NICK MUXLOW’S TARAWERA IN SUB-4

Kate Dzienis • March 1, 2023

Contributed by Nick Muxlow, AURA member (ROYSTON PARK, SA)

TARAWERA ULTRA MARATHON BY UTMB, ROTORUA (NEW ZEALAND), 11-12 February 2023

Standing on the start line of the Tarawera 50k at Te Puia you could tell everyone was excited to be back and racing. While the 100k and 100-mile course had been changed it was full steam ahead for the 50k and 21k course. As the clock edged closer to 7am a hush fell over the participants as the local Maori performed a welcome to country. As this finished, we were into the countdown 3, 2, 1, GO! The downhill start made for a frantic pace as we stampeded through Te Puia with geysers each side of us and steam rising from the hot springs in the crisp morning air. What a cool place to start a race!

The pace continued to be frantic over the first few k’s till everyone found their space. As we exited Te Puia we found ourselves in the forest. This would be the theme of the day, running with lush green ferns either side and trees towering overhead.

Aid station 1 and 2 went by in a blur as we rocketed our way along the fast predominately flat course. While we were travelling well, we were about to have a curve ball thrown at us. As we rounded a bend for the descent into CP3 we were met with the mid pack of the 21k field. The challenge was on as we dodged and weaved through hundreds of runners on the fast descent into the Blue Lake Checkpoint. I was looking forward to getting to this checkpoint to see my crew for the first time. Having always raced solo this was a huge novelty for myself, even if it was just to have a bottle handed to me. As I came hurtling into the checkpoint, I started looking for my crew at the designated meeting point, shoot there not here! After checking she wasn’t after the aid station and calling out it was time for ‘plan B’. Thinking on my feet the only option was to refill the water, grab a handful of jellybeans and keep moving forward.

After a short 9k we entered the final aid station. Located in the Redwoods -Whakarewarewa Forest for myself this was a highlight of the course. The Redwoods were mammoth, towering over you. It was a surreal feeling as you were engulfed by the forest. The aid station was pumping and the energy infectious. After exiting the aid station, we shortly found ourselves on the final stretch into town. With the tree canopy gone the temperature rocketed. We again wound our way through the sulphur pools on the out skirts of town. With core temperatures rising and being in the final k’s of the race everyone was keen to hit the finish line. With a final sprint to the finish, I crossed the line smiling.

3:58:58.

Personally I was pleased to execute a solid early season race and come in under the 4 hour mark in a stacked field with the top 3 coming in under course record time.

While I was happy to race well, what brought me an even bigger smile was seeing the whole team race well, from first time 50k finishers through to mile runners. To see everyone, execute a solid race, work through the challenges that presented themselves, learn from the experience and finish with a smile is everything a coach can ask for.

Tarawera lived up to its reputation. So much so that the team has decided they want to head back to do it all again next year.

If you have ever thought of doing Tarawera don’t delay sign up to join in the fun and if the race isn’t on your bucket list you should certainly consider putting it on there. Hope to see you over there racing next year.

Enjoy the adventure, embrace the challenge, always have fun. And don’t forget to finish with a smile.

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Australian Mountain and Trail Running Championships 2027

By Jin Kato • July 8, 2026

The world-class trails of Kunanyi/Mt Wellington will play centre-stage for one of the country’s fastest-growing sports, after the Kunanyi Mountain Run (KMR) was awarded the hosting rights for the first-ever combined Australian Mountain and Trail Running Championships (AMTRC). KMR was awarded the National Championships after a competitive bid process, overseen by the Australian Ultra and Trail Running Association (AUTRA) and Australian Athletics (AA). AUTRA President, John Claridge, said that KMR “offered everything we were looking for”. “World-class trails, proven event management and a passionate community. It provides the perfect stage for Australia's first combined National Trail Championships," he said. It’s expected that Australia’s elite mountain and trail running athletes, and support crew, will travel to Hobart, as they vie for a spot in the Australian team that competes at the 2027 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. "This is a landmark moment for trail running in Australia,” Mr Claridge said. "We're excited about what this championship represents; not just next year, but for the future of trail running in Australia... helping grow the sport and inspire the next generation of trail runners." The 2027 AMTRC at KMR will be the first time that all championship distances have been held together, at the one festival. “It aligns us more closely with the way World Championships are presented, creating a stronger pathway for athletes and raising the profile of the sport,” Mr Claridge said. KMR, a 3-day trail running festival which has been held annually since 2022, expects to draw more than 1500 runners and hikers from across Tasmania, Australia and internationally next year. The AMTRC will be embedded within KMR’s existing event program, allowing elite athletes to compete for the national titles, while sharing the same spectacular trails and event-experience as recreational runners. “We’re honoured to have been selected as host,” KMR’s founder and director, Lincoln Quilliam said. “KMR continues to welcome runners, and hikers, of all abilities. From the elites who want to represent Australia on the world stage, the group of mates or work colleagues who run the team relay together, the mums returning to running after having a baby, as well as those who are trying trail running for the very first time,” Mr Quilliam said. Tasmanian runner, Jessica Collins, who has represented Australia, said it was exciting news for KMR, Tasmania and the sport. “This is such a great opportunity for Australian athletes. I’ve run many of the KMR events and know the courses and the terrain are on par with what we see at the World Champs,” she said. The City of Hobart has supported Kunanyi Mountain Run since its inception, and Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said she was “thrilled” with the news. “Events like this not only showcase the natural beauty of our region but also reinforce Hobart’s reputation as a vibrant destination for world-class outdoor experiences.” The 2026 edition of KMR brought in $4 million to the Tasmanian economy, generating more than 8000 bed nights across the state, which Alex Heroys, Chief Executive of Destination Southern Tasmania, said was a “significant return for the visitor economy”. “Kunanyi / Mount Wellington is one of Tasmania’s great natural assets, and the Kunanyi Mountain Run shows exactly how powerful events can be in driving regional tourism,” he said. “We have an epic mountain right on Hobart’s doorstep, an airport less than 30 minutes away, and a city that is well set up to welcome thousands of visiting athletes, support crews and spectators.” “This event also reinforces Tasmania’s growing reputation as a world-class trail running destination. With steep, technical trails and real mountain terrain, Kunanyi offers conditions that are genuinely comparable to what athletes will experience at the World Championships, making it an ideal place to compete, train and visit.” For more information: Kunanyi Mountain Run Dates: 19-21 March 2027 Pic credit: David Nolan & Ryan Slater