Tarawera Ultra-Trail Race Plan 2027

Tarawera's 2027 race pages list the longer races starting on 13 February, with the event calendar extending to 14 February. The overview lists T14 at 14 km / 161 m+, T21 at 23 km / 400 m+, T50 at 52 km / 1,150 m+, T102 at 102 km / 2,300 m+ and TMiler at 163 km / 3,800 m+ (overview, T102, TMiler).

The T102 is point-to-point from Firmin Field in Kawerau to Village Green in Rotorua. Its page highlights five lakes, Western Okataina native bush, redwoods and Sulphur Point, and lists a 7:00 am start with 30 hours maximum race time (T102 course).

The TMiler starts at Te Puia at 4:00 am, loops through the Rotorua region and finishes at Village Green. Its route includes eight lakes, Tarawera Forest, Buried Village and a boat crossing of Lake Rotomahana, with a 36-hour maximum (TMiler course).

What the course means for your plan

The organiser describes the trails as mostly non-technical and runnable, but that does not remove the long-duration nutrition task (overview). Our recommendation is to avoid racing the early runnable kilometres at an effort that makes your rehearsed eating routine difficult.

T102 and TMiler are different routes, not interchangeable distances on one checkpoint list. Build separate sheets and allow for your likely late-race slowing, stops and darkness. Don't use race names as exact kilometre figures: the listed T21 is 23 km and T50 is 52 km (overview).

The T102 course page lists eight aid stations, with water, Näak drink and cold food, plus hot food at selected later points. Its chart includes a leg of roughly 15 km between Okataina and Millar, which can take much longer late in the race than an early runnable leg (T102 stations).

The TMiler page lists 13 aid stations and one water point. The Te Ariki Isthmus row lists water and Näak drink but does not list food, so don't assume every refill point has a full menu (TMiler stations).

Crew and drop bags

The T102 page lists drop bags at Otamuri, Okataina and Tikitapu, as well as the finish. It allows support only at designated spectator-access aid stations, within the stated 200 m bounds either side. The course and bag tables differ slightly in distances, so use station names and the final guide to label bags rather than treat every kilometre figure as exact (T102 logistics).

The TMiler has its own support and bag table; don't transfer T102's locations or arrival estimates to the longer route. Current pages also contain clock-time and distance inconsistencies, so this guide deliberately does not reproduce a checkpoint cut-off timetable (TMiler, T102).

Our recommendation is to plan each leg's food from likely hours. As an illustrative example, a two-litre carrying capacity at a practised 500 mL/hour corresponds to four hours of fluid before contingency; whether that is appropriate depends on conditions, your needs and the current mandatory rules.

Tarawera-specific rehearsal

Our recommendation is to practise sustained, comfortable running while eating regularly, then test the same plan under late-run fatigue. Separate bottles that supply carbohydrate from plain-water bottles in your written plan. For the Miler, rehearse what you will eat when sweet food loses appeal and make the night-time caffeine plan a measured total, not repeated improvisation at checkpoints.

Set an intake you can sustain

The Australian Institute of Sport gives 30–60 g carbohydrate/hour for endurance exercise lasting 1–2.5 hours and up to 90 g/hour for events longer than 2.5–3 hours. These are duration-based guidelines, not a requirement for every trail runner.

The 2019 ultra-specific ISSN position stand takes a more conservative approach to very long races, recommending 30–50 g/hour within a broader energy plan and emphasising individual tolerance. Treat the two sources as context, not competing prescriptions: race intensity, time on feet and your rehearsed gut tolerance matter. Higher targets need progressive practice; don't jump to 90 g/hour on race day.

Count everything, not just gels

Add the carbohydrate in gels, drink mix, chews and food. As an illustrative calculation, a practised 60 g/hour plan for a two-hour leg needs 120 g carbohydrate. If a gel's label says 30 g, four gels supply that amount before counting anything in your bottles or food. This is arithmetic, not a product prescription or a universal target.

Split supplies into checkpoint-to-checkpoint portions. Add a modest contingency for slower travel, but separate emergency food from the food you expect to eat. Do not count an uncertain aid-station menu as guaranteed fuel.

Match fluid to conditions

The ISSN position stand suggests 450–750 mL/hour during ultra racing, adjusted for the environment, work rate, body size and tolerance. It is a starting reference, not a volume to force down. Rehearse in similar conditions and combine thirst, your experience and the available refill points when planning.

Carry capacity for the longest expected time between refills, not merely the longest distance. Avoid over-drinking: sodium does not make excessive fluid intake safe, and it does not eliminate exercise-associated hyponatraemia risk (ISSN).

Sodium, caffeine and variety

Individualise sodium using the conditions, your sweat losses and the sodium already supplied by drinks and foods. The ISSN review discusses 500–700 mg sodium per litre of fluid, but that is a drink concentration, not an automatic hourly dose.

Caffeine is optional. The ISSN review advises rehearsing your strategy, counting all doses and avoiding repeated large doses over a long ultra. A caffeinated gel plus coffee plus cola all contribute to the same total; caffeine is not a replacement for safe rest or withdrawal when needed.

Use familiar sweet and savoury options to build a plan you can repeat. Our guides to testing nutrition before a race and avoiding flavour fatigue are useful preparation.