What a fabulous event! Everything you could ask for – tough, organised, friendly and did I say tough! Great event for families and groups of friends with five races of varying distances over two days. 

It all began with a half marathon in the cold foggy conditions Saturday morning. Thankfully, the fog hid the seemingly endless 21.1km of rolling hills on the journey from Warwick to Yangun. Then a bus ride back to Warwick and just enough time for a quick shower before we were towing toeing the line for the midday 4.6km cross country. 

And a real Cross Country it was in the bushlands at Morgan Park. The final event for Saturday was a 5km Road Race. Starting and finishing at the Sandy Creek Road Pub. If only we didn’t have to get up and run the next day.  

Given what had already been achieved that day (the kilometres covered & the terrain covered - running along a creek bed in sand, jumping logs and combating the mud) I thought the 5km Road Race would be a breeze.  

I couldn’t have been more wrong! The pace was fast and furious with many fresh legged competitors joining in for the 5km.  

Sunday morning came around before I knew it and let me tell you I got out of bed feeling like I could do little more than shuffle the 10km ascent from Kilarney to Queen Mary Falls. As put nicely in the race brochure – a scenic run if you have the energy to take it in. 

The final race of the weekend was a 1500m out and back dash down the main street of Warwick. The first half of the run was the longest 750m of my life. The talk before the race between competitors was “I’m going to run slow” and “I’m too sore to run fast.” Of course when the gun went off it was a different story. Everyone digs in and puts everything they have left into the last 1500m. I was certain the turning point (a statue) was mocking me and moving further off into the distance. The support and atmosphere helped to pick up the sore and sorry pentath run competitors and get them across the line with the children bursting with energy who join in for the last event.   

Definitely a tough event but one I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a race with a difference in the future! 

Jodie Spottiswood