Tarawera Trailgating | Helen Mino Faukner, Dan Jones, & Caitlin Fielder Pre-Race Interviews
Feb 13, 2025
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Helen Mino Faulkner, an ultrarunner making her debut in New Zealand, shares her excitement and nerves about her first major race. Dan Jones, a two-time defending champion, reflects on his training and strategies for maintaining top performance. Caitlin Fielder, gearing up for her first 100k, discusses the thrill of racing in her home country. The trio delves into the importance of community, personal growth through competition, and the challenges of training in a warmer climate as they prepare for the prestigious Tarawera race.
Helen Redcloud highlights her exciting journey to racing in New Zealand, sharing lessons learned from past DNFs to manage fatigue.
Dan Jones expresses enthusiasm for returning as a defending champion while focusing on maintaining training consistency to improve performance.
Deep dives
Race Coverage and Enthusiasm
The 2025 Tarawera by UTMB is a highly anticipated event, with key participants Dylan Bowman, Ryan Thrower, and Corinne Malcolm excited about the coverage they will provide. As they prepare to race the 50K, they emphasize the event's significance, especially since it offers golden tickets for the Western States 100. As athletes, they are fully engaged in the race atmosphere, participating actively by interviewing fellow competitors and covering pre-race preparations. This creates an engaging environment for listeners eager to follow along with the unfolding stories of athletes in New Zealand.
Helen Redcloud's Training and Goals
Helen Redcloud expresses enthusiasm for her first-time experience racing in New Zealand, describing her training leading up to the 100K race and the adjustment from winter training. She shares insights about her fun but challenging jungle jogging in the area, balancing her training amidst the summer season in the region. Redcloud has previously turned down a golden ticket, but finds the competitive atmosphere surrounding this race exciting and is focusing on finishing strong after her experiences in high-stakes races previously. She acknowledges valuable lessons learned from past DNFs, specifically regarding managing fatigue during night runs.
Dan Jones and His Return
Dan Jones, a two-time defending champion at Tarawera, speaks about the excitement of returning to his home turf for the race while maintaining a focused approach on improving his performance. Last year, he achieved significant results, including top places at both Western States and CCC, which set high expectations for 2025. Jones is excited about the new course and the dynamics of racing against a competitive field again, emphasizing that his training consistency remains a priority. With a clear mindset, he aims to push the pace while taking advantage of his experience running on the familiar trails of Te Araroa.
Caitlin Fielder's Transition to 100K
Caitlin Fielder is determined to take on her first official 100K, participating in the Tarawera race and viewing it as an opportunity for growth despite the pressures of the golden ticket implications. Emphasizing her connection to Rotorua as her hometown, she is eager to race on familiar terrain and has a strong support system from family and friends. After successful performances leading into the season, including a win at Templier, she carries a positive mindset and confidence from her training, which includes a blend of running and road biking. Fielder aims to race smartly, balancing her pace and seeking to finish the race strongly while exploring her potential in longer distances.
Welcome to Freetrail's coverage of the 2025 Tarawera by UTMB! Set against the beautiful backdrop of Rotorua, NZ, an outdoor and trail sport mecca known for its rolling hills, thermal pools, and beautiful lakes, Tarawera plays host to four different race distances — 100m, 102k, 50k, & 21k. We'll be covering as much as we can from all races, with a particular focus on the 102k where four Golden Tickets to Western States are on the line.
Follow along for coverage all weekend and follow us on IG for race day coverage from the course. Thanks to HOKA for supporting the show!
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