6 DECEMBER
THE GRUNTER
COURSE RECORDS
M | Jethro Mckay | 2:11:03
F | Lizzie Ingham | 2:33:57
Youth M | Riley Hartgill | 2:27:47 NEW
Youth F | Tilly Davis | 3:51:19
The Grunter is a very challenging course. Every year the 13.5km distance causes people to underestimate it. You should view this in the realms of a technical, off-road half marathon.
The Grunter is a challenging loop run for the experienced intermediate trail runner. Beginning on the Mahaukura track with some gentle undulating running, the track steepens toward Wharauroa. A short ridge sidle and a chain section on the exposed bluff (take care!) puts you on Mahaukura, the tallest peak on the loop.
From there, it's a number of false peaks and boggy sections before reaching the summit ridge and turn back down the Tirohanga track. There are a few short climbs, chains at Tirohanga and Ruapane, but the majority is fantastic technical downhill running.
DISTANCE: 13.8km
VERT GAIN: 1161m
ALLOWABLE TIME: 8 hours
AID STATION / CUT-OFF: None
SUITABLE FOR: Intermediate - advanced trail runners who would like a good technical challenge with some decent climbing. Not suitable for walkers or unsupervised youth.
TRACK CONDITION: 70% technical single track | 25% well graded track | 5% boardwalk
EXPECTED TIME: 3hr to 6 1/2hr
GPX
