Event Countdown Todays Date: 1 Day left until next event

Individual Entrants:

Race number & transponder picked up from the event base on the day of the event.  We recommend checking into this area at least 45 minutes prior to your scheduled start time.

Series Entrants:

Remember to bring the race number you picked up at race 1. You need to pick up a new transponder and get your name ticked off at the registration tent at the event base on the day of the event. If you didn’t pick up your race number at race 1 we will have it at the rego tent waiting for you. Remember if you are changing up or down courses we need to know so please let us know. We recommend checking into this area at least 45 minutes prior to your scheduled start time.

Course Distance:
6.4km

Course Overview:
You guys will start in the Upper Mangatawhiri camp site.  The course is a 50-50 mix of awesome dirt trail with a couple of little stream crossings and open gravel road.  Nothing too hard for you guys.  The gravel is all flat and the trail has a few more ups and downs but nothing too major.  Watch out for the odd patch of mud and the tree roots that may trip you up.

Road/Trail used:
Blackberry trail, Mangatangi Hill Rd, Moumoukai Valley Rd, River trail.

Drink Stations:
2.9km

Toughness Factor:       
6/10

Course Profile:
short_elevation.pdf (5.25kb)


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Course Distance:          
12.4km

Course Overview:
You guys will start in the Upper Mangatawhiri camp site.  The course is a 50-50 mix of awesome dirt and gravel trail with a couple of little stream crossings and open gravel road. This course will be predominantly flat for the first half and then kicks into some more undulating stuff when you get into the single track trails. 

Road/ trails used:
Blackberry trail, Mangatangi Hill Rd, Moumoukai Valley Rd, River trail, Farm trail, Manning Rd.

Drink Stations:              
3.5km and 9.1km

Toughness Factor         
6/10

Course Profile:
mid_elevation.pdf (5.76kb)


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Course Distance:
Long course 17.6km


Course Overview:
You will start in the Upper Mangatawhiri campsite.  Your course is a significant step up in terms of toughness from Woodhill.  It has a number of steep climbs and some technical running through narrow tramping tracks that have a bit of mud and lots of tree roots to catch you out.  It is important to stay alert and maybe sacrifice some speed for accuracy of foot placement.  Be prepared for a good workout! 

Road/trails used:
Blackberry trail, Mangatangi Hill Rd, Moumoukai Valley Rd, River trail, Farm trail, Manning Rd, Graeme White Rd, National downhill track (you are running up it!), Pukapuka Track, Lilburne Rd across the Dam face.

COURSE CUT OFF TIME – 1.30PM (ie four ½ hours) WALKERS MUST ENTER THE MID OR SHORT COURSES AT THIS EVENT.

We won’t lie. This course is tough and for those that have been with us for a while it is probably on par with the Piha long course. So while it’s certainly achievable it’s tough – and it’s just the way we like to deliver these puppies to you! If you’re a roadie thinking of dabbling in this off-road course prepare for your running time to be nowhere near your best on road time for a half marathon - infact depending on your fitness level expect to add at a minimum 30 minutes but more realistically 45 minutes to an hour (& quite conceivably more!).

Basically we are saying it’s unwise to enter this one without being prepared and Bryce and I highly highly recommend you all take camelbak’s with you on this one.

The drink stations are out there but it’s not wise to rely on these. There’s also the gnarly 6.5km section of the rooty and technical (yet friggen fantastic!) Pukapuka track which you’ll be on your own for and this track will definitely beat you around abit (check out the elevation profile & you’ll see what I mean). While the absolute gun’s might knock this section off around the 35-40 minute mark the bulk of you will be working away for close to an hour (or likely more due to the fact it’s at the end of the run).

And the good news folks – you pop out of there and it’s all downhill to the finish – if you’re not at full leg lock by then that is! I’ll see you at the finish for a beer – it’ll be well earned!

Drink Stations:
3.5km
6.1km
8.1km
14.4km

Toughness Factor:
9/10

Course Profile:       
long_elevation.pdf (5.86kb


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This year we will be trialling a new course marking system.  You will still be following hanging blue XTERRA tape and our red arrows on a white coreflute backing however when you reach an intersection you will see some different coloured triangular arrows. 

Longies will be following green triangular arrows,

mid course will follow red triangular arrows

and shorties will follow blue triangular arrows.

It is important that when you reach an intersection you follow your coloured triangular arrow & do not cross any tape that is laid on the ground at any time – this tape is laid out to stop you going in a particular direction.  After you have passed an intersection you will again be following generic hanging blue XTERRA tape and red arrows.  For piece of mind there will be another triangular arrow of your colour just past the intersection to confirm you are on the right track.

These courses will be checked and rechecked on the morning of the event but it is important you keep your eyes open out there!

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We strongly recommend that all competitors come to these events sensibly prepared as some of these courses are very tough and weather conditions can be extremely changeable. 

We recommend running with a camelbak loaded with up to 2L of water and/or Balance along with Balance squeezy’s and other nutritional nibbles. 

You can expect to be away from base for a decent period of time at these events! 

While event medics will be at each event & competitors may encounter on course marshals with first aid on them it also pays to be safety conscious and carry items like a

basic first aid kit,
cell phone,
whistle
and additional warm clothing.

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Join the XTERRA facebook group click here!

There will be a parking area right by the registration and start line in the camp site. It is however limited in space so please CARPOOL CARPOOL CARPOOL!

Total sport has a new forum    (click here to view) on our website so we encourage you to get on there and find like minded off roaders in your area that you can carpool with!

We will have numerous parking marshals at event #2 directing you where to park so please follow their instructions & keep in mind that short walks to the registration area are inevitable for events of this size in locations like this. 

The parking marshalls participate in the events so if you don’t listen to them you may encounter some “trouble” on the trails…