That’s the official theme of the 13th annual Shotover Moonlight Marathon, which has earned its reputation as one of the most challenging races in Australia and New Zealand.
It’s also a tribute to the terrain and family farm — the Foster family’s Ben Lomond Station — the course runs over, race director Antz Longman says.
“Each year we work together as a family to put on this event to give runners the chance to experience running through a working merino station, and experience the spectacular high country landscapes."
A strong field of over 450 runners from 15 countries are participating in the event’s range of categories, a number Longman says is growing every year.
Starting in Skippers Canyon, the course runs along the Shotover River, following sheep tracks, historic gold mining water races and high country mustering routes.
Recognised as an official Australia and NZ Sky Running event, the Shotover Moonlight Marathon is a qualifier for the youth world champs in Italy, and the first Open World Champs in Bulgaria in October.
Even more intense is the Moonlight Ultra Marathon, which covers 3500m of vertical terrain across 56km.
For those wanting a less full-on experience, there is also the 30km Adventure Run, and the Half Marathon.
The 10km trail run is a more family-friendly race that starts and finishes at Ben Lomond Station’s Hanley Paddock, beside Moke Lake.
Longman says the shorter races are attracting bigger fields, and becoming just as popular as the longer distances.
There will be on-the-day entries available on Saturday for those races.
Race co-director Hamish Foster says given the races’ location, it’s a massive effort to coordinate the marshalls, course logistics and trail maintenance to deliver the event.
"We’re fortunate to have had fantastic continued support from a range of local individuals and businesses, as the costs of delivering events like this are increasing, and without their support wouldn’t be possible.”
Taking the high road
The sky will be the limit in tomorrow’s third annual Ben Lomond Vertical Kilometre.
Aucklander Toby Batchelor’s back for the third year in a row to defend his title — last year he was the only person to complete the race in under an hour.
Christchurch’s Kate Morrison is also looking to defend her female crown, managing to finish last year in a rapid one hour and nine minutes.
The course takes runners from the Ben Lomond Woolshed at Moke Lake to the summit of Ben Lomond itself, climbing 1200m over 3.9km.
The field will include members of both the Australian and New Zealand Skyrunning teams that competed in the Sky Running world champs in Spain last year.
The race is NZ’s only Skyrunning-certified vertical kilometre race, with the support of Skyrunning Australia & New Zealand.
