2009 BUSH CAPITAL BUSH MARATHON FESTIVAL NEWSLETTER No. 2

ENTRANTS

The number of entrants is climbing towards 300. The event website is http://www.mountainrunning.coolrunning.com.au/events/bmarathon

A listing of pre-entered competitors to date can be found by clicking on the online entry button.

A race highlight this year will that American attorney Edwin (Win) Apel has run a marathon on 6 continents and if he finishes the Bush Marathon will be completing his 7th marathon on his final continent (Australia). He has also run a marathon, or longer, in every one of the 50 states in the USA. He has a personal best of 4:41:18 and his most memorable marathon was in Antarctica on 26/2/2005. You can read about his marathons on http://www.winapel.com/

The race favourite for the marathon is outstanding long distance trail runner Alex Matthews, a medical student who finished 3^rd in this year's Six Foot Track 45 kms in 3 hrs 24 mins and who should give the Bush Marathon course record a big shake. Kelley Flood, 2^nd in 2008, is race favourite this year. Former world rogaining champions David Baldwin and Julie Quinn are notable starters in the 60 kms, together with Lachlan Fraser from Victoria who finished 3^rd last year before losing all his possessions in the Canberra bushfires. A replacement trophy will be presented to Lachlan at the start. 2008 marathon runner-up Peter Johnson is having a crack at the 60 kms this year, while another dark horse is Damian Smith from the South Coast.

The 25 km run features Colleen Middleton from Albury and Isobel Bespalov from Melbourne who are representing Australia at the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championship on 10 October in Austria. Two other representatives in this championship, Angela Bateup and Vanessa Haverd, are running the 10 kms after managing drink stations earlier in the day. Angela, from Yass, finished 3^rd in the world championship last year. Notable starters in the 16 kms include pre-race favourite, Laurie Cullen, a local horticulturalist from Ainslie well known for burning up the trails around the mountain, and Cullen's training partner Richard Faulks, a local law firm director who was one of the leading finishers last year. Statistician Louise Gates from Ainslie is the fastest of last year's finishers backing up this year.

CHEST NUMBERS

Chest numbers have been mailed out. When you finish, make sure your chest number, name and distance completed recorded, then take the chest number to the registration tent and collect your race mug.

WEATHER

The current forecast is

Thursday     Mostly fine.                      Min 3    Max 11

Friday       Fine.                             Min 1    Max 12

Saturday     Fine.                             Min -1    Max 13

In Canberra a minus one minimum and a maximum of 13 means a cool, still start to the day turning into a beautiful, sunny day. These are the conditions we have enjoyed in previous years. Early starters are encouraged to wear a beanie and gloves to stay warm. Please label these so you can drop them off at drink stations later in the races if needed.

REFRESHMENT STATIONS

At the refreshment stations (see the map on the website) there will be water, Gatorade sports drink, lollies such as jubes, jelly babies and jelly beans, and fruit cake (mainly for sustenance for the longer distances).

PARKING ON RACE DAY

We don't want to upset the War Memorial by filling up their car park which can be busy on a Saturday with visitors to the Memorial. Preferably park in the Campbell High School car park, in Treloar Cres or in Euree Street, Reid at Reid Oval.

TOILET AND SHOWER FACILITIES

There are male and female change rooms with toilets and showers for the Campbell High school gymnasium, located diagonally across the sports fields from the start/finish area at the corner of Treloar Crescent and Limestone Avenue. You can leave gear in the gym while the race is on; a security officer is on duty all day. There will also be 3 portaloos near the registration tent.

CAMPBELL HIGH SCHOOL SECURITY SYSTEM

We only have access to the gym area and change rooms. All other areas of the school have security alarm sensors on. Please don't set the alarm off by walking next to the school buildings.

SPORTS MEDICINE SUPPORT

There will be two Sports Medicine ACT trainers who can provide assistance to anyone who suffers an injury during the event.

COURSE CHANGES SINCE 2008

Courses are the same as in 2008 except for the marathon and 60 km ultra. Within Mulligans Flat nature reserve an 11km long, very high, predator-proof fence has been constructed to keep out feral animals and to allow rare and endangered animals to be re-introduced and protected. The fence has 20 gates which can be opened and shut by runners. However, to avoid the high fence and the gates altogether the course will now run through the reserve only along the northern boundary fence 4WD trail. The marathon turn will be 1.7 kms along this trail in Mulligans Flat reserve. Ultra runners doing the 60k will follow the trail until it meets the Bicentennial National Trail at Gundaroo Road. Runners will run north along Gundaroo Road (bitumen surface) for 3.7 kms then turn left into Tallaganda Road (dirt) and run 2 kms to the turnaround drink station. They will then retrace their steps back to Mulligans Flat reserve. See the map on the website.

CHANGING YOUR RACE DISTANCE

If you find on race day that you are not having a good day, you can change to a shorter distance (eg. from 25k to 16k, or 60k to marathon) but you MUST inform the race recorder as you cross the finish line of the correct distance completed.

PRESENTATIONS

Trophies will be awarded to the first, second and third fastest males and females in each running race. Presentations of these will be done as soon as all competitors finish each race. If a placegetter cannot wait this long, please see the race organisers to collect your trophy before you depart.

WEDNESDAY TO FRIDAY BEFORE RACE DAY

I will be out on the course for most of the last few days before race day ensuring it is fully marked with arrows, kilometre signs etc. And each evening until late doing last minute liaison with helpers, updating the race day entry lists, packing gear etc. So please avoid phoning or emailing queries during this period unless absolutely necessary. Detailed event information is on the website:

HELPERS

We are still looking for extra helpers in the start/finish area, so if you have a spouse/friend who would like to help out while waiting for you to come in, please contact me on hackettrunner at hotmail.com

BUSH CAPTAL BUSH MARATHON FESTIVAL RUNNING RACE RECORDS

NEXT EVENTS

Keep in mind our next major events which have both run and bush walk options: Orroral Valley Classic (18 October), Mt Majura Vineyard events (7 November), Deep Space Mountain Marathon events (22 November) and Tour de Mountain (20 December).

John Harding
Race Director