Trail Blazer turns 10
The Peak Trail Blazer turns 10 this November and to celebrate, organisers have come up with an idea they hope will entice many of the event’s quickest runners to return for another shot at the Hall of Flames sub 60 and The Scorchers sub 50 minutes clubs, says race director Jo Throp.
“The event has seen some amazing runners compete over the years, some nationally recognised like Laura Nagel, Ruby Muir, Niam Macdonald and Eric Speakman, and they’d love for as many as possible to return to help celebrate 10 years.”
Jo says they have come up with a novel idea to mark the milestone and are calling it ‘Double or Quits’.
“We’ve invited back everyone who has previously made it into the Hall of Flames and The Scorchers. They’ll be given a free entry into this year’s event to try to get their name back onto those leaderboards.”
But there’s the twist.
“If they don’t make it back onto the Sub 60 minute leaderboards they’ll then have to pay us double the entry fee.”
With the announcement made last week, Jo says there’s already been a lot of talk and online banter among some of the runners.
“It’s a bit of fun, it’s a celebration of this cool little event we started 10 years ago with no idea it would last this long, and it’s also a bit of a no brainer because even if they have to pay double the entry fee, which will be $50, it will all be donated to our recipient organisations. We don’t think too many people will really mind if they have to help us out in that way.”
Jo says since the event began, they have had more than 100 entries into the Hall of Flames and The Scorchers.
“Even if only a fraction of those runners return, there’ll still be some fantastic racing in November.”
Once dubbed “the little event with a big heart” by online running magazine Running Plus, the event has seen more than 6000 people participate on the 12.8km Te Mata Peak and 3.5km Tainui trails over the years, and has also raised more than $160,000 for the community.
Every year the event donates 60 per cent of the funds raised to Havelock North Primary and the remaining 40 per cent split between two community groups. This year’s recipients are the local food rescue organisation Nourished for Nil and Eye Care for Africa, which will use the money to further fund a scholarship enabling a student from Havelock North High School to travel to Africa to see the work done in orphanages by Hawke’s Bay optometrist Niall McCormack. Past recipients have been Sumner School and Kaiapoi Borough School in Christchurch following the earthquakes, the Te Mata Park Trust, Heretaunga Women’s Centre, Heart Kids Hawke’s Bay and Hastings Giants Boxing Academy.
Jo says the event is not just for fast runners, but prides itself in catering for all ages and fitness levels, with two course lengths and a walking division as well. Entries for the shorter 3.5km Tainui Trail are now capped at 350 and have sold out prior to the event for the past two years. Last year saw a total of 720 people competing.
“The event would not be possible without the great support of sponsors, many have been with the Peak Trail Blazer since the beginning.”
■ Peal trailblazer, Sunday, November 24, full details found at www.peaktrailblazer.co.nz