(SP)NEW ZEALAND-ROTORUA-UTMB-TARAWERA ULTRA-TRAIL

(SP)NEW ZEALAND-ROTORUA-UTMB-TARAWERA ULTRA-TRAIL

(240218) -- ROTORUA, Feb. 18, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Daniel Jones of New Zealand competes during the 2024 Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB in New Zealand, Feb. 17, 2024. (Photo by Cameron McKenzie/Xinhua)

(SP)NEW ZEALAND-ROTORUA-UTMB-TARAWERA ULTRA-TRAIL

(SP)NEW ZEALAND-ROTORUA-UTMB-TARAWERA ULTRA-TRAIL

(240218) -- ROTORUA, Feb. 18, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Adrian MacDonald of the United States claps hands with spectators as he sprints to the finish line during the 2024 Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB in New Zealand, Feb. 17, 2024. (Photo by Cameron McKenzie/Xinhua)

(SP)NEW ZEALAND-ROTORUA-UTMB-TARAWERA ULTRA-TRAIL

(SP)NEW ZEALAND-ROTORUA-UTMB-TARAWERA ULTRA-TRAIL

(240218) -- ROTORUA, Feb. 18, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Daniel Jones of New Zealand crosses the finish line during the 2024 Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB in New Zealand, Feb. 17, 2024. (Photo by Cameron McKenzie/Xinhua)

(SP)NEW ZEALAND-ROTORUA-UTMB-TARAWERA ULTRA-TRAIL

(SP)NEW ZEALAND-ROTORUA-UTMB-TARAWERA ULTRA-TRAIL

(240218) -- ROTORUA, Feb. 18, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Ruth Croft (R) of New Zealand competes during the 2024 Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB in New Zealand, Feb. 17, 2024. (Photo by Cameron McKenzie/Xinhua)

New Zealand's Tarawera Ultramarathon attracts 5,000 runners

STORY: New Zealand's Tarawera Ultramarathon attracts 5,000 runners DATELINE: Feb. 12, 2023 LENGTH: 0:02:27 LOCATION: Wellington CATEGORY: SPORTS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Tarawera Ultramarathon STORYLINE: About 5,000 runners around the world hit the picturesque mountain trails around Rotorua on Saturday and Sunday in the 2023 Tarawera Ultramarathon by UTMB (TUM), the largest trail running event New Zealand has ever hosted. The ultramarathon kicked off at 4 a.m. local time on Saturday for those taking part in the 100-mile race. Athletes were given 36 hours at most to complete the course, which includes running along multiple lakes, through lush native bush, the towering Whakarewarewa Forest, steam alongside the trail at Sulphur Point and finishing at the Village Green by the lakeside in Rotorua. All other distances, either 102 km, 50 km, or 21 km, also started on Saturday morning. These courses also feature lakes, redwoods, sulfur flats and the lakeside Rotorua finish. Rotorua, one of the North I