Course Description – Silvan

Sunday 4 August, 2024

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

The Silvan race is often rated as everyone’s favourite event thanks to the beautiful scenery and sense of satisfaction at the finish line – but it’s not easy running out there so be prepared!.

You should be aware that all courses at Silvan are a little harder than others in the Series! It is not that the terrain is rougher but there are some significant hills that will cause you to change down a gear or two. Don’t be afraid… be prepared and you will love it!

The courses

Long Course: 22km
Medium course: 15.2km
Short Course: 7.5km

The exact course distances may change slightly nearer the time. All the courses at Silvan are designed with the HANDICAP FORMAT in mind, with plenty of passing opportunities and wider trails and dirt roads closer to the finish when everyone comes together.

Course Map

Click Here or the image below for detailed Course Map showing all 3 race distances (provisional).

Course description

Long Course

Length: 22.3km. Elevation gain: 703m ascent Water Pts: 11km pt and 17km pts

The Long Course at Silvan will provide a fitting finale to the 2023 Series with a challenging but oh-so rewarding run through the breath-taking Dandenong Ranges. With 700+m of elevation gain over a mix of single track and double track, this will be an awesome run with several big climbs to conquer amidst the towering Mountain Ash forests. Wow – what a finale.

Medium Course

Length: 15km. Elevation gain: 550m ascent Water Pts: 4km pt and 10km pts

The Medium Course provides a spectacular run through the towering Mountain Ash forests and verdant green valleys the Dandenongs are famous for. Cresting the ridge line at the popular RJ Hamer Arboretum this is one of our favourite courses and provides a great journey for all runners.

Short Course

Length: 7.4km. Elevation gain: 175m ascent Water Pts: no water points on the short course

The Short Course avoids all the major hills of the longer courses whilst still providing a beautiful run through the lower flanks of the Dandenongs. You’ll run along weaving single track, through fern lined valleys and variable flat terrain on a course that anyone can feel confident tackling.

Course marking

Due to the handicap start format, runners in different races will be mixed together at various points on the course eg. long course runners mixed with medium. So it is imperative that all runners TAKE CARE TO FOLLOW THEIR COURSE MARKINGS and especially where the courses split.

The course will be clearly marked with the colours listed below.

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.

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 sharing a narrow trail (especially towards the end) 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.