Course Description – Anglesea

EVENT PROGRAM: Please read the Event Program for Race 2 of the Trail Running Series at Anglesea for all the race day info, such as the event schedule, start details, course information, car parking and more. VIEW HERE >>

Sunday 6 July, 2025

Anglesea’s setting provides for a diverse trail running experience that will really set it apart from the other races in The Series due to the coastal, bush and undulating landscape. All races start on the crisp white sand of the Anglesea Main Beach before runners climb away from the coast along a healthy mixture of single tracks and double tracks that sweep through the coastal bushland.

The final descent down the Surf Coast Walk trail provides spectacular views across the clifftops to nearby Point Roadknight and further down the coast to Aireys Inlet, Lorne and beyond and will put a smile on your face for the beautiful places trail running has taken you.

The courses

Long course: 28km
Medium course: 15km
Short course: 8.0km
Friendly 4km: 4.5km

Course changes for 2025:

  • none of the courses go over the hill beside the Surf Life Saving Club at the start – the start will be easier!
  • the courses include more single track and are designed to be less congested towards the end
  • the long course goes all the way to Pt Addis and up the Koori Nature Walk (beautiful!)

Course description

Long Course

Length: 27.6km. Elevation gain: 560m ascent Water Pts: 12.4km pt and 22.4km pts

The Long Course has it all and provides a grand tour of the coastal hinterland… with short sections of beach, cliff top trails, flowing single track and endless views up and down the coast this is one of the most spectacular runs of The Series.

Medium Course

Length: 15.2km. Elevation gain: 310m ascent Water Pt: 10km pts

The medium course provides a beautiful hinterland loop with a few undulations. Commencing with long sections on the Surf Coast Walk the course then explores Ironbark forest on a flowing mix of mountain bike single tracks before a long downhill to the beach and the finish line.

Short Course

Length: 7.9km. Elevation gain: 150m ascent Water Pts: no water points  

The short course provides a great taste of the hinterland and coastal environment in a shorter, more accessible circuit. It starts out flatish before entering a steady but gentle climb with a “sting in the tail” to reach the highpoint with a spectacular lookout providing endless views down the coastline to Lorne and beyond. Finishing with a downhill run to the beach you’ll finish with a smile.

Friendly 4km

Length: 4.5km. Elevation gain: 60m ascent

All runners start on the beach, running 400m along the sand and then turn left at the caravan park to go slightly uphill on the Surfcoast Walk. Traverse the boarwalks and then turn left to head inland through coastal heath before returning on a fast and flowing downhill trail. Return to Anglesea Main Beach, cross the river and sprint for the finish line on the grass. This is a pretty flat, non technical and achievable course for anyone!

NOTE, there are no age group categories. Just male and female, with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd male and female across the line receiving an award.

Finish line sprint

We will record and award a special Finish Line Sprint time for each runner as part of your overall race. The sprint will be over the last 100m – 200m leading into the finish line and allows you to show us how fast you can finish at the end of the race! It’s all in a bit of fun with fastest male and female sprinters will receive a prize thanks to our sponsors!

Course marking

Trail running events are quite different to road running they are not lined with fences or red and white flagging tape and will not have marshals every 100m ready to hand you a drink and direct you where to go every step of the way – you need to keep an eye out for and follow the course markings to make your way around. Keep concentrating and always keep your eyes open and up for course markings, this will make the course very easy to follow and much more interesting.

The following is how the courses will be marked on race day:

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)
  • with white flour arrows marked on the ground

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)
  • with white flour arrows marked on the ground

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)
  • with white flour arrows marked on the ground.

Friendly 4km:

  • 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)
  • with white flour arrows marked on the ground

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.

PASSING ETIQUETTE

With a large number of runners on a narrow trail there are a few points of common etiquette when it comes to passing a runner on the trail that we’d like all participants to be aware of.

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 – call out and don’t barge through
  • The slower runner should respond and advise when it’s safe to overtake.
  • 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.