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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.