I loved running the Taupo Ultramarathon. Whether you are a first timer or seasoned campaigner, the scenery along the way is awesome. Running high above the great lake was a great sight to see first thing in the morning.
Taupo is a good course to start slow on because its a long day, and with the two long hill climbs in the second half you are going to need something left in the tank for when you get to them. "Slow can be fast sometimes."
The track underfoot is fantastic to run on (wet or dry) with most of it being a sandy pumice base. The contour is undulating but still very run able. The farm section was a bit 'lumpy bumpy', but it was followed with a good long road section (love/hate relationship there) before the airstrip.
There are plenty of aid stations and spectator points along the way with my favourite being at the airstrip - heaps of people, great views and a great place to fuel up, with a long gentle down hill before hitting one of those long uphills. After that you are heading for Kinloch where you get another opportunity to fuel up. This is where I started taking my first GU ROCTANE GELS, wow they really give you a good kick up the bum and help you get up over that the last big hill and on to the finish line.
Hearing the music from the finish line a few Kms away can either be a blessing or a bummer, (it seemed to take me forever to get there, I was toast - ha ha). Either way it was great to get up to the finish line and have a beer. Cheers Total Sports for a great event.
I wore the HOKA ONE ONE CHALLENGER ATR's for the race. They are such a great multi terrain shoe - grippy enough on the uphills and any wet sections of trail, and plenty of sole to soak up the fast downhills and road sections.