🏃🏃♀️Tararua Mountain Race Rises From The Ashes
"But this race was a powerful specimen!"
Your weekly fix of NZ trail running news
We’re here for you like that portaloo that magically comes free 2 minutes before the gun goes off.
Here's what’s in the drop bag this week:
🏃🏃♀️Tararua Mountain Race Results
🎯Things You May Have Missed
⛰️💊Mountain Skag Merch, March Giveaway(Paid Sub)
🏁Upcoming events: 3 Peaks Mountain Race
⛰️💊Mountain Skag February Winner & The Week
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Tararua Mountain Race Results
After a 3 year hiatus, the Tararua Mountain Race rose from the ashes.
It was back in all its glory.
The weather gods allowed safe passage under near perfect conditions for all brave enough to pin on a bib. Clearly, their bellies were still fill from devouring Shaun Collins and Scott Bougen on their SK attempt the weekend before.
On behalf of all the runners; we thank you for your sacrifice Shaun and Scott😝.
Southern Crossing:📏36km | ⛰️2300M
Women's podium:
🥇Allira Hanczakowski - 6:14:10
🥈Crystal Bartlett - 6:46:17
🥉Bex Hutchinson - 7:04:57
There were four self-seeded waves for the main event: 6.30 am, 7.30 am, 8.30 am, and 9.30 am. This makes for interesting running, as you never really know where you sit in a time-trial situation.
Allira Hanczakowski and Bex Hutchinson ran out of the 7.30 wave, and Crystal Bartlett, under headlamp, led the charge up Marchant Ridge for the 6.30 a.m. crew.
Arriving at Alpha Hut (roughly halfway) just below the bush line, Hanczakowski had built a 19-minute lead over Bex Hutchinson and arrived 9m30s faster than Bartlett in the early wave.
Not even the overgrown, tussock-covered, slippery-AF, pothole-strewn trenches could slow Hanczakowski down accross the open tops from Alpha to Mt. Hector.
However, it was far from over with Bartlett going through this section only 5 minutes slower. Hanczakowski had the advantage, but she would need to stick the landing down from Kime Hut to secure the win.
And boy, oh boy, did she send it home. Showing no signs of fatigue from her South Island Te Araroa adventure, she planted her foot to the floor, going 17 minutes faster than Bartlett and giving a few of the top lads a hurry-up down to Otaki Forks.
Bex ‘Navy Seal’ Hutchinson had a strong showing, taking 2nd in the 7.30 am wave and finishing strong to take the bronze overall.
Allira Hanczakowski was kind enough not to block my DM’s.
“How did your race go? It must have felt nice not carrying a tent😜”
“I wasn't sure I was in race condition, after spending the last 8 weeks fastpacking (plodding) Te Araroa South Is., but these trails are some of my favourite in Welly, and Mt Hector is where I fell in love with the mountains, after spending a weekend there with the WoRM crew a few years ago.”
“So I powered up Marchant Ridge, which felt a lot more runable and enjoyable than usual, held on to Hector, cruised to Kime, followed in someone's footsteps to Field, then sent it to the end.”
“And yes, it felt GREAT not carrying a tent! A big thank you to Andy and all the volleys for bringing this epic race back to life!”
Allira Hanczakowski
Men's podium:
🥇Alastair McDowell - 5:06:36
🥈Arran Whiteford - 5:13:00
🥉Matthew Adams - 5:24:03
Alastair McDowell set off in the 8.30 am wave after missing the memo that the big daawgs race at 9.30😎.
He set a scorching pace for the 9.30 a.m. crew to chase to Alpha Hut in 2:26:42. However, Arran Whiteford was up for the challenge, dancing up the infamous Marchant Ridge like a ballerina (his words, not mine) to be only two seconds behind the ghost of McDowell. Matthew Adams was still in contact only 5 minutes back but would need a big second half to challenge for the title.
McDowell continued to push the pace despite the best efforts of the Tararua Range to slow him down. However, Whiteford would run into Kime Hut 17 seconds ahead of McDowell’s time.
It was game on. Well, kind of. Of course, McDowell was physically an hour ahead on the course and had no idea what was happening behind him.
The splits weren’t live, so Whiteford had to rely on the old dodgy:
“Ahh, yeah, some dude ran through here pretty quick about an hour or so ago.”
It came down to who could fly the fastest down the side of a rocky mountain.
I got a firsthand look at McDowell descending from Kime to Field Hut. I was carefully picking my way down the rock-filled rutted trench, minding my own business, when suddenly I heard a thudding behind me.
Fearing a wild goat was about to turn this into a Worst Run Ever, to my surprise, it was Alastair McDowell giving it full jandel over the same terrain I was crawling over.
I quickly pulled over, shook his hand and then he was off yelling, “Allez, Allez, Allez.” I felt like I had seen Killian Jornet flash right past me.
All the yelling must have done the trick because he “Allez, Allez, Allez’d” his way down to Otaki Forks, 6m24s faster than Whiteford.
Matthew Adams chased hard all day to take a “comfortable” 3rd. He was never in striking distance for the title but was ready to pounce if Whiteford or McDowell got a puncture.
Here is what McDowell had to say about his day:
“Running this race was a throwback to my north island roots running muddy bush tracks in the Waitakere, Kaimai & Pirongia.”
“But this race was a powerful specimen! I went dry on Marchant ridge and fought off cramps on the steep descent to the finish but stoked to take the win after 5hrs of hard effort.”
“Well worth travelling over from Christchurch to race this historic tramping route. Everyone should come next year!”
Alastair McDowell
In last weeks preview I asked Andy “what does success look like for the first year of TMR?”. He responded,
“Success for the first year looks like the community enjoying a swim in the river and a sausage at the finish after a hard day’s adventure in one of our special wilderness places that we all wish we spent more time in.”
When I passed over the bridge of salvation to cross the finish line, this is exactly what I saw.
It was awesome to see all of the hard work from Andy Carruthers and his team pay off to get this event back up and running.
Click Here to check out the full list of results, including the Field Dash & Kime Climb
Things You May Have Missed
On Saturday, the inaugaral Blazing Hills was held in Waimarino (Central NI). It may sound like a stoner music festival, but 110 competitors raced over 4 different distances. This could be something to add to your 2025 racing calendar.
Benjamin Eitelberg from Kaitiaki Endurance Sports has created a three-part webinar series for outdoor enthusiasts concerned about climate change. The webinars are online and free.
Follow the links below to register for one or all 3.
Dr. Mike Joy, Damian Hall, Emma Strutt
James Harcomme and Mal Law did a thing. 275km with 14k of vert, circumnavigating Lake Wakitipu. Rumor has it it was a reccie for the new V14000 for The Wild 2026
Old Ghost Ultra has released its race video for 2024. Great watch. WARNING: May cause serious FOMO
Tarawera Ultra Trail is set for February 15-16 2025
Mountain Skag March Paid Subscriber Giveaway
3 lucky subscribers will win a $50 Mountain Skag voucher this month.
All you need to do is reply to this email saying “send me free sh💩t” and you’re in the draw.
Every couple of weeks, I get a message
“WTF IS MOUNTAIN SKAG?
I think there were approximately 10.78 subscribers to the newsletter when I last posted the below, trying to explain what Mountain Skag is.
The truth is, you can’t really explain it.
Mountain skag comes in many forms. We all crave it in its purest form:
Long exposed ridges on a bluebird day. Enough breeze to keep you cool and enough clouds to make the photos interesting.
But we can’t always get that pure high that the tops bring.
Sometimes, we wade through river valleys, witnessing the power of nature as it cuts and shapes the flanks and feet of the mountains.
Sometimes we are enveloped by the great goblin forests that clothe the mountains between 800-1000M elevation.
Sometimes we’re not in the mountains at all. We’re standing at the foot of our local hill. A hill that maybe once was a great mountain. The spirit still pulsating through the forest we run through on our way to its summit.
You see, sometimes you get the big hit you desire, and at other times, you have to make do.
It’s that feeling you get when your spirit escapes the monotony of modern life and reconnects with nature.
The truth is, we’re all mountain skag addicts, the first step is admitting it.
Upcoming Events
3 Peaks Mountain Race
Saturday, March 16
This year is the 41st running of the Dunedin 3 Peaks Mountain Race!
If you’re unfamiliar with the 3 Peaks Mountain Race, here is what’s on offer.
3 Peaks + 1:📏55KM | ⛰️2700M
CR:🏃♂️Weston Hill (4:54:58) | 🏃♀️ Ruth Croft 05:33:30 (2022)
Three Peaks: 📏26KM | ⛰️1350M
CR:🏃♂️Dougal Thorburn 01:55:44 (2010 |🏃♀️ Sarah Chisnall 02:19:56(2010)
Race Over The Summit:📏11KM | ⛰️150M
CR:🏃♂️Danny Baillie 53:46 (2023) |🏃♀️ Becky De La Harpe 57:22(2023)
The event is unsurprisingly named after the three peaks the course passes over.
Flagstaff (668m), Swampy (739m), and Mt Cargill (150m).
There are 396 entries for the original 26km event this year, which I THINK is a record.
Then you’ve got the 3 Peaks + 1 55km course. I don’t know what Steve Tripp used as a bribe (free entry to the Crush the Cargill Miler?), but it did the trick. Once again, it is the NZ Short Course Trail Running championship race.
Last year, Weston Hill dominated the 55km course, shattering the course record and finishing 15 minutes ahead of Dan Jones.
Katie Morgan returned from a blown calf at Old Ghost to take the 2023 title ahead of Margie Campbell and Naomi Brand.
Neither champion will be returning this year, with Morgan recovering from surgery and Hill probably doing some hardcore sh💩t in Upper Hutt.
I’ve scoured the online entries, and one name in particular popped out.
Ali Wilson.
Now, I won’t say it … but I haven’t had my laser tattoo appointment yet…
With a record field this year, I’m sure the competition will be fierce at the pointy end with plenty of tight racing.
If you want to give yourself a bout of FOMO, check out these photos from Steve Tripp, the Race Director, who ran the whole course just this weekend.
Hmm.. a rope, slippery steps and a dark cave. It wouldn’t look great if you needed an alibi Steve!
Click here for more details on 3 Peaks Mountain Race. Follow along on Instagram or Facebook.
#Mountain Skag Winner For February
Congratulations, Jean ‘ The Machine’ Beaumont. You’ve taken out #Mountainskag for February.
Drop me a line, and I’ll get some Mountain Skag kit heading your way.
#Mountain Skag Pic Of The Week
Liz Palmer sent in this week’s #mountainskag fix.
The picture is of her son Ed on his way to North King (descending off South King) to complete his goal of bagging all 1500m peaks in the Tararua range before turning 15.
Excellent work, Ed and Liz!
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 results from the 3 Peaks Mountain Race and a look at the week ahead.
There is a MEGA CLASH with Northburn, Riverhead Relaps & the last-ever Loop The Lake by Nelson Events.
It takes hours to write this newsletter but only 8 seconds to forward it to a friend.
PS. I pinned on the bib for the first time in a while and “raced” the Tararua Mountain Race. Thank you to all the volunteers who made it possible.
It reminded me how amazing the trail running community is. It was great to meet many of you for the first time. Special shoutout to Alan Crowe, ‘The Giver of Beers”. That might just be the best beer I’ve ever had🙏.