Doing a Triple of the Triple Peaks Challenge

2018 meant it would be the third time I’d run The Triple Peak Challenge, which is unusual for me as I often do an event and never want to do it again (been there done that sort of attitude)! 2018 also meant it was the 30th anniversary of the event, which has slowly evolved from a small bunch of runners who regularly would run up and down Te Mata peak in the weekends to challenging each other to run over farmlands and cross the Tukituki river to see who would be the fastest to ascend and descent the three peaks which are so distinctive from Hawke’s Bay usual flat landscape,  to an Ultra event for solo runners, 3-6 person team relays or a mountain bike race. What I didn’t know when I signed up again in 2018 was that I would yet again run a different course.

In 2016 I completed the full 48km course over the three peaks. It was the second Ultra event  I’d ever done (Ok technically it is over 42km so it’s an Ultra, even though I know most people say 50km and over is an Ultra) and I just loved it so much I signed up again in 2017. Unfortunately, a week of terrible weather and lots of rain meant the Tukituki river was far too high to safety cross so we did a 40km course of three times up Te Mata peak instead. That year the event was called “40km of Muddy glory”. I’m not sure what the glory was, but there was definitely a lot of mud! After 2017 there was a change of management for the event and rumours followed that the course was going to be pushed out to a 55km for 2018, so once again my interest was sparked. I had also signed up to the 50km Ring of Fire event which was only a month after Triple Peaks, but I knew full well that Triple Peaks would not be as hard or technical as ROF so I could use this event as a training run as I would complete the course in less time that ROF. Course details followed and confirmed Triple Peaks was to be 55km using more farmlands and less farm roads to access the peaks and the river crossing to be at one place (therefore crossing it twice at the same spot) making marshalling that point much easier for the event organisers (very smart!)

Leading up to the event there was more rain and once again fears that the river would be too high. Lucky the event organisers had a plan B involving us going up Mt Erin twice (two different routes) and then up Te Mata peak for the final ascend, reducing the course to 45km. So the day before the event, plan B was put into place. At race briefing that evening we were all a little sombre about not being able to ascend the mighty Mt Kahuranaki for the second year in a row. But next day the sun rose with come cloud cover so I was grateful it wasn’t too hot and not raining like in 2017. The later start of 8.30am threw me a little as I’m used to early rises to get to events, but it was also nice to see my kids in the morning before I left home to drive the 40mins to Havelock North from our home in Central Hawke’s Bay.

The Start/Finish area

The start was a mass start of all the mountain bikers, runners, and walkers together (previously it had been a stagger start). The street was blocked off and we all swarmed together in the street waiting for the final countdown. I position myself towards the back of the field reminding myself this was a training exercise and injuries need to be avoided so I can make the start line of RoF. Once we were sent on our way, we ran the streets of Havelock North, slowly ascending towards Kopanga Station where we finally hit our first off road terrain about 5km into the event. Running through the Kopanga station involved undulating farm roads which turned into goat tracks. Mt Erin loomed in front of us and I could hear the music blaring from the top. I was impressed by the DJs taste in Queen, Metallica and AC/DC and wondered if he was from West Auckland where I have previously lived myself!  But we still had lots of climbing to go yet and I chatted to another runner. We quickly realised we had spent time previously running together at a 50km event back in August 2017 (small world these Ultra events). We chatted for a while as we ran and but then he powered ahead of me up a climb to evidently disappear from my vision around some corners in the course. A lot of competitors around me at that time were doing the one peak challenge (again another brilliant idea from the event organisers to give some people a chance to run a smaller distance). Many of them were complaining it was taking them longer than they thought to get to the top. I just smiled as I too remember what it was like to leave the road to run off road and how the terrain does make you slower than you first expect.

Looking back at Te Mata peak from Mt Erin

12km into the course we arrived at the top of Mt Erin, ready for the 5km run down to the next check point, the end for the one peak challenge and team relay change over point. This run down was once again a mixture of farm roads and animal tracks, it did seem to take longer than I expected and I could feel the back of my left heel rubbing in its shoe. I ignored this for now and enjoyed the views across Hawke’s Bay towards the Ruahine Ranges. On the descent I was caught by another runner called Mike and we chatted our way through the check point and then back up Mt Erin via some seriously steep muddy sections. Eventually I had to stop to apply a blister patch to the back of the heel and Mike kindly waited for me (he was still feeling the 62km he ran at TUM in Feb). We continued our ascent and encountered two mountain bikers having a picnic on the side of the hill. They were enjoying themselves and we forged ahead knowing that they would catch us later.

The mighty Mt Kahuranaki and Tukituki river

Arriving back to the top of Mt Erin again we headed down the opposite side towards the Tukituki river, this times the views became the river and Mt Kahuranaki.  Those mountain bikers previously mentioned came zooming down the hill and we jokingly put our thumbs out for a lift. Of course they didn’t stop and waved goodbye as they sped past. At this point I was going through a little low patch, feeling quiet fatigued as I don’t think my nutrition was working for me. I was behind on calories (which isn’t uncommon for me to forget to eat) so I knew once more food was eaten and more hydration was on board things will improved. I was also looking forward to the Coke I had stashed in my drop bag at the 32km mark.

After descenting Mt Erin, we continued running on farm lands to eventually join up to a dirt road alongside the Tukituki river. As we avoided a large muddy puddle I felt a sharp stabbing pain in my left calf muscle. Looking down at my leg I realised I had been stung by a bee right through my Wild Things compression sleeves! Getting the stinger out, Mike checked with me if I was allergic. I know I do swell up but fortunately not to a point that is life threating. The calf sleeves will keep the swelling down [A novel use for them! Ed] and with 17km to still go there was nothing to do other than continue moving forward. The dirt road turned into a sealed road (Matangi Road) so we enjoyed a slightly faster running pace and slowly passed a walker who was powering out a pretty good walking pace.

Finally the next check point arrived at 32km and I dived into my drop bag for my Coke. One of the aid station volunteers seemed quite surprised to see me drinking it. I just smiled at him nicely, saying it was just what I needed with 13km to go and then thanked him for volunteering his time to be out here for us. Mike rejoined me again on the last leg, he was excited to be going up Te Mata peak as it was his training ground. From Matangi road to get to Te Mata peak you have to run through Chambers farm which involves climbing a very steep farm road that goes on for almost a km and then undulates to the redwoods at the bottom of Te Mata Peak. I could feel the sun beating down on me now, the farmlands were very still with little breeze and I wished I had applied more sunscreen back at the aid station. But nevertheless, some shade will be found on the peak very soon. The Coke drunk back at the aid station and a few jet planes meant now I was feeling pretty good, which was good timing with the last big ascent coming up. We climbed the stile into Te Mata Peak park and made out through the redwoods to the giant track which would take us up to the top of the peak. Both Mike and I had trekking poles which we put to good use here and as we were both able to power our way up the zig zag track catching a few other competitors on the ascent.

Top of Te Mata Peak looking towards Hastings and Napier

Upon arriving at the top, we took in the view, took some photos, grabbed an apple and ran down the road. The on-road descent wasn’t for long and soon we were back on the trail picking up speed descending on a beautiful single track to exit Te Mata Park on Tauroa road. From Tauroa road we ascended again through a reserve to Hikanui Drive ,which took us to Tainui Reserve. My quads were a little sore by this stage and checking my watch I noticed we were close to a 7h 30min finishing time (I predicted about that time too).

Exiting the reserve on to Joll Road meant all we had left was a little bit of footpath to run to the finish. Mike was feeling all the running so we slowed for a small walk up a rise and then once again picked up the pace to the finish, rushing past some walkers (sorry) to get to the finish line before them. Mike and I clicked our timers into the check point at the same time for a finishing time of 7h 31min 19sec, 89th equal, so right at the back of the pack, but it was done with a smile on our faces. This just leaves the question….will I be back again in 2019 to make it a fourth time?....... Time will tell!

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Mike and I certainly smiling