THE RACE

DAY INFO.

Everything you need to know for race day

AID STATIONS.

What does a kid’s birthday party and an ultra have in common? The food! Aid stations will be stocked with a range of options including:

  • Tailwind Nutrition

  • Water

  • Soft drinks (lemonade, cola, ginger beer)

  • Lollies

  • Sandwiches

  • Chips

  • Fruit

While we will do our best to ensure there is plenty of variety available, please note some items may not be available at all aid stations.

WE ARE A CUPLESS EVENT

In an effort to cut down on waste, The Spectacle endeavours to be a cupless event so there will be no cups supplied at aid stations. You will need to carry a cup or hydration pack with you. Limited stock of hydration packs will be available for sale at MD Outdoors, but we encourage you to purchase one in advance and use it in your training, especially for the longer events.

AID STATION LOCATIONS.

FIELD AID STATIONS

A field aid station contains water and Tailwind Nutrition and is not accessible by your crew.

FULL AID STATIONS

A full aid station contains food, fluids, and bathrooms. All full aid stations are crew accessible.

All aid station locations for each course can be found on the map located on the individual page for that distance.

50KM, 100km, 100 mile

Drop bags will be available at certain aid stations to ensure you can access your own personal supplies:

50km - Maitai Dam

100km - Hacket Carpark, Maitai Dam

100 mile - Hacket Carpark, Maitai Dam (x2)

At athlete check-in, you will be supplied drop bag tags. Attach the corresponding bag tag to your bag/s and drop your bag/s at the designated area at Athlete Check-in. Times for when drop bags need to be at Athlete Check-In will be posted closer to race weekend.  

Your finish line drop bag can be dropped at The Rutherford Hotel expo area.

22km

A bag may be left at The Rutherford Hotel expo area so you have immediate access to any gear you may need immediately post-race.

DROP BAGS.

Please note:

  • Drop bags should weigh no more than 5kg

  • Drop bags must not contain any glass

  • All liquids must be in secure containers

  • Drop bags must not contain any items that need to be kept cool to remain fresh

  • Bags will not be moved between aid stations, there must be an individual designated bag for each aid station location

  • Bags must be soft and no larger than roughly a standard back pack size

  • If you have a drop bag at an Aid Station, you will be asked to put it in the used drop bag pile, even if you don’t use it. This allows us to take the bags to the finish line as soon as possible and clear more space for remaining athletes.

  • Once an aid station has closed, drop bags will be transported back to The Rutherford Hotel expo area

  • Support crew may pick up your drop bags for you at The Rutherford Hotel. You will need to provide them with your race bib for our volunteers to be able to release the drop bag.

Please only use the drop bag service when needed. If you have support crew meeting you at an aid station please provide them with the bag you need for that aid station if possible.

Pacers are runners that can accompany a 100km or 100 mile athlete at various points on the course. Pacers may join and leave the course at aid stations marked as having crew access.

Pacers run for free, but must be registered online no later than November 30. The Pacer's role is to accompany their athlete, to provide moral support, pacing advice, and companionship in the latter stages of the event. The pacer cannot physically assist the athlete.

 

Pacers.

PACER RULES

  • Pacers must register themselves online and sign our waiver.

  • All Pacers must wear a compulsory race bib number. Pacer(s) must attend Athlete Check-in to collect their bib.

  • The minimum age for Pacers is 18 years old.

  • Pacer numbers will be clearly marked.

  • Pacers must carry their own set of mandatory clothing and equipment items to match that required by the 100km and 100 mile athletes.

  • Pacers can only meet their athlete at aid stations marked as having crew access.

  • Competitors can use two Pacers – but only one at a time (they must change over at a designated aid station).

  • Pacers are responsible for their own transport.

  • There are no Pacers for 10km, 21km, or 50km races.

  • Pacers may not carry additional nutrition, hydration, or equipment for athletes.

  • With the exception of an emergency or medical situation, Pacers cannot provide any material or physical assistance to their athletes.

SUPPORT CREW.

We’re all about the vibes at The Spectacle and support crews are a huge part of ensuring vibes remain high throughout the day/s you are out on the trails! There are specific aid stations (marked as “crewed aid stations”) where support crews can assist you, but they may not assist you outside of these areas. Assistance includes verbal and physical support, providing nutrition and hydration, and gear changes. 

You and your support crew should develop a plan for how they will assist you at each aid station, when you estimate arriving at each aid station, and how they will get there the week leading into your event.

Support crews, please note:

  • Support crews can only assist their athletes at the aid stations indicated as “crewed aid stations”. This includes 200m on either side of the aid station. Outside of these areas support crews cannot provide material support (physical, nutritional, gear, or otherwise) to runners on course unless permission has been granted by the race organisers ahead of time.

  • Please be courteous to other athletes and support crews at aid stations.

  • If your athlete intends to meet you at an aid station, please transport their drop bag for them.

  • You also have a long day. Make sure you also get adequate nutrition, hydration, rest and dress for the conditions.

  • There may be narrow, gravel and winding roads leading to aid station access points. Please drive with care and obey all road rules.  

  • The actions of the support crew are the responsibility of the athlete. Any rules breached by crew will result in penalties or disqualification for the athlete. 

It is important that you attend the race briefing for your event. If you can’t attend the race briefing you must notify the race directors as soon as possible.

RACE BRIEFINGS.

  • Time: 5.45pm Friday 5 December

    Location: Race start line/relay leg changeovers (briefings will occur at each leg changeover)

    Please make sure you arrive at your start area by 5.30pm

  • Time: 6.15pm Friday 5 December

    Location: Race start line

    Please make sure you arrive at the start area by 6pm

  • Time: 7.45am Saturday 6 December

    Location: Race start line

    Please make sure you arrive at the start area by 7.30am

  • Time: 2.45am Saturday 6 December (B Race)

    6.45am Saturday 6 December (A Race Start)

    Location: Race start line

    Please make sure you arrive at the start area 30 mins before your event is scheduled to start

  • Time: 1pm-2pm Friday 5 December

    Location: The Rutherford Hotel

    This is a mandatory briefing.

  • Time: Race Briefing: 5pm-6pm Thursday 4 December

    Location: The Rutherford Hotel

    This is a mandatory briefing.

Mandatory gear.

The mandatory gear lists contain the minimum gear recommended to keep our athletes safe during The Spectacle and in Nelson’s unpredictable weather systems, especially while summiting various peaks within the Richmond Ranges. If you would normally take additional gear on a run of this duration and over this terrain, please take it.

The course passes through remote sections of trail, where protection from the elements and medical/support services could be some time/distance from athletes needing assistance. It is therefore imperative that the mandatory gear is carried at all times.

Mandatory gear will be checked before your race pack is issued to you. Please thoroughly read the mandatory gear list for your race.

Weather

Competitors will be advised at 24 hrs before your event start time if all of the mandatory gear listed must be carried on the day. Based on the expected weather and track conditions, you may not need it all, however we encourage you to plan to need to carry it all and practice this in your training.

  • No mandatory gear required. However, you would normally take gear with you on a run like this, then please do.

  • No mandatory gear required. However, you would normally take gear with you on a run like this, then please do.

  • MANDATORY GEAR - 100 MILE, 100KM, 50KM

    • Mobile phone with race director’s mobile number saved to contacts (Nathan Fa’avae - 0214266734)

    • Map (can be downloaded on phone/watch. GPX files here)

    • Two long sleeve thermal top e.g merino or polypropylene

    • Full length thermal tights e.g merino or polypropylene (or alternatively a pair of waterproof over-trousers)

    • Seam-sealed waterproof jacket with hood

    • Thermal beanie & gloves e.g merino, fleece or polypropylene (a thermal Buff tubular is accepted, if you know how to tie it as a beanie)

    • A survival bag - A bag not blanket - you must be able to get inside the bag

    • Whistle

    • Head torch (and spare batteries if you expect you will need them based on your race and pace)

    • Backpack or running vest capable of carrying all of the mandatory gear

    • A minimum carrying capacity of 1L of water - this can be bottles, soft flasks or a hydration pack

    • First aid kit (minimum; bandage, strapping tape, pain killers, antihistamine)

    These must be worn or carried for the duration of the race unless advised otherwise prior to the race.