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Polestar-backed athlete runs length of NZ in record time

Belgian ultrarunner Karel Sabbe has set a new record for running New Zealand’s Te Araroa Trail, covering the 3000km route in 31 days, 19 hours, and 41 minutes. His time beats the previous record by more than 17 days.

Th ex-dentist kicked off 2025 by announcing a partnership with Polestar, running 76km to Brussels to pick up his new Polestar 4. Shortly afterwards, Sabbe revealed that he would be coming to New Zealand to tackle the Te Araroa Trail.

Te Araroa stretches from Cape Reinga in the north to Bluff in the south, winding through mountains, rivers, forests, and urban areas. Sabbe averaged 96km per day—more than two marathons daily—to complete the journey.

"It was a very adventurous trail and was so rewarding to spend so much time in such a beautiful country," he said.

The run was not without difficulty. Sabbe described sudden shifts in terrain, from smooth trails to rough backcountry tramping routes. Constant river crossings meant running with wet feet for much of the journey.

Despite a support crew assisting him along the way, the challenge intensified when two wild dogs attacked one of his team members, leaving them with a broken elbow 400km into the run.

Sabbe is no stranger to endurance challenges. He holds multiple speed records on long-distance trails, including the Pacific Crest Trail in North America. His latest achievement adds another milestone to his ultrarunning career.