Click here to download a PDF of our medical team information.
If you don’t mind all the reading, more info can be gleened from the pre-race briefing notes.
Please post a question in the box below if you can – if it’s of a ‘personal’ nature you can email the race director, terry@highlandevents.co.nz
What are the cut-off times?
50k – 12hours
100k- 30hours
160k – 48 hours NOTE – These are ‘official’ cut-off times. It is most likely that the race director will still allow you to finish outside of these times depending on distance remaining, your physical condition and other factors that may apply.
Do you allow pacers? (somebody to run sections with you at a set pace) Yes! This year we will. Pacers will be able to start from the beginning of the second loop or up at TW (so they can join you for the ‘loop of despair’ and on through the night… see more info here.
How hard is it going to be? Bloody hard!
Is there minimum gear I need to take? Yes.
- small day backpack.
- rain jacket – it can be just a ‘shell’ but it must be seam-seeled waterproof.
- merino or thermal long sleeve top
- extra fleece/mid wieght wool top we have just added this to the list.
- long tights or trousers
- warm cap or beanie
- polyprop gloves
- survival blanket
- own snacks, gels, energy bars etc
- water bottles/bladders – enough to carry 2 litres of water at all times
- headlight for night-time with back up battery
- reflector stripes or vest or back flashing light for night-time running
- cell phone (recommended but optional)
- gps/compass optional
Good to have in a drop bag at start/finish or TW
water proof trousers.
extra socks and shoes
extra warm/water proof layers.
How much training will I need to do? Shitloads. Training depends on your individual experience and expecations. If you’re experienced and or aiming for a competitive time you’re probably not reading this or you’ll have a pretty good idea of what you need to do anyway. If you’re new to ultra running and just aiming to complete the blimmin thing without doing permanent damage to yourself then my key bits of advice are:
- First of all listen to everyone but follow no-one (actually that’s not my advice – Dean Karnasis said it in one of his books).
- Train your body to eat and drink as you run. Even if you are only going for a 30min run have a slice of bread or a musliebar as you start and have another mouthfull mid way through (lollies/banana/biscutes/crackers/pie…) you will need to eat about every 30mins during an endurance event and after the first few hours nothing tastes good so get used to variety. Practice drinking water and electrolites in your training also.
- Chuck in a bit of biking – this is purely personal and lots of hard-core runners don’t do it but I swear by MTB/cycling as part of my training for long runs – you have to bike hard though – not much point just going out for a cruise. Basically cycle short but hard (up to 1.5hrs hard as you can handle)
- Run slow on your long runs (up to 3 hours) and don’t worry about ‘speed work’ – speed work is where you are most likely to injure yourself.
- Go wild. About once a month go for a full day ‘tramp’ in the mountains. Best to go with a freind and take all the ‘minimum gear’ listed above. Walk the up and the steep down otherwise try to gently jog as much as you can.
Anyone without a bed is welcome to crash (free) at our place in Hawea. Prob 30-40 min to Cromwell itself. I can drive over probably 4-5 people as well to the start.
Geoff
Can you offer any help or advice regarding employment in the area please. Im currently travelling NZ and would really like to get down to cromwell from december onwards so i can earn and train in the area. I would be most greatful to receive your advice
Around that time there is plenty of orchard/vinyard work. You pretty much have to be here though to pop in and visit the places.
Hi there we are 4 women(middle aged) with 16 marathons between us do you think we are kidding ourselves if we attempt the 50k? Not all marathons have been what you would call fast but have been finished. Our training will consist of many hours in the bush run/tramp and 2/3 shorter runs during the week (flat)
Hi Michelle, I think the more women and merrier – I especially like the middle aged bit. Then I wont feel I will be alone…..
Hi Michelle – if you can run a Marathon you can complete our 50k no worries. Especially with such a good training programme! Weekend tramps/runs in the bush with a few extra runs through the week- you’ll be well able to finish within the cut-off of 12hrs. We look forward to seeing you down here in March.
Thanks guys we are really looking forward to the challenge that awaits. We will see you in March – 50k this time who knows 100k next?? (p.s haven’t told the girls that yet!)
HI Terry – since having a practice training run of 100k is out of the question, would you recommend back to back runs – say for example, 5 hours one day and 5 hours the next?
hi there, Just wondered what your thoughts are re Walking it. Is that allowed,or can we walk up and run down
I presume it will be similar to Otago Peninsula Challenge and or Motatapu, but harder
Many thanks
Chrissy
Hi Chrissy – the reality is EVERYONE will be walking quite a few sections of this ultra – so yes you are very welcome to walk. We’d like to think you won’t walk slowly around the whole course, run what you can – as the by-line says up the top right corner – you don’t race this one, you survive it. We do want you to finish the full 160km (100mile) within 48hrs so to do that you won’t be able to ‘shagaround’ too much.
Gortex shoes advised or not?
Hopefully not! Typically it’s a dry course – even if it rains you should be able to dodge the puddles – have a look at the video on our home page – it gives you a good indication of the course.
Hi, I see the 50km cut-off time is quoted as 12 hrs. So my questions are… Do you have a walking event associated with the 50k or would you allow it to be walked only and would it be possible to walk it in that time do you think? Cheers.
Are you running the event next year? Please say YES
Hi, will there be any massage facilities post race?
)
So that I know to pack some cash
Cheers,
Pen
Yes there will – she will also be available at the registration for any taping that competitors may require.
Awesome! Thank you
)
Have a good race guys. I was training for the (my first) 100km – even got up to 50km and 30km back to back the weekend before the quake… so was feeling OK! (I live in CHCH).
I was really looking forward to the race but more pressing matters now than training… Make sure you do it again next year!
Hi Tom, Could you please suggest some cheap hotels around the starting area?
Hi Malik,
The Golden gate lodge is a sponsor of the race ,I’m sure has super ‘Race deals’ and is 4 km down the road from the Race base/start finish line.
03 445 1777 http://www.goldengate.co.nz
Tom
Do all finishers get medals or belt buckles?
All 160km finishers get buckles (as depicted in the top left of our web page banner), all 100km and 50km finishers get a Lisa Tamati original runners bracelet.
Could you please provide driving instruction from Queenstown Airport (ZQN) to “The Shed” Northburn Station?
Click here for directions from Queenstown airport to the Shed.
Hi Malik,
This is our first race! so it will only get bigger from here! only 20 or so entered for the 100 miler so far so we will be able to really look after you! Look forward to seeing you at the end of March.
Tom
Sounds good. I’ll be running the 100K. Not ready for 100 miler just yet. Cheers!
Hi Lisa, I plan on flying down from Chicago for this race. Which airport do I fly into?
Queenstown is 1 hours drive away, and Christchurch is 6 Hours drive, these are the two best options however Wanaka (limited domestic service) is 40 minutes drive away, and Dunedin 3 hours drive away. Hope thats helpful. Tom
Tom, Thanks for the info. I’m waiting to get my visa to enter New Zealand now. Do you expect this race to sell out soon? How has it been in the past years?
Hi there,
Do you guys need volunteers for the event?
Regards,
Martin
Hi Martin, YES always looking for volunteers, please send through all your contact details and wether you have access to a 4wdrive and wether you would be happy to camp out on at a marshal point, for part of race?
Thanks Tom
Thanks tom,
Is there an email address I can send it to or can you contact me via the email address provided in the reply.
Martin
Hello
Do you have elevation profiles of the track?
Cheers
Yep, they’re up now – see here http://northburn100.co.nz/route-profiles/