Date: March 23, 2014
Distances: 17km, 10km and Relay
Start Times: 8:00am
Start Location: 17km & Relays - from Queenscliff Station
10km - from Suma Station (Accessible by free train ride leaving at 8am)
Finish Location: Drysdale Railway Station
THE GREAT RAIL RUN - 17km
The Great Rail Run is a 17km course from Queenscliff Railway Station to Drysdale Railway Station along the picturesque Bellarine Rail Trail. The Steam Train starts its journey after the runners begin and goes full steam ahead to beat all participants. The runner's challenge is to beat the train to Drysdale.
If you want to run a shorter distance, then take on the Suma Park 10km Run or The Great Relay Run. All events will be accurately timed and you can catch the train back to Queenscliff once your run is complete.
THE SUMA PARK RUN - 10km (A truly unique event)
Catch the Steam Train from Queenscliff to Suma Station as it chases the 17km runners. At Suma Park Station you will begin the 10km run to Drysdale Station.
Entries are strictly limited to the first 150 registrations. Be quick as this event is sure to sell out fast.
There is NO PARKING or PUBLIC ACCESS at Suma Station so you must catch the train from Queenscliff to the start line.
THE GREAT RELAY RUN
Get a group of three together and take on The Great Relay Run. All runners will be shuttled by coach to their starting points and, on completing their leg, shuttled to the finish line. Visit the TRANSPORT page of this website for details.
First leg: Queenscliff Railway Station to Fellows Road intersection, approx. 4.4km
Second leg: Fellows Road intersection to Swan Bay Road intersection, 7.1km
Third leg: Swan Bay Road intersection to Drysdale Railway Station, 5.5km
There will be no Race Day RELAY Entries available. (We need to know runner numbers to have adequate buses available on the day.)
FREE FAMILY FUN RUN SINGLET
A free Family Fun Run singlet will be given to the first 300 registrations. Singlets can be collected at registration. Singlets are available in the following sizes: S, M, L, XL. Every effort will be made to ensure correct singlet sizes are distributed, however we only have a certain number of each size.
FREE RETURN TRAIN RIDE TO QUEENSCLIFF
The Steam Train will return to Queenscliff after the event is finished. All participants can ride these return trains for FREE. Race numbers must be presented when boarding the train to recieve the FREE fair. Train return times are:
9:45am 12:00 noon 3:45pm
Family members can ride these trains for a discounted fare (Adults $15, Kids $10). Must book in advance through the link on the Transport page of this website. Check out the Transport page of this website for more details.
RACE START WAVES
The start will be staggered to reduce congestion on the run. All run times will be accurately recorded and represent actual run times. Further details of wave start times will be available closer to race day.
COURSE RECORDS
17k Male - Joel Bertoncini 1:05:52 (2013) 17k Female - Natalie Mensch 1:07:59 (2013) The 10km course will run for the first time in 2014.
RACE NUMBER PICK UPS
Race number pick ups (along with singlet pick ups for those who are eligable for them) can be collected at the two times and locations below
Friday March 21 - 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Kids Plus Offices, 163 Myers Street, Geelong
Sunday March 23 - 6:45am - 7:45am
Queenscliff Rail Station hall (Event start line)
DRINKS AND FIRST AID
Safety is the priority of the Great Rail Runs. There will be 5 drink stations positioned on course at approximately 3km, 6km,10km, 12km and at the finish line.
First Aid personnel will be both at the finish line and, for added safety, there will be mobile first aid personnel on bicycles along the course.
We will also have several mobile volunteers on bikes, along the course to assist where needed.
RANDOM PRIZE DRAWS
There will be several major random prize draws in the weeks leading up to the Great Rail Run. To be eligible for these draws you must be registered by the draw date. More detail available soon
BAG STORAGE
There will be bag storage available. Bags will be transported from Queenscliff Station to Drysdale Station for collection after the run is complete. Please ensure no valuable items are left in bags.
PREPARATION AND TRAINING
PLEASE ENSURE YOU ARE WELL HYDRATED PRIOR TO YOUR RUN. YOU SHOULD BE CONFIDENT OF BEING FIT ENOUGH TO FINISH THE EVENT IN A SAFE MANNER.
SUPPORTERS
Supporters are encouraged to be at the start and/or finish of the Run. Supporteds can catch the Train to Drysdale to support their runners.
ROAD CROSSINGS
All road crossings will be manned by a specialist traffic management company. Runners must follow the direction of the traffic managers as the roads will not be closed for the Great Rail Runs.
PETS AND IPODS
Pets are NOT allowed on the Great Rail Runs.
Ipods are allowed, however please play at a volume that does not disturb other runners and a volume you are able to hear course marshals instructions
|
|
Standard Entry (March 1 - 20) |
Race Day Entries |
|
|
Great Rail Run - 17km |
|
$45 |
$55 |
|
Suma Park Run - 10km |
|
$45 |
$55 |
|
Great Relay (per team) |
|
$105 |
No Race day entries |
FIRST 300 ENTRIES WILL RECIEVE A FREE EVENT SINGLET
The Suma Park Run entry fee includes 7km Steam Train ride to the start Line.
The Great Relay Run entry fee includes all bus transport to and from relay points (see transport page)
Important Dates
RACE DAY ENTRIES
Entries will be taken on the day of the event. However, you should arrive early as race day entries close at 7:45am. Race day entries will incur an administration fee (see costs above).
FREE RETURN TRAIN RIDE TO YOUR CAR AT QUEENSCLIFF FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS
Visit the transport page of this website to view all train and bus movement details.
RACE NUMBER PICK UPS
Race number pick ups (along with singlet pick ups for those who are eligable for them) can be collected at the two times and locations below
Friday March 21 - 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Kids Plus Offices, 163 Myers Street, Geelong
Sunday March 23 - 6:45am - 7:45am
Queenscliff Rail Station hall (Event start line)
AGE GROUPS
Junior (6-18yrs), 19-30 yrs, 31-40 yrs, 41-50 yrs, 51+ yrs
The Great Rail Run takes place along the spectacular Bellarine Rail Trail. The Bellarine Rail Trail is flat from Queenscliff to Point Lonsdale and then has a gentle incline to Drysdale. The course is off-road, on a good surface for running, safe, and with spectacular views of the area. All road crossing will be patrolled by professional traffic management services. (IMAGES OF COURSE BELOW MAP)
All runners should be aware that the Rail Trail is a public trail which will NOT be closed for this event, so there is a high likely hood of other runners and bike riders using the trail on the day in either direction
COURSE IMAGES
Below are some images taken out on the Bellarine Rail Trail to give you an idea of the great course on offer.
Kids Plus Foundation is a small charity providing over 3,000 hours of intensive therapy per year, for babies and children with cerebral palsy and other brain injuries across Geelong and the Barwon Region of Victoria.
Kids Plus helps children achieve the daily functional activities the rest of us take for granted: mobility, eating and drinking, communication, self care and play.
The Foundation receives no direct government funding and depends on the generosity and commitment of individuals, community and businesses to provide this essential service.
Cerebral Palsy is the most common physical disability in Australia.
FREE RETURN TRAIN RIDE FROM DRYSDALE TO QUEENSCLIFF FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS.
All participants will be able to ride the train service back to Queenscliff after they have completed this years Great Rail Runs. Passengers must display their race bib on entering the train to recieve this FREE service.
Participants family members can return to Queenscliff on the train at a special concession rate. Further detials on this offer will be available closer to the event date.
TRAIN DEPARTURE TIMES
Depart Drysdale, returning to Queenscliff
9:45am 12:00 noon 3:45pm
RELAY RUNNER SHUTTLES
All relay runners will be transported to their relay changeover points and from their relay leg finishing point to the finish line.
The RELAY BUS will depart from Queenscliff Station at 7:50am SHARP. Both second and third relay runners will need to board the bus at this time.
RELAY BUS SCHEDULE
The schedule below is an estimate of drop off and pick up times.
Depart Queenscliff - 7:50am SHARP
Drop Second Runners at Relay changeover point 1 - 8:05am
Drop Third Runners at Relay changeover point 2 - 8:30am
Collect first Runners from Relay changeover 1 and return them to Drysdale Station - 8:45am
First Shuttle of Second Runners from relay changeover point 2 - 9:15am
The bus will then continue to shuttle runners from Relay changeover 2 to finish line on approximately half hour intervals until all relay runners have completed the second leg.
DISCOUNT RETURN FARES TO QUEENSCLIFF FOR FAMILY MEMBERS.
There will be a discounted fare of $15 for Adults and $10 for children to take the Steam Train back to queenscliff on the day. To recieve this fare, you must book in advance by clicking HERE.
Tickets will be available on race morning for the 8am service from Queenscliff to Drysdale (the race train).
Event results will be available here at the completion of the run on Sunday March 23.
