Races
Tarawera
One hundred miles of Rotorua forest. Rolling pine singletrack. WSER stones for finishers under cutoff.
100 mi+16,826 ft-16,909 ft36 hours454 ft to 2,396 fttech 5/106 stationsRotoruaWSER qualifierFebruaryRunning Stones · 4 stones
Distance100 mi
Gain+16,826 ft
Loss-16,909 ft
Altitude454 ft to 2,396 ft
Technicality5/10
Air50°F to 85°F
- Start1,018 ft
- High2,362 ft
- Low469 ft
- Finish934 ft
- Rotorua at mile 0.0
- Tarawera mile 20 at mile 20, cutoff 7.2 hours
- Tarawera mile 40 at mile 40, cutoff 14.4 hours
- Tarawera mile 60 at mile 60, cutoff 21.599999999999998 hours
- Tarawera mile 80 at mile 80, cutoff 28.8 hours
- Finish New Zealand at mile 100, cutoff 36 hours
Geometrycourse math
Steepest drop751 ft-7.1% over 2.0 mi
Night miles36 misunset near 19:00 local
The cruxBack-half forest loops with sleep debt on rolling terrain (near mile 65)
Course DNA
The Course
Tarawera runs 100 mi through Rotorua, New Zealand. +16,826 ft gain and -16,909 ft loss. Surfaces skew 80% forest trail / 15% road / 5% beach. Back-half forest loops with sleep debt on rolling terrain. High point near 2,396 ft. Low near 454 ft. February temps run 50°F to 85°F. The course rewards patience early and punishes rushed descents after mile 50.
The Work
Train for 16,826 feet of climbing across 100 mi. Back-to-back long runs on trail. Practice power-hiking grades above 15 percent. 36 hours total means limited margin: rehearse fueling every 45 to 60 minutes and downhill eccentric work weekly. Technicality 5/10. Build a block that simulates the crux near mile 65.
Kit
February in Rotorua, New Zealand: plan for 50°F to 85°F. Mandatory shell if rain is in forecast. Headlamp with spare batteries if 36 hours pushes past dark. Poles help on sustained climbs above mile 25. Vest capacity for 2 liters minimum. Shoes matched to 80% forest trail: lugs for mud, rock plate if the course turns technical after mile 50.
Race Day
Hold effort through mile 25. The field often splits on the first big climb after mile 50. Back-half forest loops with sleep debt on rolling terrain near mile 65 is where time is won or lost. Walk the steep pinches. Run the flats and gentle downhills. Crew at major aids: socks, calories, ice if hot. Transitions under 5 minutes when possible. Final third is 33 miles of fatigue management. Finish with reserve for the last descent.
Results
Tarawera finish lines.
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Sources (1)
- Qualifier: utmb_stones: https://utmb.world/utmb-world-series