Mukamuka munted

I’d heard about the Mukamuka Munter from friends and read a bit about it on the website. It sounded hard and I’d always had an excuse for giving it a miss until 2012 when I found myself listed next to the race in the Spring Trip Schedule. Even then I wasn’t unduly worried thinking nobody would sign up or that the weather would force cancellation. However, as the inquiries started to trickle in and people starting getting in touch to organise transport it gradually dawned on me that I might have to actually enter.

By the time race day rolled round we had two car loads of participants and good conditions. Throughout the week it looked like we may have to endure gale northerlies and rain but despite a few drops of the wet stuff early on race day by the time we all assembled at the South Coast for the race start the only issue was a bit of wind and a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that if I got lost on the route (as I had on the drive to the start), it would be difficult to live it down as a member of a tramping club.

At 8.34am we set off into the northerly and I didn’t see most of the approximately 80 competitors again till the end. The race organiser has many contacts in the multi-sports community and the race participants all definitely looked like they were seasoned racers. The first 12km follows the coast and is mostly flat across rocks, grass and sand. The coastal views are glorious, this stretch is the easy bit and seasoned competitors run it as fast as they can to get a lead on the field for the rather more challenging haul up the Mukamuka Stream Valley.

By the time I reached the Mukamuka Stream Valley I knew I wasn’t having one of my better running days with my legs feeling heavy and tired. The Valley follows the Mukamuka stream up to South Saddle (545m), the bottom of the valley is open but this gradually changes as you ascend and you are soon grovelling up a rugged stream bed through lots of debris and boulders. I enjoyed this stretch as it involved selecting the best line through the various obstacles, something that comes easily to trampers. Plus I made it to the top without twisting any ankles or knees, taking any unscheduled swims, route deviations or any close encounters with stinging nettle.

The marshals at South Saddle were crouched just below the tree line checking everyone off as they arrived and feeding us crunchy bars and chocolate frogs. These volunteers were the real heroes of the day giving up their time to sit in the cold and make sure the participants did not get lost. When I emerged onto the saddle itself I realised why the marshals were in the bush. The wind was very strong necessitating a spurt of speed and utilisation of the ‘crouch, tuck and hold’ technique for a rapid traverse of the saddle.

Back below the bush line the track descends straight down to the Orongorongo. Despite prior warnings about the risks of face plants I still managed to take a fall near the bottom of the descent, fortunately no damage other than a few bruises to my ego and left knee. The prize for collecting the most impressive and comprehensive array of bruises and grazes definitely went to Harriette!

Down at the river a group of us joined forces to figure out the route down and across to the spot where you are meant to join the Big Bend and then Orogorongo tracks. The River was easy to cross which was a relief, this is the single biggest hazard on the course and if the river is up an alternative course is used. On the main track and heading for home I managed to persuade my legs they should do some running now and they humoured me, sort of. I felt a bit mean but I actually managed to overtake a couple of people on the last 2km of road.

Despite finishing towards the tail end of the field I was greeted at the finish line by the Race Organiser Shane Ross who gave me a handshake as well as his congratulations. Some mates of his had even done some baking. The Mukamuka Munter is easily the most well organised trail run I’ve competed in. Shane, who has a great dry sense of humour and a big heart, does the whole thing on a shoestring budget charging competitors only $25 each. The event is the type that once you’ve done it once you keep coming back and it deserves the Club’s support. I hope that lots of members will continue to run the race in the years ahead. I know I’ll be back next year. You can find out more about the Mukamuka Munter at this website: http://www.betterthantv.co.nz/

WTMC collectively had a great day out. Harriette Carr who has participated in this event every year except one since it started and was doing her first race in a year was the first Vet Women home. Paul Stephenson was the first Vet Man.  Sarah Fisher, who will be a member as soon as she fills out the form right Sarah, came third in the Open Women category.