SATURDAY 9th MARCH 

MANDATORY ITEMS

YES - there are for the longer runs. 

27km Redwoods Rush
(course mostly flat along an aqueduct. longest distance between aid stations approx 8km)

  • Hydration of 500ml (we recommend 1L) minimum.

  • Mobile phone

  • Wet weather jacket seam sealed ONLY IF ADVISED PRIOR TO RACE DUE TO COLD/WET WEATHER

  • WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND - at least on Snake Bandage similar to this.

27km REDWOODS RUSH

AID STATIONS: 5km, 11km, 20km
ASCENT: 450m (approx)
CUT OFF: 11am @ half way aid station (2.5hrs) / no cut off for finish, expected last finisher 4hr 30min
RECORDS:
MENS // 1:44:31 // John Dutton
WOMENS // 2:08:44 // Erchana Murray-Bartlett

Fast and fun out-and-back to the magnificent and mystical Redwoods Forest.

This one's a blast. A fast blast. So if you're not up for the ultra distance and don't want to be hit by too many hills, this is your beast. It's based on the mostly flat O'Shannassy Aqueduct Trail, which scoots along the northern flank of the Warburton Valley, an old access trail for the aqueduct that used to be the delivery channel for much of water in Melbourne's east. Runners move eastwards towards O'Shannassy Weir, along the northern flank of the Warburton Valley. This is an out-and-back, but the trail is double track (see aerial image below), so there's plenty of passing space, and it is stunning, surrounded as you are by huge mountain ash and quite incredible fern tree walls that rise up to dwarf you at certain bends. It may be flat but it's still pretty wild! The turn around point will be the Redwoods Forest. 

Oh – and you do have to watch the hill at the beginning as we route you up Martyrs Rd, just one of the steepest residential streets in the Southern Hemisphere. It's short, however, and you nail it not long after leaving the Warburton Football Club, having run some sweet single track riverside.

Supporters can drive to the Redwoods Forest via Cement Creek Rd.