Abel Tasman Coastal Challenge

Abel Tasman Coastal Challenge

28 September 2012, Running event, Abel Tasman
Andrew and Richard

The Abel Tasman Coastal Challenge is a one day event taking a limit of 300 runners from Awaroa Inlet to Marahau following the impossibly gorgeous coastal track. Track conditions are excellent and the event is well organised by the Nelson Striders (the web site is under the banner ‘Nelson Events’). The distance varies depending on who you talk to, but is about 36km. This may change as there is a rumour that they will run a longer route next year. There is an option for supporters to take a boat trip to walk the last 14km from Torrent Bay.

Being a late initiate into running and quickly finding tarmac to be a little tedious, heading off-road was inevitable. A cursory web search reveals that there are an ever-increasing choice of intimidating but spectacular events. Richard, an old college mate and companion on various hare-brained adventures in our youth requires no encouragement.

Unfortunately, our first attempt founders with the cancellation (after we’d trained up) of the 2011 Tararua Mountain Race, due to SARs resources being required for the second Christchurch earthquake. It’s a while before our affairs coincide sufficiently for a repeat attempt and it is the Abel Tasman that catches the eye. A training schedule is drafted up and largely ignored as we try to fit a few ‘hit outs’ around work, family and winter weather.

We take the Friday morning ferry and have a leisurely trip to Marahau via the Slip Inn Havelock (try the seafood chowder) and the Sprig and Fern (takeaway riggers of good craft beer). Friends have booked a house in Marahau just around the corner from the registration point so we have a very relaxed evening in which to savour the ‘riggers’ of pre-race nerves.

The organisation on the day is seamless. At 7am we register at Marahau, board a bus to Kaiteriteri then a scenic boat ride to Awaroa. The morning is cool, but sunny as we study our map and the passing coastline to get a feel for what the next few hours will bring.

There’s a short walk from the boat to the starting point on the Awaroa airstrip with a few competitors being taken aside for random gear checks. The compulsory gear feels very modest compared to the average Tararua day pack. A few duck into the lodge to use the facilities and here we must offer a thought to the punter whose race ended when he tripped and tore something vital while exiting the loo.

As the field lines up and warms up, we acknowledge the Royals of the event; these are the three gentlemen who have competed every year since the race’s inception. Truly impressive; we speculate about how none of them could possibly consider being the first to miss a year, and whether the last man standing wins a car.

Under starters orders ... (note the two fine specimens mid-photo)

The horn goes and the pack sets off down the airstrip with yahoos and cheers. Those in the know put on a bit of pace in order to beat the queue that forms where the track narrows to single file.

This is one of our great walks so there is beautiful bush with view windows opening over secluded golden beaches and an emerald sea. There are mossy waterfalls, granite outcrops and at times the track meanders through cool bush along a bench cut at the water's edge. However, our focus is less on the aesthetics and more on the two meters of track ahead.

Support during the race is good and the most obvious wrong turns are marked. Supporters, volunteers, and residents appear at various points throughout the event to bolster spirits and provide water and snacks. The day is calm and sunny but the air stays blessedly cool under the canopy.

The track is mostly well packed and of gentle grade varying between 0 and about 150m, but there a lot of ups and down and a few steep sections to keep you on your toes. Things potter along well until Torrent Bay; 14km from the end. This is where we start to pay the price for a somewhat casual approach to training.

The last 10km are unrelenting; Richard’s Achilles is playing up and it is hard to judge progress amongst the trees. Each gentle rise sucks a little more from depleted reserves and the last few kilometres are interminable. We are not the only ones feeling the burn; the track is littered with souls who may have started the day at a slightly optimistic pace.

Still running ... just.

At the line I have nothing left and the first overwhelming emotion is absolute relief. It takes a few minutes to get around to feeling satisfaction at coming in under our 4 hour target; quickly followed by guilty relief at getting away with a somewhat slack training regime. It’s a few hours before cockiness sets in and we start contemplating what the next event might be.
 

The organisers provide pineapple at the end, a subway lunch then a generous meal in the late afternoon before prize giving. While the winning times are impressive (the overall winner is in our 40 - 49 age group so we didn’t stand a chance!), the highlight is the acknowledgement given to the oldest finisher. At 82, after well over 5 hours on his feet his standing ovation is well deserved; what a legend.

 

 

 

Comments

No regrets and a great deal of enjoyment. I am very pleased to have been part of this event. At $195 it feels quite expensive but you get: a unique run, scenic boat trip, support during the run, lunch and dinner... and a bunch of priceless memories.

There are limited entries so book early for the run and accommodation. Having accommodation nearby and a good group to share it with was fantastic. We left a car at the race end which meant a quick shuttle back to our accommodation.

The race website left a bit to be desired, and they didn't offer a decent topo map of the course, however the organisation on the day more than made up for it. If you’re like me and want to be able to visualise the route, it would pay to get the Topo map and talk to someone that has done it to identify exactly where the track goes. DoC and others have contour graphs of the coast but not all of them follow the same route (e.g out of Torrent Bay).

The time of year means the weather isn’t too hot but you are training through winter. Do a fair amount of hill training; although the route only climbs to about 140m, it bounces up and down throughout the race and by the time you reach Torrent Bay the legs are feeling it. It’s not like running over a mountain where you know it’s all downhill at the end.

As with any longish off road event, unless you’re fit and experienced, I suggest getting advice and planning your training, gear, hydration and nutrition carefully. Knowing the course is an advantage, especially in the final stages where the run through the bush seems to go forever.

Finally, there are limited pre-race loo opportunities so get into the queue on the boat early!

Mt Matthews run

Orongorongo: Mt Matthews Run

Saturday 26 May, 2012
Solo run

Another solo trail run as part of preparation for the Abel Tasman track in September.  I keep picking hills you can't run up though!

Summary

Distance 21+ km(?); 4hr 25. Start elevation about 50m; maximum 941m. Forecast for sun but high cloud developed quickly. A cool northerly was only really noticeable near the top.

Depart Catchpool car park 07.50. Trot through Orongorongo track then up the river bed to the junction with Matthew’s stream at 08.45. Arrive at the top approx 10.15 and potter about for about 10 minutes (after a pause on the way up to overlook the saddle). Return the same way; Matthew’s junction at 11.15 and car park at 12.15.

The trip

The Park gates open at about 07.40 so the last minute getting ready stuff is done in the car while waiting for the ranger. A few cars have been in the park overnight but no sign of life until three older gents turn up to maintain stoat lines.

As expected, no other souls are to be seen until returning down Mt Matthews (one chap wandering up). There are a few signs of life on the way down the Orongorongo River and a few groups of people walking in along the Orongorongo track near midday. Some wheeled traffic has been up the river bed recently and a ute is parked up near Big Bend.

The Orongorongo track is easy going; repairs are underway but nothing tricky. The river bed is also good going along the vehicle tracks. The morning sun clears the hills in a few places shining the length of the valley and requiring the peak of the cap to be kept low.

Turning into Matthew’s stream the rocks are more jagged, and the stream is clearly moving things around pretty actively, so more care is required with footing. The route runs up the creek then departs to follow a track up the ridge, at exactly the point marked on the map. The track up is generally pretty easy to follow.

It’s basically a scramble straight up with a brief 30m down hill around 400m. After that there’s the turn off to South saddle (around 550M) which is also the route to the south coast down Mukamuka stream. Shortly after, the track breaks out of the bush giving good views over the saddle, down to the Coast and across ridges and hills towards Wellington.

The track skips along the ridge briefly then ducks back into forest and keeps climbing. It’s still a fair way to the top from here. The approach to the top is through forest and there are a few false alarms. Don’t get excited until the track has dropped off the back of the ridge and approaches the top from the South via a not so old slip which has thrown trees and rocks into a jumble which you have to scramble through.

The views are good. After the clearing above the saddle there isn’t a lot to see until a view of the Wairarapa explodes in your face. A window opens through the tress and suddenly there is light reflecting off the Ruamahanga River; Lake Wairarapa peering around a ridge and somewhere in the distance across the flats; Martinborough and the Eastern Hills. Further along, there are views of Lake Onoke and the Coast as well as back towards Wellington.

The top is marked by a short steel pole behind a fallen tree. Next to it is a geocache; it’s just tied to the tree with no real attempt to hide it. Mind you, I don't think many people would want to lug an ammo box back down with them.

After admiring the view, firing off a text or two and taking a few photos on the phone it’s time to follow the foot prints home. The down hill requires considerable care and attention to avoid catching a toe and pitching face first over a drop off.

A search and rescue team are in the car park and look to be heading out for some practice. I’m earlier than expected so they’re not for me.

Gear notes

Running in old cycle shorts, light merino top, off-road runners, cap, gloves at the start to maintain body temperature until warmed up. Rolled sleeves up and down depending on heat during the scramble up. Started to cool off at the top but not too bad. Camel back: full water, 1 squeeze gel, 1 gel tube, 2 OSM, balaclava, UnderArmour tights, gloves, jacket, 2nd light merino top, over trou, emergency kit, cellphone (good cover at top and probably on most of the higher parts).

Body notes

Took an easy pace from the start and maintained it reasonably well, even at the end. Started getting pretty tired towards the top and needed a few pauses. Return trip down was fine though the short uphill at around 400m showed the stamina had dropped right off. The legs were pretty tired by the bottom but kept ticking over down the valley after a couple of minutes rest at the junction. Started to get a bit crampy and slow on the up hills along the Orongorongo track. Kept a reasonable pace through to the car park although not much to come and go on by the end and wouldn’t have been able to lift the pace at all.

Eating and drinking

Ate an OSM on the way to the top (starting around 650m) and finished a gel tube on the return: starting at the junction and finishing it at the halfway bridge – felt that it was very much needed. Drank about a litre and a half throughout; this wasn’t enough.

Felt knackered and old for the rest of the day and slept like a log that night (a log that wakes up and whimpers every time it rolls over).

Useful Information

Watch the opening and closing times on the park gates. DoC time estimate on the website is one day for fit trampers and on the park notice board is 10 hours.

Map:
http://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap?v=2&ll=-41.35186,175.014353&z=14

DoC track description:
http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/wellington-kapiti/wellington/mt-matthews/

Geocache
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GC1BKN4