Motatapu Multisport

Icebreaker Off-Road Marathon ‘Brutal but Beautiful’

Press Release / 08.03.2014

Around 700 runners from across the globe were awake with the sparrows today (Saturday March 8) to tackle the 42km Icebreaker Off-Road Marathon in Wanaka and Queenstown.

Starting at Motatapu Station near Glendhu Bay in Wanaka, the iconic off-road course traversed through the magnificent Motatapu, Soho and Glencoe stations, opened just once a year to the public for this event. 

Hundreds greeted competitors as they crossed the finish line at Butler’s Green in Arrowtown, with Stafford Thompson from Dunedin taking out male top spot in a time of 2hr 57min 15 sec and top female Sarah Douglas not far behind in a time of 3:19:20. 

Having braved numerous river crossings and some steep hills, most competitors admitted to being awe-struck by spectacular views of the southern high country valley.

Post-race, Stafford Thompson said he felt “wonderful’ “but a “little tired”.

He described the course as “beautiful” and conditions as “perfect”.

“It's really hard and steep, and a bloody long way but you it really makes you appreciate this part of the world.

“The volunteers are great, and the race has been set up so well, so I feel lucky to have been a part of it. It’s the first time I have run the Motatap, and quite a few members of my family are running in different events, so it seemed like a great place for a family reunion!”

Second male Luke Hurring from Auckland (3:03:42) said the course was “brutal but beautiful”.

“It’s one of those courses where you feel hopeless and tired, but you look around and it’s just so beautiful.”

First female Sarah Douglas was disappointed to be about 30 seconds ‘shy’ of the course record which she held in 2011 (under her maiden name Sarah Coughlan), and came second in 2012 before taking a break last year.

“I just love it,” she said. “I haven’t raced in over a year so I didn’t know how I’d go so I’m happy with the win.

“I love the first half because I really push on the uphills, but I find the flatter stages quite hard before I find my rhythm again towards the end.”

Second female place-getter Anna Thompson (3:39:18) from Melbourne, a first-time competitor, said she “wasn't feeling 100%” but described the course as “really spectacular”.

“It goes through some great country and it seemed like a good idea at the time to do the race while I was on holiday from Melbourne.”

About the Motatapu Off-Road Adventure Race

The Icebreaker Off-Road Marathon is one of five Motatapu events held on the same day.  The other events are the Speight’s Summit 47km Mountain Bike, Arrowtown.com 15km Miner’s Trail, R&R Sport Adventure Run and the XTERRA UDC Finance Triathlon.

Full race results are available at www.motatapu.org.nz Motatapu has a reputation as being ‘the bucket list race’ situated amid some of the most stunning scenery in the world.  This year the Motatapu celebrated 10 successful years and is widely regarded as one of the best multi-sport events in New Zealand, if not Australasia.   

Every year competitors from all corners of the world compete in the event from world-class athletes to first timers who train specifically for the event. ‘The Motatapu’ is owned by the Queenstown Trails Trust with nett proceeds of the event going toward funding the ongoing development of trails in the Wakatipu and to ensure the high standard of the Queenstown Trail is maintained.

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