February
09
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TARAWERA ULTRAMARATHON 2023: READY TO KICK OFF THE UTMB 2023 WORLD SERIES.
TARAWERA ULTRAMARATHON 2023: READY TO KICK OFF THE UTMB 2023 WORLD SERIES. Our UTMB 2023 WORLD SERIES travels today to New Zealand, where the first UTMB World Series event of the year kicks of this weekend in Rotorua, New Zealand with Tarawera Ultramarathon by UTMB.
As one of the biggest trail running events on the calendar, over 5,000 runners from 76 nations will line-up ready to discover the iconic races, with highlights including spectacular lakes and waterfalls and the magnificent Whakarewarewa Forest.
© Tarawera Ultramarathon by UTMB
TARAWERA ULTRAMARATHON 2023:
READY TO KICK OFF THE UTMB 2023 WORLD SERIES.
Tarawera Ultramarathon by UTMB opens a season of 34 events for UTMB World Series, that will see runners meet their extraordinary in Oceania, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Africa. Nine new events have been added to the calendar in 2023, with the Series comprising a mixture of brand-new races and established long-standing events, each highlighting the local territory and culture, while giving runners the chance to experience the UTMB adventure close to home and to gain Running Stones to qualify for the UTMB World Series Finals – the OCC, CCC, UTMB races at UTMB Mont-Blanc.
In the true spirit of the UTMB World Series, Tarawera Ultramarathon by UTMB offers something for everyone, with four distances on offer from 100 miles to 21km, that will this year see over 75% of athletes discovering the event for the first time. The courses offer the opportunity for runners to experience the adventure playground of Rotorua and New Zealand from a unique perspective and as part of an incredible community, including the unique Maōri culture.
© Tarawera Ultramarathon by UTMB
TARAWERA ULTRAMARATHON 2023: THE RACES
TARAWERA ULTRAMARATHON 2023: FAVOURITES
Among the competitors taking part are some of the top-ranked runners on the UTMB Index, including Fuzhao Xiang (CHN) who finished 7th in the UTMB race at UTMB Mont-Blanc last year. She has big goals for the TUM102 race, commenting, “I hope to be the first or second female runner to finish the 100km race. Tarawera is my first race of the UTMB World Series in 2023 so I am praying for a good start to the season. From there, I will plan to participate in the UTMB Mont-Blanc, TransLantau by UTMB, TransJeju by UTMB and Doi Inthanon Thailand by UTMB.”
She will be joined by a large field of women, as the event celebrates an almost even gender-split, with 49% female runners preparing to take to the start line.
In the Elite category, Xiang will face tough opposition from a strong international field, including Stephanie Auston (AUS), Konoka Azumi (JPN), Amanda Basham (USA), Naomi Brand (RSA) and Aroa Sio (ESP).
In the Men’s Elite race, American runner Hayden Hawks is a favourite to win the 102km race and is looking forward to finally getting to the start line. He said, “I have been waiting to run this race for three years now. In fact, the location has been on my bucket-list since I first started running ultras. Not only does it have a rich history with some of the best athletes in the world coming to the race, but it is in a very cool part of the world with an incredible culture.”
While Hawks has been out training in New Zealand for a long period prior to the race, local Kiwi runner, Daniel Jones will be hoping to take the home advantage. And while Hawks and Jones will be going head-to-head on Sunday, it will all be in good spirits after having trained together in the lead up to the race.
Jones said, “In the end, we are all here to race our hardest. It may be Hayden, or the other Kiwi, Aussies, Americans or international athletes that are pushing for the win. The 102km is a long way so there will likely be a bit of testing of form as we go along, but everything will be laid down, that is for sure.” He added, “If I were to win Tarawera, this one race would make my racing year!”
The TUMMiler has also attracted an impressive field of elites, notably Zach Miller (USA) who will be taking on local talents Simon Cochrane, Doug Moore, Chris Sanson and Louis Schindler in the men’s race, while Ragna Debats (NED) is a stand-out in the women’s field.
With all distances providing the opportunity to secure some early Running Stones towards qualifying for the UTMB, CCC and OCC races at UTMB Mont Blanc, Tarawera Ultramarathon by UTMB promises to be the perfect season opener ahead of the most exciting year yet for UTMB World Series.
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UMTB WORLD SERIES 2023
In 2023, the UTMB World Series is going to be even bigger, welcoming more riders from all over the world to join the UTMB adventure. New events have already been confirmed in the US, South America, Africa, Europe and Asia, as the Series continues its promise to share the best racing experience with as many riders as possible, offering unique events in extraordinary destinations.
Runners who wish to compete in UTMB Chamonix in the future must consult the complete calendar of events and choose where they will add their “running stones” which are from this 2023 the ONLY way to enter the draw, as we explain below.
UTMB WORLD SERIES 2023 CALENDAR
- Tarawera Ultramarathon by UTMB (New Zeland), 11-12 February
- Amazean Jungle Thailand by UTMB (Thailand), 17-19 February
- Istria 100 by UTMB (Croacta), 13-16 April
- Desert RATS Trail Running Festival by UTMB (EEUU) 15-16 April
- AMERICAN MAJOR: The Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB (EEUU), 28-29 April
- Transvulcania by UTMB (Spain), 4-6 May
- Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB (Australia), 11-14 May
- Ultra-Trail Snowdonia by UTMB (Wales), 12-14 May
- Valhöll Argentina by UTMB (Argentina), 12-14 May
- Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB (France), 18-21 May
- Mountain Ultra-Trail by UTMB (South Africa), 26-28 May
- Trail du Saint-Jacques by UTMB (France), 3-4 June
- Mozart 100 by UTMB (Austria), 17-18 June
- La Sportiva Lavaredo Ultra-Trail by UTMB (Italy), 22-25 June
- Trail 100 Andorra by UTMB (Andorra), 24-25 June
- Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run (EEUU), 24-25 June
- EUROPEAN MAJOR: Val d’Aran by UTMB (Spain), 6-9 July
- Restonica Trail by UTMB (France), 6-8 July
- Trail Verbier Saint-Bernard by UTMB (Swizerland), 7-9 July
- Eiger Ultra Trail by UTMB (Swizerland), 12-16 July
- Speedgoat Mountain Races by UTMB (EEUU), 21-22 July
- KAT100 by UTMB (Austria), 3-5 August
- UTMB World Series Finals; UTMB Mont-Blanc (France, Italiy, Swizerland), 28 August- 3 Septeber
- Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB (Eslovenia), 8-10 September
- Wildstrubel by UTMB (Swizerland), 14-17 September
- Paraty Brazil by UTMB (Brazil), 22-24 September
- Grindstone Trail Running Festival by UTMB (EEUU), 22-24 September
- Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB (France), 28 September – 1 October
- TransJeju by UTMB (South Korea), 7-8 October
- Puerto Vallarta México by UTMB (México), 3 – 4 November
- Kullamannen by UTMB (Sweden), 3-4 November
- TransLantau by UTMB (Hong Kong), November
- ASIA-PACIFIC MAJOR: Doi Inthanon Thailand by UTMB (Thailand), 8-10 December
- Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko by UTMB (Australia), December
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