Entry through the organiser
Entry details on the organiser’s site →
The organiser, a third party. We take no entries and have no part in the race.
Running Wanaka? Do your long runs with the gel you will race on. Get them on Amazon Amazon partner link
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Motatapu
At a glance
- Race day
- The 2027 race
- Start
- 09:309:30 AM
- Distance
- 42.2 km26.2 mi
- Marathon · 5K · Ultra
The course
The organiser says the Trail Marathon crosses the Motatapu, Soho and Glencoe high-country stations, which are open to the public only for this event each year.
- Three high-country stations, open once a yearThree private stations opened once a year.
- 1,050 m of climbing, never above 880 m1,050 m of climbing, a high point of 880 m.
- Cut-offs at 9 km, 17 km and 6 pm11:30 am at 9 km, 1:15 pm at 17 km, 6 pm overall.
Course notes 3 short reads on the course
Whole courseLandmarkThree high-country stations, open once a yearThree private stations opened once a year.
The course runs from Motatapu Station near Glendhu Bay on Lake Wānaka to Wilcox Green in Arrowtown. The organiser lists numerous river crossings, challenging climbs and views of the southern high country valleys.
Sourced
Whole courseGradient1,050 m of climbing, never above 880 m1,050 m of climbing, a high point of 880 m.
The race is on Saturday 6 March 2027 and starts at 9:30. It is a UTMB Index race, and the minimum age is 18 on race day.
Sourced
Whole courseTacticsCut-offs at 9 km, 17 km and 6 pm11:30 am at 9 km, 1:15 pm at 17 km, 6 pm overall.
The times are for leaving each aid station, not arriving, and the organiser enforces them strictly. Walkers are welcome in the marathon, so the same cut-offs apply to them.
Sourced
Race weekend
Bib pickup at Wilcox Green, ArrowtownFriday 5 March Bib pickup
-
15:003:00 PM–19:007:00 PM
Athlete check-in (optional) Wilcox Green, Arrowtown -
17:305:30 PM–18:306:30 PM
ASICS Shakeout Run Wilcox Green, Arrowtown
Bib in hand?A number belt holds it without pins through your race top. Clip it on tonight.
Number belt on AmazonAmazon partner link
Saturday 6 March Race day
-
07:307:30 AM–08:158:15 AM
Athlete check-in Mount Aspiring College, Wānaka -
09:309:30 AM
Trail Marathon start Motatapu Station near Glendhu Bay, Lake Wānaka. 42.2 km to Wilcox Green, Arrowtown. No private vehicle access to the start line. -
16:304:30 PM
Prizegiving Wilcox Green, Arrowtown. For all age group category placegetters.
Cut-offs (3)
-
11:3011:30 AM
Cut-off at Aid Station 1 9 km from the start. The time is when a runner must be leaving the aid station. -
13:151:15 PM
Cut-off at Aid Station 2 17 km from the start. The time is when a runner must be leaving the aid station. -
18:006:00 PM
Course cut-off
Times as published by the organiser, in Wanaka time, checked . Confirm on their site before you travel.
The forecast for Saturday
Race morning, on the record
Add to calendar .ics file, times in Wanaka time
Entry
Race fuel
Energy gel
5 gels for Wanaka, plus 1 spare
Finish
One every 40 minutes, by the clock:
Under about 75 minutes most runners need no gel: water at the aid stations does it.
- km 7mile 4.4
- km 14.1mile 8.7
- km 21.1mile 13.1
- km 28.1mile 17.5
- km 35.2mile 21.8
For your long training runs:
Our pick: SiS BETA Fuel gel, box of 6, strawberry and lime. 40 g of carbohydrate a gel, about twice a usual gel, from two kinds of sugar your body takes up side by side. Enough for race day and two test long runs.
Easy to forget on race morning: pack them with your bib the night before.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
In Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Salted Caramel, 24-pack, the best seller there.
Outside the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the UK and Ireland, Spain and Portugal, Italy, the rest of the EU and Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Chocolate Outrage, 24-pack on Amazon.com, the best seller there.
Anti-chafe
Compeed anti-blister stick, 8 ml
An invisible layer before the start keeps seams, straps and shoes from rubbing skin raw.
Put it on before you leave for the start: heels and toes, inner thighs, under a bra or heart-rate strap.
Try it on a long run first, like everything you use on race day.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Number belt
Compressport Race Belt
Holds your bib without safety pins through your top, with loops for up to 8 gels.
Clip the bib on the night before, so it goes on with your shorts in the morning.
Keep the number on the front, where officials and photographers can see it.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Electrolytes
SiS Hydro electrolyte tablets, tube of 20
One tablet in a bottle puts back some of the salt you sweat out.
One tablet in 500 ml of water in the hour before the start.
Only if you have used them in training: nothing new on race day.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Blister plasters
Compeed blister plasters, medium, 6
One in a pocket cushions a blister if one starts.
Put it on clean, dry skin and leave it until it comes off by itself.
Give a couple to whoever comes to cheer, so they are there at the km you need them.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Keep exploring
More races to look at after the Motatapu.
