The Copthorne Rotorua Off-Road Half Marathon, 10km, 5km and Little Devils race
Join us in Rotorua for this fantastic run/walk event on Sunday 7th March 2021 in the stunning Whakawerawera Forest!
Make sure you are part of the outstanding Off Road Half Marathon this distance is a two lap course utilising scenic trails and smooth gravel forest roads.
Other options are the Mitre 10 Mega 10km Run or Walk event and the Red Stag Timber 5km Fun Run/Walk event. These events also utilise a mix of scenic forest trails and smooth gravel forest roads in the Whakarewarewa Forest.
For the kids…a 1.5km fun run/walk for children aged 3 to 6 years and a 2.5km fun run/walk for children aged 7 to 10 years. Both options are non competitive, fully supervised and take place prior to the adult events starting. Plenty of spot prizes will be up for grabs!
Every competitor that finishes the Copthorne Rotorua Off Road Half Marathon, from the Half Marathon to the Little Devils race will receive a finishers medal. We have a new design coming for 2021.
Family Pass!
This is for 2 adults and up to 3 children (children aged 3yrs – 16yrs). This is applicable for all events as long as the children meet the event age restriction. Email jenna@eventpromotions.co.nz if you would like to enter using the family pass.
Sunday 7th March 2021
Course Information
All events are based at the Waipa Sawmill Recreation area adjacent to the mountain bike carpark.
The course starts and finishes at the Waipa MTB carpark setting off down Pohaturoa Road to allow runners to spread out before entering the incredible Pohaturoa Track popping out onto Nursery Road and then heading along the stunning Puarenga Track up Larch Road onto the smooth forestry road Red Tank Road following Nursery back then entering Radio Hut Road at the far end and linking down onto another stunning part of the Whakawerawera Forest the Mud Pool Loop and back to the start.
Travel 2km south of Rotorua on the Rotorua-Taupo Highway (SH5), turn left into Waipa Mill Road and the registration marquee is 500m from this corner on your left. Car park marshalls will direct you to the designated parking areas. The registration, start, finish and prizegivings are all held in this recreation reserve.
The course will follow a mixture of smooth gravel forest roads and scenic forest trails.
The half marathon course is a 2 lap course designed to be achievable by competitors of all abilities. The Half Marathon course has a cut off time for the first lap of 2 hour 5 mins.
The 10km course is a 1 lap course.
The 5km fun run/walk is one smaller loop, on forestry roads and walking tracks.
Event Information
Early Bird Entry Fees – For the Month of October ONLY
Half Marathon (Includes Finishers Medal): $45.00
10km Run or walk (Includes Finishers Medal): $35.00
5km Run/Walk (Includes Finishers Medal): $30.00
Standard Entry Fees – From 1st November until 23rd February
Half Marathon (Includes Finishers Medal): $50.00
10km Run or walk(Includes Finishers Medal): $40.00
5km Run/Walk (Includes Finishers Medal): $35.00
Little Devils event (Includes Finishers Medal): $10.00
**Family Pass: $110.00
Late Entry Fees – from 24th February
Half Marathon (Includes Finishers Medal): $60.00
10km Run or walk (Includes Finishers Medal): $50.00
5km Run/Walk (Includes Finishers Medal): $45.00
Little Devils event (Includes Finishers Medal): $15.00
**Family Pass: $140.00
Family Pass
This is for 2 adults and up to 3 children (children aged 3yrs – 16yrs)
This is applicable for all events as long as the children meet the event age restriction.
Email jenna@eventpromotions.co.nz if you would like to enter using the family pass.
On the day entries
Late entries will be accepted up to half an hour prior to the start of your race on race day at the event registration. No eftpos or credit card facilities will be available at registration on the Sunday, cash or cheque only. Do not send postal entries after the 1st March as they will not be received in time for processing, please enter at registration.
Payment Details
Enter online – Credit card only.
Postal entries – Cheque or direct deposit only. Please post to Rotorua Off-Road Half Marathon, PO Box 324, Rotorua. Cheques made payable to Rotorua Off-Road Half Marathon. Direct deposit can be made into the Event Promotions account 12-3162-0075818-61 using your name as reference. If paying by direct deposit please include proof of payment with entry.
Click here to Enter Online (Credit or Debt Card Only). (Entries open 7th October)
Click here to download the entry form. (Entries open 7th October)
– Post it in to PO Box 324, Rotorua with a cheque made up to ‘Off Road Half’
– Post it in to PO Box 324, Rotorua with proof of bank deposit payment. Please pay bank deposit into ASB Taupo 12-3162-0075818-61 using your name as reference.
Email it to info@eventpromotions.co.nz with proof of bank deposit payment. Please pay bank deposit into ASB Taupo 12-3162-0075818-61 using your name as reference.
Entry Confirmation
You will receive confirmation of your entry and team number via email when you enter. Please print this out and bring along to registration. You can resend your email confirmation by clicking here.
Event Day Timetable – Sunday 7 March 2021
7.30am – 10.30am: Registration in main marquee at Waipa Recreation Area.
9.00am: Start of the Lance Lawson Little Devils 1.5km Fun Run/Walk (3 – 6 yrs)
9.10am: Start of the Lance Lawson Little Devils 2.5km Fun Run/Walk ( 7 – 10yrs)
10.00am: Start of the Copthorne Half Marathon
10.15am: Little Devils Prize-giving
11.00am: Start of the Mitre 10 Mega 10km Run or Walk
11.15am: Start of the Redstag Timber 5km Fun Run/Walk
12.05pm: Cut off for the first lap of the Copthorne Half Marathon
1.30pm: Prize-giving
Registration
Registration is on Sunday morning only between 7.30am and 10.30am within the main marquee at the Waipa Sawmill Recreation area. Please bring your registration confirmation with you to assist the registration process. Late entries will be accepted on the day up until 10.30am.
NO eftpos facilities available. Cash or cheque only please.
Every competitor receives…
All competitors receive a finishers medal, a bottle of Loaded sports drink, FREE HELL PIZZA (voucher) personalized race number, first aid, event support, on-line certificate, electronic timing plus a chance to win one of the numerous spot prizes.
Final Competitors Information
Click here to download your final competitor notes
Refund Policy
Refunds up until the 27th of February will incur a $15.00 administration/booking fee. There will be no refunds from the 28th of February 2021. In the case of a natural disaster, closure of the forest due to high winds or other uncontrollable factors, “Act of God” conditions causing the cancellation of the event, entry fees will not be refunded. Please contact 07 3483301 or jenna@eventpromotions.co.nz if you need to withdraw from the event.
Transfers/Changes
Person to person transfers may be made between competitors up to 7 days prior to the event date – after this they must be made at the event day registration. These transfers MUST be made between the same entry type (event distance).
Transferring to a different entry type can be done 14 days prior to the event date – after this they must be done at the event day registration.
Please contact 07 3483301 or jenna@eventpromotions.co.nz prior to this date. After this date, any changes will need to be made at registration on the day.
Covid-19 Event Policy
If this event is cancelled due to government restrictions relating to the covid-19 pandemic the below options will be available for you
- Transfer your entry for this event to the following year
- Transfer to an alternative Event Promotions event (event options to be listed at the time of cancellation)
- Receive a 50% refund of your entry fee
If the event is postponed your entry will be automatically moved to the new event date provided by Event Promotions.
All competitors who are entered into the event will be contacted via email if there are any changes to the event.
Prize-giving will be held at 1.30pm from the stage truck at Waipa Recreation Area.
Major Prizes (TBC for 2021)
Copthorne Hotel Accommodation packages
Mitre 10 Mega Rotorua $1500 worth of prizes
1-Day Vouchers
Pig and Whistle Vouchers
Skyline Rotorua Vouchers
Smiths Sports Shoes Rotorua Vouchers
CamelBak Product
Timex Watches
Merit Prizes
Medals and merit prizes will be awarded to the top 3 Male and Female competitors in the 5km Fun Run/Walk. Medals and merit prizes will also be awarded in the Copthorne Hotel Half Marathon and the Mitre 10 Mega 10km to the first three runners and the first three walkers in each of the following grades (age as on event day)
Running Grade Walking Grade
16 – 34 16 – 39
35 – 44 40 plus
45 – 54
55+
Competitors must be present at prize-giving to receive merit prizes.
Finishers Medals
Every competitor that finishes any of the events from the Half Marathon to the little Devils race will receive one of our stunning finishers medal. We have a NEW medal coming for 2021.
Spot Prizes
The major spot prizes will be drawn during prize-giving at 1.30pm. Watch this space for some of the awesome spotties that will be up for grabs! Competitors must be present at prize-giving to be eligible for spot prizes.
Training Schedule – Half Marathon (For 10km, halve times)
Weeks to go Monday (easy/flat) Wednesday (hills) Weekend (slow)
10 20 min 20 min 30 min
9 25 min 25 min 35 min
8 30 min 30 min 40 min
7 35 min 35 min 45 min
6 40 min 40 min 50 min
5 45 min 45 min 60 min
4 45 min 45 min 75min
3 50 min 50 min 90 min
2 50 min 60 min 90 min
1 50 min 50 min HALF MARATHON DAY!
Training Tips
Training Tip #1 – Train on hills.
There aren’t too many hills in the off-road half but the ones that are there can slow you down significantly if you aren’t trained for them. Add a hill reps session to your programme once a week but make sure your form isn’t compromised – you want to run them strong.
Training Tip #2 – Check your shoes
You don’t need to wear specialty trail shoes for this race but you do need to wear shoes that are suited for your feet and aren’t worn out from past runs. Do the twist test to check – hold your shoe at each end and twist. It should feel firm. And old shoe, or one that doesn’t have proper support will twist easily.
Training Tip #3 – Eating on the run
If you are new to running long distances you might need to eat during the race. Start practicing now on your long and middle distance runs. You want to make sure that the fuel you are taking on board doesn’t create any gut issues as well as teach your digestive system that this will happen.
Training Tip #4 – Practice passing runners in close proximity.
There are some sections of the race where you will run on singletrack or narrow footpath. Chances are you will want to get past. Practice running with others and take turns to pass one another as close as you can get. You will improve your confidence on race day.
Training Tip #5 – Run less to run faster
Add a couple of cross-training sessions to your weekly routine to give your running legs a break. Swimming is great for aerobic fitness while pilates and yoga can help your flexibility and core strength.
Training Tip #6 – Increase your pace
Include a section of increased pace at the end of your long runs to get used to adding a kick when you’re almost finished and starting to feel tired. Anything from five to 15 minutes will help and could be the difference between fading in the final kilometre or passing several others.
Training Tip #7 – Make sure you taper.
The final two weeks before your race are when you should reduce your training significantly, in the last week you want to be running easy and only for short distances. You have already built up your fitness, now you can only refine it. Don’t add in workouts you have missed or take part in strenuous activity.
Copthorne Hotel Rotorua
Special accommodation rates are available at the Copthorne Hotel Rotorua on Fenton Street. The recently refurbished hotel has excellent facilities to help you unwind after any event, or relax with your family. Facilities include spa, heated pool, tennis court and gym. Only a five minute drive from the event!
Enjoy the atmosphere and fabulous cuisine at the Jimmy Cooks Kiwi Kitchen & Bar. Our talented chefs create exciting and delicious flavours from the finest fresh and local produce. Sample home grown dishes from our menu or choose a selection from the Sumptuous Buffet. We look forward to seeing you.
For bookings or other enquires please call 0508 747686 or email copthornerotorua@millenniumhotels.co.nz and quote the Rotorua Off-road Half Marathon.
Results
Professional photos can also be found at www.marathon-photos.com, search the event name then your bib number.
Thanks to our sponsors
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