
The 22km.
8AM SAT 6 DECEMBER 2025 | THE TRAILS OF WHAKATU-NELSON
Why THE 22KM?
Swap the roads for one of Aotearoa’s toughest half marathons (plus a few extra km). You might want to check out the elevation map of this one, it’s no joke! But the views are 100% worth it.
The course.
Your adventure kicks off on Selwyn Place in the heart of Nelson’s CBD, charging down the iconic Trafalgar Street. At the Trafalgar Street bridge, swing right onto the Maitai River Trail and follow the sparkling river as it winds past the Waahi Taakaro Golf Course.
Then it’s time to climb - a 2.5km ascent to the Tantragee Saddle. Catch your breath on the short descent before stepping onto history: the Dun Mountain Trail, New Zealand’s oldest railway. Here, a steady climb through lush native bush rewards you with sweeping views over Nelson and Tasman Bay.
At “Crossroads,” the fun really begins. Drop down beside the predator-proof fence of the Waimarama Brook Sanctuary - home to kiwi and a chorus of native birds - following Cummins Creek, before reaching Brook St. Follow Brook St to your much earned water station at Andrews Farm Reserve. A short reprieve leads to your final, most infamous challenge: the towering Grampians. Conquer the brutal climb, then unleash yourself on a fast, exhilarating descent past Pikiwai Pā/Church Hill, racing to the finish line back on Selwyn Place.
TOTAL ELEVATION:
Total Ascent: ~1058m
Total Descent: ~1057m
Max Elevation: ~431m
THe important stuff.
What you get
Race number
Race cap
Finishers shirt
Finishers medal
On-course photography (pay what you want post-race)
Timing chip
Access to water station
Access to drop bag zone at start/finish line
Medical support
Spot prize entry
Goodies from some of our favourite local businesses
Great vibes
EntrIES
Key Dates:
February 1st: Early entry fee pricing ends
September 30th: Regular entry fee pricing ends
November 28th: Late entry fee pricing ends
December 4th: Trail entries close
December 6th at 2pm: Road entries close
Prizes
All finishers: All finishers will receive a wooden finishers medal.
Top 3: Top three male and female finishers overall will receive a prize.
Spot Prizes: We love a good spot prize almost as much as we love a good race pack, so we’ve partnered with some generous local businesses to bring you some epic spot prizes.
Photos
We have a talented team of photographers out on the course taking epic shots for the gram, or for the wall if you’re a little more old school! A link to race photos can be found on the Results page after the race.
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Pacers are not permitted for the 10km, 21km, and 50km.
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There is no mandatory gear for the 21km, however we recommend you carry any gear and fluids you would normally carry for an event of this distance over this terrain.
Trekking poles are permitted for the 10km, 21km, 50km, 100km, and 100 mile races, subject to the following rules:
a. Trekking poles must be fully collapsible so they can either fit inside a running pack or be strapped to the outside of a running pack (and not protrude) when not in use.
b. Trekking poles must always be used in a safe manner so as not to affect the safety of others.Athletes must ensure their bib number is visible at all times on the outside of their clothing and on the front of their body over the abdomen or chest. It must not be worn on pants or legs. Athletes must not cover their bib number with any backpack strap or article of clothing (such as thermal top, waterproof jacket (including see-through jackets) or, if mandatory, a high visibility safety vest. Athletes must not fold, cut or change their bib number in any way. It must be worn as is, unfolded.
Timing chips must be worn on your shoes at all times. If changing shoes during the event, it is up to the athlete to transfer the timing chip to the new shoes.
Headphones are not recommended, but are permitted for all trail races subject to the following rules:
a. Athletes must ensure that using headphones will not impact their mobile phone battery to the extent that the mobile phone will not be able to be of use throughout the entire duration of the race.
b. Athletes must switch off headphones, or lower the volume and use headphones in one ear only, when running on single track so that they can hear communication from other athletes attempting to pass and on any public roads so that they can hear approaching traffic.
c. Athletes must switch off headphones at all aid stations so that instructions from event staff can be heard and followed.
d. Athletes who choose to use headphones must do so in a safe and sensible manner and at a volume which still allows the athlete to remain aware of their surroundings.Athletes must carry all Mandatory Gear specified for their Race Distance on the Race website (and must do so at all times during the Race).
Random gear checks will be performed during the Race. If the athlete is found not to be carrying a mandatory item/s, this could result in disqualification or time penalties.
Refusal to participate in a Mandatory Gear check will also result in disqualification. For on-course gear checks, any time penalty will be served at the location of the gear check so athletes will not be able to proceed on course until the time penalty is served. During this time, the athlete must arrange for the missing item(s) to be replaced or they will not be allowed to continue on course even after the time penalty has been served. Where an athlete is found to be missing any Mandatory Gear items in a subsequent gear check, the athlete may be disqualified. Where it is not feasible to serve a time penalty on course, the time penalty will be added to the athlete’s overall Race time. The time penalty will also be listed within the Race results spreadsheet.Athletes should pay particular attention to any communications received from the Organiser in Race week indicating which weather dependent Mandatory Gear items are required to ensure they are aware of changes to any gear requirements.
The rules.
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Competitors must attend or read the compulsory race briefing for your race. Briefings will be posted on the website and sent out by email prior to race day. There will also be a race day briefing immediately prior to the start that will include current weather and trail conditions.
Athletes must follow the directions of event staff, medical team and course marshals at all times.
Competitors must adhere to the volunteer’s and marshal’s instructions at all times.
All Race starts are self-seeding. Faster athletes are to place themselves towards the front in the start chute and those looking to take their time to place themselves further back.
Athletes must not permit someone else to compete under their name, or compete under someone else’s name. Violation of this rule will result in the suspension of both parties from competing in the Race in future years.
Competitors must keep to the marked course and not leave the trail. Short cuts are prohibited (including on any switchbacks). If the athlete becomes lost, the athlete should return to the last course marking seen.
Competitors should keep to the left of the course if being passed by another competitor.
Competitors are in charge of knowing their own race course.
Athletes must follow all information signage, such as track closures, etc. Athletes should also observe all informational signage if training in the area prior to Race day. Certain parts of the course require special permission to gain access, all training must remain on publicly accessible areas and public land unless special permission has been granted prior.
The Race Director reserves the right to withdraw any competitor they feel is in distress and would not be capable of completing the event at any stage.
If competitors do not reach certain check points by the designated cut off times they will be removed from the course and unable to finish the race.
Athletes who withdraw from the Race (including those athletes required to withdraw under Rule 6) must do so at an aid station, unless assisted from the course by the Race medical team. To withdraw at an aid station, an athlete must notify event staff at the aid station and complete and sign the aid station withdrawal form.
Athletes requiring First Aid help on the course must use the phone numbers in their Participant Emergency Instructions (on the back of each athlete’s bib) to contact the event safety team who will arrange retrieval. Unauthorised persons (including Support Crews and/or Spectators) are not allowed to enter the course to collect athletes.
Athletes must not:
- litter on course, at any Race venue or in any surrounding areas;
- leave human faeces on the course or any track. Athletes who need to relieve themselves should either use a toilet, a wag bag or get well off the track and follow the ‘leave no trace’ principles;
- smoke or light any fire on course or at any Race venue; and
- take dogs on any part of the course (and, where the Race requires athletes to attend a National Park, anywhere in that National Park). Exceptions may apply for registered assistance/service dogs, please contact the Race organiser for details.Athletes must leave gates as they are found. If closed, an athlete may open a gate to pass through but it is each athlete’s responsibility to close the gate behind them.
Athletes must respect the rights, dignity and worth of every individual at the Race including other athletes, staff, marshals, volunteers and spectators. Athletes must at all times act responsibly and maintain high standards of behaviour and language and must not discriminate against or harass any person on any grounds but in particular based on sex, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, ability or performance.
Only athletes registered in The Spectacle are able to officially take part in The Spectacle.
Competitors should be kind and respectful to other competitors.
Please respect any private or public property adjacent to the race course both before and during the event (No sneaky toilet breaks on public or private land). Competitors must not, approach, or interfere with any stock.
Competitors must remove all of their rubbish. If seen littering you will be disqualified. If you carry it in, you must carry it out or discard it at designated areas at aid stations.
Staff and medical vehicles will be moving through the course during the race. Please be respectful of this and move out of the way as quickly as possible. Normal road rules apply throughout, please move to the left and let faster traffic pass on the right. Be courteous to all participants.
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For the purposes of these Race Rules:
• Spectators are those athlete supporters who attend the Race to provide encouragement to their athlete and view the Race from areas that are publicly accessible. Spectators are not permitted to provide outside assistance in any distance of the Race. Spectators are permitted for all Race distances.
• Support Crew are those athlete supporters whose designated role on Race day is to provide outside assistance to their athlete at designated aid stations. Support Crew numbers are limited to the number of passengers in an athlete’s allocated Support Crew vehicle.
Support Crew are only permitted for the 50km, 100km and 100 mile Race distances.
Spectators and Support Crew are not permitted to pace participating athletes unless they are one of two designated pacers allowed for the 100km and 100 mile.
Spectators and Support Crew are not permitted to run on course with their 21km athlete at any time.
10km and 21km only: Outside assistance is not permitted. This includes at aid stations, water points or any other location during the Race. Assistance from event staff is permitted.
The Safety Info.
QUALIFYING STANDARDS
We do not have any mandatory qualification standards for the 22km, however it is up to the individual to ensure they have done the training to complete this event safely and within the 11hr cut off period.
WATER STATIONS
There will be a water station available at Brook St - Andrews Farm. However, it is recommended that you carry everything you need to get through your event safely.
MANDATORY GEAR
There is no mandatory gear for the 22km, however we recommend you carry any gear and fluids you would normally carry for an event of this distance over this terrain.
COURSE
While the course will be marked, it is up to the competitor to know their race course. You can download the GPX file for the course here.
Our Charities.
Myeloma
New Zealand
NZ Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/
Chronic Fatigue Society
The Brook Waimarama Sanctuary