Mission Mt Somers
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About the race
Mission Mt Somers is a trail running event at Staveley in Canterbury, scheduled for 31 October 2026. The event programme comprises four course options that run on local gravel roads, farm tracks and single-track trails around Mt Somers and the Staveley area.
Distances:
- 42 km marathon starting and finishing at Staveley Village Store.
- 21 km half marathon starting at Woolshed Creek Carpark.
- 10 km Staveley off-road loop departing from Staveley Store.
- 5 km introductory off-road run starting at Staveley Ice Rink.
The marathon follows gravel roads and farm tracks to join the South Face Route of the Mt Somers Loop, with an initial technical single track climb to about 1080 metres and a mix of open grassland and forested catchments. The half marathon follows the Miners Track to Woolshed Creek hut, then climbs to the Mt Somers saddle at about 1170 metres before a technical single-track descent to Pinnacles Hut. The 10 km loop follows Bowyers Stream, passes the Staveley ice skating rinks and includes a hill climb gaining roughly 400 metres in altitude with views over the Canterbury Plains and beech-forest running. The 5 km uses the second half of the 10 km loop, includes a 40 metre climb and finishes past the historic Staveley lime kilns to Staveley Hall. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
