100km Run

The 100km event is designed for people who want to do the full Monty and experience all that The Great Lake Trail has to offer.

You will start at Waihaha River carpark on the western shores of the lake, then follow the Waihaha section of the Great Lake Trails before exiting onto farmland. During your run along this section of the Great Lake Trails, you will see an picturesque waterfall, get continuous glimpes and amazing views of the Great Lake, and enjoy some fantastic native bush with a continuous sound of birds. You will then follow the rolling hills of private farmland and forestry (access is only available for this event), exiting the forest onto a section of gravel and tarseal, a good chance to stretch your legs make up some time.

The halfway point is at the airstrip on Whangamata Road, where you’ll head down a pretty narly hill before you’re back onto the wonderful Great Lake Trails, this time the Kawakawa section. It’s all down hill to Kawakawa Bay, again listen out for our native birds and take in the amazing native bush environment. Leaving Kawakawa Bay you’ll wind your way up to Codger’s Rock, before descending into Kinloch and running a cool section on the Whangamata Stream Trail. If you’re lucky enough, you may see trout spawning in the Whangamata Stream.

After Kinloch, you will hit the infamous W2K trail and the Headland Loop. If you’re in no hurry, check out the couple of lookout spots and take in the views of the lake and the Tongariro National Park! You will finish at Whakaipo Bay where the Total Sport team will be waiting for you with a Total Sport hug, some food, and of course a Speights!

The 100km is a UTMB INDEX event and an is sanctioned by the International Trail Running Association.

Start Time

5.30am at Waihaha carpark on Western Bays Road, State Highway 32

Compulsory Race Briefing

The race briefing for the 70km, and 100km events (including relay teams) is compulsory. Please make sure you attend. At the briefing we will go over all the logistics of the event as well as cover the all important health, safety and medical aspects of the event.
Please see times and locations here.

All 100 km runners must weigh in at registration and at the finish line.

Bus Timetable

Please see Transport page.

Compulsory Gear

See Health & Safety page.

Aid Stations

The Aid Stations are stocked with lollies, gingernuts, chips, pretzels, sandwiches (peanut butter or vegemite) bananas and oranges, water, R-Line electrolyte drink and coke. Fluid will be available in jugs and water containers to enable competitors to fill up drink bottles or bladders. Aid stations are clearly marked on the course maps (distances approx).

Sandwiches & Oranges will not be available at the final two aid stations (headland).

In an effort to reduce our footprint, we ask that you please bring either a reusable cup, drink bottle or hydration bladder as there will be no disposable cups.

Lights

All 100km runners will need to have a light for the start of the event, it is still very dark at 5:30am and sunrise isn’t until 6:30am. You will also need one for the final 24km leg from Kinloch to Whakaipo Bay if you leave the Kinloch Hall after 2:30pm. So either keep your lights on you, or put an extra light in your last drop bag for pick up at Kinloch.

Cut-off Times

This is the time you must LEAVE the aid station – not arrive. Please ensure you are aware of the cut-off times - these will be strictly enforced for your safety.

• 10.30am: Hingarae Road end (71km remaining)

• 1.45pm: At the airstrip on Whangamata Road (50km remaining)

• 6.30pm: Kinloch Domain (24km remaining)

• 7.45pm: Beginning of Headland loop (18km remaining) - Any participant arriving after this time will be required to take the short cut to the finish in Whakaipo Bay and will not receive a finishers medal or an official result.

• 12.00am : Finish Line Cut Off/Closed - Any participant arriving after this time will be considered a DNF and will not receive a finishers medal or an official result.

  We have introduced an official finish line cut-off of midnight, for the first time this year. The intermediate cut-off’s have always been based around trying to get everyone home by this time, but this change is to provide more certainty and safety to our event systems, by ensuring everyone is finished by midnight.

  If this is your first time doing an Ultra or you are unsure if you can make the midnight cut-off, we recommend you try a lesser distance this year, see how it goes and came back next year and have another crack at the longer event

Required Pace In Each Section to Meet Cut Offs

• Start to Hingarae Road - 10.3min/km

• Hingarae Road to Airstrip - 10.2min/km

• Airstrip to Kinloch Domain - 10.6min/km

• Kinloch Domain to Beginning of Headland loop - 12.5min/km

• Beginning of Headland loop to Finish Line - 14.2min/km

Dropbags

You do not need a support crew for this event. Dropbags are available for all solo runners.

Pacers

We encourage 100km entrants to have a pacer on the last section from Kinloch to the finish at Whakaipo Bay. Pacers must be registered - please see PACERS page for full details.

Spectators

Spectators can see their runners/walkers at the Waihaha Road end, Hingarae Road end, Puketapu Road, Whangamata Road (airstrip), and Kinloch Those active spectators who want to cheer on their runners near the finish should meet them at the style at the end of the gravel road at the end of Whakaipo Bay and run along the road to the finish with them.

Driving Instructions

From Taupo to the 100km race start at Waihaha Bridge (allow 45 mins to 1 hour from Taupo)
Head out of Taupo to the Thermal Explorer Highway go across the control gate bridge and head up the hill for 1km. Turn left into Poihipi Road, travel along Poihipi Road for approx 9.8km then turn left into Whangamata Road travel along Whangamata Road for approx 28km. Turn left onto Western Bay Road (signs for Turangi/Taumarunui/Great Lake Trail/Waihaha). Travel along Western Bay Road for approx 12km you see the event signs turning you into the car parking. There will be a free shuttle from the car parking to the 100km start line for all participants and spectators. Return shuttles will be available for spectators after the 100km start

100km Statistics*

• Elevation gain 1853m

• Single trail 80%

• Offroad 10%

• Road 10%

*Elevations sourced from Garmin and Strava. The final event maps, distances and elevations are subject to changes as we finalise the course details and logistics.

• %'s are approximate

• Single trail = bliss!

• Offroad = 4WD trails or farm

• Road = gravel or sealed road