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T50

First-timer friendly and set amongst the lush native bush and glistening lakes of Rotorua, the T50 is the ultimate introduction to the world of ultra-running.

Race Category

ws50KM

Running Stones

2

Finals Access

Distance

53 KM

Elevation Gain

1150 M+

Start Date

Saturday 15th February 2025

Race Start

Te Puia, Rotorua - 07:00

Max Allowed Race Time

14 Hours

The T50 trail run is an achievable course for runners of all abilities. If you’ve completed a road marathon or a few half marathons, then this is the perfect step up. With runnable trails, fully catered aid stations and stunning scenery all around, once you experience trail running, you’ll never want to go back!

RACE DETAILS

T50 SATURDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2025
ENTRY INCLUSIONS Race entry, athlete t-shirt, finisher medal, buffet aid stations, drop bag service, on-course medical support and assistance, course photography (able to purchase during entry or registration account)
TRANSPORT An optional pre-race shuttle bus is available for $8.00. Pick up from Village Green on Tutanekai St between 5:45am and 6:30am. Dropping you at the start line. Limited parking is available at the start line, if you prefer to drive yourself. Book your shuttle bus from your registration account
MINIMUM AGE 18 years of age on race day
MANDATORY GEAR All athletes may be required to carry mandatory gear during the race. Details are on the Mandatory Gear page
TOTAL ALLOWABLE TIME 14 hours
CUTOFF PACE REQUIRED 16:13 mins/km
FIRST FINISHER 3hr 30min (10:30am)
FINAL FINISHER 14hr 00min (9:20pm)
TIMING RESULTS Timing results will be based on net time and provided by the following age group categories for men and women: 18-19 years, 20-34 years, 35-39 years, 40-44 years, 45-49 years, 50-54 years, 55-59 years, 60-64 years, 65-69 years, 70-74 years, 75-79 years, 80-84 years, 85+ years. Your age group will be determined by your age as at 31 December 2025
AWARDS & PRIZES All T50 finishers will receive a finisher medal. There will be a prize giving for the top 5 overall male and female finishers - see event schedule
UTMB World Series ws50KM
The T50 is a UTMB World Series 50K Event. Finishers of T50 will receive 2 running stones

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The T50 trail run is an achievable course for athletes of all abilities. If you’ve completed a road marathon or a few half marathons, then this is the perfect step up. Once you experience trail running, you’ll never want to go back to the road!

Starting in the heart of Rotorua, the T50 course takes you on a tour of Rotorua’s geothermal areas, lakes and forests.

The highlights include running alongside three stunning lakes - Lake Rotokakahi (Green Lake), Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake) and Lake Rotorua, the towering redwoods, plenty of native forest single track, steam alongside the trail at Sulphur Point and finishing at the Village Green in downtown Rotorua.

The course features a combination of trails and forestry roads with native bush, conifer forest, farmland, parkland and thermal landscapes.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

*Maps subject to change, and may change for reasons outside of the Race Organisers control. Select the Time Charts tabs to view the cut-off times for leaving the relevant Aid Stations. Time Charts show estimated fastest and slowest times for each race leg and should be used as a guide only. Where the slowest times are greater than the cut-off time, the cut-off time will supersed the slowest expected estimates. If you miss the cut-off then you must follow the directions of officials. Please note that in bad weather conditions, cut-offs may need to be brought forward during the event.

Open T50 course in Capra

Location Distance from
Start
Distance from
Last Aid Station
Distance to
Next Aid Station
Distance to
Finish
Cut-off Time Spectators Drop Bags Timing Point Available
Te Puia (start) 0km 0km 10.7km 52.6km Limited Y Y Water only
Puarenga 10.7km 10.7km 11.2km 41.3km Y (via bus) Water, Näak drink, cold food
Rotokakahi (Green Lake) 22km 11.2km 13.7km 30.6km N Water, Näak drink, cold food
Tikitapu (Blue Lake) 35.7km 13.7km 9.8km 16.9km 5:00pm Y Y Y Water, Näak drink, cold food
Redwoods 45.6km 9.8km 6.9km 6.9km Y Y Water, Näak drink, cold food
Village Green (finish) 52.6km 6.9km 0km 0km 9:20pm Y Y Y Water, Näak drink, cold food

KEY INFO FOR T50 RUNNERS

All the information you need to know before starting an extraordinary adventure.

AID STATIONS

The T50 has 4 aid stations along its route, with differing levels of service and supplies. The T50 aid stations offer you the opportunity to refuel, rehydrate, see your spectators and prepare for the next leg of your journey!
Read more about Aid Stations

DROP BAGS

A drop bag service will be available which allows you to have your own personal supplies (gels, food, change of socks, shoes, shorts, lubricant, etc.) available at certain aid stations or at the finish. Please see the time charts above for information on which aid stations have drop bags.
Read the rules on drop bags

MANDATORY GEAR

Athletes in the T50 may have to carry mandatory gear. The mandatory gear list contains what we believe is the absolute minimum to keep you safe during the event. For T50 athletes, your gear will need to be checked pre-race.
Read Mandatory Gear rules

TRAINING ON COURSE

Some sections of the Tarawera course are publically accessible throughout the year, offering the opportunity to train on course prior to race-day.

Please take care and give way to members of the general public when training on course.
Read about Training & Nutrition

START GROUPS

START GROUPS

To help ease congestion at the start line and on-course, and ensure an enjoyable and safe race for everyone, we ask all athletes to seed themselves into start groups with runners of similar abilities.

During the registration process, you will be able to select your appropriate start group. Your selection is based on your estimated finish time/position.

Start Group Race Start Time Estimated Position Estimated Finish Time
Pink 7:00am Top 5% Under 5hrs
Red 7:00am 5% - 25% Between 5hrs and 6hrs 30mins
Green 7:10am 25% - 50% Between 6hrs 30mins and 7hrs 30mins
Blue 7:20am 50% - 75% Between 7hrs 30mins and 8hrs 30mins
Yellow 7:20am 75% - 100% More than 8hrs 30mins

If you wish to start in the same group as your friends, you should all select the same start group based on your slowest friend.

On race-day, please ensure you follow the signage and line up in the start group area you selected (this will be printed onto your race bib). You can amend your start group selection via your registration account anytime prior to 12 January 2025.

Missed your start group? Don’t worry, your race time does not start until you cross the start line. To be eligible for overall placings, you must start in the Pink group.

SUPPORT CREW

Your support crew can be a big part of your day at Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB, and they're more than welcome to help get you through your Tarawera journey. Support crews can see you and assist you at specific aid stations, but may not assist you outside of these points. Assistance can include moral and verbal support, physical support, food and nutrition, hydration, and gear and equipment changes.

You should work with your support crew to formulate a detailed plan for them to assist you at various points on course. This includes estimating when you expect to arrive at supported aid stations, what support you might want at each, when they will need to meet you there and how they will get there.

Support crews, please note:

  • Support crews can only assist their athletes at the Aid Stations indicated with spectator access - see here for details . This includes 200m either side of the Aid Station on course. Outside of these areas support crews cannot provide material support (physical, nutritional, gear or otherwise) to athletes on course.
  • Please be courteous to other athletes and support crews at Aid Stations.
  • If you intend to meet your support crew at an Aid Station, do not use the drop bag service for this Aid Station.
  • Support crews have just as long a day as the athlete. Take the time and care to look after yourselves - plenty of food and water, dress for the conditions, and take the time to rest (sleep/naps encouraged) when you can between meeting points.
  • Many roads that access Aid Stations are rural and narrow, windy roads. Please take care driving on these, particularly with increased traffic during the event.
  • 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.

For more helpful information please visit the Transport Services page and Spectators page.

SUPPORT CREW
DROP BAGS

DROP BAGS

T50 athletes may have a drop bag at the locations specified in the below table.

Location Distance from start
Tikitapu (Blue Lake) 35.7km
Village Green (Finish Line) 52.6km

Please note that drop bags must be dropped at the designated area at Athlete Check-In before 8:00pm Friday 14th February. In addition to the above, you may also drop a bag at the start line on race-morning which will be transported back to the finish venue.

Rotorua