Your weekly fix of NZ trail running news
Opps! Late this week - Like your Mum crewing your first Ultra. How was she supposed to know you weren't joking it starts at 4 AM?
Here's what we've got for you this week:
Tarawera Ultra Marathon race results
Tarawera Ultra Marathon race results
Tarawera Ultra Marathon race results
Upcoming Events: Shotover Moonlight Marathon & Southern Lakes Ultra
Tarawera Ultra Marathon Race Results
Wow! Did Rotorua and the TUM crew pull it out of the bag or what? Perfect race conditions, squeezed between weeks of endless rain and incoming cyclone Gabrielle. The contingency course for the 102K & the Miler was up to standard and wow-wee there was some fast racing.
New CR's in both 50K races & a new CR in the women's 21K. I'm sure the 102K & Miler records would have been under threat on the 'A' course as well. It was great to see international athletes on our shores for the first time since 2020. It was even better to see the Kiwis giving it some jandal and winning on the biggest stage.
Tarawera 102...103K - Golden Ticket Race
The contingency course flipped the script and saw runners line up on the shores of Western Okataina. Traditionally the 58K mark in the race and the base of the biggest climb of the day. Would this change the tactics at the front? Run within yourself and chase from behind? Fly out the gate and hold on for dear life?
The contingency 102K & 100 Mile course
Womens podium:
🥇 Nancy Jiang(NZ) - 9:26:08
🥈 Stephanie Auston (AUS) - 9:27:29
🥉 Aroa Sio (ESP) - 9:30:41
Nancy Jiang put on a pacing clinic (I hope she puts one on, I think I need it!). Running in the lead pack all day, she left enough in the tank to snatch the lead on the home stretch. Blazing her way through the sulfur haze and dodgy boardwalks to book herself a golden ticket and qualify for CCC.
Nancy Jiang, 2023 Tarawera 102k champion. Photo: Graeme Murray
With 17K to go this was anyone's race. Auston, Sio, Jiang and Mckenna left the Blue Lake(87K) aid station within 9 minutes of each other. Enough distance left to chase down the lead, and a long way to go if you're looking over your shoulder. Auston held off a fast-finishing Sio with Mckenna and Fuzhao Xiang rounding out the top 5. All 5 women finished under 10 hours for the first time in Tarawera history. This is a huge result for Jiang. Will she take the Golden Ticket? We will have to wait and see.
Men's podium:
🥇 Daniel Jones(NZ) - 7:27:55
🥈 Hayden Hawks (US) - 7:42:13
🥉 Ryan Montgomery(US) - 8:11:21
Daniel Jones won the battle of the bromance and it did not disappoint. The final margin makes this look like one-way traffic, but it was far from it.
A lead pack of 7, took turns crushing every Strava segment between Western Okataina and Millar road. Sam McCutcheon (our pre-race pick) shot out of the bush and across the beach at the Blue lake (28.2K) in the lead. Jones, Hayden Hawks and Michael Voss were close behind. Jones and Hawks turned the screws and they were out on their own by Te Puia (62.3K). Jones found another gear on the long straights etching out a 2-minute lead heading to lake Rotokakahi(73.1K).
Hayden Hawks trying to catch Daniel Jones on the climb to Blue Lake
It was game over by the Redwoods. Jones extended his winning margin to 14 minutes, crushing the last 7K at an average of 03:40🔥. Ryan Montgomery ran a patient race to move up into 3rd with just under 40K left to go. He was able to hold off Sam McCutcheon who led the race early and chased hard all day. A career-defining win for one of NZ's premier athletes - Dan Jones toeing the line at Western States ... watch this space 🤓.
Dan Jones wins Tarawera 103K - Photo credit Graeme Murray
Tarawera 100 Mile
Men's podium:
🥇 Zach Miller(US) - 14:41:41
🥈 Hajime Mamba(JPN) - 15:11:30
🥉 Nicholas Bamford(UK) - 15:32:57
Zach Miller, in true style ran off the front and never looked back. He came to NZ chasing a UTMB qualification. It was mission complete by the start of his 2nd lap (103K). With a 20-minute lead, it became a question of whether Miller is going to go sub-15 🤯.
Zach Miller running his way to his 1st 100 Mile victory - Photo credit: Cameron McKenzie
Luckily, the other races were on the same course or the front-running trio would have started to wonder if they were running a time trial. From the 55k mark, there was no change to the podium with plenty of sulfur-infused air between them. Mamba & Bamford ran amazing races and on any other day, it would have been enough for victory.
The top 3 would have been oblivious to what was playing out behind them. 3 Kiwis were battling it out with 1m43s all that separated 4th-6th. Simon Cochrane(5th) stormed past Scout Bougen(6th) on the way to the Redwoods(155.9K). Cochrane then set his sights on Louis Schindler, throwing down a blistering 27:52 for the final 7K. He ran out of real estate in the end but what a finish. Although it was a full international podium, it's awesome to see such strong racing right to the end by the Kiwi boys.
Women's podium:
🥇 Lucy Bartholomew(AUS) - 17:13:27
🥈 Kimino Miyazaki(JPN) - 17:54:50
🥉 Katie Wright(NZ) - 18:19:22
Lucy Bartholomew cruuushed this race. After a string of frustrating races, Bartholomew put it all together to lift her 1st 100-mile trophy. Easily her most impressive race since placing 3rd at Western States in 2018.
Lucy Bartholomew - 2023 TUMiler Champ
Similar to Miller's race, this one never looked in doubt. She led by over an hour heading into the final lap, with Miyazaki doing her best to chase her down. She clawed back 19 minutes in the last 18K, but that was more likely in response to a charging Katie Wright who came home strong to take 3rd. Wright has now finished 2nd, 1st and 3rd at Tarawera Miler 😲.
In a scary moment, Cat Bradley passed out on the trail by Lake Rotokakahi. Luckily she was with her pacer. Full credit to the Tarawera team, her pacer and fellow runners for handling the situation and getting her safely off course. Not something you ever want to hear, but it sounds like she's recovering well.
Tarawera 50K
Women's podium:
🥇Allie Mclaughlin(US) - 3:43:38 - NEW CR
🥈 Caitlin Fielder(NZ) - 3:46:59
🥉 Kate Avery(UK) - 3:54:52
Caitlyn Fielder smashed 06:56 off her own CR coming back from injury and still finished 2nd! What an unbelievable race. Allie Mclaughlin was unstoppable out there. The pair ran together for the first 9K, with Mclaughlin squeezing out a 2-minute lead heading out to Lake Rotokakahi(22.3K). She doubled it by the time she reached the Redwoods(44.5K). There was no stopping her once she went under Te Ngae road onto the home stretch.
Kate Avery stayed within striking distance all race but could never quite close the gap. Renee Cardinals(NZ) finished 4th in a time of 3:59:10. The top 4 all finished under 4 hours. Unbelievable times, unbelievable racing.
Men's podium:
🥇 David Haunschmidt(NZ) - 3:33:03 - New CR
🥈 Piotr Babis(POL) - 3:40:023
🥉 Charles Hamilton(AUS) - 3:40:47
Is anyone surprised Dr David Haunschmidt is standing on yet another podium? He is an absolute force. Mind you, he didn't have it all his own way. Charles Hamilton set the pace early. Through the first 22K he had a slim lead. Then Haunschmidt reeled him in and ran away with the race and a new CR. The race for the last 2 podium spots was an absolute drag race.
David Haunschmidt takes out the 50K with a new CR
Some crazy stats:
The top 3 all broke Michael Voss' old CR of 3:41:27
8 minutes is all that separated 2nd-8th
One small rough patch is all it takes to be chewed up and spat out the back door when the racing is that tight.
Tarawera 21K
Often the shorter distances get disrespected in the Ultra world. They can be seen as just feeder races or "fun runs" to help fund the longer distances. The times in this year's TUM 21K will have you sweating just running the math. There were several lead changes in both races and some scorching times. Congrats to Mike Robinson & Juliette Soule for their respective wins.
Men's podium:
🥇Mike Robinson(NZ) - 1:25:45
🥈 Liam Dooley(NZ) - 1:26:55
🥉 Brent Kelly(NZ) - 1:28:12
Mike Robinson - 21K Champ
Women's podium:
🥇 Juliette Soule(NZ) - 1:40:59 New CR
🥈Sabrina Grogan(NZ) - 1:42:12
🥉 Katie Evans(UK) - 1:44:58
Juliette Soule setting the new CR TUM21K
Upcoming Events
Shotover Moonlight Mountain Marathon
Friday & Saturday - 17th & 18th of February
The Shotover Moonlight Mountain Marathon is marketed as the most stunning mountain marathon in NZ. Watching the promo video it's hard to argue. It also looks like it could be the most brutal with a quad-killing 2500m+ of elevation gain/loss.
Entries are still open for the full marathon, 30K, half marathon, 10K and the recently established 56K Ultra - Running this Saturday the 18th
On Friday, vert addicts can enter the newly established Ben Lomond Sky race. A race to the top - 1200M of sweet, sweet vert. Bonus points to those who run Friday & Saturday.Instagram is your best bet for updates on the day.
Southern Lakes Ultra - 7-Day Stage Race
19th-25th of February - Sunday-Saturday
The Southern Lakes Ultra is a 7-day, 6-stage, 250K+ adventure through the southern lakes of Central Otago.
"Starting on the shores of the stunning Southern Lakes. Overlooking the crystal clear waters and surrounded by mountains, you will start your adventure. Travelling, via foot, alongside rivers, lakes and mountains. Traversing through valleys, climbing peaks, passing waterfalls, Ski fields and old Gold Mining Towns. Crossing rivers and canyons, running through forests and finishing high above the adventure Capital of the world….Queenstown"
This year is sold out but you can register your interest for 2024 here. Check out Instagram to follow this year's crew traversing their way through 250K.
We will be back next week(on time) with the Shotover Marathon results and more. Tag us on Instagram @trailrunning.nz with all things trail running
#notcola
PS- Shout out to all the DNFs over the weekend at Tarawera. It's nothing to be ashamed of. The more you push the limits, the higher the likelihood you're not going to achieve what you set out to do. I had my best day ever until it wasn't. I found myself 120K deep, staring at the dregs of a cup of coke in my pacer's hand. Except it wasn't coke. It was my pee. That's when we both knew my race had come to an end. Own it, learn from it and find someone to talk it through.