of the Taupo course?
“My favourite part of Taupo course is the first 20km. Beautiful fast running trail. And also from the 50k mark. Going through air strip and onto the w2k track. That’s a great 10km stretch down to the lake and onto kincloch.”
Thanks for that Carl!
Check out Carl on Insta to follow along as he comes back from knee surgery. I have no doubt you will be back levitating across the Taupo trails sometime soon.
Brooke Thomas is your current 100 km champion. She’s just got back from Columbia (post-CCC) to tropical Queenstown and was kind enough to chat to me about her memories of last year’s race.
Last year you came away with the win in the 100K🏆. Was this a race you targeted or part of the UTMB qualifying mission?
I was actually after a ticket to throw in the hat for the Western States Lottery and had entered a different 100km in Aus that could get my name in the draw. But then I got covid the week of that race...so Taupo was all a very lucky last minute alternative with my name only coming off their waitlist about 3 weeks ahead of the race!
What are your memories of the course? Coming up from Queenstown, it must have been a bit different to what you’re used to.
I had been living in Aus most of last year, and Taupo was like a week after arriving home. So my memories of the course were just pure bliss being back on flowy, runnable, beautiful NZ trails!
Would you change your race strategy from last year if you were to run it again?
Since I'd had covid so recently, the goal was to be super cautious and just out for a 'fun day out'. I was pumped to be home and having some great chats with other runners...wasn't until about the 60km mark that I was told I was out in front...so I'd say being relaxed with no expectations is definitely a good way forwards!
Thanks for your time Brooke. Catch Covid, win races. Sounds easy enough!
Good luck to all the competitors next weekend.
Check out their website for more details, and follow along on Facebook for the latest updates.
Crater Rim Ultra
Sunday, October 15th
Crater Rim is the second act in this week’s double banger. Technically, you have enough time to run the Taupo Ultra and catch a flight to Christchurch to run Crater Rim. How good would that be?
Imagine if someone won Taupo & Crater Rim on the same weekend.
Similarities between Taupo & Crater Rim:
🏃🏃♀️They’re both running races.
🌊🌊They both have views of water
Other than that, they are very different races.
Crater Rim might be the most mountainous nonmountain race in the country.
📏83km 👆3500m
📏53km 👆2250m
📏30km 👆890
📏22km 👆750m
📏10km 👆400m
The 53km race is the OG. It includes a boat ride over the harbor to make it a point-to-point race. It is still the most popular race, with just under 150 participants. This vid from 2019 gives you a good idea of what the race is about.
Last year was the debut of the 83km course. It was a small but competitive field with only 22 starters. It will again be the New Zealand Long Distance Trail Running Championship this year.
At this stage, although it’s doubled in size to 40-odd, it would be great to see a few more runners competing for the Long Distance Trail Championship.
Things to keep an eye on:
⛰️Jessica Campbell is back from her EPIC European tour and is set to show NZ some of her new tricks.
⚔️Greg Bassam and Sam Mowat (🥇🥈at Race Tekapo 50) are set “cross swords” in a longer and more uppey downey course.
👻Louis ‘The Mountain Grinder’ Schindler is back from Europe and ready to take some souls
👶Sam McCutcheon is lining up in the 53km to test out the new Dadbod 2.0
NZ Rep Sam Hansby ran Crater Rim last year and was kind enough to give us the low down.
What distance did you race at Crater Rim & what was your result?
I ran Crater Rim 80km in 2022 and got 3rd overall but won the nz long course championship.
What is unique about Crater Rim compared to other races you’ve run in NZ?
It’s a unique race for me, for its great technical tracks but lack of native bush or tree cover. It leaves you unprotected from the elements but has the benefit of giving the runner a view of the route and competition ahead.
What are your top 3 pieces of advice for anyone looking to compete for the podium next Sunday?
Bring a hat if it’s going to be a clear day
I have a 75% blow-up strike rate at this race. The one time I didn’t blow up, I paced the first half slow. There’s heaps of runnable trails in the 2nd half.
Don’t leave your race food in your locked up hotel room at 4am without having your key
Entries have been reopened until the 13th for the 53k & 83k.
Check out their Instagram or FB Page
#Mountain Skag Pic Of September
Congratulations, Kaylee Hawkins. You’ve taken out #mountainskag for September.
#Mountain Skag Pic Of The Week
This week’s #mountainskag pic is from Greg Bassam. He made the most of a perfect day to head up Mt. Bealey to test his new low-visibility safety shorts.
Look at that smile, he’s going to need a few Nurofen Monday morning to deal with the withdrawals.
Tag @trailrunning.nz (NOTE THE “.”) 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.
Next week, we will have the Taupo Ultra & Crater Rim results and whatever else I can get my mits on.
It takes hours to write this newsletter but only 8 seconds to forward it to a friend.
PS: There is one ‘Worst Run Ever’ left in the cupboard for next week. Write them up and send them in!
Lucky for you I’ve got a couple extra give aways coming up for mountainskag which you’ll be able to have a good crack at (not the normal comp)
I think I'm more gutted about missing out on the Mountain Skag prize than I was at dnf'ing CCC 😭