5 marathons in 5 weeks ending it in style at the Rustic Run! Firstly a huge thank you to Terry Davis, Ed Stevens and all their team for putting together this amazing event.  They had so many different runs taking place at the same time giving plenty of options for everyone.  Everyone I know is always asking for great local events that are affordable to attend, have a good social aspect and great scenery.  The Wild Earth Ascent and Rustic Run answered this.  I really hope to see this event supported by a lot more local people next year.  I know it sure beats heading out for a lonely long run.

A big goal of mine this year is to work on my running for my Ironman racing.  Hence running 42k+ each weekend for the past few weeks.   When I heard about this race I wanted to be on that start line.  While it may seem crazy to go out and run this distance every weekend (although I am guessing not to the people that took part in one of these events) having finally beaten my injury I’ve had for over 12 months I couldn’t think of anything better.

On to the race…  Packing up the car and heading to central for the weekend is always a great change.  The weather in Dunedin had been so cold and damp and I couldn’t wait to get out of there!  Well I forgot that I mostly head to central in the summer and it was actually pretty freezing up there but was so still, with not a breath of wind.  Race morning came like any other and I was excited about the fact I was only running a marathon and didn’t have a whole Ironman nor the 3.30am wake up call.

Out to the location at the Gold Miners Trails in the pitch black with the head torch on and it was time to go.  I was suddenly thinking what have I got myself in to? As I am far from a mountain goat with my running ability and was sure I was going to fall over a million times.  Luckily I had only signed up for the Rustic Run and not the Wild Earth Ascent (maybe next year).  My marathon race consisted of 8x 5 and a bit km loops.  They were a great change from the roads I am use to.  Made up of wider trails, rocky parts, single tracks, grass and some good wee hills up and down, all making the time go by.  There was also the option of a half marathon around the loops or straight up the mountain!

As I got around each lap the hills got bigger and the legs were turning to jelly but there was always a group of friendly spectators to send you on your next lap and Glen there to hand me my goodies.  The great thing about this event is you can set up your own aid station and drink and eat what you like. Proud to say I didn’t fall over once, only a few close calls and actually really enjoyed all those laps, coming away with the win.  Definitely a must do race to put on your calendar for next June.  Hope to see you all there.  Big ups to my sponsors Kinetic Health, Shoe Clinic Dunedin, Nathan Performance Gear, Aloe Up and Cycle World Dunedin who all keep me in this sport.

More details on the Rustic Run and results HERE

Wild Earth Ascent details HERE

For an event organiser who’s best known for the Northburn100 you may be surprised at how excitedly Terry talks about the Rustic Run’s 5.275k laps. “I seriously LOVE this loop  – it is just a sweet wee run. There is some technical single track, there are some grunty but short hills, there is lots of smooth fast grass track… seriously one of the best 5k loops about. It’s particularly good for newbees to trail/mountain running. 5ks is very achievable and the whole idea of the event is to do it with a team as a relay. There is a cool start/finish area with hot drinks and food… music playing, teams bring their own chilli bins and camp chairs… just a great supportive atmosphere.”

The other thing Terry goes on and on about is the majesticularity of Mt Difficulty looming very steep and about 1km high above the venue.

“Over there is where you climb up the second time…” Terry Davis points out the big climb in the 2nd lap of the “Ascent”.

And that’s where the Wild Earth Ascent comes into play. “Imagine a course that just went staright F#$%en up that!!” It was the gut wrenching loss of the America’s cup last year that pushed Terry to seek out a route up the front face of Mt Difficulty. He found a goody but is was following a chute that would have been way too dangerous with falling rocks and things… So he’s laboured away (it was very selfless hard work apparently) and come up with not one, but two routes basically following ridges from the base to the top. “this type of event needs to have a Marathon aspect to it to get any credibility and make it worth peoples while to come all this way in the dead of winter. And these front faces are so special I thought to give best bang for buck we’ll make it a loop course and send them up it twice, but over new country each time.”

He knows this course is not for everyone and he’s gone to some lengths to actually put people off entering. “We really only want very confident mountain runners/trampers to show up for this event. The front faces are probably the most continually steep, steep parts of any event like it in Australasia – it’s between 30-40’ gradient – 30’ doesn’t look like much on a protractor but when you’re clinging on to the side of the mountain it feels surprisingly close to 60-70’!”

But it’s actually not all about the up hill. Once at the top of Mt Difficulty (so named by the early gold miners trying to find a way from the Dunstan to the Arrow) you have about 8km of SWEET traverse/downhill before heading back cross country – gnarly down and back up following a fence line and then more traversing and a steep downhill down to the river – all good adventurous stuff and that’s the finish of the first loop. For those doing the marathon they get a whole new ascent to do – the same 8km SWEET traverse and then another 9 gentle downhill ks back to the finish.

The weather and time of year will add another ‘adventure’ dimension to this course. “I fully expect a hard frost and then a clear calm day for the event – that is what’s typical for this area at this time of year – but hey if we don’t get a beautiful day we’ll have an even more AWESOMER adventure!”

There are back-up plans if the weather is just too dangerous but don’t worry, they don’t cancel events at Highland Events for any weather and whatever the alternative course may be you will get a worthy mission out of it.

If you go quick you’ll be finished in time to get a ride down to Dunedin for the Rugby – but Terry would rather you hung around for the Beer and Pizza at the Golden Gate that evening for the slideshow of pics from the day and presentations. Beer and Pizza included in the entry fee!! I’m in! See you at Registration Fri 13^th Golden Gate Lodge Cromwell.

http://www.highlandevents.co.nz/rustic-run-and-walk

http://www.highlandevents.co.nz/wild-earth-ascent

FREE STUFF- The North Face and BCR have teamed up and have 2 little prize packs to give-away. Up for grabs is a TNF day-pack, cap and beanie, as well as a little PocketFuel Naturals sample pack. We have 2 of these packages to give away in conjunction with Highland Events Wild Earth Ascent. To win- it is easy, the next 10 people to enter either the Wild Earth Ascent full or 1/2 marathon will go in the draw. Terry will randomly pick 2 names once 10 people have enter (so enter quickly!) and you will receive you prize at the race.