Fuel' stations full for forest endurance race

Feeding over 400 runners is just one of the logistical challenges facing Tarawera Ultra Marathon race director Paul Charteris.

With competitors in Saturday's 60km, 85km and 100km races expected to burn over a million calories between them, Charteris jokes the endurance event could double as "New Zealand's biggest one-day weight loss programme".

He said about $5000 worth of food and drink would be distributed to runners from 11 aid stations along the Rotorua to Kawerau forest course.

The food will be strategically positioned along the trail, starting with bacon and egg pies in the morning. Charteris said he expected watermelon and oranges to prove popular as the day wore on along with chips, lollies, coke and sports drinks.

In a first for the race, 40 large pizzas will be delivered to the forest in the evening, courtesy of Hell Pizza.

"We think it's quite ironic that the runners are going through hell and we are delivering them pizza from Hell," Charteris said. "The temperature is cooling later at night and they'll come to that and think 'fat, brilliant - this is just what I feel like right now'."

He said Tauranga competitor Heather Andrews had also baked 1000 "Heather bars" for the aid stations after her homemade seed, nut and oat creations proved a hit with fellow runners last year.

Charteris said the race had gone from strength to strength since it began four years ago.

"In 2009 we had 67 runners. There was an article in The Daily Post and the Whakatane paper and that was it.

"This year there will be media from all over the world. It's all over the twitterverse in the US and Australia. It's been huge."

Charteris said the features that made the course so popular with runners and spectators also made the logistics more challenging.

"It's probably the most difficult race in the country to organise," he said. "The damn thing is all in the bush and going from one place to another. There's a lot of travelling."

Fortunately, he has 100 volunteers on hand to help.

"There's two small armies - the Rotorua army and the Kawerau army - and they take care of half of the race each."

Ultra marathon legend Anton Krupicka had been expected to compete in the 100km but a shin injury means he will now line up in the relay. With an already "super strong" elite 100km field Charteris is not too disappointed by the American's change of plan.

"He will run the third relay leg and then stay at Tarawera Falls and cheer on all the other runners," he said. "It will be really memorable for people to say they ran through the forest and Anton high-fived them."

Charteris said he expected about 1000 spectators to cheer on the competitors, with plenty of accessible viewing spots.

But with the pizza ordered, a top class field assembled and a sunny day forecast, Charteris said he was not ready to relax just yet.

"I am in a zombie zone between excited, nervous and stressed out."

For more information go to www.taraweraultra.co.nz.Anton Krupicka will lead a free 7.5km fun run tonight at 5.30pm from the Redwoods Visitor Centre. All are welcome. His film Unbreakable will show from 6.30pm. Entry to the movie is $10.

 

Email: sport@dailypost.co.nz