3 Sundays. 3 Wilderness Locations. Courses for ALL Running Levels.

2026 Dates and Locations:

DATE	VENUE	DISTANCES	MORE DETAILS
Sunday, 31st May 2026	Blackwood	7.9km / 15.8km / 22km	Details Here
Sunday 5th July 2026	Anglesea	8km / 15km / 28km and Friendly 4km	Details Here
Sunday 2nd August 2026	Silvan	7km / 15km / 22km	Details Here

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Dear fellow trail runner,

We’re sure you’ll agree, there’s something liberating about sneaking out of the city on a crisp morning…

… Venturing into the forests that lie hidden within 90 mins of the CBD…

And charging the trails with an excited gang of runners as you let out a “yahoo” and suck in the fresh mountain air.

(All while most city-dwellers are sleeping their way into hangovers they’ll regret later that day!)

It’s wild.

It’s rebellious.

It’s what life is all about.

And then to celebrate with a post-run coffee and brunch – endorphins flowing – under the winter sun?

Could there be a better way to celebrate the weekend?

We’re pleased to announce the Trail Running Series will be BACK for a 16th year in 2026 – as bright, bold and exciting as ever – with 3 uniquely fun, wild and friendly trail races between May and August.

This year we will return to Blackwood for race 1, slide into the Surf Coast at Anglesea for race 2 and head to the hills of Silvan for race 3. Combine great courses with all the goodness you’ve come to know and love (salt-of-the-earth runners, LIVE music, FREE Beer, massage, and a friendly atmosphere etc etc).

Question is…

Will you hibernating this winter?

Or joining the great trail migration??

If you choose the latter…

WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU THERE!

The Rapid Ascent Team

12,424 HAPPY RUNNERS SINCE 2016 (AND COUNTING)…

Here’s what you’ll LOVE about the series:

🏔️ World-Class Trails – Handpicked routes through mountains, forests & coastal tracks (all within ~90 mins of melbourne).

🔥 Race Atmosphere Like No Other – LIVE Music, barista COFFEE, food trucks for delicious post-race brunch (& more)…

📍 Multiple Distances & Locations – 7-8km short course  /  ~15km medium course  /  22km – 28km long course (perfect for beginners & elite runners alike).

🤗 Super-social handicap format at Silvan (Race 3)

Who’s it for?

New to running?
This is the perfect intro to the trails (with a super supportive “trail fam” to show you the ropes)

Olympic-level elite looking for some winter training?
This will tick your boxes too!

Somewhere in between?
You’ll find a challenging course for any ability and a cohort of legends to run alongside.

Essentially, the Trail Running Series is all about making trail running accessible to and enjoyable for as many people as possible.

All you need is a come-and-try-it attitude and a bit of fitness to get around the course. All races are designed to be fun, scenic and rewarding for all runners with a friendly event atmosphere that is truly welcoming of everyone.