The Routeburn is one of my absolute favourite races. I haven’t done all of the great New Zealand
tracks, but this one is just wonderful and the race itself is superb.
I did this race in 2012 on a picture perfect day. (In fact the photos in here are from 2012; I
didn’t have time to take photos this year!).
It’s held in April, which is early autumn and the weather
can be dicey. It had been raining a lot
leading up to the race and the cloud was low.
Once you get into it, you don’t care and it cleared up anyway as I was
going across the tops, so you could still enjoy the great views.
My training had been going well leading up to the race,
except for my last run when I had pushed it too hard and took a little muscle
tear in my left calf. Iced it, raised
it, did all the right things and it seemed OK as I fronted at the start line at
the Divide.
The first part of the race is awkward, as the field is
compressed and you are on single track up the hill to Earland Falls. It’s difficult to pass people, and I’m sure
it was to pass me as well. You really had to just chill out and enjoy the
day.
The track was slippery and technical. There were stretches that had become streams,
so I splashed along trying not to fall flat on my face. I had the unique experience (for me) of
running through a waterfall, as the falls were full and I got soaked and
invigorated passing through the water.
I really wanted to do a much better time than last year and
I decided I could pick up time on the uphills, but that little calf tear just
started to get more and more uncomfortable.
As things wore on, I felt every step on my left leg as a jab of
pain. But it’s funny how it almost
becomes meditative, as you adapt to the discomfort.
The highlight of this race is the stretch along the tops,
with the view of the braided river through the Hollyford Valley and the Darren
Mountains beyond. You see this area in lots
of New Zealand shots, including the Air NZ in-flight video with Bear Grylls,
and it is almost a signature piece of classic New Zealand scenery. The track along the tops was rolling and I
was able to stretch out and find a steady pace as I went along.
The tarns, or mountain lakes, at the end of this section are
special and a bit magical. You almost
imagine fairies or mythical creatures might inhabit this place. Then, with relief, it’s the run down the hill
to the forest. Past the Routeburn Falls,
you are running near the river along technical rocky parts before you reach the
soft almost bouncy trail on the way to the finish.
I wanted to get inside 5 hours and the clock was
ticking. I worked hard and made the 32km
in 4 hours 51 mins, almost an hour quicker than last year. What a great day.
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