A true challenge is when failure is the most likely outcome. That’s the motto of The Revenant race organiser Scott Worthington of Tarras, who is preparing to host at Garston for the third time.

The Revenant is an unsupported individual or two-person team ultra-adventure run held at Welcome Rock from January 15 – 17.

Athletes have 60 hours to tackle more than 190km and 16,000m-ish of vertical ascent across unforgiving, untracked terrain with just a compass and map. No GPS, no devices, no watches, no aid stations.

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Welcome Rock is on Blackmore Station, a high-country farm straddling the border of Southland and Central Otago, where it is normal to experience 32degC during the day and snow flurries at night, even in the height of summer. 

Worthington does not expect everyone to finish. In fact, he expects most will fail.

“Our motto for the race . . . says everything about the race and why we put it on,” Worthington said.

“What we do is set it up like a challenge that is not impossible but very, very difficult to complete. The idea is that we will not make any changes to the course until it has been completed. You have to learn it to complete it.”

From left, Mike Field (NZ) Kristina Fireball (USA) Bronwyn McKeage (NZ) Tonyt Sharpe (NZ) – compete on the Welcome Rock course

in The Revenant 2020. PHOTO: Sean Beale Photography

Last year, three people - Louis Schindler of Nelson, Angus Watson of Wellington and Shaun Collins of Auckland - completed the course with just 90 minutes to spare, from a field deliberately limited to just over 20 national and international athletes. 

They had all competed in 2019, when the entire field of 21 did not finish.

Because the course has now been completed, Worthington has altered part of it for this year’s entrants.

“It is not impossible, but you need everything going right, every single star aligned,” he said.

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Worthington reckoned three people finished last year because they were capable, had perfect weather with no wind, started in the light not the dark, and had all seen the course in 2019.

“None of the three are coming back because they have completed the challenge. But Louis has since said he might come back because he wonders how he would go in normal circumstances [normal, meaning bad weather]. These three characters are not names that an average person would know as a sports person but if you research them, they are highly skilled back country navigators and extremely good runners,” Worthington said.

Because of Covid, the field is an all-Kiwi affair.

However, all bodes well for the event this year, which goes ahead whatever the weather, Worthington said. 

“Absolutely it goes ahead. That’s why we say that’s why The Revenant is not where we learn [adventure racing],” he said.

“Entries are up on last year. We had actually totally sold out but with Covid the internationals won’t make it - so we will have 29 on the start line - still up on last year,” he said.

Chadd Wright, US Navy Seal, did not complete The Revenant in 2020 and cannot return to finish because of Covid-19. PHOTO: Sean Beale Photography

While Worthington caps the number of entries to 40, he then goes through the entry submissions with a fine-tooth comb, interviewing the athletes and weeding out those he believes are not yet ready to do the race.

Pre-Covid, he’d decided to expand the field to cater for demand from international athletes, including people serving in military organisations. However, those people have had to put their dreams on hold for now.

This year, the field includes 9 “originals” from 2019, 8 returnees from 2020, plus a group of course newbies.

Ian Evans of Wanaka is returning to the race. PHOTO: Sean Beale Photography

“Ian Evans [of Wanaka] probably goes into the race this year as a favourite to finish. It will be his third attempt. He went the furthest in his first attempt and went even further last year. So this year could be his year as he will bring the most experience,” Worthington said. 

The Revenant Facebook page will provide live updates for full duration of the race. 

Early rising spectators are welcome to gather at the start during the wee hours of the morning of January 15.

However, they and the competitors will not know when the race will actually start until Worthington says “Go”.