Runners will start the race at the Dublin Bay Recreation Reserve, taking on Dean’s Bank and the Newcastle Track before crossing Luggate’s Red Bridge and heading for the finish in Wānaka’s town centre via the Upper Clutha River Trail and the Outlet Track.
In addition to the 50km ultra marathon, there are also 21km and 11km races as part of the event.
The Wānaka Ultra is organised by Thymed Events, a Central Otago-based events company that is behind the Clyde Classic half marathon and the Carousel Backyard Ultra which took place at Alexandra airport this month.
Thymed Events founder Tom Heath said the idea for the Wānaka event was the result of the beautiful landscapes, perfect trails, and the lack of an event making the most of these factors.
"I ran a couple of the tracks and I was looking at the lake and the mountains and thought, ‘why isn’t there a race here?’
"There’s the Motatapu, the Cardrona half marathon and Challenge Wānaka, but there’s no central, dedicated running race in Wānaka."
At time of writing, about 220 runners were gearing up to take on the event’s three courses.
"We’re looking at about 40 runners in the 50km, 70 in the 11km, and over 100 taking on the 21km half marathon,” Heath said.
Heath said the beautiful tracks and lack of elevation on the course catered to a wide range of runners.
"There are a lot of people saying that this is their first ultra, or that they’re doing the 21km event but looking to step up to the ultra next year.
"At the other end of the spectrum, we know there’s going to be a couple of fast people that are really going to be pushing.
"We’re just excited to see what someone could do on the course and whether someone can do a sub-3 hour 50km, which would be mind blowing,” Heath said.
