And for the rookies to ultra mountain running we have a 50km option.
Once around the first 50km loop (of the 100km and 160km courses) taking you from 200m above sea level (Start/finish) up over the top of Northburn Station at around 1660m. Total climb of 2600m
There will be plenty of marshals along key areas of the course. The course will be well marked with directional arrows and reflective tape. There will be one aid station about half way with nutrition and electrolyte supplements. There will only be a couple of fresh water re-fill positions (creeks) along the course so a water carrying capacity of about 2L per person is important. there will be some compulsory re-fill points.
This is a dry, hard, rocky course mostly run over high country 4WD tracks but also including some short sections of fence lines and sheep tracks. The weather can be ‘changeable’ so your minimum gear must be carried at all times.
Minimum gear requirements are:
- small day backpack.
- rain jacket – it can be just a ‘shell’ but it must be seam-sealed waterproof.
- merino or thermal long sleeve top
- extra fleece/mid weight wool top we have just added this to the list.
- Whistle
- long thermal tights or trousers
- warm beanie or Thir Band
- 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 the early start
- reflector stripes or vest or back flashing light for the early start.
- cell phone (recommended but optional)
- gps/compass (optional)
- gaiters (optional but highly recommended)
Start: 6am Saturday, at the Marquee, Northburn Station.
$170 until end of February.
$200 from 1st March
[…] to work just in time to begin wire rearranging and it also was the week I began training for the Northburn ultra marathon. I’m so buggered I can’t focus to write this […]
Are the dates set for 2015 yet?
No. But most likely to be the 2nd last weekend in March.
[…] good training outing I reckon, after reading the Northburn Station 50km stats, this track will be very useful. In fact, I think part of it is actually used in the race. Is it […]
Hi – I am thinking I might do the 50km – it depends how I pull up after the Motatapu Marathon – which is 9th March. Am I correct that it will cost me $210 to run 50km if I enter on 12th March??
Yep. For organisational purposes we realy need people to register in advance – while one or two late entries don’t impact too much we need to be fair on everyone else who’s entered early. We could not put on events like this if it was just enter a couple of weeks prior as you can get away with on small, easier to manage courses… If you enter now then injur yourself during Motatapu – we’re happy to hold your entry over until next year?
Thanks. I just entered.
Hi I am doing the Tarawera 100km the week before but would like to come down and do the 50km to get a taste of it before I do the 100 miler in 2014.I have been told not to enter untill after Tarawera to see how I feel but then I would need to pay $50 more, Could I enter before and If I get injured or something during Tarawera. Could my 50km entry goes towards my 100 miler entry for the next year? If that makes sense. Thanks
Yes – great idea – happy to hold over ‘cancilations’ until next year – just pay the difference.
Hopefully you won’t need to and you can do the fun run!
Hi
I am relatively new to running, only been running about 5 months, just recently ran the 50k at the great naseby water race ( rather slowly, finishing in just under 6 hours ). Are there any other events that would be better prep for northburn 50k that you could reccomend?
Hi Will, I’m not sure where you’re based – up north there is this one which would be good training http://www.facebook.com/events/235132919939235/ and down here we have a couple – http://www.highlandevents.co.nz/the-big-easy-mountain-marathon this is a goody but not too much up-hill, otherwise the http://www.activeqt.co.nz/events/shotover-moonlight/race-details/ is a beauty – one month before our event too so perfect last big hit-out.
To get this race registered as a qualifying race for the UTMB in France the following information is required. Please could you supply information for 6-9 & 11 for the 100k race. Tahnks
1. name of the race
2· country
3· state or department for the US or France
4· date of the race
5· distance
6· positive altitude change
7· if race by stages : number of stages, distance and positive altitude change of the hardest stage
8· time of the 1st
9· number of refreshment points
10· address of the internet site
11. email address of the organiser
Hi Alison – from the Auckland Marathon onwards there are two good offroad options in Auckland for you to try …
The Speights West Coaster a week after the Marathon on the 6th of November http://www.totalsport.co.nz/events/wildwest/index.php
The Lactic Turkey 1/2 Marathon in January : http://www.lacticturkey.co.nz/WTHome.htm
– both of them will give you a good taste of off road running.
I have only run a half marathon, currently training to do the Auckland Half in October.. Would I have time to get up to 50km? and having said that, are there groups around I can join that could help me get there? I currently do my long runs with the YMCA Marathon group here in Auckland but they will only be in maintenance mode over summer.
Hi Alison – yes you could do the 50k but it would be an absolute mission. One or two Marathons between now and then would be good training but it would be important not to ‘race hard’ on the Marathons because that would probibly be ‘over-doing’ things!
See our facebook group page and possibly hook-up with someone through that?? http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=112196928821121&ref=ts