Race Day: for 2021 yet TBC
WAI2K 2020 GPX
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Course Flyover
Course Flyover with FATMAPS. Simply click on the photo below to view.
PLEASE NOTE: This flyover DOES NOT include the updated Featherston leg
PLEASE NOTE: This flyover DOES NOT include the updated Featherston leg
T H E E V E N T
A brief overview
The WAI2K is an adventure race, meaning it is a tough endurance event over a mixed terrain course. There are rivers to cross, river beds to run, some fairly dense scrub to run through in places, hills, steep technical downhills in parts, and many trails to explore.
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The First 30km or so
The Tauherenikau River leg. Some boulder-hopping, mild river crossings. Bucks road to Pylon Track via Frith Track. Rugged terrain single trail. This will be a challenge for most! Gorse, scrub and some stunning views. Pylon to Kaitoke. This trail is fairly open 4WD trails with a bit of canopy before the trail opens out to Kaitoke. Kaitoke to Rivendell. Private farmland across to Rivendell campsite. Here we take Norbett Creek Loop Track - 400m climb, before heading back down to do a short loop over the swing bridge track before entering the forest to head up to Kaitoke Ridge Track. A steep climb here of around 400m Kaitoke Ridge Track. About 8km until you reach the steep grassy bank before hitting the car park at Te Marua. Shoot off and check out the lookout if you have time! |
The Second 30km or so
Te Marua to Tunnel Gully: Runners head under SH2 towards Tunnel Gully. Just up ahead is the 83km/101km split area as well as the 43km/61km finish. You either go Right towards Mt Climie OR Left towards the Rail Trail. 101K/61km Runners: You'll get to run through the beautiful groomed trails towards Mt Climie. An Aid Station will be at the bottom before you begin your 600m climb to the top. You lucky folk get to marvel at the view from the top (as long is it's a clear day!) After the climb, you simply run back down! Head on back the same way you came to the split where the 81k runners went, and follow this same trail. 83k Runners/Returning 101k Runners: You head up Goat Rock track towards the Rimutaka Incine (Rail Trail). About 5km long with 300m or so of climbing. |
The last 40km or so
Rimutaka Incline/Rail Trail to Cross Creek: You'll need your head torch here as there are some old Railway tunnels to run through. One of them is about 800m long! It's relatively flat, and then downhill towards Cross Creek. Cross Creek to Featherston: This will be tough for a lot of you. It's a straight, long cycle trail to Featherston. About 10km. Featherston back to the river: There are some back streets to navigate, towards the final aid station in central Featherston. Head on towards Underhill road for the journey back to the river leg. The River back to the racecourse: The last leg! Run back down the river to where it all began! Congrats! You made it! |
Course Outline
I'm not going to mess around with you here - This is a tough endurance event, that will push you mentally, as well as physically. Only enter if you have done sufficient training, and understand what it takes to take on something like this.
Leg #1 - Starting Point to Kaitoke 25km
Starting at the Tauherenikau racecourse runners do a short loop through a forested area, prior to exiting onto the Tauherenikau river. From here you have a 5km river run before heading onto Underhill road. Take a RIGHT at Bucks road and head towards the camping area. This is where you begin the climb up Frith Track. This track is an 800m climb over about 9km. The trail is fairly rugged in parts (including some technical downhill) so please take care along this stretch of trail. Keep your eyes on the orange DOC markers. The trail will finish at the Pylon track, where you turn RIGHT and head uphill. Keep following the trail around through a nice canopy area. These trails are 4WD tracks and quite runnable. The trail then opens up to Kaitoke, and you will hit a gate to go through before heading downhill until you get to the road. This is the first section out of the way. You'll be happy as Frith track is the most dense/hardest to run. Good thing it's only 9km!
Leg # 2 - Kaitoke to Tunnel Gully 25km to 43km
There is a very short road section here, before you head through a gate and onto some private land. Please respect this area, as we are very fortunate to have access for the event! It is only about a 1km stretch over farmlands before hitting Rivendell camping area. Here you will be taking the Norbett Creek Loop track (RIGHT). This is a fairly steep (400m ascent) trail that takes you up North of Rivendell, before coming back down again. This is a steep, technical trail. PLEASE TAKE EXTRA CARE HERE! Once you exit this track you will be taking the swingbridge trail on a short loop, before heading back down the road towards the start of the Kaitoke Ridge track. This trail is about 8km long and includes a fairly sharp 400m climb at the start. It's a beautiful trail that runs along the ridge line. There is a also a lookout, so make sure you stop for a look if you have the time. Once you get to the lookout it is a descent towards Te Marua at the Northern end of Upper Hutt. There is a short grassy area before you head over a small bridge and exit at the car park area.
There is a road section here for 500m or so as you head up towards a deforested area. There are 4WD trails here that take you towards the underpass of SH2. You then join up to some nicely groomed MB trails that will take you towards Tunnel Gully.
There is a road section here for 500m or so as you head up towards a deforested area. There are 4WD trails here that take you towards the underpass of SH2. You then join up to some nicely groomed MB trails that will take you towards Tunnel Gully.
Leg # 3 - Tunnel Gully/Mt Climie Return (101km only) 43km to 61km
101km/61km runners keep on running straight at the 43km finish area. 61km runners will still need to do the Climie return before finishing. There will be an Aid Station/transition area here. 83km runners take a LEFT up Goat Rock Trail towards the Rail Trail (ie - DO NOT DO CLIMIE). More on that soon. 101km/61km runners run some nicely groomed MB trails towards Tunnel Gully, and the start of Mt Climie trail. There will be an Aid Station at the base of Mt Climie so you can have a moment to chill before tackling the 600m climb. Mt Climie is a nice trail covered in canopy, so you have shade all of the way to the top. If it's a clear day you will have views all of the way to the Wairarapa, and South towards Lower Hutt/Wellington. Get your number signed off at the top, before heading back down the same way you came. You'll want to head back to the split and follow the same trail that the 80km runners took.
Leg # 4 - Goat Rock trail - Cross Creek. 61km to 80km
This will be around the 43km mark to the 61km mark for 83km runners, 61 - 83 for 101k. Or thereabouts. Runners take on Goat Rock trail which takes runners along forestry trails to meet up with the Rail Trail/Incline track. Once hitting the Rail Trail, you follow this all of the way to Cross Creek. This trail has a few old Railway Tunnels to run through, one of which is around 800m long so you will need your headlights. There is a nice gradual ascent for around 5km as you head towards some nice bush trails for another 2km until you exit at Cross Creek car park.
Leg # 5 - Cross Creek back to the Racecourse
This is the final leg of the event. It'll be a tough leg for most runners, not just because it's the final leg, but because it's relatively flat MB trails for about 10km before you hit Featherston. Your legs will be tired, and the road will seem long! Once you've gotten to Featherston, you take in a light tour of the back streets of Featherston, before a couple of pedestrian crossings over SH2. Here is the last Aid station, and final cut-off point. You will then head up towards Underhill road where you run along the road which turns into a gravel road until you hit the river once again. You'll know your way back to the finish, as this was the first leg of the race. Mosey on down the river for 5km, and then up onto the racecourse for the finish line! Well done team! Massive effort complete!
