Race Previews 2022

This Sunday sees the running of the AJL Lifestyle/AJLYamaha Half Marathon Handicap, one of the “blue ribbon” events of the PCCCT – Running Club season.

The 21.1-kilometre event will commence at the Turners Beach football ground and take competitors to West Ulverstone and back using the cycle/walk tracks in the area.

The terrain is mostly flat but the classic distance is a good test of stamina as that flatness usually means faster running rates so care is needed not to go too hard, too early leading to late struggles.

Entries for this event closed on Sunday and a very competitive field of runners will vie for the victory.

Choosing the likely winner is not easy, but based on his run in the recent 25-kilometre Ironman when he finished fifth, Daniel Yaxley will have a second-to-none chance.

Yaxley doesn’t have a lot of starts with the Club, choosing to specialise in the longer events, and he will be very well suited here.

His biggest danger could be Troy Donald who also ran well in the Forth Ironman but has since also displayed great form in the 13.5-kilometre race at Gunns Plains, indicating that he is also well suited to the longer races.

Other strong chances include Emma Howard, Andrew Lucas, Christine Wright and David Murton.

The Salty and Stevo Teams 2 x 10.55-kilometre Half Marathon Handicap will be run in conjunction with the main event with both events starting at 9:30.

There will be a nominated time event at 9:00.

This week’s race is a mix of off road, mountain bike trail, gravel road and asphalt

Runners meet at Dial Regional Sports Complex carpark. Start on main driveway footpath, head south along the driveway and turn right onto footpath that follows Sports Complex Road. Cross the driveway of Athletics Track onto the grassy area. Follow fence line to the dog exercise park and cross Sports Complex Road at the marshalled crossing. Follow Sports Complex Rd on left hand side to where runners enter the mountain bike track immediately prior to the intersection.

The course then follows the track for approximately 1.5 km. This section id mainly uphill. While on the track, cross over the Mountain Bike Club carpark driveway. Continue along the bike track following markings to the Montgomery Road carpark. Turn right and follow Montgomery Road on the right-hand side until it ends at Ironcliffe Road. Turn right onto Ironcliffe Road and staying on the right-hand side follow this road back to Sports Complex Road. Turn right onto Sports Complex Road and cross back over to the left-hand side at the marshal point. Backtrack along the grass area, through the Athletics Track carpark to the Dial Sports Complex driveway. Cross the driveway following the path. Where the path ends adjacent to the Golf Clubhouse continue on the road on the left-hand side down to the intersection with Dial Road. Turn left onto Dial Road and follow this road on the left-hand side back to Recreation Drive. Turn left into and stay on the left of Recreation Drive. Follow this road and finish in front of the Dial Park Community Pavilion.

Safety warnings:
This course takes in 1.5 km of technical uphill track.
On narrow sections of the track be courteous and allow faster runners to pass by stepping to the left of the track.
Trail running shoes are recommended but at a minimum wear shoes to get muddy in as the course will be wet and muddy in sections. Please be careful not to slip.
Recommend runners do not use sunglasses as there are exposed roots and rocks on the track.
This course crosses three carparks (Dial Park, Athletics Track, Montgomery Road carparks) and the mountain bike club driveway. Runners should take due care at all times.

Mountain bike riders have been asked not to use the tracks from 9 until 11 but be aware there may still be bikers there.

The PCCCT – Running Club is heading to Penguin this week for the Zenith Wealth 5.3km handicap.

This will be the second time this course has been used after proving very popular last year. The race will start and finish at the Dial Park sporting complex at Penguin. While the first and final parts of the race will be on sealed roads, there will be a tricky section of trail in the middle part, using mountain bike trails on the Dial Range. This section will provide muddy, difficult footing as well as being quite undulating making it both interesting and challenging.

With the season rapidly coming to a climax, many runners who have been close without winning in recent weeks will be keen to take out the victory.

One who will be perfectly suited by the course is Christine Wright.

Wright has displayed consistent form of late, getting closer to winning as the season has progressed. She had “top ten” finishes in the tough Ironman and again last week at Gunns Plains proving she is very fit.

There is a large group of runners with great chances who are also in contention including Andrew Lucas, Steve Tammens, Darlene Jacques, Gerard Lowry and David Murton.

Entries close at 6pm Friday with the race starting at 9:30am.

There will be a nominated time event at 9am.

Runners are reminded that entries for the half-marathon and teams half-marathon close at 11:59pm on Sunday.

The race commences at Wings Wildlife Park, Winduss Road, Gunns Plains.

The Park would prefer we park up near the private cabins. Reach these by driving up between the café and the toilets. Please do not park in the café carpark nor over any gates.

Most of the race is run on public roads. You are responsible for keeping yourself safe. Watch for traffic on the road and also entering onto the road.

The Course: Exit the park using the left-hand side of the road and run to the junction of Winduss Road with South Riana Road. Turn left, cross carefully to the right side of the road and continue over the bridge to Gunns Plains Road.

Turn right and continue approximately 3.5km until turning right into Marshalls Bridge Road.

Continue over the bridge, and turn right again on reaching Lowana Road. Continue on this road which becomes South Riana Road until reaching Winduss Road again, cross carefully then continue along to re-enter the Park and on to the start/finish.

NB: Please make sure you only cross where there are witches hats and/or marshals.

Gunns Plains is the venue of the “Kevin Burn Memorial” Pathway Therapies/Brown Family 13.5km handicap to be raced over a circuit course taking in both sides of the Leven River and starting at Wings’ Wildlife Park.

The longer distance over a mostly flat course will be a change from recent races but also be a preview for the upcoming half-marathon and Feature Race, both similar events.

The race could see some different winning contenders, as a high cruising speed will be needed, rather than an ability to run hills as in several recent races.

One runner who fits the bill is Darryn Ling. He ran a great second in the tough Ironman Classic two weeks ago before turning on an excellent effort in the teams’ event last Sunday This week’s course will suit him admirably.

The flat course will assist frontmarkers and so another who is sure to be in contention is Chris Talbot who will prove very difficult to run down while Christine Wright has been getting closer to the placings each week and will be well suited here.

Newcomer to the Club, David Riderhoff, has impressed in his three runs to date and could win without surprising.

Others to watch include Emma Howard, Kim Steven, Greg Smith and Gerard Lowry.

Entries close at 6:00pm Friday at www.pccct.org with the race starting at 09:30. New members are always welcome.

A nominated time event will be conducted at 9:00.

This event is a 9am start.

This race is a relay where each team member covers the same 5 km course.  The race chute will serve as the start and finish (transition for runners 1, 2 and 3) for all team members.

The race starts on the grass between the Penguin Surf Club and the coast, and heads east along the new coastal path towards Penguin.  The path continues up over the hill until the first turn opposite Johnson’s Beach.  The course then returns along the same route to the surf club.  From there, runners avoid going through the race chute, instead continuing west along the new path for another 1 km.  The second turn is immediately before Midway Point at Sulphur Creek.  From here, runners return along the path back the surf club and the transition to the next runner.

Due to unforeseen works on the Coastal Pathway in 2022 runners will be required to cross Preservation Drive at approximately 3.2km and again at the same point at approximately 4.8km. This crossing will be manned by two marshals, runners are reminded to cautious and safe when crossing the road.

Each team will be provided with two race numbers only.  The first number is to be worn by runner number 1 and then given to runner 3 prior to the start of their leg.  Similarly, the second number is to be worn by runner 2 and then given to runner 4. 

The coastal path is 3.5m wide.  However, as runners will be travelling along the path in both directions throughout the race, competitors are reminded that they must keep to the left side of the path at all times.  Please overtake slower runners only when safe to do so.

There is limited parking at the Penguin Surf Club and a large number of entrants. Alternate parking is available at Johnson’s Beach, parking at this location offers a 1.5km warm up.

The Club and Sponsor will provide a BBQ after the event, this will not be sufficient as lunch.

PCCCT Race 19

Last year the PCCCT – Running Club introduced handicapped relay events into the season programme for the first time. There was a 4 x 10.55 km team relay run in conjunction with the marathon and then a 2 x 10.55 event run with the half-marathon.

Both of the relay events proved very popular with a good number of teams in each event.

Consequently, the Cub scheduled both relay events again this year (the marathon version has already been run) but, in addition, decided to hold a standalone relay.

This race – the MA & LJ Bates Plumbing Teams 4 x 5km Handicap – will be run this Sunday.

The course will utilise a section of the newly constructed Coastal Pathway at Preservation Bay. Competitors will start and finish at the Penguin Surf Lifesaving Club with each runner heading out-and-back first to the east and then to the west. This format will give great viewing for spectators and team members alike

There are twenty-six teams entered meaning a total of 104 competitors will be involved.

It is impossible to attempt to pick the winning team but some great names have been invented including Girls Gone Rogue, Footy Franks, Fossils and Randoms.

Entries closed last Sunday with the race starting at 9pm this Sunday.

There will be a Club supplied barbecue after the race but there will be no nominated time event this week.

The race starts at 9:00am on Forth Road at Forth.

There are changerooms and toilet facilities at the Forth Football Ground (the meeting place) which is a short walking distance away. The race is over 25km and contains two major hilly sections. As the race is on public roads runners are asked to run with caution and obey any directions from race officials. Runners must run on the righthand side of the road facing oncoming traffic.

Shortly after the start runners turn right onto Wilmot Road, they run about 10 kilometres on Wilmot Road, on the western side of the Forth River, until they are crossed over onto Paloona Road on their left. The race proceeds over the bridge and a hilly section on Paloona Road until Melrose. Here runners turn left onto Bellamy Road.

After about three kilometres there are some major hills which take the runners to Forthside. Runners then turn right onto Forthside Road which leads to Forth Road where runners will be crossed over onto the righthand side of the road. Then it is downhill and over the Forth Bridge turning right into the Forth Football Ground for the finish line.

There will be race officials to cross runners at the start of Paloona Road, where Paloona Road meets Bellamy Road, and where Forthside Road meets Forth Road.

There are two drink stations – one on Paloona Road soon after crossing the bridge, and one near Forthside. There will be two tubs at the Forth Football Ground for runners to deposit named drink bottles (either name or race number) and gels etc. Drinks etc. must be in the tubs by 9:30am as they will be transported to the drink stations at this time. It is strongly recommended runners only take drinks from the designated drink stations.

People following the race in cars are reminded to obey all road rules and be conscious of other road users.

CAUTION: The last part of the race down Forth Road is on road which has very little verge. You are responsible for your safety. Stay on the extreme right and be prepared to move completely off the road if necessary.

A soup luncheon will be served after the race.

The next event for the PCCCT – Running Club is the Troy Atkins Accounting/Wynyard Fitness “Ironman Classic”.

A long-standing event on the calendar, at twenty-five kilometres it is not as long as the marathon, but is considered by many as the toughest run of the year due to a combination of the distance and the hilly terrain covered.

Starting at Forth it takes in a circuit in the Forth Valley comprising Wilmot and Paloona Roads to Melrose and return via Bellamy and Forthside Roads.

The event best suits fit middle or backmarkers who have proven records over these longer distances and there are several who have entered who have great chances.

Jono Cahill is certainly one of those. He specialises in the longer events and is a regular performer in tough triathlons. He ran a great race in the recent challenging ten-kilometre event at Burnie and will be better suited here.

Two runners who finished in front of him there, Gerard Lowry and Josh Febey, will be his main dangers. Lowry is very consistent whilst Febey, who won a race earlier this year, is on the verge of breaking through again as he has further improved.

Kim Steven needs it long and hilly to bring out his best and he will get that here and is ready to show up.

Other top chances include Ben Brockman, Kelly Baxter and Andrew Lucas.

Entries have closed already and the first runner will start at 9:00.

A nominated time event will be held at 9:15.

Course starts at NE corner of Romaine Pond (approx. 100m around from the dam wall).  Runners head north, cross the dam wall and follow the main path in an anticlockwise direction.  Follow the main track until the southern end of the main research area.  At the T-intersection, runners head right (south) along the main track for ~500m.  At this point there is a Y- intersection with a secondary branch to the right of the main track heading north.  Runners turn and follow this track through the cutting and then follow the fenceline single track until it meets the main track at the northern end of the main reserve.  Runners take a 180 turn to the left at this point, rejoining the main track back down and over the dam wall.  This is the end of lap 1.  Laps 2, 3 and 4 all take the same loop, following the main reserve track anticlockwise as before.  At the T-intersection runners head straight for these laps and continue on the main track back to the dam wall.  The finish chute is just to the north of the BBQ facilities on the NW corner of Romaine Pond.

1. Parking is limited in the Romaine carpark.  Therefore, all competitors that are able, are requested to park in Blackwood Parade or Kingsley Avenue.  This is to ensure access to the park area for other users and club members who are travelling with people who have mobility issues and/or small children.
2. When warming up and moving towards the start area, people are reminded that runners may starting their race.  As the main track narrows near the dam wall, please avoid interfering with runners already on course.  If possible, please approach the start area by walking in an anticlockwise direction around the dam.
3. When rain is forecast parts of the course are likely to be damp and muddy underfoot.  However, there will not be any heavy mud sections.  Remind runners to choose footwear accordingly.
4. There are sections of exposed roots along the fence line track that runners need to be wary of.