Motatapu Ultra Challenges Endurance Athletes
The prestigious Motatapu Ultra Run took place Saturday featuring a demanding 52km trail course with 3,000 meters of climbing and four major ascents including Jack Halls Saddle. The New Zealand event is considered one of the ultimate tests of stamina and trail running skill, offering breathtaking landscapes for elite endurance athletes. The course represents what's possible in adventure racing for those seeking extreme challenges.
The annual Motatapu event provides a rare opportunity for athletes to traverse the private lands of the Motatapu, Soho, and Glencoe Stations, high-country terrain that is accessible to the public for only one weekend a year. This exclusive access follows a route rich in history, tracing paths used by early Māori for collecting food and transporting pounamu (greenstone). The name "Motatapu" itself is derived from te reo Māori, with "Mota" meaning river and "tapu" meaning sacred. Wānaka-based runner Luke Wilson conquered the men's ultra, finishing in 6 hours, 14 minutes, and 59 seconds. In the women's field, Hannah Wall successfully defended her title with a time of 6 hours, 54 minutes, and 4 seconds, finishing more than an hour ahead of her closest competitor. The Ultra Run is just one of five events that take place. The Motatapu also hosts a 42km trail marathon, a 47km mountain bike race (with an e-bike option), a 15km Miners Trail for runners and walkers, and a 4km junior trail run. This variety of races attracts over 4,000 participants annually, a significant increase from the 1,000 competitors at the inaugural event in 2005. The demanding ultra course is part of the Te Araroa, "The Long Pathway," a trail that stretches the length of New Zealand. Runners in the 52.5km event start in darkness from Glendhu Bay and navigate the rugged Harris Mountain Range, facing river crossings and steep sections of tussock-covered terrain before finishing in Arrowtown.
