Kauri Runners Growing Coromandel

Kauri Runners Growing Coromandel

When more than 300 runners from five countries line up for November’s Great Cranleigh Kauri Run, they’ll be meeting more than just personal goals. Their very presence on the 32km trail across the Coromandel Peninsula’s Central Divide will leave a positive impact on the regions famous forests.

For every competitor who lines up for the Great Cranleigh Kauri Run, the organisers plant a new Kauri tree. After this year’s 11th event, which is scheduled for Saturday 22nd November, the total trees planted will number more than 3000.

Organised by Coromandel residents, Andy Reid and Keith Stephenson, the success revolves around a simple ethos of providing a great race in a great place for a great cause.

Starting at Waikawau Beach on the rugged Pacific Coast, the Kauri Run traverses the Coromandel ranges to finish at Coromandel Township on the Hauraki Gulf. Along the way competitors experience 32km of native bush, stream crossing and over 800 vertical metres of climbing. And much of the course is on private land, which means competitors get to see parts of the Coromandel not typically open to the public.

Course records for this scenic but savage challenge belong to Galatea’s Sjors Corporaal (2:25.35, 2009) and Australian Hanny Allston (2:42.11, 2008). Favourites for 2012 include Kauri Run legend Colin Earwaker.

The 55 year old Rotorua runner was the first winner of the Great Cranleigh Kauri Run back in 2004, and is the only person to have participated all 11 years. But even more impressively, he has only once finished outside the top five, including a strong fifth place last year.

While the traditional 32k Classic is the feature event, in recent years organisers have introduced 13k, 21k and 76k options. “We wanted the event to be more inclusive across all types of runners and walkers,” says event organiser Andy Reid.

“The 13k Kauri Crossing is a great introduction to trail running and is actually the most popular option. The 21k Demi-Marathon is a good step up to completing the feature 32k Kauri Classic. And for a few true endurance junkies, the 76k Kauri Ultra is one of New Zealand premier ultra-distance challenges.”

The 76k Ultra was introduced in 2011. Starting from Port Jackson at the top of Coromandel Peninsula, approx. 30 endurance junkies take the Northern Coromandel Walkway down through Three Stones Bay to Waikawau Beach where they join the normal 32k Kauri Classic for the remainder of their journey. There is also a team option for the 76k.

Other features at the Great Cranleigh Kauri Run include the 13k Cranleigh Team Challenge where entrants from the same organisation have their average time totalled to give a team time, the fastest of which will be the winner. Principal sponsor, Cranleigh Corporate Advisory, have entered two teams to take on the likes of Ernst and Young.

In a runners poll conducted by the popular Running Skirt Shop the Great Cranleigh Kauri Run was voted the North Island’s best run and New Zealand’s second best run. Organisers are expected more than 300 entries and participants from California, Hawaii, French Polynesia and Australia are among early entrants thus far.

The Great Cranleigh Kauri Run is the second of Adventure Racing Coromandel’s popular summer events, which include the Cranleigh K2 Cycle Classic and the ARC Adventure Race. Their events benefit the Spirit of Coromandel Trust, which provides opportunities for young people to experience the outdoors.

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