Faultline Ultra.
Insanity is the Faultline Ultra's whole journey in one push: 161 km point to point from the Ramaroa Centre into central Wellington, across the hills the weekend links together. Around 5,600 m of climbing comes as a long chain of short, steep ramps rather than one big mountain, and that is what your preparation has to target.
Faultline Ultra 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The route links parks and places around Wellington: the Kāpiti coast, Belmont Regional Park, Porirua, Makara Peak, Zealandia and Waimapihi, before it finishes in the city centre. It is a trail course that takes you not up one summit but from ridge to ridge, and the finish is nowhere near where you started. Six hubs and eleven aid stations break the day into manageable stages.
The first serious climb arrives at km 13.7: 2.6 km at almost 13 percent on average with pitches near 28 percent, the steepest long effort of the race. Two ramps follow in quick succession at km 47 and km 49, and at km 62.5 comes the longest ascent at 3.7 km. After that the ground does not get easier, only more irregular: the climb from km 85 runs three kilometres with sections above 30 percent.
In the last third the climbs are spaced further apart, but the one at km 130 still drags on for more than three and a half kilometres. Between the major ramps the trail keeps rising and falling; barely a tenth of the course is genuinely flat, and almost as much of it drops steeply as climbs steeply.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 13.7 | 2.6 km | 12.7 % | 27.9 % | +331 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 24.3 | 1.7 km | 11.1 % | 18 % | +191 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 47.1 | 1.8 km | 9.2 % | 23 % | +168 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 49.1 | 2.1 km | 10.7 % | 26.6 % | +222 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 62.6 | 3.7 km | 5.6 % | 23.3 % | +209 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 85.4 | 3 km | 7 % | 31.3 % | +211 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 100.7 | 2.5 km | 5.8 % | 15.4 % | +144 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 130.4 | 3.7 km | 5.9 % | 16.9 % | +217 m | Cat. 3 |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Faultline Ultra.
Start under control
Over this distance the race is not won by strength on any one ramp but by how little all of them cost you together. Hike every steep section from the first one and only run what you could still run after 20 hours. The six hubs are your checkpoints: plan the stages hub to hub and judge there, not on your watch, whether you are on schedule.
Hold your rhythm
The trap comes early. The climb at km 13.7 is the steepest long effort, and you meet it on fresh legs inside a crowd; push it and you pay from km 85 on, where the next pitches above 30 percent are waiting.
Spend what is left
The race is decided between km 85 and km 130, when the night, the fatigue and the steep descents arrive together. If you can still descend under control there instead of braking and stumbling, you will have enough left for the last long climb and the run into the city.
Training plan for Faultline Ultra: 12-week build
Build the base
Most age-group runners will need between 24 and 36 hours for Insanity, which means at least one night on the trail. The effort is aerobic throughout but never steady: a long chain of short steep pitches alternates with descents that load the quads harder than any climb.
Train race pace
The race is decided in the second half, where steep ramps meet tired legs. Build back-to-back weekends with long runs on consecutive days, both carrying plenty of climbing, and put the hardest hills at the end. Power hiking, with poles or hands on thighs, is not a fallback here but your main way of moving uphill.
Rehearse the course
Descending needs its own work: eccentric strength and repeated downhill running on trails prepare your legs for around 5,600 m of descent. Add night runs with a headlamp on technical ground so your footing stays sure in the dark.
Arrive fresh
With eleven aid stations and six hubs the support is close together, yet across a day and a night you have to keep eating regularly. Test your fuelling on long training runs until it still works after twelve hours.
Courses
Download the Faultline Ultra course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Faultline Ultra dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Faultline Ultra.
How long is Faultline Ultra?
Faultline Ultra is 161.43 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Faultline Ultra have?
Faultline Ultra has around 5,584 m of elevation gain over 161.43 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Faultline Ultra?
Faultline Ultra is classified as Mountainous, averaging 34.6 vertical metres per kilometre. 12% of the route is flat, 28% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 17% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Faultline Ultra have?
The hardest climb of Faultline Ultra starts at kilometre 13.7, runs for 2.6 km at an average of 12.7% and gains 331 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Faultline Ultra a loop course?
No, Faultline Ultra is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Faultline Ultra course?
Yes. The Faultline Ultra course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Faultline Ultra?
Preparation for Faultline Ultra should account for 161.43 km, 5,584 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Faultline Ultra?
The pacing strategy for Faultline Ultra should reflect 161.43 km, 5,584 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Faultline Ultra take place?
Faultline Ultra takes place on April 24, 2027.
Where does Faultline Ultra take place?
Faultline Ultra takes place in Wellington, New Zealand.
Which distances does Faultline Ultra offer?
Faultline Ultra offers 6 distances — 161 km — Insanity: 161.43 km; 103 km — The World's End: 103.59 km; 53 km — Shake and Bake: 53.71 km; 25 km — After Shock: 25.91 km; 12 km — The Tremor: 11.97 km; 6 km — Magnitude 6.0: 5.74 km.
How do I register for Faultline Ultra?
Registration runs through the organiser: faultlineultra.co.nz. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
