01 / KNOW THE ROUTE
What the course asks of you
Runnable, not technical
The organiser describes mostly non-technical, runnable terrain, with lakes, waterfalls and native forest between Kawerau and Rotorua. That makes this a very different 100 km from a mountain ultra: the challenge is running for a long time, not scrambling.
Point to point into Rotorua
The race starts at Firmin Field in Kawerau and finishes in Rotorua, with race HQ at Village Green on Lakefront Drive. Aid station names and distances for 2027 were not published on the pages we could check, and the 2027 runner guide is due about four weeks before race day.
02 / BUILD THE BLOCK
How to prepare
Build runnable endurance
With 2,300 m over 102 km, most of the race is running. Prioritise steady weekly volume and long runs on undulating trail you can run most of, plus some sustained effort sections so a comfortable ultra pace feels economical.
Prepare for summer conditions
February is summer in New Zealand, while you will be training through a UK winter. In the final six weeks, add some heat exposure, such as overdressing on easy runs or post-run sauna if it suits you, and practise drinking and taking salt on long runs.
Rehearse the long day
Do at least two runs of 5 to 6 hours, or back-to-back weekends, eating real food and the products you plan to use. The race is cup-less, so train with the soft cup or bottle you will carry.
Keep your running and strength work in one place. Explore MaxMile for your Tarawera preparation, or compare the levels of personal coaching.
03 / PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
Pace the race you have trained for
Because the trail is runnable, it is easy to go out too fast. Run the first third at an effort that feels almost too easy, walk the steeper climbs and keep eating from the first hour.
Expect the day to warm up. Slow down early in any heat rather than late, keep drinking and use aid stations to cool down. The aim is to still be running the flat and gently rolling sections in the final 30 km into Rotorua.
04 / MAKE ROOM FOR TRAINING
When should your block start?
The T102 is on Saturday 13 February 2027, about 14 weeks from early November 2026. If you are entered and already running consistently, a 14-week block starting this week works; runners stepping up from a marathon or 50 km would ideally have started in late September. Build volume through November and December, with the Christmas break planned in.
January is the key month for long runs and back-to-backs, plus heat preparation in the last few weeks. Allow for travel: New Zealand is 13 hours ahead of the UK in February and the journey takes more than a day, so aim to arrive several days early and taper over the final two weeks. The 45% refund option ends on 22 November 2026.
05 / SORT THE PRACTICAL BITS
Kit and race-weekend planning
Fly into Auckland, then take a domestic flight of about 40 minutes or drive about three hours to Rotorua; Rotorua Airport is 9.5 km from town. Athlete check-in and the expo are at Village Green, Lakefront Drive. An athlete bus leaves Village Green between 5:00 and 5:30am and is booked through your registration account; parking at the start is limited.
Mandatory kit always includes a phone, a water bottle, cup or hydration pack and an emergency survival bag (a blanket does not count). Weather-dependent items, from thermal layers and a waterproof jacket to two light sources and a hi-vis vest, are confirmed by noon on the Wednesday before. Gear is checked before you collect your race pack. Drop bags go in at check-in by 8pm on the Friday.
