Ultramarathon: Ultra race reveals new date

The Tarawera Ultramarathon date has been moved to avoid the high fire risk in March. Pictured is 2014 champion Sage Canaday. Photo/Ben Fraser

A new race date has been confirmed for the annual Tarawera Ultramarathon after organisers decided the fire risk was too high in March.

During the past two years, the Tarawera Ultramarathon course has been changed last minute because of high fire risk or terrible weather in mid-March.

The 2015 race will be held on Waitangi Weekend, Saturday, February 7, rather than the original date a month later.

Event director Paul Charteris posted on the Tarawera Ultramarathon Facebook page recently and said they were looking at changing the date to early February.

"We have analysed the last 10 years' fire risk data and the current race date [in March] is definitely the worst possible time of year to have this race," he posted.

The date has since been confirmed for February 7.

"This avoids some of the fire risk, gives everyone more daylight, more settled weather and avoids clashes with all other major NZ endurance sports events and Ultra-Trail World Tour races," Charteris posted.

This means runners will also have one less month to prepare for the 2015 event.

Entries for the race will open on June 1.

The ultramarathon usually includes a 60km, 85km or 100km race that takes runners from Rotorua to Kawerau on a range of trails beside lakes, through forests and across geothermal landscapes.

However, terrible weather in March this year saw the event cut back to a 60km and 70km race for safety reasons. In 2013, the course was also changed last minute because of high fire risk.

Next year will mark the seventh Vibram Tarawera Ultramarathon and the race will be part of the Ultra-Trail World Tour.

This year, the ultramarathon event was awarded $300,000 by the Government to help build its international profile. Organisers are looking to target more runners from the United States, Australia, China and Japan for next year.

The event's Facebook page was swarming with comments after the new date was confirmed.

One person posted that it would be a great attraction for overseas runners.

"For those coming from overseas it'll be a neat opportunity to celebrate Waitangi Day in Rotorua."

A total of 800 runners, including a record 190 international athletes from 27 countries, took part in the event this year.