The 2025 edition of The Spectacle lived up to its name — and then some. Held in Whakatū–Nelson on 5–6 December 2025, the festival combined city-street racing with scenic trail courses, offering something for runners of all backgrounds.
As 261 Fearless Club NZ, we were proud to be part of it — not just as spectators, but as participants, coaches, storytellers, community builders, and supporters. Here’s a recap of our weekend.
261 Fearless on the roads & trails
- On Friday evening, our “fearless wahine” launched The Spectacle with the 4 × 2.5 km 10 km trail relay — a fun, energetic curtain-raiser blending road and trail through Nelson’s city and riverside trails. (The Spectacle NZ)
- Over the weekend, we had members taking on multiple distances: 5 km in the road race, and the 22 km trail run. One post put it best:
“Another blistering hot day at The Spectacle saw Kathrine and Katy tackle the 5 km street race and Dion and Emma take on the 22 km trail. Something for everyone!”
Whether you were racing competitively or just out to enjoy the run, it was a perfect example of what 261 Fearless is about: pushing your boundaries — but also supporting each other, celebrating every finish, and sharing stories.
Community spirit, coaching & connection
We didn’t just run — we connected. Over the weekend:
- We welcomed many new faces at our expo stand, chatting with inspiring runners from around Aotearoa and beyond. Members, aspiring members, and curious runners stopped by to learn about coaching, our meet-run groups, and what it means to be part of 261 Fearless Club NZ.
- A highlight: hearing reflections from the co-founder of 261 Fearless, Kathrine Switzer (Marathon Woman), plus Roger Robinson — whose talk “Running Fearlessly Through Time” pulled at many heartstrings and inspired several new sign-ups.
- On Sunday at 8:00 am, we hosted a pop-up meet-run at Neale Park. It was low-key but meaningful — a chance to share personal stories, stretch out sore muscles, meet cross-country teammates, and reflect together.
All in all: not just a race weekend, but a celebration of community, belonging, and running for more than just finish times.
Kathrine Switzer — At the Heart of Our Weekend
261 Club NZ’s fearless founder and global running icon, Kathrine Switzer, spent the weekend connecting with runners from across Aotearoa and around the world. At the expo, she shared stories, posed for photos, and inspired countless conversations about courage, equity, and the joy of running.
Her talk, “Running Fearlessly Through Time,” delivered with Roger Robinson, was a highlight of the festival—drawing a full room and leaving many runners deeply moved and motivated.
On Sunday morning, Kathrine joined our pop‑up meet run at Neale Park. It was a relaxed, joyful gathering filled with storytelling, laughter, and reflection. For many of our members, running alongside Kathrine was an unforgettable moment — a reminder of the transformative power of women supporting women.
The Spectacle 2025 was more than just a running festival: it was a powerful reminder of why 261 Fearless exists. It wove together challenge and connection, sweat and stories, personal achievement and collective celebration. We ran, we met, we inspired — and together, we celebrated being part of a fearless, supportive whānau.
To everyone who ran, chatted, smiled, cheered, joined us at Neale Park, or simply believed in our kaupapa — thank you.
