Ultra Running Hub Wanaka, New Zealand · Saturday, March 6, 2027
Motatapu Rab Ultra
What the course asks
DUV results for the 2026 edition (52.5km) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.
Typical conditions, March
Regional 2001-2020 average for March — NASA POWER, grid elevation 924 m. Not a forecast.
Results history
| Year | Race | Finishers | Men's winner | Women's winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 52.5km | 193 | Luke Wilson · 06:14:52 | Hannah Wall · 06:53:56 |
| 2025 | 52.5km | 167 | Dean Stewart · 06:30:06 | Hannah Wall · 06:57:52 |
| 2024 | 52.5km | 139 | Cameron Kerr · 06:27:31 | Crystal Brindle · 07:48:19 |
| 2023 | 52.5km | 149 | Weston Hill · 06:04:05 | Hayley Teale · 08:23:36 |
| 2020 | 51km | 180 | Sam Tosh · 06:24:45 | Kris Jarvis · 08:00:28 |
| 2019 | 51km | 143 | Andrius Ramonas · 06:47:42 | Nancy Jiang · 07:30:45 |
| 2018 | 51km | 116 | Joe Mann · 06:19:54 | Ruth Charlotte Croft · 06:38:04 |
| 2017 | 51km | 49 | Majell Backhausen · 06:27:07 | Lucinda (Lucy) Bartholomew · 07:03:09 |
| 2016 | 51km | 47 | Charlie Sharpe · 06:15:15 | Ayako Nakazawa · 08:20:14 |
| 2015 | 51km | 31 | Jason Schlarb · 07:13:28 | Cheryl Young · 09:17:59 |
The field grew 16% between 2025 (167) and 2026 (193). 25% of the 2026 field were women.
DUV results for the 2026 edition (52.5km) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.
The Aid Station
Course-specific beta from the community
This is a mountain course. Poles are highly recommended for the sustained climbs.
With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.
Gear for this race
Chosen for 53 km of trail with 3,330 m of ascent.
- Trail Running Shoes 63 m of climb per kilometre — grip and rock protection before cushioning.
- Race Nutrition 53 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
- Hydration Vests Pole attachment and chest-strap stability on steep ground.
- Trekking Poles 3,330 m of ascent to walk up.
- Headlamps A 14 h limit puts you out there after dark.
Overview
The Motatapu Rab Ultra, a 50k trail race, offers more elevation gain than 90% of its peers, with 3330m over 52.5km. This amounts to 63.4m of climb per kilometre, making it a demanding course in its category.
With 10 editions run since 2015, the race has a history of attracting a larger field than 90% of other 50k events. The 14-hour time limit is more generous than 16% of 50k races, providing a cutoff pace of 16 minutes per kilometre for runners tackling the exposed and physically challenging back-country terrain.
Similar races
Other 50K trail ultras, closest in distance first.