Ultramarathon Run Planned for Bay of Plenty

Most normal people traveling from Rotorua to the Eastern Bay of Plenty would drive past a spectacular series of lakes. Ultrarunners are otherwise normal people that like to do things the hard  way every once in a while. For them, The Tarawera Ultramarathon offers a scenic and adventurous alternative route that traverses a whole different set of lakes and bush.

The March 21 event is more of an adventure than a running race. "I like to enter events that I do not know I can finish" says Race Director Paul Charteris. It's the fear of the unknown that makes the accomplishment all the more rewarding.  It's the sort of event you have to train for, you cannot bluff your way through an ultra.  It's genuinely a case of no guts, no glory.     

Many athletes will be running further in a single day than they have ever run in their life and will be exploring new places.  I do not know of anyone who has connected these different track together in one go before. It's an exciting prospect says Charteris.    

The Tarawera Ultramarathon is 50-miles or 80km and is mostly on trails or forestry roads. The course starts at The Redwoods in the Whakarewarewa Forest then winds around Lakes Tikitapu, Okareka, Okataina and Lake Tarawera. When you see Lake Tarawera for the first time you will have just completed a marathon! The Northern Tarawera Track continues to the outlet and from here it's all downstream as you follow the river past the Falls to the township of Kawerau.

In addition to the full distance, there will be a shorter 55km ultra. run option which finishes at the Tarawera Falls. It's an absolutely sweet spot to end a run. The swimming hole there is one of the best in the Bay of Plenty (ask any local). There are relay options available for those with fewer miles on their legs.

At the finish line in Kawerau there's a cold stream to soak those weary legs plus free thermal hotpools and spa pool. The guys from nearby Te Teko are putting on a Hangi dinner. You need lots of really
good kai after a run like that.

website: http://www.taraweraultra.co.nz/