Land Rover Tussock Traverse 2010
By Mike Watson
Competitors in this years Land Rover Tussock Traverse might be wondering if Project Tongariro has a direct link to a higher power.
For the fifth year in a row 305 walkers and runners were greeted at the Tukino Road start line on January 30 in stunning conditions-a bright blue sky and fine sunny weather for the 2010 event.
Only a slight south easterly breeze marred 
an
otherwise perfect morning.
The breeze would help cool down competitors as they made their way 27 kilometres across the
rough volcanic surface to the welcoming sight of The Chateau in a range of times between two hours and seven hours.
While it's not a event for winners and losers-more an event to participate in-first man home Kerry Suter deserves a mention for not only finishing in near record time
(2hours 
10minutes),
but completing a total of 54 kilometres.
Suter, an ultra marathoner who last year waded waist deep across a raging South Island river to safety, was not content just to run the event one way.
He ran to the start line from the Chateau before running back again.
For the majority of the entrants it was simply setting personal target and enjoying the day.
While some ran others stopped for a bite to eat, savouring the scenery.
After the opening steep climb runners found their way across the volcanic rock track, dropping down into dry river beds, before clambering up clay banks to more sandy surfaces, and scrub, over bog patches jumping down steps and striding across man made 
boardwalks.
The sun was hot on the back but bearable, plenty of competitors chose to walk, others jogged, staggered, limped and sweated their way around. The boggy sections sucked the energy, while the boardwalks provided a spring to the steady pace.
Along the way race marshall's supplied energy sweets, played rock music, and shouted encouragement to flagging spirits.
At the end every competitors had a smile, knowing they had achieved thier goal, faced up to the challenge and for most beaten it.
Project Tongariro's Sarah Gibb wants the event to remain small, with maximum number 300.
It's already growing since the first event five years ago but it should not be alowed to die out.
With supportive sponsorship Project Tongariro aims
should be met.
Land Rover has a long relationship with Tongariro having supplied vehicles from 1963 to about 1984 to enable the Rangers to access parts of the park in arduous 4WD conditions.
Land Rover has been producing 4WD vehicles since 1948 and is synonymous with motoring in extreme conditions. The vehicles are used world wide for exploration, by aid agencies in the third world and for search and rescue operations because of their go anywhere ability. Two thirds of all Land Rovers ever produced are still in use today, thanks to their rugged construction.
The Park Travellers Lodge,
National Park
Freephone: 0800 800 491
+64 7 892 2748
Email: bookings@the-park.co.nz
We recommend staying at The Park Travellers Lodge in National Park village.
www.the-park.co.nz
20% of the value of your stay is donated to TNHS. Just let them know you are a member at the time of booking.
