Waitomo – a true trail running experience

I was fortunate enough to get a Wild Things VIP discount for the Waitomo Trail Run. Thanks guys!

Having done the 6km in the inaugural event, some time back, and hearing that the 11km is often a mud-fest, I figured I’d go for the 22km, it has a tunnel.

"Hey, I’ve done the Taupo 74km and survived, the Waitomo 22km will be a walk in the park" I thought!

For some reason, I failed to do my usual due diligence in checking out the elevation and the facts about the course.  Actually, with hindsight, I am glad I didn’t otherwise I may have been more than tempted to downgrade and am so happy that I didn’t.

My ride was starting his event at 07:30 so it meant getting my butt out of bed at 03:30 to get ready and drive to Waitomo from Rotorua.  My start was scheduled for 10:00 but the start waves weren’t being strictly adhered to so I hopped on the first bus for the 22K and started at about 08:15.

The scenery at the start is stunning – a short walk, including a little swing bridge, to the start line at the Mangapohue Natural Bridge.  Up the stairs and over the mat and the event had begun. DOC trails along the Marokopa River,cstunning landscape, rock formations, lush forests – absolute heaven. No groomed trails so it was really a true trail run, easily followed but with enough technical aspects to ensure my attention was focussed on being there all the time.

The first realisation that homework had not been done was a river crossing. No big deal, jump in, hold the rope and walk across. OK, that never happened. I slipped in the mud on getting into the river, grabbed the rope which was perhaps a little too slack, put my foot in a hole and sat down, in the river.

In true ‘Dory’ style, I jumped up, overbalanced and face-planted in the river on the other side of the rope.  Now I knew I was in no danger of overheating and just a little concerned about my phone that I had forgotten to put in a plastic bag, and my tissues that had just been thoroughly washed in the river.

I got through the mud and continued to enjoy the lush bush but opted to stay in the river as the mud on the banks looked a little treacherous to me. Then came ‘The Waitomo Natural Tunnel’.  Wow! Not only was the tunnel spectacular but my favourite photographer (Alan Ure) was there for a hug and a laugh about my misadventures.  I actually remembered to bring a headlamp and needed it. I Chose to run in the stream again and loved every minute of it. On the other side of the tunnel the water is falling gently from the roof – magic.  I trudged up the hill and saw a very friendly face (Nico Fournier) who was the medic.  (Nico was TEC for my attempt at T42 and was with me for all the tough bits through to the end, when I finished 6 seconds before the cut-off time, so will always hold a special place for me). Another well-needed hug and the real challenge began.

I passed Karst limestone formations, the Rocky Ridge, Stubbs Canyon and Hole in the Rock.

The farm parts were not my favourites as the animals have no care for hygiene and their ‘deposits’ are everywhere.  Up hills and down the other side to go up again and down again and…..  never ending hills! The ridges were pretty amazing though and further opportunities to avoid overheating – the wind hit you and every now and then the clouds made their own deposits on my already wet body.

I totally lost count of the number of times we criss-crossed the stream, always an opportunity (unintentionally) to rid my shoes of thick mud and other ‘deposits’ acquired on the farm.  (Every exit felt like I was wearing gum boots as my shoes had filled with water.)  A few needed to be jumped over and I recall one particularly muddy one where I didn’t move fast enough so never had the speed to get up the other side. The result, I put my left foot in the mud, sank to my calf and that resulted in me putting my right foot in to sink as well. Guess what? I was stuck! I managed to wriggle the right foot out quite quickly but the left took a little longer and I really thought that I was going to lose my shoe in the mud.

The native bush was magic and a serious test of my determination and resilience.  Clambering up a muddy hill with gorse to grab on to when you slip, knackered from the exertion, getting to the top of a rise only to discover there is a steeper one ahead. Just to add insult to injury, the next ‘top of the rise’ provided the same view – another nasty surprise ahead.

At one point I recall standing and staring when someone came past me.  I recognised her from previous chats on the way as being someone who has done the course before, at least twice. I asked ‘the light at the end of the tunnel, is it an express train?’ She said ‘yes’ and walked on! Yikes!

Getting up to the real rocks was tough, but pretty. The view, however, was lost as we appeared to be in the cloud by then and it was raining. Going through the rocks was pretty cool, although a little scary as everything was wet and slippery.  Another challenge ticked off.

The end was not too far away but still many uphills and downhills to go, when I slipped at the top of a mud slide. Don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner but when I was on my butt, I figured the easiest way down – I stayed on my butt and let gravity do its thing. Free slide! Ok, I did end up with mud in places I never imagined ever having mud but it would eventually be washed off and out!

The end is in sight but, no, you have to be kidding me! It is on the other side of the valley and you have to keep going. All the way down, leaving the finish line alongside and behind you, before getting to the bottom and having to run all the way up the hill on the other side of the valley, to the finish line.

All in all, a great challenging course and the aid stations were great but I was thankful that I had extra water and other fluids in my pack as I needed it all.

I can honestly say that this is the toughest half marathon I have ever done and delighted to have finished it, intact.