Dear Runners,

Unfortunately there will not be a third attempt to hold the Glenbrook Trail Marathon this summer.

All entrants will have their registration fees refunded, less $3 per runner which will cover the expenses we have incurred.

For those runners who were using Glenbrook as a Six Foot Track qualifier, there are still a couple of other races which can be used (see http://www.sixfoot.com/entrycriteria.php ). Also, we have negotiated a one-off qualifying run in Sydney in January through the SMC club. Six Foot Track race director Colin Jeftha will contact you individually about this shortly (if not already). Hopefully this will mean you are not disadvantaged by the Glenbrook cancellation.

There are still four races left in this summer’s Running Wild series including the excellent Narrowneck Night Run, the Knapsack Lap Race, Woodford Dam and the Mount Solitary ultra. We hope to see you out there.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas,

The Committee
Running Wild

It is with regret that the Glenbrook Marathon which was to be held this Sunday has been postponed. With record rain in recent weeks, and more forecast, we anticipate the Glenbrook causeway will be re-closed sometime this weekend and it would be irresponsible to hold the event in such circumstances. This decision has been made in consultation with NPWS, and taking into account participant safety and the engineering rating of the causeway.

We recognise the inconvenience caused, however when we rescheduled the race originally, we could not anticipate that it would rain in the Glenbrook creek catchment almost every day in the subsequent three weeks.

We are currently considering options for the event and will make an announcement early next week.

FURTHER TO OUR GLENBROOK TRAIL MARATHON CANCELLATION

The difficult situation the committee of Running Wild faced was that the causeway was at 18cm over on Friday morning. The causeway is rated by engineers at 20cm and they close the park. When we say close the park, we mean evacuate all out and that may mean cars being left in the park.  In effect we were playing with 2cm of movement in the creek level.

On Friday morning the weather was showing as likely to rain. The ground upstream in the catchment area from Glenbrook to Woodford was saturated. Any rain landing onwards from our decision was straight run off. That gives you an idea of the dilemma faced by us. Worst case scenario was that we get a rain storm either Saturday or on race day and park is evacuated. We had the potential for 275 runners being ferried out and cars potentially stranded inside the park. We can only imagine the fallout of that situation.

We were in a fairly awkward position – to roll the dice on the weather would have been irresponsible with the information we had at hand. Time will tell whether our decision matched the causway condition both today and tomorrow. It may or may not, but we made a safe decision that was not taken lightly.

A decision will be made early next week of the race, whether it is rescheduled or cancelled.

The Committee
Running Wild

 

The full course will take runners from Euroka Clearing to Portal Lookout, Red Hands Cave, Nepean Lookout, Pisgah Ridge FT, Oaks FT, Bennetts Ridge FT and back to Euroka Clearing. The shorter courses will initially follow the same route, with the 25km course turning immediately left onto Oaks FT and the 34km course not running Pisgah Ridge FT. The course covers a variety of trails and has an elevation change of approximately 800 metres.

Again this year, the 34km and 42.2km will be qualifiers for Six Foot Track.  Qualifying times will be a sub 4:20 and sub 5:20 respectively.  These have been relaxed by 5 minutes from last year to allow for the potential of warm to hot conditions.

Race Records

Name Time Distance Year
Tim Ashby 3:17:04 42km 2010
Angela Bateup 3:31:31 42km 2010
Martin Pengilly 2:44:42 34km 2010
Narelle Patrick 3:12:24 34km 2010
Ben Artup 1:52:26 25km 2010
Sara Burgess 2:02:37 25km 2010

 

Firstly thanks for all of you supporting the 2nd staging of the Northside Runners Glenbrook Trail Marathon. As most of you are aware we postponed the race from three weeks ago, owing to the unseasonably wet weather in the Blue Mountains. All things are looking good for this weekend. In our first year our entries topped 180 runners and in our second year we have reached the maximum of 275 runners set by the NPWS.

In order for the day to run smoothly, there are a couple of key issues that I need all runners to assist with.

ACCESS TO GLENBROOK NATIONAL PARK – Entry to Euroka Clearing is via the Bruce Road, Glenbrook gates.  After entering the park it is a 4km drive that is signposted and easy to follow.  NPWS will not be opening the gates until 6:30am.  We are concerned with the amount of vehicles that will enter the park at that time, so we have put a few things in place to make entry easier:

150 NPWS DAY PASSES -  Running Wild will be purchasing 150 park entry passes at $7 each.  Our plan is to have 3 volunteers at the gates from 5:30am in the morning.  As a vehicle arrives, the volunteer will walk up the line and sell a day pass.  We will work our way down the line and either sell a day pass or confirm you have an NPWS annual park pass.  If we all follow this system, it will allow the first 150 cars through the gates without having to stop for the ranger.  We ask that all vehicles have $7 ready for collection.  We will have limited change available with our volunteers, but the exact money would again help streamline the process.

KEEP IN MIND – If 1 car does not follow this system will result in all vehicles being delayed.  We are confident that this will allow us to clear the gates quickly of entrants.

CAR POOLING – We fully support this.  If you know runners coming from your area, or friends are meeting you at the park, either share a ride, or arrange to meet at Glenbrook Railway Station carpark.  You have to pass this car park to get into the National Park.  If we can car pool 50 cars, that is 50 less cars that have to go through the gates.  Note the entry to the park is $7 per vehicle, so it will also save you a few dollars!!!!

IN EUROKA – As you enter the clearing, you will come down a steepish road.  Directly in front of you will be a large carpark.  We need all vehicles to park in this area, as directed by the parking marshalls.  Please do not drive up towards Darug Campground.  This is the start/finish area and can get congested easily.  We will have cones across the road to deter access.

AFTER PARKING – As soon as you park your vehicle, if you can do one thing – attend race registration and collect your race bib.  We will have 3 tents set up, 1 for each race.  There will be an alphabetical list at each tent with your name and bib.  Please attach your bib in a prominent position on the front of your body – either shirt, shorts or tri-belt.

MEMBERS – Note you will not wear your member bib for this race.  A race bib will be issued for all runners on the morning.  Any Running Wild members that have not collected their member bib or race shirt, can collect from registration area, after collecting the day bib.

MANDATORY ITEM – As for all Running Wild races, the carrying of 500ml of fluids is mandatory.  This can be carried any way the runner wishes – hand held bottle, fuel belt or hydration pack.  Please ensure you comply with this.  If you dont have fluids, you will have to purchase a 600ml bottle of water for $1 from us.

RACE START – Okay, now we have got to the important stuff.  We aim to start the runners in 3 waves – 42km, 34km and 25km.  All runners will do a circuit of Euroka (about 1km) followed by a short climb up to the ridge.  After all runners have completed the lap, the next wave will be assembled at the start line.  This will occur for each distance.  This will result in some overlapping of running paces, but will ensure that everyone on the start line will know who their competition is!!!!  We ask that when faster runners catch slower runners on the single trail sections (Mt Portal Rd-roadway & Red Hands Trail) that they keep to the left to allow the faster runners through.

THE COURSE – The course is on a mixture of single trail and fire trail.  There is a mixture of full sun, part sun and shade sections on the course.  We highly recommend all runners wear a cap and sunscreen as it can get warm out there.

PLEASE NOTE – THE FIRE TRAIL SECTIONS ARE STILL OPEN ROADWAYS.  THERE WILL BE OCCASIONS WHEN VEHICLES PASS BY.  AT ALL TIMES RUNNERS MUST GIVE RIGHT OF WAY TO THE VEHICLES.

For safefty reasons, NPWS will not be opening a number of car gates on the course.  These gates are at the entrance to Nepean Lookout, entrance to Pisgah Fire Trail, entrance to Bennetts Ridge Fire Trail and exit of Bennetts Ridge Fire Trail.  All gates are knee height and easy to negotiate.

The entire course will be marked with pink ribbon, together with arrows and crosses as required.  The course is easy to follow, provided runners pay attention to their surroundings.  If you reach a decision point, take the time to look around and you will see markings to keep you on course.

IMPORTANT – There are two key decision points on the course.

• At the 18km mark (intersection of Red Hands Cave Trail & Oaks Trail) there will be an aid station.  The 25km will go LEFT and the 34/42km runners will go RIGHT.  This intersection will be extensively marked and marshalls/volunteers will be present.

• Further on for the 34/42km mark, they will visit Nepean Lookout and return to the Pisgah Fire Trail aid station.  34km runners will go STRAIGHT AHEAD and 42km runners will go RIGHT.  Again this spot will be signposted and volunteers/marshalls will be in place.  It is the runners responsibility to take the correct course.  (DONT FRET IT WILL MAKE SENSE WHEN YOU ARE OUT THERE)

SOME BASIC RACE RULES:

• All runners must display their bib on the front of their body.  This can either be on shirt or shorts.  This is vital owing to numbers having to be recorded at various turn points.  Note that members will not wear their member bib on the day.  A race bib will be issued to all runners on the morning.

• There will be a three wave start.  Runners must start in their respective race wave.  If a runner is found to have started in the wrong wave they will be disqualified.  Ample notice will be given pre race to ensure all runners are aware of the different waves.  The races will start in the order of 42km, 34km and 25km.

• We are closing registration tonight.  After this all runners will have 24 hours to adjust race distances.  After Thursday night the fields will be set and bibs allocated in sequences according to the race distances.  Moving between races will not be allowed after Thursday night.  If you wish to alter your race distance, email us immediately at runningwildnsw@gmail.com

• You must complete the distance/course you have entered to be awarded a finish time. Runners can not move between race distances during the race. If you move between distances during the race, a DNF will be recorded.

• There will be only 1 race cut on the course.  This will be at the entrance to Pisgah Ridge Fire Trail.  Any marathon runner must enter the fire trail within 3:30 of elapsed time.  If a marathon runner reaches the track head after this cut, the runner will be directed on to complete the 34km course.  The runner will receive a 34km finish time with a notation of the missed cut.

• A committee member will be performing sweeping duties on the day.  The sweeper will have the discretion to retire a runner if the situation is warranted.

AID STATIONS – Each aid station will have water, cordial, fruit and lollies.  Later aid stations in the 34 & 42km will have coke/pepsi.  Please make sure you get in plenty of fluids on the day and fill your bottle as necessary.

TURNPOINTS – There will be 3 turnpoints on the course – Mt. Portal lookout, Nepean Lookout, end of Pisgah Trail.  We will have 2 volunteers at each spot.  You have to ensure that the volunteers mark off your bib number as you go through the turn point.  All runners will pass the Mt. Portal lookout turnpoint, 34/42km runners will pass the Nepean Lookout turnpoint and the dreaded Pisgah turnpoint will only be visited by the marathon runners.

PHOTOGRAPHY – A professional photographer will be on hand during the day to capture all the action over different parts of the course.  Photo packages will be available to all runners.  A web link will be sent to all runners post race, as well as a link being installed on our website.  Please take the time to check out the photos.

MEMBER SHIRTS – Any runners that are collecting member shirts, they can be collected post race.

SIX FOOT TRACK QUALIFICATION – There will be a number of runners using this race as a Six Foot Track qualifier.  Keep in mind the qualifying time will be sub 4:20 for the 34km and sub 5:20 for the 42km.  4:19:59 will give you a qualifier, but 4:20:01 will not.

POST RACE – Dont jump in the car straight away!!!!  We will have the BBQ running and cold drinks for sale.  There will be a presentation at the conclusion of each of the races through the morning.  We have various prizes from our principal race sponsor – Northside Runners and hope to meet plenty of you and chat about your day.  In addition to the BBQ, there is plenty of room to spread out, have a picnic, visit a few swimming holes or spot a few kangaroos checking out what all the fuss is about.