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Forest Run Fest

This one's on the calendar because I put it there — I build most of it myself, off whatever I can find. It works, but it's the version I could manage from the outside. If it's your race, here's the version you could have.

What it could look like

Here's the Rabbiters Creek Skyline — a race I made up, on the full V02 Max version, with the lot filled in: logo, photos, the proper long description, four quotes, and where to find them the rest of the year. It's invented top to bottom — yours would have your race in it.

Mock-up A V02 Max listing, done properly There is no such race. Every word and photo below is made up.
Rabbiters Creek Skyline logo
Otago

Rabbiters Creek Skyline

Saturday 13 March 2027

Rabbiters Creek Station, Maniototo, Central Otago

Enter this race → (example only — this race does not exist)
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Distances

62 km 34 km 21 km 11 km
The Skyline is one big loop around the back of Rabbiters Creek Station, and the short version is this: you go up the spur, you run the tops for a long time, and then you come down the creek. The tops are the whole point. On a bluebird day you can see the Hawkdun Range one way and half the Maniototo the other, and on a bad one you'll spend two hours in the clag wondering who told you this was a good idea. Both of those days have happened. Both are worth having.

Four distances, and none of them are the sensible one. The 62 km takes in the full skyline traverse with 2,800 m of climbing and a stretch above 1,400 m that we will absolutely pull you off if the weather turns. The 34 km climbs the same spur and cuts back down the old musterers' track. The 21 km is the station loop — still steep, still tussock, home in time for lunch. The 11 km is for anyone who's never done one of these before, and it's the one we're proudest of; half our 62 km field started there.

It's a working station, which means the course only exists because the Sutherland family let it, and the deal is you leave it exactly as you found it. Gates get left how you found them. Nothing goes on the ground. In return you get a course nobody else runs the other 364 days of the year.

Aid stations at 14, 28, 41 and 52 km with water, coke, lollies, chippies and someone who'll tell you you look better than you do. Cut-offs are generous and the sweeps are patient — we have never once turned the lights off on somebody. Entries open in October, the field caps at 400 across the four distances, and the 62 km has sold out inside a week for the last three years.

Bring a jacket. We will check.

What runners say

“Got up on the tops and just stopped. Didn't take a photo, didn't check my watch, stood there like an idiot for a minute. Best I've felt in a race in years.”
— Hine Rawiri, 34 km
“Second time doing the 62 and I still got the spur wrong. Went out too hard, paid for it at 40 k, walked most of the last climb having a quiet word with myself. Entering again.”
— Dave Corrigan, 62 km
“I was last off the hill and there were still two people at the finish making noise. That mattered more than the medal did, honestly.”
— Marnie Ashcroft, 21 km
“First trail race I've ever done. I was terrified of the 11 k and it turned out the worst bit was the drive in. Everyone was lovely. Doing the 21 next year.”
— Tui Fa'atonu, 11 km

Mock-up. The Rabbiters Creek Skyline isn't a race — I invented the whole thing, runners and all, so you could see a V02 Max listing with everything filled in. Yours would have your race in it.

The three versions

Your race is on the free one now, and it can stay there forever — a calendar with half the races missing is a useless calendar. The other two just give it more to work with.

Free

You're here

Free

Where this listing is now. Date, distances, a link to enter.

  • A 600-character pitch
  • Date, distances, location, link to enter
  • Photos
  • Testimonials
  • Your socials — Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and the rest
  • Your logo on the listing
  • Listed by date, like everyone else
  • Newsletter shoutout
  • A Q&A with you, in the Bonus Fritter

Threshold

The one to start with

$20 one-off

Photos, a few quotes, your logo, and a shoutout in the Sunday newsletter.

  • 500 words to sell it
  • Date, distances, location, link to enter
  • Up to 4 photos
  • 2 testimonials from your runners
  • Your socials — Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and the rest
  • Your logo on the listing
  • Sits above the free listings on your date
  • A shoutout in the newsletter
  • A Q&A with you, in the Bonus Fritter
Upgrade to Threshold

V02 Max

$200 one-off

The lot, plus a Q&A with you and a second shoutout.

  • Write as much as you like
  • Date, distances, location, link to enter
  • Up to 10 photos
  • 4 testimonials from your runners
  • Your socials — Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and the rest
  • Your logo on the listing
  • Top of the pile on your date
  • 2 newsletter shoutouts — one before rego opens, one after
  • A Q&A with you, in the Bonus Fritter
Go the full noise

One-off, for this race, for this year. Not a subscription — I can barely keep track of my own.

How it goes

  1. 1

    You take it over

    Pick a version, make an account, and fill in the bits I couldn't get from the outside — the photos, the quotes, the proper description. It comes through pre-filled with what I've already got.

  2. 2

    You pay

    That's the bit that puts your name on the listing. Until then nothing about the race changes, so there's no harm in having a look first.

  3. 3

    I do my bit

    I read it, tidy anything that needs it, and put it up. Your listing stays on the calendar the whole time — it doesn't vanish while I'm looking at it. Then I owe you a shoutout, and I'll email you about the timing.

Not your race, or not sure it's worth it? Email me — I'm the whole department, and I'd rather talk you out of it than take $200 off you for nothing.