Tarawera T102: Racing the Ultra-Trail Tarawera by UTMB

Her Trails Race Profile

Good fit if: you already have a solid ultramarathon base (ideally a completed 50km+ or a strong 50km attempt) and you're drawn to speed and rhythm over technical mountain skill. Because the terrain is largely runnable forestry road and lakeside trail rather than alpine climbing, this suits someone who runs well on rolling ground and wants to test genuine pacing discipline across 100km+, with a generous 30-hour cutoff giving room to problem-solve a tough patch rather than race the clock the whole way.

Not the best fit if: you're looking for a technical, high-alpine mountain ultra to build climbing strength and technical footwork, Tarawera's elevation gain is spread thin across the full distance rather than concentrated in defining climbs, so it rewards speed endurance and fuelling discipline more than climbing power. It's also not the easiest first 100km if you haven't yet built confidence holding pace on tired legs, since the runnable nature of the course can tempt under-pacing early.

Readiness checklist before you enter:

• You've completed at least one ultramarathon (ideally 50km or longer) and recovered well from it.
• You can hold a consistent running pace on tired legs, not just move forward at any pace.
• You have a tested race-day fuelling and hydration strategy, since a fast course invites under-fuelling.
• You're comfortable being on your feet for a long day, potentially into the night depending on your finishing window (start 7:00am Saturday, overall cutoff 1:20pm Sunday).
• You can meet the event's entry requirements, including minimum age 18 on race day, per the official entry page.

Recommended Her Trails Program

Her Trails Tarawera T102 (20 Weeks)

A 20-week program built around what actually decides this race: speed endurance and pacing discipline on largely runnable, non-technical terrain, not climbing or technical skill. We build the deep aerobic durability, consistent fuelling and mobility support to keep you moving well over a long day on your feet.

The program is built around progressive long runs, hill-specific training and pacing strategies to manage the distance, alongside mindset coaching, nutrition guidance and mobility work to support recovery and injury prevention through a 20-week build. From about Week 10 the program also shows you how to shape your long days for the finish time you are aiming at, whether that is a longer day on your feet or a faster one. The week-by-week structure is laid out inside the program once you're enrolled, so check the program page for the full detail.

Download the app, and don't forget to ask questions in Coaching Corner or the Community Hub. Coaching Corner calls run on Mondays at 1pm during term time.

• Official race page, course map, elevation profile, GPX, aid stations & cutoffs: tarawera.utmb.world/races/t-102.

• Aid stations: 8 stations along the route plus start/finish, spaced between roughly 5.1km (Rotoiti to Okataina) and 15.1km (Okataina to Millar) apart, per tarawera.utmb.world/races/t-102.
• Checkpoint cutoffs: Outlet (27.6km) by 3:30pm, Okataina (57.5km) by 12:20am, Tikitapu/Blue Lake (84.8km) by 8:15am, Redwoods (94.7km) by 11:10am, finish by 1:20pm Sunday, a 30-hour overall limit from the 7:00am Saturday start (tarawera.utmb.world/races/t-102).
• Mandatory gear: always required: mobile phone, water bottle/hydration vest and emergency survival bag. Weather-dependent items (thermal top, waterproof jacket, beanie, thermal pants, gloves, headlamp plus backup power, hi-vis vest) are confirmed by noon on the Wednesday before race day, per tarawera.utmb.world: Mandatory Gear. A mandatory gear check is required before you collect your race pack.
• Entry: direct entry (no lottery), minimum age 18 on race day, entry fee $600 NZD, per tarawera.utmb.world: Entry & Registration. Confirm current UTMB Index requirements on that page, as these can change year to year.
• Race day: start is 7:00am Saturday 13 February 2027 at Firmin Field, Kawerau, with an optional pre-race shuttle from Rotorua's Village Green (tarawera.utmb.world/races/t-102).
• Logistics: the event runs an optional pre-race shuttle bus and has accommodation partnerships through Nirvana Travel; check the destination/accommodation pages on the official site for current options.

Race-Smart Notes

Train speed endurance, not just distance. With no major climb to break up the effort, the ability to hold a strong, consistent pace for 100km+ matters more here than climbing capacity or technical skill. If your finish will be a longer day, a hike-and-run rhythm you have rehearsed in training holds up better than a run pace you cannot sustain.

Nail your fuelling early and stick to it. A fast, runnable course invites you to under-fuel because you feel good. Start fuelling in the first 30 to 45 minutes and build toward about 60 g of carbohydrate per hour, up to 90 g only if your gut is trained for it, practised in training. Consistent fuelling discipline from the start is what keeps that feeling through the second half.

Respect the heat. Early February in Rotorua is typically warm, and the exposed forestry-road sections offer little shade. Practise your hot-weather hydration and electrolyte strategy before race day.