The 22km.

7AM SATURDAY 5 DECEMBER | 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: ~660m
Max Elevation: ~430m

THe important stuff.

What you get

  • Race number

  • Race cap

  • Official race shirt

  • Finishers medal

  • On-course photography (pay what you want post-race)

  • Access to water station

  • Access to drop bag zone at start/finish line

  • Medical support

  • Goodies from some of our favourite local businesses

  • Great vibes

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 great spot prizes. Spot prizes will be randomly distributed in race packs, so if you find a little something extra in there - congratulations - you’ve won!

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.

The rules.

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 7hr cut off period.

WATER STATIONS

There will be a water station available at the Tantragee Saddle and 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.