Rotorua's Shannon-Leigh Litt is entered in the 100km event this Saturday. Photo / Supplied
Like most competitors in the Tarawera Ultramarathon, Rotorua's Shannon-Leigh Litt will head into the 100km event with one main goal.
Make it to Kawerau.
Litt is one of the most experienced ultra runners from Rotorua taking part in the popular Tarawera Ultramarathon on Saturday.
She has taken part in 31 ultras and will line up for her 32nd this weekend.
She said her main goal was to complete the 100km course which starts at the Redwoods Visitor Centre in Rotorua and finishes in Kawerau.
"My first goal is always to get to the finish," she said.
"I just want to do my best and I am really looking forward to it because it is a local event."
Litt recently returned from Hong Kong where she was hoping to place well in another 100km trail running event.
Unfortunately, she suffered from cramp early on in the race and slipped out of contention, but managed to complete the race.
She said she was a lot more relaxed going into this event and just wanted to enjoy herself and finish the race.
"I don't have any expectations going into Tarawera because it has not been a target race so if I can get to the finish and feel I have done my best I think it will be a huge achievement," she said.
"My goal this weekend is to live in the moment and focus on getting to each aide station in one piece, and what is motivating me is knowing that my mum will be at the finish line."
More than 1000 runners will take part in the event on Saturday, with participants representing 30-plus different countries. The distances on offer include the feature 100km event, 85km event and 60km event.
Litt moved to Rotorua last year to focus on her running and said she loved the local trails.
"It is so lovely running on the nice soft forest terrain, that is what I particularly love about Rotorua. It is soft and reasonably easy running and the recovery time is less than running on the road."
She said the sights while out running were breathtaking as well.
The Tarawera Ultramarathon is the second race of the Ultra Trail World Tour with the first being held in Hong Kong last month. There are 11 races on the world tour.
Many of the top ultra runners in the world will be racing this weekend.
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