PRE EVENT INFORMATION EMAIL - Find everything you need to know ahead of event day here! (this will be updated in the week leading up to the event)
At the mouth of the mighty Waikato River lies the largely unknown – and often-forgotten – Waiuku Forest, all cloaked by towering pine trees with hard-packed, low impact sand-based trails underfoot.
Courses are all a little longer than usual and boast extensive and breathtaking views over the Tasman Sea, Port Waikato and the mouth of the mighty Waikato River.
WE HAVE GONE CUPLESS!
We have removed disposable cups from our aid stations in an effort to minimise our waste production. Please remember your reusable cup, hydration pack or water bottle to fill up! (You can purchase a collapsible silicone water cup at event base for 5$).
START TIMES
Compulsory event briefings will be held 15 minutes before the start of each event - please be at these!
Super long (Run only) – 9:00am
Long (Run only) – 9:00am
Mid – 10:00am
Short – 11:00am
DRIVING DIRECTIONS - New for 2025!
Event base is located within Waiuku Forest . When using Google maps, Wilson Road, Otaua will take you to the nearest mappable point and event signage will direct you from here through the forest.
Please follow marshals directions and ensure you do not park until instructed to - it is a condition of our permit that we restrict event parking to our permitted areas.
COURSE INFORMATION
We've made it easy for you to gather the whole gang (regardless of age or fitness level), and head out of the city. The Mid and Short courses are available as walks as well as runs, so one event you may get to stretch out in the long or super long while your partner takes a wee whipper snapper or two around the mid or short course.
SHORT COURSE
Distance: 6.8km
Total Climb: Approximately 140m
Course Map & Elevation Profile: Click here to view
Course Overview: Starting at the stunning new tree-lined event base you have 800m of wide gravel road to spread out before you hit your first trail and first hill of the day. You descend on sandy trails to a magic spot to snatch a quick view of the rugged West Coast surf beyond. You then have a short fun loop with your toughest pinch of the day, but also some more stunning views, before your aid station at 3.7km. The second half of your day is flowing, winding trails as you twist and turn your way through magic sand base single trails to the finish line!
Drink Stations:
3.7km (with water, PURE electrolyte hydration, chips, pretzels, lollies)
*Please remember your own cup/bottle/hydration pack as there will be no disposable cups provided at drink stations
Toughness Factor: 5/10
GPX File: Click here to download the Short Course GPX file
Participant Briefing: Click here to view
MID COURSE
Distance: 11.8km
Total Climb: Approximately 250m
Course Map & Elevation Profile: Click here to view
Course Overview: Starting at the stunning new tree-lined event base you have 700m of wide gravel road to spread out before you make a left and start your long (but necessary in this ‘forest of 2 halves’) two-way road section. At 3.2km you will get to your first aid station of the day and your first trail also, before popping back onto the road you ‘come out on’ for your return trip.
You then turn into a rare clay-based trail for a short while before descending on sandy trails to a magic spot to snatch a quick view of the rugged West Coast surf beyond. You then have a short fun loop with your toughest pinch of the day, but also some more stunning views, before your second aid station. The final few kms are flowing, winding trails as you twist and turn your way through magic sand base single trails to the finish line!
Drink Stations:
3.2km (with water, PURE electrolyte hydration, chips, pretzels & lollies)
8.7km (with water, PURE electrolyte hydration, chips, pretzels & lollies)
*Please remember your own cup/bottle/hydration pack as there will be no disposable cups provided at drink stations
Toughness Factor: 5/10
GPX File: Click here to download the Mid Course GPX file
Participant Briefing: Click here to view
LONG COURSE (Run Only)
Distance: 17.7km
Total Climb: Approximately 390m
Course Map & Elevation Profile: Click here to view
Course Overview: Starting at the stunning new tree-lined event base you have 700m of wide gravel road to spread out before you make a left and start your long (but necessary in this ‘forest of 2 halves’) two-way road section. At 3.2km you will get to your first aid station of the day and your first trail also, making a left off the road and heading into familiar territory (but in the opposite direction).
For those regular Trail Series runners, we have found a bit of new stuff in here, and it’s wicked! Remember the SWEET sandy downhill we used to do at the northern end of the forest? It’s like that but maybe even steeper! A mixture of hard packed sand-based trails and forest roads, that are really nothing like roads at all make up the next few kms, before you join back with the Super Longies and head back to the northern end of the forest.
You then turn into a rare clay-based trail for a short while before descending on sandy trails to a magic spot to snatch a quick view of the rugged West Coast surf beyond. You then have a short fun loop with your toughest pinch of the day, but also some more stunning views, before your last aid station. The final few kms are flowing, winding trails as you twist and turn your way through magic sand base single trails to the finish line!
Drink Stations:
3.2km (with PURE electrolyte hydration, water, chips, pretzels & lollies)
9.2km (with PURE electrolyte hydration, water, chips, pretzels & lollies)
14.6km (with PURE electrolyte hydration, water, chips, pretzels, lollies & oranges)
*Please remember your own cup/bottle/hydration pack as there will be no disposable cups provided at drink stations
Toughness Factor: 6/10
GPX File: Click here to download the Long Course GPX file
Participant Briefing: Click here to view
SUPER LONG COURSE (Run Only)
Distance: 21.5km
Total Climb: Approximately 470m
Course Map & Elevation Profile: Click here to view
Course Overview: Starting at the stunning new tree-lined event base you have 700m of wide gravel road to spread out before you make a left and start your long (but necessary in this ‘forest of 2 halves’) two-way road section. At 3.2km you will get to your first aid station of the day and your first trail also, making a left off the road and heading into familiar territory (but in the opposite direction).
For those regular Trail Series runners, we have found a bit of new stuff in here, and it’s wicked! Remember the SWEET sandy downhill we used to do at the northern end of the forest? It’s like that but maybe even steeper! A mixture of hard packed sand-based trails and forest roads before your second aid station. Again, we have been out exploring and found more cool trails in the ‘estuary section’. You will be running alongside the Waikato River with views of Port Waikato & heading inland for bursts of punchy new trails, before re-joining with the longies and making your way back to the northern end of the forest.
You then turn into a rare clay-based trail for a short while before descending on sandy trails to a magic spot to snatch a quick view of the rugged West Coast surf beyond. You then have a short fun loop with your toughest pinch of the day, but also some more stunning views, before your last aid station. The final few kms are flowing, winding trails as you twist and turn your way through magic sand base single trails to the finish line!
Drink Stations:
3.2km (with PURE electrolyte hydration, water, chips, pretzels & lollies)
7.1km (with PURE electrolyte hydration, water, chips, pretzels & lollies)
13km (with PURE electrolyte hydration, water, chips, pretzels, lollies & oranges)
18.4km (with PURE electrolyte hydration, water, chips, pretzels, lollies)
*Please remember your own cup/bottle/hydration pack as there will be no disposable cups provided at drink stations
Toughness Factor: 6/10
GPX File: Click here to download the Super Long Course GPX file
Participant Briefing: Click here to view
COURSE SAFETY
We recommend running with a Hydration back pack loaded with 500ml - 1 litre of liquid, and other nutritional nibbles. You can expect to be away from base for a decent period of time at these events, and we can't always get aid stations to the points where you may expect them to be.
While event medics will be at each event (they will be stationed at the event base, start / finish point) and participants may encounter on course marshals with first aid on them, it also pays to be safety conscious and carry items like:
a basic first aid kit
a cell phone
a whistle
additional warm clothing
It's all about personal responsibility!
Participant Briefing: Click here to view