2018 Wellington Mountain Running Champs Wainuiomata Sat 21 Apr

There was no tippy-toeing around the mud pool for Josh Jordan . It was straight through. 

Results

This event is well organised and needs to be supported. But more about that further on.

Compared to last year there was a big turnout with roughly 129 finishers.  While there was representation from all clubs the big increase in numbers was because Olympic Harriers turned out in force and substituted the club’s normal Saturday run to go over to Wainuiomata. 

In fact this is how running legend Mark Handley, all the way from Tauranga and expecting a run up Mt Kau Kau, ended up in “Ynui” to win an age grade medal

It also explains why there were so many kids starting out on their mountain running careers

This year the course was changed to incorporate a new start/finish and a new course which in my view would make it more able to attract the national mountain running championship event. 

And just in case you need to find the start next year you turn into Brian Morgan Tce off Parkway if walking the 100 metres or so from Wainuiomata High School.

The new course sends runners up an engineered and maintained gravel road which winds up and around a large concrete water reservoir. It’s about 600m but it feels like 10k when carrying two heavy cameras.  The kids race basically goes up and around the reservoir and back down again.

Everybody else heads off into the firebreak wilderness of the Wainuiomata hills for their magical mystery tour.  

Distances are from 4.2km to 11.5km and those doing the long course have the pleasure of running up the “hill from hell” to experience the joy of mountain running.  I am sorry I missed the happy faces this year.

There is a very detailed course description on the Wainuiomata Harrier Club website

As you can see from the results there were lots of medals to be won plus a few a club titles. There were lots of spot prizes as well

Honestly this is a well organised event and deserves heaps of support from the Wellington running community. 

It would be great next year if the bigger clubs could turn out in force help the Wainui club make this race an even bigger success.   

If necessary include the entry fee as part of the annual sub because technically it is the first centre race for the season on the winter calendar.

If Olympic Harriers can maximise support for this event then why not other clubs.