The Kepler Challenge is promoted as NZ’s premier mountain running event and is an event that I thought was achievable in a respectable time with the correct training and utmost commitment. It takes place along the entire route of The Kepler Track outside Te Anau and is 60km long with approximately 1500 metre of ascent and the equivalent in descent. It is normally tramped in 3 nights/4 days at leisure but experienced trampers will do it in 2 nights/3 days. Below is a detailed course profile.
DOC have permitted the race organisers to allow 450 entrants on the course and these places get snapped up within the first 30 minutes of online entries opening six months before race day. Myself and my friend Eddie were fortunate to gain a confirmed place, however, Sharron Came only made number 174 on the waitlist – internet connections in Switzerland obviously not as efficient as their trains!
Flights, car hire and accommodation was booked and a training programme loosely thrown together. The next few months involved lots of hill training with a Camelbak full of water and gear as this would be required on race day which involved running with 5 items of spare compulsory clothing plus hat, beanie, survival blanket as well as food, water and first aid supplies. Three CrossFit classes a week also helped with getting a bit leaner and stronger.
The furthest I had ran before the Kepler Challenge had been 42.2km marathon distance (3 times), but these had all been relatively flat road marathons; the Kepler Challenge is a marathon and a half, off-road, with a big climb, a big descent and having to carry lots of gear on my back. Fingers crossed for good weather, especially along the open tops section!
The pre-race briefing took place in Te Anau the day before race day and the weather forecast was not looking awful, but neither was it looking great; rain was forecast for late morning/afternoon. The race started at 6am the next morning in good conditions, however we were told to run fast if we wanted to avoid the approaching rain clouds! It was important therefore to get along the tops as soon as possible, and down to the shelter of the Iris Burn.
The first 5km of the race is a good introduction on flat, well maintained track close to the shores of Lake Te Anau. At Brod Bay the track begins its long, but gradual, ascent for 8km to Luxmore Hut. The elite runners would have reached Luxmore Hut in about 1 hour, but for ‘normal’ runners like myself I arrived in 1 hour 52 minutes which I was pleased with. There was a compulsory gear check here for everybody before being allowed across the tops which was organised very efficiently with helpers all dressed as clowns! Luxmore Hut was also the first of 9 aid stations on the course which supplied water, energy gels, jelly beans, bananas and muesli bars. Running across the tops was a bit windy and much colder than down at lake level. The gloves came out but I resisted wearing my running jacket because as long as I kept moving I was able to stay warm enough. Unfortunately I never stopped for more than about 5 seconds to admire the view as I was focussed on running and not wanting to trip and fall causing injury.
After passing Forest Burn Shelter and Hanging Valley Shelter the big 7km descent began. I was glad to have the climbing over with but was also focussed on taking the descent steady and controlled to avoid cramping up at the bottom; this is a common mistake people make when running downhill. Iris Burn Hut now marked the half-way point of the race. The course from here is mostly flat with just a few short and sharp bumps along the way, though by now any slight ‘bump’ feels a lot harder than under normal circumstances! The track is also through beech forest so offers shelter from wind or sun.
The second half of the course involved me maintaining a steady pace I could sustain until the end and I only stopped briefly at the aid stations for jelly beans and bananas – the perfect runner’s combo!
I finished the course in 8 hours, 21 minutes and 47 seconds which I was pleased with and saw me sneak into the top half of all runners. Ed and Sharron finished 30 minutes either side of my time and we all enjoyed a 20 minute post-race massage which certainly helped to avoid any major discomforts or funny walks the day after! The race winner finished in 4 hours 55 minutes and was his third consecutive victory and the first time he had broken the 5 hour mark – awesome effort indeed! The last competitors came in after 12 hours, which is an even bigger effort in my opinion!
The Kepler Challenge is a well organised event and has a good community feel to it. Hundreds of Te Anau locals get behind this event by volunteering their time and services to ensuring all aspects run smoothly and a great deal of organisation is required to do this. The Kepler Challenge is a wonderful event for anyone with trail running experience who has the will and desire to train and push themselves to complete NZ’s premier mountain running race.
http://www.keplerchallenge.co.nz
