Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon.
On its longest distance the Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon takes you 60 kilometres through the native bush of the Hunua Ranges and over almost 2,000 metres of climbing. The first eleven kilometres stay nearly flat, and the hardest climb waits beyond kilometre 30, so the preparation that counts is steep ascending on tired legs.
Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The loop starts and ends at around 130 metres, and little changes until kilometre 11. Then the character flips: almost 300 metres of continuous climbing take you up from the starting level, a short and very steep ramp follows at kilometre 15, and the course rolls on from there. Two climbs at kilometres 24 and 26 finally reach the high point of the day, about 675 metres, just before kilometre 30.
From there the course drops more than 400 metres in a little over four kilometres, and at the bottom stands the wall of this race: from kilometre 34 you gain 277 metres in just under a kilometre and a half, averaging 20 percent. This excursion over the high point belongs to the long course alone. From about kilometre 39 the way home is the same as the marathon's, with three more climbs at kilometres 42, 51 and 54.
The organiser calls it a journey through the bush that is both beautiful and brutal, and the distribution of the climbing fits: almost a third of the course is steep, uphill and downhill alike. The field is limited.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 10.9 | 3.2 km | 9.1 % | 20.6 % | +288 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 15.5 | 1.1 km | 14.5 % | 32.2 % | +153 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 23.7 | 1.8 km | 13 % | 35.5 % | +237 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 26.5 | 1.2 km | 13.8 % | 33.4 % | +162 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 34.1 | 1.4 km | 20.2 % | 34.8 % | +277 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 41.5 | 1.9 km | 7.9 % | 15.3 % | +152 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 50.8 | 1.3 km | 7.6 % | 13.2 % | +101 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 53.7 | 1.5 km | 11.3 % | 21.1 % | +169 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 Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon.
Start under control
The eleven flat kilometres at the start are the biggest temptation of the day. They are the only long stretch where speed comes easily, and on a course built like this one that is exactly the wrong thing to do: every minute banked here gets repaid several times over from kilometre 34. Run them calmly enough that the first big climb does not find you breathing hard.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between the high point and kilometre 36. The long descent loads the quads, and straight afterwards the steepest ramp of the day asks for the same muscles. So do not brake rigidly on the way down, plan the 20 percent climb as a strong hike from the outset, and give it time rather than fighting it.
Spend what is left
After that, the field separates on the rolling section around kilometre 45, which is still runnable at about 350 metres if you have the legs left for it. The final two climbs look harmless on paper but arrive after more than 50 kilometres. Beyond the last of them the course runs mostly downhill to the finish, and you only get to use that gradient if your quads are still working.
Training plan for Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect to be on your feet for 8 to 12 hours, depending on form. This is not a steady endurance effort: long calm stretches alternate with steep ramps where you are walking and still working hard, and with descents that test the muscles more than the lungs.
Train race pace
The key session is therefore the long run with its climbing placed late. Put your steepest repetitions deliberately into the second half, after three or four hours of work, because that is how the climb at kilometre 34 will reach you. In the months before 20 March several of these sessions should go well beyond 30 kilometres, ideally as back-to-back days.
Rehearse the course
Steep hiking is a skill of its own here. On the steepest slopes you can find, practise a strong, even uphill walk for 15 to 20 minutes until it feels like a pace and not a break. Downhill running belongs straight after it: only quads conditioned on long descents will cope with 2,000 metres down without collapsing in the final third.
Arrive fresh
At this duration energy decides as well. Practise eating while hiking the climbs, where it is easiest, and test your fuelling on the long sessions until it still sits well after six hours. Keep some easy, flat running for the end of long days too, so that the rolling section after kilometre 40 does not turn into a walk.
Courses
Download the Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon 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 Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon.
How long is Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon?
Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon is 60 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 Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon have?
Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon has around 1,977 m of elevation gain over 60 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon?
Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon is classified as Mountainous, averaging 32.7 vertical metres per kilometre. 19% of the route is flat, 23% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 15% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon have?
The hardest climb of Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon starts at kilometre 10.9, runs for 3.2 km at an average of 9.1% and gains 288 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon a loop course?
Yes, Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon course?
Yes. The Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon 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 Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon?
Preparation for Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon should account for 60 km, 1,977 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 Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon?
The pacing strategy for Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon should reflect 60 km, 1,977 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 Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon take place?
Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon takes place on March 20, 2027.
Where does Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon take place?
Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon takes place in Hunua, New Zealand.
Which distances does Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon offer?
Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon offers 3 distances — 60 km Ultramarathon: 60 km; Trail Marathon: 42.2 km; 22 km Trail Run/Walk: 22 km.
How do I register for Hunua Hillbilly Ultramarathon?
Registration runs through the organiser: hunuahillbilly.co.nz. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
