Mission Mt Somers
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Mission Mt Somers
Mission Mt Somers is a trail running event at Staveley in Canterbury on 31 October 2026. The programme includes a marathon, a half marathon and two shorter off road runs that use farm tracks, gravel roads and marked single track.
The 42 km marathon starts and finishes at the Staveley Village Store. After leaving the store the course follows gravel road and farm tracks to the South Face Route of the Mt Somers Loop. The single track climbs initially to about 1080 metres, then levels and contours through open grassland and forested catchments. Much of the marked single track has been created in the past ten years and contains technical sections.
The 21 km half marathon begins at the Woolshed Creek Carpark and follows the Miners Track to Woolshed Creek hut, noted as the second aid station. From there the route climbs to the Mt Somers saddle at about 1170 metres then descends on technical single track to Pinnacles Hut. Native kārearea may be seen near local rock formations.
The shorter runs use the Staveley area. The 10 km is a loop from the Staveley Store along Bowyers stream, past the Staveley ice skating rinks and includes a 400 metre altitude gain with views across the Canterbury Plains and foothill beech forest. The 5 km follows the second half of the 10 km loop, is started from the Staveley Ice Rink by shuttle, includes a 40 metre altitude gain and finishes at Staveley Hall. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
- 42 km marathon
- 21 km half marathon
- 10 km Staveley off road loop
- 5 km introductory off road run
