Event: Tois! Whakatane’s stunning trail challenge
For twenty-nine years, Toi’s Challenge has been a highlight of the eastern Bay of Plenty trail running calendar, featuring a spectacular mix of coastal and forest trails between Whakatāne and Ōhope.
Last year, around 900 runners and walkers lined up — across the Julian’s
Berry Farm 18km Toi’s Challenge, the 1XX 18km Toi’s walk, and the Robinson’s Law 6km fun run and walk.
The popular day showcases the trails of Ngā Tapuwae o Toi, the Footsteps of Toi, named after the Māori chief who ruled the area around 800 years ago.
It’s a genuine multi-terrain challenge, with the 18km route including short sections of sealed path, sand, many steps, and lots of forest trail.
From Whakatāne, the course twists up and down steep coastal hills and along two beautiful beaches before looping back to the start, with a total of about 800m elevation gain/descent.
Aching legs are eased by stunning views of the sparkling Pacific Ocean and distant islands (take a moment to look up, it’s a truly beautiful course!)
Especially from the midway point at Ōhope, you’re running or walking through one of the country’s best examples of coastal pohutukawa forest.
The 18km Toi’s Challenge can be taken on solo, or as a team of two. The open men’s and women’s solo running records are almost ridiculously fast, just over one hour 16 minutes (Aaron Strong, 1996) and just under one hour 28 minutes (Megan Burton, 2000)
Last year’s open men’s winner, Hayden Wilde, finished only 12 seconds shy of the men’s record — going by his Tokyo Olympic triathlon performance, next time Wilde lines up for Toi’s, he could well have the record in the bag.
The trails are what matter most, though, and the majority of entrants take over two hours. Some are still out there after more than four hours.
All of them are celebrated. Aside from the course itself, the day is wellknown for its friendly, generous vibe. “Toi’s is community-run, organised by the Whakatane Athletic and Harrier Club. It is very well supported by local business who get behind with prizes,” says William Doney, who has been event director for 10 years.
“It is one of those events that gives back to all competitors. It’s the only event we know of where all finishers get juicy strawberries!”
Toi’s gives back in other ways too. For eight years, a portion of each entry fee has supported the Whakatane Kiwi Trust, which helps to nurture and protect wild kiwi in the hills the trails pass through.
As the Toi’s Challenge web site states, “We are proud of the fact that Whakatane is known as the Kiwi Capital of the World”.
If you’re not up for 18km, the Robinson Law 6km walk and run options offer an achievable goal for those with moderate levels of fitness. This shorter course is also hilly, with a leg-burning section of steps on the bush track known as ‘The Birdwalk’, before a fast return to the start on roadside footpath.
Event day in 2021 is 14 November. If there’s a good turnout, Toi’s could be marking a new milestone. “Across the events, my goal is to get at least 1000 people to take part,” says Doney.
Event date: Sunday 14 November 2021, start 8am
Event start/event headquarters: Rex Morpeth Park, Whakatāne.
Enter online: https://www.wahc.co.nz/tois-challenge.html before 9pm, 11 November.
Registration: Saturday 13 November, 4pm-6pm; and, Sunday 14 November, 6.30am-7.30am at clubrooms next to start/finish.
Late entries: taken at registration.