Hundreds of extreme ultra marathon runners and a few larrikins descended on Naseby over the past week for the 19th Great Naseby Water Race.

Known as New Zealand’s longest ultramarathon, the event included 24 runners taking on the 200-mile (320km) challenge, covering the distance over four days, starting last Wednesday (August 27) and finishing on Saturday (August 30).

Other events including the 100 mile (160km), 100km, 80km, 50km, and a 60km teams relay - all set on a 10km loop through the Naseby forest.

Run entirely by volunteers, a total of 253 runners took part in the event, up from 190 last year. 

Alexandra competitor Susan Heal entered the race for the seventh time. Initially she signed up as a pacer for a guy to help him finish the 100 mile back in 2016.

“I did it in my gumboots, because I thought I was just going out to Naseby for a yarn and wine. The following year I thought I would do it properly.”

After several team events, she was back as a pacer for 100 mile women’s winner Sally Nichol in 2024 - keeping her going through one of the hard nights. 

Susan Heal has completed seven Naseby races - participating with a team in the 60km event. Photo: Supplied

Great Naseby Water Race organiser Jill Wolff took over the event management four years ago, and said a number of participants told her it was the best ultra event they had been to, because of the wonderful community feel.

Around half of the participants had a support crew as they ventured out into overnighters to complete their circuits.

Jill said they were now probably at capacity for the bigger overnighter events - to be able to keep it well managed and not have the town become too crowded.

“The beauty of it is it’s a figure eight loop so every 5km you can get aid, whether it be drinks or a rest. So you’re not way out in the wilderness and you don’t have to take any gear with you.”

The event raised about $10,000 for the Naseby Development Charitable Trust, which maintains the Ernslaw One forest trail and mountain bike networks.

Jill said people who returned every year have now run over 2,000km since they started.

“This year we just got a real step up in community support. It was just incredible.”

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