Untitled - Dark Peak Fell Runners

Spring 2003
Middle Earth Mountain Running
Mountain running as it is called here, is miniscule compared to the UK, but there are
some great established races and a growing number of new ones each year. The sport
is slightly overshadowed by "Multisport" and Adventure Racing, both of which give
participants the excuse to go off and spend loads of money on outdoor toys ie fancy
kayaks and bikes (road and MTB). The Coast-to-Coast event is the daddy of them all,
(around 1000 taking part each year), and this has spawned a host of similar run-bikekayak
races in wild places elsewhere around the country. But it's probably fair to say
that pure mountain running also benefits from the big media events like the Coast-to-
Coast and the Southern Traverse (5 day non-stop adventure race), as competitors in
these races look to hone their skills and fitness in running.
A selection of New Zealand races:
Date Event Length Terrain
& record
Jan Croesus 17m old gold mining trail through bush up on to the Paparoa
3rd w/e Crossing 2h 26m Range - easy gradient. Open tops at 3000'. Then very
steep decent on rough track to finish at sea level. See:
http://www.coolrunning.co.nz/nelsonstriders/
Jan Holdsworth- 15m Gradual ascent in bush on well made walking track.
4 th w/e Jumbo 2h 2m Out onto open tops. Ridge run on no track, before very
steep decent through bush to valley floor. Final 4m on
easy riverside track can be agony if the descent is
taken too hard. See:
www.trusthouse.co.nz/sport/mountain/index.htm
Feb Avalanche 15m Steep ascent of Avalanche Peak on a track through
3rd w/e Peak, Arthurs 2h 20m bush from Arthur's Pass village. Knife-edge ridge,
Pass, Central
before dropping down a back valley on scree to
South Island
boulder river bed and then river flats. Finish at the
Bealy Pub.
May Routeburn 24m New race on one of NZ's premier walking tracks.
1st w/e Rage, near
Stunning scenery. High point is the crossing of Harris
Queenstown,
Saddle at 3,800'. An alpine event where snow is a
South island
distinct possibility. See:
http://www.totaloutdoormomentum.com/routeburn.htm
Sept Abel Tasman 22m Undulating run along the golden coastline of the
1st w/e Coastal 2h 23m pristine Abel Tasman National Park. Mosty formed
Classic, Top
track, but also one long beach section.
of South
island
Dec Kepler 42m Long distance run on another popular walking track.
1st w/e Challenge, 4h 41 m Very well organised event. Ascent through bush to
Fiordland -
open tops. 10m of ridge running, before sharp descent
Southwest,
into bush clad valley. 34m of gentle downhill to finish.
jSouth Island
See: http://www.keplerchallenge.co.nz/