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
Running Stones
2
Finals Access
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
 |
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 |  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.
*Maps subject to change, and may changes 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.
| 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.
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.
DROP BAGS
T50 athletes may have a drop bag at the aid station locations specified in the below table.
| Aid Station | Distance from start |
|---|---|
| Tikitapu (Blue Lake) | 35.5km |
| Village Green (Finish Line) | 52.1km |
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. Please note that aid station drop bags must be dropped at the designated area at Athlete Check-In before 8:00pm Friday 14th February.
