2024 Trail Running Series - SMITHS GULLY - event program

EVENT PROGRAM

SUNDAY 2ND JUNE

SMITHS GULLY

WELCOME TO THE 2024 TRAIL RUNNING SERIES

We can’t wait to ESCAPE TO THE TRAILS with you as part of our 2024 Series!

We’ve got some great adventures to look forward to over winter as we visit 3 magnificent venues to run through the wilderness together. Trail runners are such a friendly community and each race has a relaxed vibe that makes you feel welcome from the moment you step out of the car. It’s going to be awesome!

Race 1 will be held at beautiful Smiths Gully in the Yarra Valley (we apologise for the late venue change as this was originally intended to be at Plenty Gorge). With a delightful mix of farming and bushland, rolling hills, twisting single track and friendly wildlife, Smiths Gully is the ideal location for the start of the 2024 series.

So dust off the trail running shoes, ready the legs for a few hills and load the car with friends because we’re about to ESCAPE TO THE TRAILS!

The Rapid Ascent Team

EVENT SCHEDULE

SUNDAY 2ND JUNE

7:00 - 8:45am Race Registration (race plate collection)

8:30am START - LONG COURSE (25km)

8:45am START – MEDIUM COURSE (16km)

8:55am START – SHORT COURSE (8km)

10:45am Short and Medium course presentations

12:00pm Long course presentations

LOCATION & CAR PARKING

EVENT CENTRE AND FINISH LINE

Rob Roy Hill Climb centre: 375 Clintons Road, Smiths Gully VIC 3760 [Map Link] (Clintons Road is almost opposite the road into Sugarloaf Reservoir.)

NOTE:Venuechange-not atPlentyGorge!

DRIVING DIRECTIONS: Head out of the city via the Eastern Freeway and up through Templestowe, through Eltham and just before reaching Kangaroo Ground turn right onto the Eltham-Yarra Glen Road. Drive 8.6km east along the Eltham-Yarra Glen Road and then turn left onto Clinton Road. Drive 1.1km north along Clinton Road and then turn right into the venue.

CAR PARKING: There is considerable open space inside the gate for car parking on the grass with 4WDs and All-Wheel Drives parking in one area on the left and 2WDs on the right. Please follow the directions of parking marshals and park sensibly.

ABOUT THE VENUE (IT IS VERY COOL!)

The Rob Roy Hill Climb is a purpose built 695m hill climb race track (for cars!) dating back to 1935 and at the time of its construction was one of only three bitumen surfaced purpose built hill climbs in the world. It is currently leased to the MG Car Club and is still in regular usage. It has been resurfaced and renovated since we last attended.

THE EVENT CENTRE

The following competitor services and facilities will be set up at the Event Centre, making a welcoming environment for everyone to enjoy whether you are running or spectating:

• The start and finish line for all races

• Race registration and information marquee (from 7:00am)

• Displays by a range of sponsors including:

• Skratch Hydration and Nutrition

• Foot Pro retailing shoes, packs and accessories

• Australian Sports Beer giving away a free can of their 0% alc beer for all runners + sales

• Blackmans Brewery bar with free tastings and beer for sale

• Premax skincare for active people - samples and sales

• Beyond physiotherapy providing free massages

• Pro Feet Podiatry consultations

• Event merchandise sales marquee

• First Aid point

• Bag storage area for runners’ clothing during the race

• Live music, MC and commentary at the race finish

• A range of food, coffee and snacks including: The MCG Car Club BBQ and Harrington’s Coffee

COMPETITOR SERVICES @ THE EVENT CENTRE

BEYOND & PROFEET PODIATRY - FREE MASSAGE + PODIATRY ADVICE

Our terrific healthcare partners Beyond and Profeet Podiatry will have a Myotherapist, a Physio and a Podiatrist on hand to help enhance your performance and avoid injuries. They’ll be providing some free massages and injury advice as well as tips on shoes, blisters, socks and more. Stop past and say hi.

FREE 0% BEER

Our long time partners Australian Sports Beer will be providing a free 0% alcohol beer for all runners. If you’ve not tried a 0% beer before or if you developed a taste for it at previous events then come and have a chat to Barry and grab a can for yourself or buy some for home if you like what they do.

FREE TASTER BEER / SELTZER THANKS TO BLACKMANS BREWERY

Blackmans Brewery and Coast Sletzer are back again with an onsite bar providing free tastings and sales of their award winning beers and seltzers. This nationally respected brewery is based in Torquay with additional bars in Ocean Grove and Geelong - and they are trail runners who share our love for the trails. Drop by for a chat / meal / beer anytime.

SKRATCH HYDRATION POINT - NO CUPS!!

There will be a hydration station located in the event expo / finish line area that will have water and Skratch hydration sports drink available – but you must BRING YOUR OWN CUPS OR BOTTLES…

PREMAX SKIN CARE

Our new event partners Premax will be sampling and selling their broad range of performance skin care for active people. All runners will receive a sample of their Anti Friction Balms but make sure you check out their warm up and recovery creams, massage and sun protection products - all made in Melbourne!

KIDS ACTIVITY ZONE

We’ll have a bunch of games set up for kids (of any age) to play with during the morning, including Giant Jenga, Corn Hole and Quoits. “Fun for the whole family!”

BITUMEN IS BORING BACKDROP

We will have our Bitumen is Boring backdrop with a range of fun placard signs for you to hold up and have fun with. Snap a selfie or grab a photo with some friends to create your own unique event photo.

SOCIAL CHILL ZONE + LIVE MUSIC

We’ll set up a social chill zone where you can relax and enjoy your post race vibes with chairs, umbrellas and live music and more. Grab a seat, buy a coffee/food/beer and enjoy life!

BAG STORAGE

We will store your bags and keep an eye over them whilst you’re running. Put all items in a closed bag, attach the tear-off bag tag from the bottom of your number plate and hand the bag to the storage area before your run. All care no responsibility.

BYO CLUB MARQUEE

Groups and clubs are welcome to bring your own marquee to set up near the finish line to create your own race hub. Send us a quick e-mail with the details to events@rapidascent.com.au beforehand then set up your home base and enjoy the scene. (Marquees must be well pegged down and made safe).

PLENTY OF SPOT PRIZES

We’ll be handing out plenty of spot prizes during the race and at presentations so keep an ear out for your race number or prize competitions.

COMPETITOR IDENTIFICATION

COMPETITOR NUMBER PLATE COLLECTION

If you entered:

• before 8:00am Wednesday 15 May your number plate has been posted to you - bring it on the day. You do not need to ‘report in’ or do anything else on race day, just warm up and go!

• If you do not receive your plate in the post before race day then come and see us in the registration marquee and we’ll give you another one.

• after 8:00am Wednesday 15 May you need to collect your number plate on race morning. Please bring your entry confirmation e-mail.

If you received your number plate in the post feel free to come to the registration marquee to collect your free samples of Skratch Hydration Sports Drink and Premax Anti Friction Balm.

FORGOTTEN RACE PLATES - If you forget to bring your number plate there will be a $10 replacement charge. Please see Race Registration.

ON THE DAY ENTRIES - Entries will be accepted on the day at the event. Please enter via your phone and then show the entry confirmation e-mail at race registration.

GOLD

RUNNER HATS (LIMITED TO THE FIRST 350 GOLD RUNNERS)

Hey gold runners - don’t forget to come past the merchandise marquee to collect your new Trail Running Series hats (they look awesome too!)

NUMBER PLATES

• All competitors must race with their number plate attached to the front of their tshirt / top (and not on your shorts or leggings) so it is clearly visible from the front during the race.

• If you have a GOLD race plate and are doing all 3 races in The Series, please KEEP YOUR RACE PLATE to use it for your following races in The Series.

Gold Runners plate Long course series runners Long Course plate

Gold Runners plate Medium course series runners

Gold Runners plate Short course series runners

THE RACE COURSES

All runners will start at the famous Rob Roy Hill Climb venue before completing a scenic loop within the eucalypt bushland and open farming land. The long and medium courses provide some sweeping views across the Yarra Valley and open rural country side and are quite a contrast to the other courses in the series, while the short course condenses all the good bits into a shorter version.

Each course includes a diverse mix of 4wd roads, single tracks and trails over undulating terrain. The single track is technical in parts and includes plenty of twists, turns and rougher sections so watch your footing. All courses include some long hills that and will get your lungs working before an enjoyable descent on the other side. So be prepared and you will love every step.

RACE DISTANCES (all race distances are +/- 500m)

• Long Course: 25km, includes 760m elevation gain / loss

• Medium Course: 15.9km, includes 430m elevation gain / loss

• Short Course: 8.3km, includes 250m elevation gain / loss.

THE START START TIMES:

• 8:30am - Long course

• 8:45am - Medium course

• 8:55am - Short course

STARTING PROCEDURE: All distances will start racing with a single wave start at the times listed above. There is plenty of space for runners to spread out as you head straight up the hill-climb road before you get to the single track.

START LINE LOCATION: The start will be conducted on the sealed ‘race track’ under the permanent start arch on site, approx 100m from the finish line and event centre.

SELF SEEDING: Please place yourself in the start chute according to your honest running ability, with fast runners near the front, recreational runners in the middle and those who are purely here to enjoy yourself towards the back.

WATER POINTS

ON COURSE WATER POINTS: Water points on the course will have water and Skratch sports drink available but you must BYO your own cup or water bottle to drink from.

• Long course: There will be 2 water points on the long course located at the 8.5km, 16.4km pts.

• Medium course: There will be 2 water points on the medium course located at the 7.3km and 15.3km pts.

• Short course: There will be 1 water point on the short course located at the 7.3km pt.

FINISH LINE WATER POINT: There will be a water station at the finish line but you need to BRING YOUR OWN CUP OR WATER BOTTLE and fill it up from the taps provided. See explanation under Competitor Services.

PASSING ETIQUETTE

With a large number of runners sharing a narrow trail there are a few points of common etiquette when it comes to passing another runner. If you are a faster runner who wants to pass a slower runner on a narrow bit of track:

• Let the slower runner know you are there and want to pass. Say something like, “Can I go past when there’s a chance...” or even “Track please” then wait for a wider section of track – don’t barge through

• The slower runner can then say, “OK, go past on the right” or “just up here it’s a bit wider, go there”. But it’s good to acknowledge that you heard them and give direction for when they can go past.

• Only pass if you are legitimately faster. If you’re pushing at 120% to overtake then stay behind for now.

• Slower runners - you don’t have to totally stop when a faster runner comes through, make space but keep trotting along as well.

HEADPHONES

We strongly recommend that runners DO NOT WEAR HEADPHONES and listen to music during the race. This is primarily for your safety, so that other runners and marshals can communicate with you. The courses also pass through some beautiful eucalypt bush land filled with birds and other wildlife that is all part of the trail running experience and if you’re pounding away to music you can’t hear that either!

COURSE MARKING - IMPORTANT!!

The course will be clearly marked with the colours listed below. Note that you need to keep an eye out for and follow the course markings, there will not be marshals every 100m ready to direct you!

LONG COURSE:

• red and/or orange arrows (pegged into the ground and fixed to trees or bushes)

• fluoro pink coloured plastic surveyor’s tape (tied to trees or bushes)

MEDIUM COURSE:

• green arrows (pegged into the ground and fixed to trees or bushes)

• green coloured plastic surveyor’s tape (tied to trees or bushes)

SHORT COURSE:

• blue arrows (pegged into the ground and fixed to trees or bushes)

• aqua blue coloured plastic surveyor’s tape (tied to trees or bushes)

The colours of these course markings match the colour of the race plate for runners in that particular course distance (except Series Entrants who have a GOLD race plate).

TRACK INTERSECTIONS: All track intersections will be clearly marked. Surveyor’s tape will be placed immediately following a track junction to confirm you are on the correct track. Unless otherwise marked or directed, competitors should follow the most major track at all intersections. If there is no arrow at a minor track junction then continue along the major track.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

LONG COURSE - 25KM

SUMMARY: If you look at the course map you’ll see there is a Bushland Loop and a Country Loop. After going up the hill climb at the start, the long course does the Bushland Loop anti-clockwise first, then the Country Loop anti-clockwise and then the Bushland loop again but in a clockwise direction. Then it’s down to the finish line.

DESCRIPTION: Starting up the Rob Roy Hill Climb race track you turn right to complete an 8.5km anticlockwise lap of the Bushland Loop on the twisting single track within One Tree Hill Reserve. This loop follows a range of MTB single tracks through the eucalypt bushland and is classic trail running at its best.

Come past the water point at the top of the hill to then complete an 8km anti-clockwise lap of the Country Loop on a mixture of quiet dirt roads and shared use walking/running tracks through the countryside. This middle section of the course is through open country with clear views across the Yarra Valley and is quite a contrast to the rest of the run.

The course then comes back past the water point at the 16.5km point and where runners return to One Tree Hill Reserve and do a clockwise lap of the 8.5km Bushland Loop. Then it’s back down the Rob Roy racetrack to the finish line. Well done.

Long Course elevation profile

MEDIUM COURSE - 15.9KM

SUMMARY: If you look at the course map - the medium course does the Bushland Loop anti-clockwise first and then the Country Loop anti-clockwise second. (Basically the first 2 sections of the long course).

DESCRIPTION: Starting up the Rob Roy Hill Climb race track, you turn right to complete an 7.3km anticlockwise lap of the Bushland Loop on the twisting single track within One Tree Hill Reserve (taking a couple of short cuts compared to the long course). This loop follows a range of MTB single tracks through the eucalypt bushland and is classic trail running at its best.

Come past the water point at the top of the hill to then complete an 8km anti-clockwise lap of the Country Loop on a mixture of quiet dirt roads and shared use walking/running tracks through the countryside. This section of the course is through open country with clear views across the Yarra Valley and is quite a contrast to the rest of the run. Return back past the water point and then it’s back down the Rob Roy racetrack to the finish line. Well done..

Medium Course elevation profile

SHORT COURSE - 8.3KM

SUMMARY: If you look at the course map - the short course does the Bushland Loop anti-clockwise and returns to the finish. (Basically the first section of the long and medium course).

DESCRIPTION: Starting up the Rob Roy Hill Climb race track, you turn right to complete an 7.3km anticlockwise lap of the Bushland Loop on the twisting single track within One Tree Hill Reserve (taking a couple of short cuts compared to the long course). This loop follows a range of MTB single tracks through the eucalypt bushland and is classic trail running at its best.

Come past the water point and then you’re heading for home, running down the Rob Roy racetrack to the finish line. Well done.

Short Course elevation profile

CATEGORIES & PRIZES

ENTRY CATEGORIES

The following categories will be recognised at each race, categories determined by your age on race day.

• Under 15 Male and Female – Short Course only

• Under 20 Male and Female

• 20-39yrs Male and Female

• 40-49yrs Male and Female

• 50-59yrs Male and Female

• 60-69yrs Male and Female

• 70+yrs Male and Female

RACE MEDALS AND PRIZES

Medals will be presented to 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each category in each race distance.

In 2024 we will be awarding the vast majority of our prizes as spot prizes anyone can win rather than giving them exclusively to race winners.

GOLD RUNNER REQUIREMENTS To receive an overall ranking in the 2024 Series runners must:

• Compete in all 3 races in the 2024 Series, entering either individually for each race, OR be entered as a ‘Gold Runner’

• Runners must compete in the same distance event at each race – eg. all long course events.

• If a runner changes category during the course of the series (i.e. because of a birthday) for the purposes of the series they will be ranked in the category they raced in Race 1).

• Points will be awarded according to your overall place in your category at each race, the runner with the lowest number of points wins

• If points are tied between two or more runners, then the runner with the best result in Race 3 will win.

BITUMEN IS BORING MERCHANDISE

Share the message that ‘Bitumen is Boring’ with our range of branded merchandise that says what we all know is true...!

GOLD RUNNERS please collect your free running cap at race 1 at Smiths Gully.

BITUMEN IS BORING T-SHIRTS $35

TRAIL RUN SERIES

TRAIL RUN SERIES

Running T-shirt

Running T-shirt

Made of a high performance sports fabric by Indigo Wolf these are great for running and all sports. Unisex sizes.

TRAIL RUNNING SERIES

DRAW STRING BAG $10

A handy bag to put your running gear in at the bag drop area...

BITUMEN IS BORING SOCKS $25

These high performance technical running socks are custom made by Geelong based business Steigen. ‘Half’ length, one-sizefits-all with elasticated midfoot and cuff.

RUNNING WAIST BELT $15

A comfortable, light weight waist belt that fits all sizes of mobile phone and your keys.

RUNNING VISOR $20

Adjustable size, sports fabric visor that’s great for running in.

COW BELL $10

Cheer everyone home with a cow bell with lanyard

HEAD TORCH $29

A small but very bright headtorch to keep you on the trails through winter’s darkness. 300lumens, rechargeable, 3 light strengths + SOS strobe.