in their own words 2010 & 2009...
Thanks Paul and all of the volunteers for making it such an amazing day. Without you guys we would have never been able to meet so many new amazing people and push our bodies harder than they have ever been pushed before.
Michelle D. Auckland.
To all those who organized, all those who sponsored, all those who supported and to all those who ran (ahead,beside and behind!) thank you! magic day =)
Jodi P. Whakatane
Thanks Paul for putting on a wonderful event. The aid stations rocked and the trail was fantastic. It has now made the top of my "favourite ultra trails" in NZ list. I hope to be back next year.
Lisa N. Rangiora
Thank you to Paul and everyone involved in organising Saturdays event. It was amazing and incredibly challenging and I'm still reflecting on every step of my 100ks!! The aid stations were such a welcome sight and all the people at them so warm, helpful and supportive. Thank you Thank you! Also to Dr Mick from Ashburton..., the first fellow 100k runner I met at the 60k mark who stuck with me for the next 40ks, you're amazing and made the last half of the day so much easier than it would have been on my own. I think you were right Paul my memory seems to be fading already so I might have to come back next year!!
Belinda A. Invercargill
What a fantastic run, thank you so much for organising it.Thoroughly enjoyed myself out there, being my first Ultra 100km ultra did not know what to expect but it all went according to plan, no mishaps and I just loved running the dark in the bush, what an experience :). The supporters at the aid stations were b...rilliant so entertaining and supportive, even the ones coming close to midnight as I plodded in, thank you so much. Definitely going to do it again next year. Cheers!
Jane M. Christchurch
What a fantastic event! Well done to Paul and his army of supporters for making this an amazing experience (although Paul, you're off my Xmas card list for that 5km Awaroa loop). Thanks so much to all who fed and watered us at the aid stations, offered encouraging words and smiles as we plodded past you, to the cheering mob at the finish line, and to Hayden, Warren and his pacer (who'd've thought we had a sprint finish in us after 100km, eh?). Roll on 2011!
Scott M. Wellington
Paul, Thanks heaps for yesterday. Runners and spectators alike had a great day. Special thanks to the volunteers too. See you next year
Deion C. Tauranga
Thanks Paul! It was a great event - my first one, and hopefully not my last! Thanks also to all the people at the aid stations along the way - they all did a fantastic job. Thanks again :-)
Julie D. Auckland
Thank you so much to Paul and all of the volunteers! The volunteers were great and always helpful with info, food, water, kind words, etc. The fans were great too- especially the kids with the "Go Dad" t-shirts, I love the funky chicken! Those dads were also really nice and I enjoyed talking to them while slogging through the 100k. This was my first ultra and I couldn't imagine a better event in any way- from sunrise start to soaking in the pools in the dark. Finally, congrats to all of the racers. Everyone was so friendly and kind to me all day and it never felt like a race, but more of a collective accomplishment. Great job everyone!!!
Patrick T. Wanganui
Thank you thank you thank you so much. That was a brilliant day. Well done Kerry for taking it out. If you ever get tired of running you should have a crack as a stand up. Will be back next year, for sure!
Mark C. Auckland
Awesome fun yesterday Paul, still buzzing and that was from the relay event so I can't imagine how you ultra people are feeling, well done all - you are legends in my eyes. Thanks so much for a fantastic event and we'll try to make it an annual fixture from down South.
Frances M. Christchurch
I just wanted to pass on my sincere thanks and congratulations for such a spectacular event. The route changes from the 60km mark really took the challenge up a notch! Thanks also to all the volunteers – their contribution to the success of the event is inestimable. It must’ve been a long day for all of them, particularly the two lads out at the 5km forestry loop on the 100km course. I’m already excited about next year and will eagerly await the opening of registrations... The Tarawera is without doubt the best organised, best provisioned, most picturesque, fun and certainly the most challenging ultra NZ has to offer. Long live the Tarawera.
Justin W. Auckland
What an awesome event that was! Such a friendly atmosphere, great (hilly!) tracks, magnificent aid stations manned by wonderful people, the most incredible views, a real challenge ... you may just see me back some time! My friend and I had a wonderful experience.
Ingrid T. Rotorua
I have run dozens of ultramarathons around the world. Tarawera is one of the best races going – the combination of aid stations, course and volunteers are world-class.
Dr. Jo. Whakatane
Thanks for organising a wonderful event. The course was scenic and challenging and we had a blast. Look forward to the next one! :o)
Vivian Cheng, Wellington
Thanks for organising a wonderful event. The course was scenic and challenging and we had a blast. Look forward to the next one! :o)
Vivian Cheng, Wellington
You Rock! You did the most fantastic job with the Tarawera Ultra. Excellent trails & scenery, superb volunteers, and the bestest food ever! It's a sure winner! Please reserve a spot for me next year.
Peter McHannigan, Tauranga
Having never run a half marathon before let alone a full marathon……and definitely not an ultra….. I was a tad nervous pre event but yourself and everyone involved provided fantastic support.
You have an amazing event in, quiet possibly, the most beautiful/idyllic part of the country. I wish you all the success going forward and please get in touch when entries open for 2010!
Please pass on my regards to all volunteers/sponsors who helped make the event such a huge success.
Jimmy Jetpack, Wellington
Paul I can't sum up in words what an outstanding success this event was. You and your ARMY of volunteers did an AMAZING job. What seemed like a logistical nightmare, ran like a well oiled machine. Best trail run in the country. No question.
Kerry Suter, Hamilton.
Overall Winner. 2009 Tarawera Ultramarathon
I wanted to pass on my congratulations for putting together such a fantastic event. It was astonishingly well organised and I hugely appreciated the opportunity to run such an amazing course.
Please pass on congratulations and thanks to your team of helpers, volunteers etc. I really had a great time and am already looking forward to next year.
Justin Walsh, Auckland
If you want an adventure mixed with scenic views, proper trail tracks (90%) and a perfect organisation, “The Tarawera Ultramarathon” (80km) is the place to be. The first 35 km are up and down around the Blue Lake and at the end is the first food station before you enter the forest again. Between 35 and 55 km it is just incredible hard, think about steep narrow single track up and down with some huge drops, roots and stones everywhere -and you have to be sharp to stay on the track. However, you pass one of the most scenic views; the Tarawera falls.
Around 45 km, I had my most difficult moment. During other endurance events I have hit “the wall” but this was just incredible. From 55 km onwards the roads where proper gravel roads mixed with nice forest runs, but I was not home yet! Paul, the organiser had put surprises at the end, a couple of steep hills to test your limits ...
Rik De Smet, Whangaparoa
Congrats to Paul Charteris for putting on the inaugural Tarawera Ultramarathon. As a first time ultramarathon trail runner, this was an amazing event to be part of. The scenery was fantastic, the "Californian style" aid stations provided a great supply of food and drink and the best aid station crews you would find anywhere.
It was great to meet so many supportive and social people along the way ~ it seems that ultramarathoners are a friendly, ego free, bunch of people.
If you have ever thought about doing some off road running, in some of the best country NZ has to offer. Thanks to your great team of volunteer and to the guys who kept me laughing for 60kms.
Anne Bulley, Ohope Beach
It is hard to describe how great it was. I wouldn't have known you were a first time race director given the professional presentation of everything associated with the event. I even treasure my geographx map of the route. It's hard to believe we travelled that far on foot!
I second the vote of thanks to the volunteers. What great aid stations! I've never had my CamelBak filled for me before. Special thanks to the helper who plastered me with sun block at Whio Road. The atmosphere, especially at the large aid stations, was fantastic. I could just imagine being a spectator at the Tarawera Falls aid station watching runners pop out of the trail and blink into the carnival scene in the bright sunlight.
The bush and lakes in the first half were rivalled by the exotic forest in the second. As much as it was nice to hit the flats it was equally nice to be in the bush. The free hot pools by the finish were icing on the cake. It was certainly a tough race - my first trail run - but very satisfying to complete it. As I ran it was easy to imagine that I was in one of those U.S. ultras that I have read about in books. Thanks again and I encourage others to enter next year for a real life experience.
Simon Clendon, Auckland
The Tarawera Ultra was nothing short of awesome (I know I have a tendency of talking them all up... but this one was certainly something special), just like Nathan's events, this one went off like clockwork and Paul Charteris deserves a huge pat on the back for all of the tireless efforts that he put into making this thing happen. The track/course gets a big thumbs up from me, the condition of the track would rival the Kepler in many places. You run past/around four lakes, though vast tracts of native bush.... it was stunning.
As you already know, the support was amazing. For us South Island ultra runners it really seemed a bit 'over the top' as this isn't what I've come to expect, even on the Kepler I still run essentially self sufficient, just like you guys. I'm not saying that this is a bad thing (cause it's not - it's great), it's just not what we are usually used to... For instance, there were sweepers on Mountain bikes asking if you were OK and if you wanted anything... now that certainly isn't what I've come to expect, or require, on our usual expeditions...
Regarding your queries: The event was great! Well organised, excellent support, great track, met heaps of really nice people who seem to be just the right amount of crazy... Yep, it was hard - I would say that this one was harder than doing The Heaphy. Yep, I would certainly recommend that all of the South Island ultra guys do the Tarawera Ultra, without any reservation. Of course I would do it again - that's a silly question...
Kim Ransfield, Christchurch
I'd just like to say that I had one of the most enjoyable days ever last weekend. It's safe to say that I met a ton of great people along the way and made some friends too. I thought you organised one of the best races I've been to, don't know how else you could improve it..
Carl Laffan, Lower Hutt
Scenic is an oft-quoted word used to describe nz trails. But, if you have the seasoned adventure runners raving about the course, then it's really something else. Also worth noting is how well thought out the course was -- having aid stations placed at accesible locations to make the event spectator-friendly, but also enabling runners like me to get back to wild trails extremely quick is awesome. Hats off to everyone who made this fantastic event possible!
Paul De Vera, Wellington
Cooling off after finishing the 60km run. 2009 Tarawera Ultra.
