Course Description – Anglesea

Sunday 7 July, 2024

ANGLESEA EVENT PROGRAM: we strongly encourage all event attendees to read the Event Program which explains the event schedule, parking information and course details. READ IT HERE.

Anglesea’s setting provides for a diverse trail running experience that will really set it apart from the other races in the The Trail Running 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: 29km
Medium course: 16.5km
Short course: 7.5km
Friendly 4km: 4km. 65m elevation gain / loss

NOTE: The exact distances may change slightly as courses are confirmed

Course map

CLICK HERE or on image below to view detailed course maps (provisional).

Course description

Long Course

Length: 28.7km. Elevation gain: 560m ascent Water Pts: 9km pt and 24km 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: 16.5km. Elevation gain: 310m ascent Water Pts: 9km pt and 11.5km 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: 7.5km. Elevation gain: 145m 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 nice and flat before climbing to 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 – CLICK HERE to see a map of the course

All runners start on the beach, running 400m along the sand and then turn right to go uphill on the steep boat ramp beside the Surf Life Saving Club that’ll really get your lungs working! Turn left at the top and continue uphill on the Surf Coast Walk as it climbs above and around the cliffs, pausing to catch your breath and enjoy the views from the lookout at the top.

After the lookout it’s a flowing downhill on a wide gravel track all the way to Pt Roadknight, where you hit the beach and turn left. Take care climbing over rock outcrop part way along the beach (called ‘Soapy Rocks’) as they are very slippery! Continue along the beach below the cliffs, back past the start and then into the river mouth to the finish line on the grass. Well done!

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.

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

All track intersections will be clearly marked and care should be taken to follow the arrows. Surveyor’s tape will be placed immediately following a track junction to confirm you are on the correct track. Track markings on the longer, straighter sections, where there are no other options or intersections will be far more spread out so take your time at the intersections to make sure you are on the right 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. Say something like, “Can I go past when there’s a chance…” or even “Track please” if you’re short of breath. Then wait for a wider section of track – don’t just barge on 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
  • It’s also nice for the faster runner to say, “thank you, keep going” once you’re past – share the love
  • If you are going to pass then make sure you are actually faster, don’t pass if you are pushing 120% effort to get around them and then slow down afterwards
  • Slower runners don’t feel like you need to totally stop and bow down as a faster runner comes through, make space but keep trotting along as well