Brisbane Trail Marathon
Note: the 2020 event has been cancelled. See the homepage fopr a statement.
TRAQ presents the Brisbane Trail Marathon, incorporating a full 42.2km Marathon and a 24.7km Half Marathon to be run in the iconic, spectacular terrain of the South D’Aguilar National Park.
This epic trail running event will start and finish at Gold Creek Reservoir, Brookfield. An entry point to Brisbane’s momentous trail network.
2019 results here
Race Photos
Registration
Where
Gold Creek Reservoir, Gold Creek Road, Brookfield QLD Australia
Race Start
When
Sunday 2 May 2021 – to be confirmed
Entry Fees and conditions
Participants must be over 18 years of age on the day.
Marathon 42.2 km TRAQ member – $85.00
Marathon 42.2 km non-member – $100.00
Half Marathon 24.7 km event TRAQ member – $60.00
Half Marathon 24.7 km event non-member – $75.00
Refunds are available up to two weeks before the event (less a $20 admin charge).
Event field limit
There is a total field limit of 300 participants for the event.
Race Day
Timing
05:00 – Shuttle bus leaves Brookfield
05:30 – Recommended arrival time to collect bib
05:45 – Race briefing
06:00 – Marathon start
06:15 – Half marathon start
Hydration and Nutrition
You must carry 1.5L for the half marathon and 2.0L for the full marathon.
In addition to water ensure you have your own sports nutrition drink or gels to ensure your nutritional needs are met along the way.
Checkpoints provide water, electrolyte / sports drink, lollies, some fruit, self help first aid kits, and some cola from the 21km/14km mark.
Make sure you do not litter, you can leave rubbish at the checkpoints.
Post Event Catering:
The entry fee includes a BBQ, fruit, cola, water and sports drink to help you replenish and recover afterwards.
Coffee will be available for purchase at the start/finish line.
Getting there
For the safety of the runners and to handle the rather large parking load in the area, we provide a shuttle bus service between Brookfield and the event precinct at the dam wall.
Participants are encouraged to carpool towards Brookfield, and park at the Brookfield Showgrounds.
From there, the shuttle buses will pick up participants supporters bring them back at the end of the event.
There is limited parking along Gold Creek Road and at Gold Creek Reservoir.
TRAQ recommends you park near the Brookfield Showgrounds on Brookfield Rd and take the shuttle bus to Gold Creek Reservoir.
Please be alert for fellow competitors and offer a lift if you have room.
Race Start
Course Details
Both the Marathon and Half Marathons course will traverse open fire-trails, narrow and single trails passing through a diversity of environments, eucalypt woodlands and lush subtropical rainforest. A full range of trail surfaces will provide all levels of trail runners and even road runners a challenge and the experience that is trail running.
Half Marathon
Distance: 24.7km
Total Elevation Gain: 1,000m
Strava Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/4184035 *
Cut-off time: 5 hours 30minutes
The Half Marathon heads away from Gold Creek Reservoir straight up Gold Creek Road to South Boundary Road. Onto Centre Rd as you ascend to Mt Nebo to enjoy the narrow gruelling section of “Hell Hole Break”.
You will also encounter the ascents and descents along the South Western sections of D’Aguilar National Park as you come back to via South Boundary Rd and the Gold Creek Boundary Track. Descending the track the last challenge presents with the course turning to take the Gold Creek Reservoir Track an interesting, varied and challenging single trail through thick bush, coming out at the historic cascading spillway. With a final dash to cross the finish line.
* Please note elevation on Strava maps is incorrect. Elevation taken from competitors in 2018 has been used for total elevation gain figure.
Marathon
Distance: 42.2km
Total Elevation Gain: 2,300m
Strava Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/4313616 *
Cut-off time: 7 hours
The Trail Marathon heads west away from the reservoir for a short distance before turning back to track around the circumference of the reservoir, an interesting, varied and challenging single trail through thick bush, coming out at the historic cascading spillway, run pass your supports adjacent to the dam wall and then its full steam ahead up Gold Creek Road to South Boundary Road. Onto Centre Rd as you ascend to Mt Nebo to enjoy the narrow gruelling section of “Hell Hole Break”.
Once back on South Boundary Rd the vertical elevation of the D’Aguilar National Park begins, just over halfway you pass over the highest point of your run. Turning back south on Augies Rd. Enjoying the ascents and descents of trails, continue to Creek Rd., Gold Creek Boundary Track you will complete the course with a run across the top of the dam wall before running through the finish line.
* Please note elevation on Strava maps is incorrect. Elevation taken from competitors in 2018 has been used for total elevation gain figure.
Checkpoints / Marshals
-
5km (half) / 12km (full)
- Top of Centre Rd / Mt Nebo Rd
-
14km (half) / 21km (full)
- South Boundary Rd / Gold Creek Boundary Track intersection
-
27km (full)
- South Boundary Rd / Augies Rd intersection
-
33km (full)
- Creek Rd and Gold Creek Boundary Track intersection
-
21km (half) / 38 km (full)
- near the stone house on Gold Creek Boundary Track
Marshals will be deployed at various sections of the course to assist with direction and guidance.
Checkpoints will have water, electrolyte / sports drink, lollies, some fruit, self help first aid kits, and some cola from the 21km/14km mark.
Race bib numbers will be checked off at the checkpoints.
There will be no drop bags or support crews permitted at checkpoints.
Water for the marathon will be provided at the 7km mark, when the course comes through the start / finish area before heading out to South Boundary Rd.
A paramedic is stationed at checkpoint 2 at the 21km mark (14km for the half marathon), which is about 150m from checkpoint 4 at the 33km mark.
The 21km point will also have a port-a-loo.
Please note that checkpoint volunteers are allowed to stop you / get you checked out by the paramedic or even retire you from the race, if they think you are not in a good condition to continue.
You may also be retired at the 27km mark of the Trail Marathon if you are behind the pace required to finish before the cut-off time.
General Information and Contacts
There is no further compulsory gear for this event, however it is advised you have with you a compression bandage / wound dressing and mobile phone in case of emergency.
There will be no pacers.
Make sure you are familiar with the course – see the maps.
All finishers will receive a medal.
Toilets are located at the start / finish area and at 21 /14km checkpoint, which is close to the 33km mark.
I hope you will have great fun running in this event, and I’m looking forward see you all at the finish line!
Paul Vennells, Race Director, Brisbane Trail Marathon
Please email me for further race enquiries: events@traq.org.au