2011/2012 Running Wild Trail Series

Season 2 of Running Wild is fast approaching. With that in mind, will recap on what we are about and hopefully where we will be moving in this season. Our goals are to stage low cost races and expose runners to the joys of trail running. We aim to set courses that are both challenging in nature and rewarding in scenery and/or experience. As season 1 progressed we fine tuned the art of marking a course to keep all runners on track. All courses are marked with pink ribbon at intermittent points, together with crosses/arrows at key decision points. Whilst we provide aid stations at regular distances, we set as a mandatory item each runner having the capability of carrying a minimum of 500ml of fluid. This is both practical and sensible in light of the fact that our races are run through the summer season in fairly remote and inaccessible locations.

Our season consists of 9 races. We stage 6 mountain series races through the months of September to February. These will be priced at the incredibly affordable price of $10 for members and $20 for visitors. Each of these courses are unique in their own right and range in distance from 12km to 21km. We also stage 3 long course races through the season – Glenbrook Trail Marathon, Knapsack 3hr/6hr lap race and Mt. Solitary Ultra. Again each of these races offer different things for different runners, but are destined to be mainstays on the trail running calendar. Each mountain race is followed by a BBQ breakfast and presentation – a great way to end the morning. These gatherings were very popular in season 1 with many runners loitering post race to refuel and swap stories.

MTN RACE 1 – MT PORTAL 16KM
Race 1 of the series is at Glenbrook National Park. Runners start with 3km of bitumen down to the Causeway and then up to Ironbarks Fire Trail. Runners will make a left turn and descend into Euroka Clearing. Once in the clearing runners will run up Bennetts Ridge Fire Trail before taking a left turn onto a single track that leads to the Nepean River. Runners will loop back into Darug Campground in Euroka Clearing before making the ‘billygoat climb’ out of the picnic area. At the top of the ridge, runners will make a right turn onto a glorious piece of single track that skirts Portal Waterhole. Runners will exit the single track at the base of Mt. Portal. From there it is a tough climb on fire trail to the top of Mt. Portal and onto Portal Lookout. Runners will turn around here and descend Mt. Portal. Back at the T intersection, runners will make a right hand turn and take the single track back to the main roadway. Runners will then descend to the Causeway before a tough 500m climb to the finish line. This is a great course for beginner trail runners and those wishing to blow the cobwebs out after the winter season.

MTN RACE 2 – WENTWORTH FALLS 16KM
Arguably our most stunning short course race. Runners negotiate numerous trails in and around the Wentworth Falls area. The majority of this course is on single trail and includes lots of stairs. Runners are rewarded with some of the most magnificent views of the Blue Mountains NP. Some of the views of the various waterfalls and the iconic Mt. Solitary and truly wonderful.

MTN RACE 3 - KEDUMBA HALF MARATHON
Any road runners want to test their road time against a mountain course, this is the one for you. We tout this as ’arguably the toughest half marathon in Australia’ and you should not be disappointed. This course is a brute. Runners start at the Old Queen Victoria Hospital at Wentworth Falls. Runners will descend Kedumba Walls down to Kedumba Campground. Just to make sure all people are aware they are doing a trail race, we include a water crossing just prior to the turn. After 10.5km and approximately 700m of vertical quad bashing running, all runners will hit the turn and tackle the climb back to the hospital. This will sort the climbing prowess of all runners with a seemingly never ending climb back to the finish. Take the time to take in the views on this course. Runners will pass the historic Kedumba Ruins and should the weather behave, capture seldom seen views of the southern side of Mt. Solitary.

In addition this race will be on the Sydney Strider Super Series so an influx of city runners are expected. The team challenge will again be held with the best six times from Running Wild/BMMC -v- Striders members. At least one of the finishing times included must be a female runner.

LONG COURSE RACE 1 – GLENBROOK TRAIL MARATHON
This course was born from a previous ‘fat ass’ run that became too popular for its own good. With the creation of Running Wild, it allowed the opportunity to showcase this course in an official event. On the day there are 3 simultaneous events – 25km, 34km and 42km. All runners will start in Euroka Clearing and climb to Portal Lookout. After turning and descending Mt. Portal, runners will head over to Red Hands Cave Trail. This is a seldom seen/used piece of single trail snaking along Glenbrook Creek. After reaching the caves, runners will tackle a grinding fire trail back to Oaks Trail.  At this point all 25km runners will make a left turn and head for home.

For the 34km and 42km runners, they will make a right turn and head out to Nepean Lookout. This offers spectacular views out to Mulgoa and south towards Warragamba Dam. After turning, runners will return to Pisgah Fire Trail track head. Marathon runners will take Pisgah Trail and run an 8km out/back section. From there both the 34/42km runners will return to Oaks Fire Trail. The last 7km of the course for all runners is a gradual downhill, so keep some energy in your legs!!! After a few kms on Oaks FT, runners will make a right turn and head along Bennetts Ridge Fire Trail before returning to the start /finish area. This is a varied and challenging course, with it being entirely runnable.

In addition this race is on the last weekend before Six Foot Track registration. Both the 34km and 42km courses double as qualifiers for Six Foot Track. Cut times are 4:20 and 5:20 respectively.

MTN RACE 4 – TERRACE FALLS 12KM
This is a new addition to our race series. Runners will start from the old Lawson Golf Club. After negotiating a couple of grassy dog legs, runners will enter some tight single trail for the next 3-4km. Various waterfalls will be visited and a number of crossing made of creeks in the area. Runners will emerge from the single trail and pick up some fire trail to stretch the legs. At the turn point, runners will retrace some of their steps, before returning to Lawson Golf Club.

This course travels through seldom seen trails on the south side of Lawson township. Be mindful of the fact the course is technical in nature and has a number of water crossings. That being said, this is the ideal course to introduce someone to trails of a more technical nature.

MTN RACE 5 – NARROWNECK NIGHT RUN 20KM
What a blast this race was in season 1. From the vantage point at the southern tip of Narrowneck, runners could be seen heading out like fire flies. This is a simple out and back on Narrowneck Plateau. Simple in the sense you cant get lost, but hardly easy. The course has plenty of ups and downs and will surely test your running mettle. The beauty of this run is the late afternoon start and runners are rewarded with a glorious sunset view out over Megalong Valley and south to Kanangra Boyd Nat. Park. The sunset is stunning and an added view is to the left through Jamison Valley. If you thought the views would be gone come night fall, you are wrong. From Narrowneck you can look east and see the Sydney skyline and buildings all lit up. This is a unique opportunity to run with friends in a spectacular piece of safe fire trails in the Blue Mountains.

Note, owing to the limited parking at Narrowneck, a bus shuttle will be operating from Katoomba Swimming Centre. Race registration will be at the pool and runners will travel out from there. Keep this in mind and arrive with plenty of spare time for the start.

MAJOR RACE – KNAPSACK 3HR/6HR LAP RACE
Australia Day is a day for running and our contribution is the Knapsack Lap Race.  The course itself is a 4.55km loop course over challenging terrain in Knapsack Park, Glenbrook.  Runners will be on both single trail and fire trail and visit two lookouts.  There will be the opportunity for runners to enter in both solo and relay categories.  Come dressed in your favourite patriotic clothing and enjoy a unique trail running experience.

MTN RACE 6 – WOODFORD DAM
This series of trails is a hidden treasure up in the Blue Mountains. Whilst locals have run these tracks for a few years, the Woodford Dam area has only recently been formally opened up for recreation. Elevation change will be in the region of 600m.

MAJOR RACE – MT SOLITARY ULTRA 45KM
We have surely saved the best for last. This course excites us all on the committee and rightly so.  In our opinion, this is one of the best mountain/ultra trail courses in Australia. Yes, this is a fairly ambitious claim, but until you have done this course you will never know the joys that can be had all over this course.

Runners start from Queen Victoria Hospital and make a long descent to Kedumba River. The first 5km is uneventful fire trail, before the fun starts. Runners take a single trail for the next 3km and is surely one of the nicest pieces of flowing single trail used in races. After crossing the river, runners will start the 3.5km climb to the eastern col of Mt. Solitary.  This is a brutal climb of over 800 vertical metres over the distance. After reaching the col, the climbing is not over. Runners will traverse the top of Mt. Solitary, but still climbing in elevation to the western side. A rocky descent is made, before the single trail fun starts again. Runners will pass the Ruined Castle and head around towards the Scenic Railway. For this year, it is likely that runners will climb to the top of either Furber Steps or Golden Stairs for the aid station. After refueling, runners will continue along the single trail at the base of the escarpment.  Runners will continue around to Lila Falls, before the trail opens up to fire trail. The crossing of Jamision Valley starts with a descent to both Leura and Jamison Creeks, before a grinding 8km climb back up Kedumba Walls to the start/finish area.

Our Race Terms

  • Refund policy on major races – 50% refund up to 7 days prior to race, then no refunds within 7 days.
  • All runners must be able to complete a half marathon in 2:30.