steven burdett

Date: Sun, 09 September 2018

The Mt. Crawford Challenge is the fourth race in the 2018 TRSA Series, although you don’t need to be a series competitor to enter – all are welcome. For more information on the series, click here.

This year we’re offering 4 courses, with the extra-long course being worth more series points than any other race in the series. The courses run on broad tracks through native woodlands and pine plantations. One section has splendid views over surrounding country, and another goes along a boardwalk through a swamp. The longer courses also take in the beautiful Watts Gully native forest reserve and Warren Conservation park.

Features

Magnificent scenery, beautifully designed and constructed trails, kangaroos, koalas, birds.
Medals for 1st 3 male & female runners in each event.
Points in the TRSA 2018 Series for all finishers.
5 water stations along the 33 km course, 3 along the 23 km course, 2 along the 16 km course, and 1 along the 7 km course.
Random draw prizes.
A free camping option, should you wish to stay the night before. For more information and to RSVP see the camping section below.

Cost

Earlybird entry before midnight Sunday, 26th of August 2018
- 33 km run: $29
- 23 km run: $26
- 16 km run: $21
- 7 km run/walk: $17
Before bibs are printed midnight Sunday, 2nd of September 2018
- 33 km run: $36
- 23 km run: $33
- 16 km run: $28
- 7 km run/walk: $24
Before entries close Midday (noon) Friday, 7th of September 2018
- 33 km run: $39
- 23 km run: $36
- 16 km run: $31
- 7 km run/walk: $27
Kids under 15 (must be participating with an adult) – 7km only: $12. For Trail Running SA’s policy for under 18’s click here.

Random Draw & Presentations

Presentations & random draw will be at 11:20AM. Trail Running SA members will be eligible for the following random draw prizes. Joining Trail Running SA is easy and costs only $10.

More information on random draw prizes coming soon!

Click here for more information on eligibility and rules for the random draw.

Start times

33 km run at 7:00 a.m.
23 km run at 8:00 a.m.
16 km run at 9:00 a.m.
7 km run/walk at 9:45 a.m.

We have booked out the entire campsite for exclusive use so if you would like to camp the night before it is free for entrants, their friends and families.

Carpooling Required

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We require carpooling (minimum 2 per vehicle, ideally 3 or 4) for this event wherever possible in order to minimise congestion and parking issues around the venue start area. For most people, this means coming to the event with some friends or colleagues. If you can’t find someone to carpool with, we suggest posting to the Trail Running SA Lounge on Facebook to link up with others.

Parking at the event

Parking marshals will direct you where to park. Please follow their instructions as we are not allowed to park cars in certain areas. The earlier you arrive, the closer your park will be to the start/finish area. Entry will be from Chalks Road only and exit from Forties Road only. Please do not park on Warren Road.

TRSA 2018 Series Bonus Round!

Mt. Crawford is the only event in the series with an extra-long course, making it a 4 point race. For more details head to the Series page.

Trail Running SA Sponsors

Many thanks to our sponsors for their support and generous contributions to the random draw prize pool: Form Physiotherapy, Suunto, ioMerino, b3 massage & movement, Salomon, Groovy Gaitors and The Running Company.

Media

Key dates

Your age category is calculated according to your age as at 1st January 2018.

Cancellations and changes

Please do not contact Trail Running SA requesting a cancellation or change until you have read the procedure for cancellations and changes here. There is a $10 fee plus any price difference for changes or cancellations.

The Trail Running SA team & how to volunteer

Key volunteer roles for this event:

Race Director: Steve
Assistant Race Director 1: Maurice
Assistant Race Director 2: Linna
Race Referee: Steve
Safety coordinator: Pauline

We rely on a volunteer committee of 18 members and countless volunteers on the day to put on each event, so please put your hand up to help keep these events going. To volunteer for this event, please click here and complete the form. All assistance is welcome. Thanks!

Merchandise

Trail Running SA has a range of merchandise available via the online store. You can order online for pickup at the event. There will also be limited stock available at the event.

Camping

Trail Running SA has booked the whole Chalks camp ground on Saturday and Sunday, and there will be plenty of room. There is no charge to entrants, their families and friends. Cars can be parked next to tents and some people have asked if they can sleep in their vehicle – this is OK too. Please note that fires are only allowed within designated fire pits. There will be a communal fire at the start/finish area. The race director (Steve) will be there from Saturday after lunch. To RSVP and let us know you are coming, fill out this form.

Free Kids T-shirt!

Kids under 15 that camp on Saturday night and have entered to run or walk on Sunday can order a free Tee! Simply enter them in the race, fill out this form to let us know who’s camping, then head over to our merch page and order a “Free tee for kids camping at Mt Crawford!”. Use the code CAMPTEE at the checkout. If you wish to buy other merch to be picked up at Mt Crawford, please do this in a separate order and use the code PICKUPEVENT at the checkout to remove the shipping cost. Free kids tees will be only be available at the campground on Saturday.

Course Map & Closures

Course Map

Course maps are at the bottom of this page. The courses will be marked.

Presentations

Presentations will be at 11:00 am.

Course Closures

Our policy and methodology for determining course closure times is here.

All courses close at 11:50 PM, giving the following cutoff paces:

33 km run: closes at 8:54 min/km.
23 km run: closes at 9:51 min/km.
16 km run: closes at 10:32 min/km.
7 km run / walk: closes at 17:06min/km

Walkers

Welcome! We permit walkers into the shortest distance only. This is to ensure that everyone is back safely and accounted for in time for presentations. Although we ask during registration whether you are walking or running, we don’t time the walking event separately to the running event. You can run if you like too.

If you are a slower runner doing the longer distances, check the cutoff paces above.

Start/Finish Location

The start and finish of the loop are at Chalks Rd camp ground, which is clearly signposted on the western side of Warren Rd (which is the Birdwood to Williamstown road), 10.5 kms from Birdwood Town Centre and 11 kms from Williamstown. Click here for google maps directions.

Getting there

The easy way:
- Click this link; or
- Paste the following into google maps on your smartphone:
  - -34.739221, 138.961425
Written Directions:
- Probably the easiest route for most people is via North-East Rd past Tea Tree Plaza, and then through Inglewood and Gumeracha along the Torrens Valley Scenic Rd. At the eastern end of Gumeracha, turn left (northwards, signposted to Forreston) into Randell Terrace which becomes Forreston Rd. Go for 11 kms from this turnoff, turn left at junction with Warren Rd, and a few hundred metres further on, you reach the signpost to Chalks Rd camping ground on the left. .Allow 40 minutes for this route from Tea Tree Plaza.
- Or you could go along Gorge Rd, and after about 18 kms from Athelstone shopping centre, take the turning to the left signposted Williamstown. After another 2 kms turn right into the Torrens Valley Scenic Rd to Gumeracha; then proceed as above, through Gumeracha.
- If you get there via the South Eastern Freeway, take the turnoff signposted Woodside to the left, and continue for 31 kms until you come to the turnoff to the left signposted Birdwood Town Centre. Take this, and go through Birdwood. The turnoff to the the right to Williamstown is one km after the centre, and the Chalks Rd camping ground is signposted 10.5 kms further on the left, about one km north of the junction of Warren Rd with Forreston Rd and one km south of the junction with Cricks Mill Rd (signposted Mt Pleasant). Allow one hour for the whole journey from the start of the Freeway (at the junction with Cross Rd and Portrush Rd) to Chalks Rd camp ground.

Toilets on the way

To avoid long queues at the portaloos when you get there, please use a public toilet on the way. There are public toilets in Birdwood, Gumeracha, Mt Pleasant and Williamstown.

Mandatory gear

Bring your own bottle belt or hydration pack – there are no cups of water at the drink stations.
Mobile phone.

At the race

Bag drop

There will be a bag drop tent. It will be unsecured and not supervised – bags are left at own risk. Don’t leave valuables at the bag drop tent.

Bib pickup procedure

Bibs will not be mailed out and will be available for pickup at the event. Please allow sufficient time to pick up your bib with chip attached. We recommend arriving 30 minutes to 1 hour prior to the event start time in order to allow plenty of time to pick up your bib. You may need to park a few minutes walk from the start so please allow sufficient time to walk there.

TRSA is using state of the art electronic timing at its events for safety as well as to provide speedy and accurate results. After you have entered online and checked that all information provided is correct, there are 3 steps that you need to follow on arrival:

On event day go straight to the “ENTRY DETAILS” display boards. All entrants will be listed and sorted by surname. Find your name. Check that your entry details are still correct, especially the race and category you have entered. Remember your race number and start time.
Go to the “RACE NUMBER BIBS” baskets (all numbers are filed numerically). Find your race number and take it out.
If any of your entry details are wrong eg your name, category or gender, or you are changing races, proceed to the “REGISTRATION MANAGER” area.

Chip timing procedure

Entrants must make sure the data that timers have is correct, so must follow these basic procedures:

A timing tag linked to you and your race number will be stuck to the back of your race number bib.
Attach the bib at waist height to the outside front of whatever top you will be wearing at all timing points. Do not bend or fold the tag or tamper with it.
Your time and number are recorded when you pass through a timing point provided your race number bib is visible. Covering it with clothing or your hands as you operate a watch will prevent it recording.
If there are several starts for different races, make sure you start at the correct time.
Run or walk over the start/finish timing mat at your start time. This lets officials know you are on the course.
When you cross the finish timing point, walk & stay in order in the finish chute until you are past the backup cameras.
Race number bibs are disposable & do not need to be returned.
If you cut the course short (for example by skipping a lap, or taking a shortcut), do not cross over the mat as we may inadvertently think you have won the race. If you do not complete your course you must return your bib to the timing van near the end of the finish chute.
If you lose your race number bib during the race you must go to the timing van near the end of the finish chute as soon as you cross the finish timing mat.
Officials will phone and search for anyone who has a start time but no finish time, so it is vital you do not use someone else’s number and you go over the timing mat so your start and finish are recorded.

Be careful

Beware of slippery patches on the tracks. Bare, packed, earth covered by green moss may be very slippery. Carry your phone on you when running as it could be critical if you get lost or injured.

Course Marking

The signs to look out for:

Red arrows at turnoffs.
Red-and-white ribbons to confirm that you’re on the right track.
Wrong way signs where needed.
Course divergence signs where needed.

The red-and-white striped ribbons will be placed at frequent intervals (200-400m) to confirm that you are on the right track. Wherever you need to turn off, there will be an arrow sign. If you stop seeing any signs, turn back. Do not carry on and get yourself even more lost. All runners are expected to carry a mobile phone.

Drink station and refreshments

Bring your own bottle belts or hydration packs (camelbaks), because there will be no cups of water at the drink stations.

There will be water, fruit, crisps and Maurice’s delicious brownies. John from The Coffee Run will be there to with his usual coffee van, offering a 50c discount if you bring your own cup. Please bring cash as EFTPOS facilities won’t be available on the day.

New to Trail Running SA

Welcome! Our frequently asked questions page has a bunch more information about what to expect and how we operate so please take a look there, and reach out if you have any more questions.