Lake Dunstan Trail – the Ultimate Marathon
Imagine running a marathon amidst the breathtaking beauty of towering mountains and plunging cliffs. Picture yourself traversing a windswept high country farm and descending to a vineyard at lake level. This is the adventure that awaits runners at the very first Lake Dunstan Trail Marathon on September 1st.
The Lake Dunstan Marathon will begin in the historic gold-mining town of Clyde, wind through rich heritage sites, and finish in the historic precinct of Old Cromwell. The Lake Dunstan Trail has always been a multi-use trail, and now its specialist, well-groomed trail surface will offer not only a challenging marathon course but also an unforgettable journey through some of the most stunning landscapes New Zealand has to offer.
Runners will travel over a diverse terrain, from steep hills with stunning switchbacks and birds-eye views of Lake Dunstan, to a meandering path through a picturesque working vineyard.
They will experience the thrill of running over world-renowned feats of modern engineering, including cantilevered platforms that hug sheer rock faces and cross the 85.5m-long Hugo suspension bridge, high above the lake.
There are many marathons across Aotearoa New Zealand, but none offer the unique blend of natural beauty, engineering wonders, and historical significance of the Lake Dunstan Trail. This event promises not just a race, but a journey through time and nature, every step filled with awe and inspiration.
This marathon promises an unforgettable experience. While the trail remains open to the public, Southern Lakes Trails Trust Chief Executive Janeen Wood notes that early spring is an ideal time, with fewer people out enjoying the trail.
“The marathon is well organised, the perfect chance to test how such events could be successful on the trail’s unique terrain. We’re not closing the trail, it is a public asset for all users. However, this Sunday, the first day of Spring, most of the trail users will be marathon runners.”
Janeen says people are encouraged to cheer runners on from the start and finish lines, from vantage points such as the Clyde Dam area, Carrick Winery where supporters can enjoy food and wine, Bannockburn Inlet and of course, from boats on the lake.
Marathon organiser Terry Davis says runners do not need their support teams with them every step of the way - aid stations are in place every few kilometres, runners have GPS tracking, and there are roaming marshals and medics the length of the trail.
And interestingly, there won’t be any littering - reusable, collapsible silicone cups have been provided in every race pack.
“We’re very excited about next Sunday!” Terry says.
“There is a lot of well-deserved hype building around this unique event, and we can’t wait for the start of what will be an extraordinary marathon.”
Image credit: Image Central Sports