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Vajin Armstrong is a passionate devotee of the Crater Rim Ultra, which once again hosts the New Zealand Trail Running Championships on Saturday 16 October. We chat to the Christchurch-based 42-year-old athlete, who triumphed in this race in 2019 and finished third in 2020, as he offers his seven-point guide to running the event

1 – Timing and prestige

A highly accomplished trail runner, Vajin often spends big chunks of time racing in the European summer before returning home to his native New Zealand. With this in mind, the spring slot for the Crater Rim Ultra (and New Zealand Trail Running Championships) is an attractive option for the Sumner Running Club athlete.

“A 53km event at this point in the season is a good hit out for me before doing longer trail races later in the summer,” explains Vajin. “For the event to also have national championship status and to have that support from Athletics NZ gives it that extra level of prestige. We’ve seen a lot more runners take this opportunity and we’ve enjoyed some really deep fields (at the Crater Rim Ultra and NZ Trail Running Champs) for several years.”

2 – Journey planner

Vajin believes any race should be about the journey rather than the destination a fact wonderfully illustrated by the uniqueness of the Crater Rim Ultra.

“It feels like a journey from the moment you meet at the finish line at Hansen Park, take a bus and then a boat to the start at Diamond Harbour,” he explains. “It feels like you are on a real adventure, which makes it memorable and adds to that epic nature of the event.”

3 – Stunning scenery

Vajin insists the 53km route gives a magnificent tour of some of the best trails in the Christchurch/Canterbury region.

“That climb up from sea level to the top of Mt Herbert – the highest point in the peninsula – is iconic. It offers fantastic views of the Southern Also and up to Kaikoura. It really captures the Banks Peninsula and the Port Hills. The Crater Rim Walkway offers the most incredible view of the Lyttleton Harbour on one side and the Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps on the other. Running these trails offers runners a great insight into the beauty of the area.”

4 – Great variation

Vajin insists the Crater Rim Ultra offers the ideal mix of terrain to challenge every type of runner.

“For an athlete interested in testing themselves, especially those from a road running background, it is going to have some real challenges, “adds Vajin. “There are technical sections but also some fast, open running sections. In places it is a narrow, single track, there are some long climbs and steep descents.  It is a course that requires a well-rounded set of skills.”

5 – Pacing is key

Vajin insists that running sensibly, particularly during the first half or so of the race, is critical to executing a good performance in the 53km test.

“Pace yourself and run wisely on the day,” he adds. “You can use a lot of resources getting over the top of Mt Herbert and then on to Gebbie’s Pass there is a lot of technical running. So, it is about running efficiently and not burning to many matches early because that final 20km is very runnable.”

In fact, Vajin says this strategy paid dividends when he triumphed in the 2019 race.

“At around halfway I was seven or eight minutes behind the leader, but I knew later in the race the trail would open up and I could run a little bit faster. That day I caught Daniele Danesin with just 800m to go, but the strategy paid off.”

6 – Be prepared for the odd surprise

Besides the varied nature of the terrain and course one other piece of advice Vajin would pass on to competitors is beware of the sting in the tail down the Rapaki Track.

“This is an iconic trail for bikers and walkers but it doesn’t take you straight down to the finish,” he warns. “About halfway down the route it takes you out for a 4km loop back to the finish known as the Montgomery Spur Loop. After the loop we then come back onto the Rapaki Track and follow down to the finish. It is good for runners to know what is coming.”

7 – Something for everyone

Besides the 53km event – which doubles as the New Zealand Trail Running Championships and the 83km ultra event – which will act as the inaugural New Zealand Long Course Trail Running Championships – the Crater Rim Ultra offers race options for 30km, 22km, 10km and even a 1km dash.

“The event has so many different distances, it is a great avenue for people to be to be introduced to the joys and challenges of trail running.”