Luke racing the ATCC.

Luke Hurring, the 2013 Routeburn Classic winner, lined up recently in the 20th running of the Abel Tasman Coastal Classic. And while Luke was battling it out with eventual winner Dave Parsons and Dallas Wichman, his wife Kellie run away with the win in the woman’s race. Below is Likes race report.

The 2013 Abel Tasman Coastal Classic was a pretty late race on the agenda for us (Kellie and I), after missing out on a speculative entry in the Kepler, we had heard from a friend that despite a full field; spots on the waitlist for Abel Tasman Coastal Classic often came up. With this in mind we had emailed Nelson Events, and true to form, by mid – late August they had had enough people withdraw and were able to offer us a spot.

We had our interest in the event piqued a few years earlier when we had supported a friend who was racing – as much as you can support from the café at Marahau! and had spent time Holidaying at both ends of the track (Marahau and Totoranui) – so had seen snippets of either end to whet our appetite– but had never seen the whole track – a bit of an indictment for a couple outdoor loving South Islanders.

The 20 Year anniversary course used this year which ran all the way from Totoranui to Marahau was a perfect way to see the full track (Normally the course begins at the Awaroa inlet) this added about 5-7km to the total distance depending on whose GPS you trust, and also added an estuary crossing at Awaroa to the tidal dilemma for the organisers which allowed for some pretty glamorous Baywatch style ‘wading’ through the estuary for us.

Despite incessant rain overnight, and a pretty dismal forecast – the day itself actually dawned really good and was sunny enough to make everything bling aesthetically, but not really warm enough for the heat to cause any major issues.

The start time was slightly later than most at 10am, one of the unique aspects of the race is there is no set start time. Due to the logistics of tides, and boats and buses required to get to the start, the race starts when it can! Something for first timers to take note of.

ATCC winner Dave Parsons

I enjoyed running with Dallas, and Dave for around 70mins – where they duly left me to my own devices just before the final aide station… ATCC compared to other similar races (due to the relatively low alpine nature) has a pretty low compulsory gear requirement – with the exception of carrying a water vessel – with water, this is because there is no aide stations in the last 15km and therefore metering out your fuel over the full distance becomes a key part of the race.

Once on my own I struggled for a decent patch but after some ravenous feeding and drinking, and refilling from a couple of handily located creeks over the final 15km, I had a pretty reasonable (downhill) last few km’s to the finish to hold off a very fast finishing Richard Seigne in 4^th.

ATCC epitomises all the good things about a New Zealand trail race- spectacular scenery, spectacular part of the country – a big field and you feel well looked after with a really good race dinner, and prize giving in Marahau. Like a lot of others – we stayed on for a couple of days in Kaiteriteri to enjoy the spoils of the region, the Stoke Brewery, Te Waikorupupu Springs etc – and the event certainly lends itself well to that kind of ‘Holiday Race’ – if that’s the way you like to holiday!

Nelson Mail/Stuff Story on the ATCC

Full Results

Shutter Sports Photo Gallery

This weekends Able Tasman Coastal Classic will have its usual strong field (a quick look at the start list and the likes of recent Naseby 50km winner Ben Aynsley and the top 2 finishers at this years Routeburn- Luke Hurring and Dallas Wichman are my pick as as the first 3 across the line), but more importantly than the front runners, is this will mark the 20th running of the Able Tasman Coastal Classic.

Back in the early 1990’s trail running was in its infancy with the amount of events happening in New Zealand being able to be counted on a few fingers. A few athletes were beginning to question their allegiance to tarmac and time keeping.

Averil and Graeme West  had had enough of marathons along the bitumen and sitting in Nelson’s Chez Eelco Coffee Bar one Sunday 1993 morning,along with Marie Lenting plus  Joanne & Greg Fraine, the 350 Year Celebration banner of Abel Janzoon Tasman was spotted hanging on the Dutch proprietor’s wall.

That was enough to spark off an inspiration and from there the beginnings of one of the nation’s most popular trail runs began. In September 1994 a sell out 250 strong field lined up at Marahau but it was all but a disaster. A 100 year storm lashed  Tasman Bay that day, drenching runners on the way out then making them sea sick on the boat trip back.

“It was terrible” remembers Averil, “ We had all these runners wet and freezing and we got then straight on the boats headed back to Marahau.

But the weather only got worse and the boats could not come back to get us. Here we are , the race organizers, stranded and huddled  together until the bus arrived to take us back over the Takaka Hill.

At least we weren’t bored on the drive back to base as Graeme had a “few” calculations to determine, as finishers times were required for prizegiving an hour or so away…no swank portable computers available in those days with results all needing reconciling by pen & paper, made harder by the handicap starts “

Most races would have been ruined but competitors that day looked past the obvious and saw the Abel Tasman Coastal Classic for what it could be and they kept coming back

Three have “survived “ since the beginning and Chris Gates, Owen Rowse and Colin Rolfe will line up for number 20 on Saturday. Barry Rowe will notch up his fifteenth while four others  Steve Clementson,, Rob Blackburne, Gary Dick & Roland Meyer will  have ten or more finishers to their credit.
Organisers , Nelson Events, have had plenty of voluntary support over the run’s history with Motueka’s Search & Rescue Team using the event as a valuable training exercise while the Motueka Round Tabler’s man the aid the drink stations and enjoy their weekend camaraderie.

They will be back assisting the celebration as will 350 plus runners from all over the country plus a few venturing from overseas.

All signed up months ago for a race aimed at giving them what they want…..simply a runners reason for a weekend away and earning their “stripes’ by completing the 40km journey from Totaranui back to Marahau along Nelson’s “jewel in the crown” coast track

Full details on www.nelsonevents.co.nz

21st October- Twizel PyramidRun

From this past weekend-

• Nelson Events Dun Run- BCR Race Report is up HERE
• Xterra Trail Challenge Waihi- we will hopefully get a small write up with comments from a few of the top finishers this week
• Crater Rim Run in Christchurch-  23km; Nathan Peterson 1h 40m 56s. Tania Cooper 1h 52m 36s. 16.5km; David Fitch 1h 19m 3s. Alex Thornton 1h 35m 57s. Full Results HERE

A few guest post- one on race records and the other on living it up on the trails of the South Island over the summer, another “Top Town” post and Xterra Waihi reports.

Aussie Richard Bowers is 3 days into becoming the first person to run Te Araroa (yeah, an Aussie is gonna do it first! If you don’t like it then you better pull finger and run him down asap!) Below is a little video from day 1. Should be epic to follow!

Sorry this is short, but stay tuned for a few good posts later in the week!

Race report by competitor and occasional BCR reporter Gareth Rapley.

FULL RESULTS HERE

What is New Zealand’s Top TRAIL Town? Hmm, could there be a bigger can of worms?

“The bread and butter run”- a quick and easy, no brainer option for scoring some nice off road/single track close to home. Ideally with little to no drive time.
“Fortune favours the brave”- long , endurance, adventure run – whatever you call it- this is the training run than gets you excited- the most work, with the biggest reward. Steep, long climbs, big loops, and high peaks, all with top notch NZ scenery are the highlights here.
“The biggest show in town”- the main attraction event wise- when people think of a race in your home town/area this is what they think of.
“Après Trail”- whether it be a good coffee, local micro brew, or the best thick shake in town- where is the best post run hang out. Most likely goes hand in hand with the “Fortune favours the brave” run or the “The biggest show in town” race. Quality pizza and/or burgers are a bonus.

Chris cranking on one of the fine trails in the Nelson region

Last week we caught up with Kristain Day from the mighty Kaweka’s, this week it is Chris Gates, who has been running trails around Nelson for about as long as KDay has been alive!  Chris started running in events like the Tramper’s Marathon, over the 5 mile track and Butcher Baker track, hosted by the Tararua Tramping club (where they had to wear tramping boots!). Fast forward and Chris has spent the last 20 years in Nelson, where he started to do trail events, mainly those run by Nelson Events.

Coming At You This week

Some great races around the country coming up as well as some good reads on BCR…..

Saturday October 13th

• Total Sports XTERRA Trail Challenge Waihi with 5 different race options, including the National Trail Running Champs and Total Sports first ultra race, the 60km “Kaimai killer”. Check back tomorrow for a BCR race preview of the  XTERRA Trail
  Challenge Waihi
• Nelson Events Subway Dun Run- a point-to-point 22km  trail run, ascending the Dun Mountain Saddle at the OK Corral on Brook Street in Nelson. Nelson Events often have good pre race press releases and we will share that this week if they do have one for the Dun Run.

Sunday October 14th

• Crater Rim Trail Run in the Port Hills Christchurch, with 2 options-  16.5K or 23K.  Both races are out and back, starting in St Martins with the 23km going out to the Hoon Hay Reserve and back. With the last 8(?) Kepler Challenge winners coming from Christchurch this race often has a very strong field as Chch top trail runners build up to the Kepler in December.

This week BCR will welcome 2 new guest posters, with our Xterra Trail Challenge Waihi preview and our next installment of the home town pride inducing “Top Town” series. And the one and only “Mouth of the South” might even have something in the works…

BCR Trail Shop News-

• Our smoking 20-30% off Patagonia deal ends this week. Still to decide if, or what kind of deal we might run after that, best to sign up to the BCR Trail Shop newsletter to find out!
• The 155gm Montane Lite Speed H2O Jacket (hooded and seam sealed) has been a hit as people look to save weight and space, so much so we sold out of the Med sizes in this jacket. Good news is we are able to get more in- yet to confirm how many and which sizes- so if you are keen, get in touch to pre order. Also hoping to be able to order in the women’s version this time.

If you haven’t yet, make sure you check out our Facebook page- facebook.com/TheBackcountryRunner and follow us on Twitter- @bcrunz

Vajin and wife Prasasta at the Abel Tasman Coastal Classic

 The Abel Tasman Coastal Classic took place this past weekend in good conditions and some good racing up front. Below is Vajin Armstrong’s Abel Tasman Coastal Classic Race Report-

Anyone keen on trying to take out one of the titles in the Top of the South Trail Series? Well they better make sure they bring their A game. As with Graham Taylor, Phil Costley and Simon Mardon the Nelson region has three of the best in the business, ready to fend off any “out of towners”. The fact that they are also almost all in the Masters Ranks is even more impressive. Last year I headed up to Nelson during the bulk of my Kepler training to race the Dun Run, I had the lead at the top only to see the rangey figure of Graham Taylor streak past on the long decent to the finish. It was only later I would find out this was one of his local training loops and he knew that decent like the back of his hand…Had I learnt my lesson from last year? No, not really, but I did head up to Nelson with hopes of a good performance. The Abel Tasman is one of the true classics in the New Zealand Trail Running scene, with this year being the 19th running of the event. They still have three of the originals from that first event who have been back each year and ran every one of them. A race has to be pretty outstanding to inspire that sort of dedication, and this race has outstanding pretty much sorted. It sells out its 300 spots pretty early on and makes the race into a real event by including not only lunch, but also a great buffet dinner. On first inspection it may seem to be on the expensive side but when you consider you are getting a boat ride out to the start, plus two meals you have to say that you are getting pretty good value for money on this one. Factor in that this is also one of the prettiest sections of costal track you are ever likey to see, you can see why it keeps drawing people back.
Anyway back to the race, unfortunately due to my position as one of the competitors in the event my report will be quite biased due to the fact that I didn’t really see anyone after Tonga Bay when Graham had had enough of my pleasent conversation. Coming into the event I had been told by numerous sources that your time for this race would give a pretty good reflection of where you would be at over the marathon. Being 36km and having plenty of undulations and some sand, I thought this souded fairly reasonable. So before the race I was hoping to be around 2.30 as this would be a fairly solid position to be in 10weeks out from Kepler. I knew Graham Taylor was looking to run Auckland in 5 weeks so I was thinking he would be in good shape over this type of distance. The race kicked off at the Awaroa airstrip under clear skies and with a freshening breeze. Immediately I let Graham take the lead, as he actually knew where to go. In the early goings I asked Graham if he came out and ran here often, to which he replied that he didn’t (without mentioning the fact that he had come out and had a run over the course earlier in the week… The pace was solid but comfortable through to the decent to Tonga Bay, at that point Graham upped the pace slightly and gapped me heading onto the beach. I wasn’t at all worried as although I knew Graham was a fantastic descender and I still fancied myself on the climbs and I knew we had a couple straight off the beach. I was planning to be back with him in no time.

Unfortunately, as soon as the trail kicked up, my quads were gone and I mean really gone, like how they might possibly feel at the top of a good 1000m vertical climb. Three big weeks of mileage and some solid hill workouts plus racing can do that to a man, even someone who prides themselves on being able to handle some big weeks. So here we were 30mins into the race and I am grovelling up the first real hill, with Graham now well out of sight, and a long way to go. So what to do, the only thing I could, just keep moving forwards as fast as possible. If that meant hiking some of the uphills then so be it, so onwards I went struggling up the hills, recovering on the descents, and moving alright on the flatter sections. I used this time as an opportunity to get on top of my fueling and hydration, and hoped that things might start to come around. There wasn’t much to report during this section, just beautiful bays, wonderful views and some lovely snaking single track.

By the time I hit Torrent Bay I got a time check saying that Graham was 3 mins up, so I was happy that I hadn’t blown out completely and was still in the race. I didn’t have any idea about split times along the way, except Graham had mentioned before the race that from the bridge at the top of Torrent Bay you have about an hour of running to go, or 58 mins if you are going well. I hit that bridge at a bit over 1.35 so was looking at having to work hard to get under 2.35. The last section of the trail was probably the most runable so I tried to push the pace on the flatter sections where my legs felt the best. I used this section to visualise the last section of the Kepler, where you are trying to run as fast as you can on tired legs. Things started to flow pretty nicely along here and before I knew it I could see Marahau. This last section is very deceptive as there are plenty of little bays and short hills to get past before you are finally on the boardwalk to the finish. Coming up to the line I was as surprised as anyone to see that I had actually managed to run really strong over the last section and ended up with 2.30.50, certainly a lot better than the 2.35 I thought I might end up with. It was a good lesson in staying strong and working hard all the way to the finish, despite things not quite going as planned.

Graham though was the story of the day, dominating the dojo, all the way to a 2.27.05 finish. He is now the 2nd fastest ever on this course, behind the one and only Phil Costley, and is now looking on track for a big breakthrough result up in Auckland. Guys like this, working a serious fulltime job, new baby and still managing to be busting out PB’s in his forties, are the real legends of our sport. I look forward to seeing Graham showing some of the youngsters how it’s done, on the road over the next few months. Third place went to the ever polite and gentlemanly Matt Pepler, who wished us well, as he settled back for a solid 3rd place in 2.46.

On the womens side of things it was great to see top Australian  long distance triathlon representative Michelle McAdam turn up and run a solid Sub 3 hour time to take 1st place. She said she is taking a bit of a break from the roads, and with a 2.44 marathon, will now be a force to be reckoned with on the trails. It was the epic “Battle of the Fleur’s” for 2nd and 3rd with Lattimore getting very close to 3 hours in 2nd and Pawsey 3rd with a solid 3.09.

Final Results were-
Graeme Taylor 2h 27m 5s 
Vajin Armstrong 2h  30m 50s 
Matthew Pepler 2h 46m 41s 

Michelle McAdam  2h 58m 2s 
Fleur Lattimore 3h 1m 5s 
Fleur Pawsey 3h 9m 20s.

Vajin Armstrong is one of  New Zealand’s leading trail ultra runners, being the 2 time defending Kepler Challenge winner, two 2nd place finishes at the Tarawera Ultra 100km and a impressive 1st place at the American River 50mile this year. Vajin is sponsored by  Saucony, UltrAspire and Oakley. His next race is the Waihi Xterra NZ Trail Running Champs in October as he builds up for the Kepler. Keep an eye on the BCR Blog to follow Vajin as seeks his 3rd Kepler title and a sub 5hr time.

“If anyone ever asks what one event to put on the list for the run of a lifetime” is the Abel Tasman Coastal Classic’s “catchcry” and Saturday’s 19th edition 300 strong sell out certainly reinforces there must be a reason why it is on many athletes “bucket list”.

36kms from Awaroa back to Marahau along New Zealand’s most popular coast track is premier paradise running territory with the course being the equivalent of a marathon….Phil Costley multiple NZ champion holding the 2 hour 22 minute record.
Carline Thomas was the “wome quick” recording her 2.52.05 time in 2005 but that might be erased on Saturday by Michelle McAdam who crosses the Tasman with pedigree ( 2.44 Gold Coast Marathon). If on song she could also come home in the top ten but ahead of her it’s anyones race to win.
Nelson’s Graeme Taylor has targeted the event as one of his 2012 hit outs and will be hard to stop being first back. Canterbury has Vajin Armstrong and Matthew Pepler in solid form while North Islanders Mark Beesley (Rotorua) Richard Arnott ( Auckland) and Andy Good ( Palmerston North) are all sub 1.20 minute half marathoners but this is only good enough to get them to Torrent Bay wher the “real race” begins.
Beesley in the 50-59 age group category will no doubt be eyeing up Gary Dick’s long standing record.
19 years on and the “surviving trio” from 1994, Chris Gates, Colin Rolfe and Owen Rowse will be all keen to finish and then make it number 20 next year when all return to Totaranui for the original Classic.
Full details on nelsonevents.co.nz

And keep an eye out early next week for Vajin Armstrong’s Abel Tasman Coastal Classic race report that he promised!

Well not so much of a coming at you, but a more a over view of last weekend, mostly of kiwis off shore-

Captain Cooks Landing seen some good racing and quick times at the front of the pack- Race Recap from Nelson Events HERE

Kiwis racing off shore-

Jono Wyatt was racing up Mt Fuji in Japan- Report

Anna Frost, sporting a sweet mulet, won the Speed Goat 50km in Utah- her race report HERE 

Vajin Armstrong placed 2nd at the White River 50mile- HERE are pre and post race interviews with him.

Sarah Bliss was hooking into the Sky Running in Italy again this weekend. This time it was the Giir-di-Mont with a solid 13th place! Her report is HERE

Apologies for a lack lustre ”coming at you” this week. I am currently punching this out at a cafe in Canmore, Alberta, Canada. A tiny laptop and (kind of) slow internet is making it a struggle. So, also “coming at you”- some pasty white ginger who will struggle in the heat is running the 125km Canadian Death Race this weekend. Check out his blog for updates and what not….

cheers

Dave Parsons

The sanctuary of Marlborough’s Queen Charlotte Sounds got woken up a few times back in the late 1700’s.  First the Endeavour landed, followed by the Resolution, as Captain James Cook anchored on his journeys to record the transit of Venus.

On Saturday, 158 competitors made it their resolution to trail run or walk the 26km from Ship Cove to Punga Cove on the Queen Charlotte Track in the 14^th Furneaux Lodge Captain Cook’s Landing.  All made it, making an ‘easier’ day for the Nelson Events crew with only a few sticking plasters needed.  It’s a tough course.  Only 5 have broken 2 hours but they are now joined by two more.  Dave Parsons (Wtgn) and Dallas Wichman (Chch) qualifying to have their names inscribed alongside the ‘elite company’.

Parsons’ Scottish Harrier clubmate, Patricia Sloan, returned from a ‘beaten bridesmaid’ in 2011 to take women’s honours, but had close company with Canterbury’s Rachael Jamieson and Emma Crichton following.

Only one course record tumbled as Yvonne West (Nelson) erased 19 minutes off the previous mark in the women’s 60+.

Ann Brower had her left leg, both hips, part of her spine and one of her hands crushed when crashing bricks demolished a bus in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.  While every step still hurt for many months afterwards her zygomatius, risorius and buccinator (smiling) muscles remained engaged and were certainly fully flexed when she finished the course in 3hours 38minutes 59seconds – an inspiration to all to never give up.

Patricia Sloan

Results.

Overall.  Men:  Dave Parsons, Wtgn, 1.56.15, 1; Dallas Wichman, Chch, 1.58.18, 2; Dan Moore, Marlborough, 2.02.36, 3; Julian Davidson, Wtgn, 2.05.33, 4; Marc Lidiard, Chch, 2.07.41, 5.

Women:  Patricia Sloan, Wtgn, 2.35.19, 1; Rachael Jamieson, Chch, 2.35.37, 2; Emma Crichton, Chch, 2.36.41, 3; Helen Bradford, Wtgn, 2.45.44, 4; Charlotte Burtt, Chch, 2.48.10, 5.

FULL RESULTS HERE