Before contacting Trail Running SA please take a look at the FAQs below as there is a good chance you’ll find the information you’re looking for. If your question remains unanswered, you’ll find our email address listed at the bottom of the page.
About Trail Running SA
- Trail Running SA is a not for profit and volunteer run organisation that strives to put on very affordable events of the highest standard. Proceeds from our events go straight back into organising better trail running events and building up a strong trail running community. See the About page for more information and the list of current committee members.
Event Information
- Looking for more information on an event: Please check the event page first.
- How do I get my bib? We do not post bibs and they are available for pickup on the morning of the event – you will need to check the event page as there is further important information there on what you need to do on the morning of the event. Safety pins for attachment are supplied.
- How hilly is an event? Included on each event page are maps. Below each map is a graphical hill profile which shows you the location of each of the climbs on the course. Each map also has a “Total Climb” figure above it which gives you an indication of how much climb there is in the course. You can use this figure to compare sub-events with each other, or with other runs you have done. By way of comparison, the well-known Waterfall Gully to Mt. Lofty trail has about 450m of elevation.
- When does an event start? Please check the event page.
- Am I able to walk only instead of run? We welcome participants who are only walking (not running at all) for the shortest distance at an event. This is the ensure that everyone is back in time safely for presentations, course closures and so that our volunteers can go home. If you are not sure you can complete a distance within the cutoff time, it is best to register in a shorter event. Cut off times and required average paces to achieve them are listed on the event page. For reference, standard human walking pace is around 12 min/km.
- Am I able to walk or run in an event with my dog? In general no – dogs are not permitted out on the course alongside runners/walkers. Accredited disability dogs/guide dogs/hearing dogs are permitted as per requirements under state and federal legislation. Social runs have different rules which are covered elsewhere in this FAQ.
- Am I able to bring my dog on leash as a spectator to an event or to a TRSA camp? This depends on the event and the location. Note that some of our events are held on a combination of Forestry SA and National Parks land, and different policies apply to both:
- For Forestry SA areas: “Dogs are welcome in plantation forest areas, provided they are kept under direct control at all times and kept on a leash when in picnic areas or near other forest users or wildlife such as kangaroos. To protect native wildlife, dogs and other pets are not permitted in Native Forest Reserves. Please be aware fox baiting programs are undertaken periodically in Native Forest Reserves as part of regional native wildlife protection programs.”
- For National Parks areas check here to determine if this is permitted, and follow the guidelines that are given.
- Can I use walking/running poles? Yes – but please be considerate to other runners.
- Do you provide finishers medals? No. Winners and place-getters only in each event are awarded a medal (the one exception to this is the Five Peaks ultramarathon distance runners who will receive a medal). The TRSA Committee believes it’s important to put on low-cost, low-waste events, and to focus on enjoying the trails, not on collectible items. There are plenty of other events where one can acquire a finisher’s medal.
Trail Running SA members are eligible for the random draws at each event and membership is only $15. - Is there a minimum age? Our policy is as follows:
- Children 15 or under must be under the supervision of an adult. It is up to the adult how to define what supervision extends to.
- Children under 18 must have an adult present at the event.
- We offer a discount for all children under 15 for all events.
- What do I need to bring to an event? Besides suitable running clothes and shoes, the main things you need to bring are a hydration container and a mobile phone. We supply professional first aid staff at our events and the first aid number is printed on the back of your race bib. Safety pins are supplied for attaching your bib.
- Do I need to print my registration info? There is no need to print anything to come along to an event.
- Can I start my event early or late? You can change your nominated event by following the event change process – see above, however you can’t start an event earlier or later than the designated start time for that event (if you have changed to a new event you need to start at the designated start time for that event). Starting at the wrong time could inadvertently cause you to be recorded in the wrong event – we may even think you have won an event, causing us significant grief. In emergency or safety related circumstances we need to know when you started and which course you are doing. We can’t make exceptions to this by manually starting you earlier – sorry.
- What happens when the course is closed? At the course closure pace the course is closed down – we remove timing points, trail marking and aid stations. We have a sweeper that runs the course at the estimated course closure pace to ensure there are no runners remaining on the course. This is due to respecting our course timing provider and our generous volunteers, by allowing them to finish their duties in a timely manner. It is also due for concern for the safety of our entrants – a participant that is attempting a course that is well beyond their ability to keep to the pace is putting themselves at risk of injury.
An entrant that is going well below the cut-off pace will be asked to make their way to the nearest aid station until they can be safely transported to the start/finish, and their number will be recorded as a DNF.
We strongly recommend that you check the course closure paces for the event and make sure that they match your ability. Usually the shorter distances have very generous paces so they are a good starting point if you are unsure. - Will the event or social run be cancelled if the weather is poor? We may cancel or modify an event, or an organised social run, if, by 16.00 hours the previous day, BOM predicts a maximum temperature for the area in question of 38 degrees or higher, or if the CFS declares that there is extreme or catastrophic fire danger, or if BOM warns of severe weather conditions, which may include flooding, gales, lightning or hail storms. Note that national parks are in any case closed during days of catastrophic fire danger (by the CFS definition), while Forestry SA land is closed on all days of total fire bans. Entrants to TRSA events will be informed of cancellation or change of an event by email, and by an announcements on the TRSA Facebook page and the TRSA website. For more information on fire warnings and weather warnings – go to our Resources page here.
- Can I wear headphones: Headphones are permitted but strongly discouraged – trail running events are generally very social. For your safety and others, you need to be highly aware of your surroundings, listen to warnings and essential instructions.
- What course marking should I look out for? Paid Trail Running SA events always feature 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.
As opposed to events, Trail Running SA social runs are often not marked – check the web page for that social run for more information. - What are the requirements for eligibility in the random draw? To be eligible for the random draw, you must be
- A current TRSA member as of the day of the event (the membership year ends 31st of December so make sure that you have renewed for the current year!),
- Present and competing in the event, and
- Present during the presentations/random prize draw. We read names out quite quickly and move on to the next person in the random list if the prize is not claimed so make sure that you are attentive during this time! (members that we know are still out on course, within cutoff times, will have items held for them until they can collect them)
- When is the event email briefing sent? We usually send an email briefing on the Friday afternoon before each event.
The Trail Running SA Series
- I’m looking for information on the series, including rules, points calculations and age calculation dates: Check out the 2023 series page, here.
Volunteering
- If you would like to volunteer: Check out the volunteering page, here.
- If you are a volunteer for an event and need to contact us: email [email protected].
Social Runs
- Our social runs are on Tuesday evenings and Thursday mornings. These are announced the day before on the TRSA Facebook page. To stay up to date, please follow us on Facebook.
- Do I need to register for a social run? No. They are casual and free of charge.
- Do I need to be a member to attend a social run? No (although membership is only $15 per year and comes with loads of benefits – see here.)
- I would like to attend a social event for the first time. What should I do? Just rock up. Make yourself known to the organiser who will try to put you in touch with someone else your pace.
- Are social runs supported? Social runs are unsupported – unlike an event there is no timing, no first aid, no aid stations, and no facilities beyond what the park already provides. You are expected to carry food, water, basic first aid, to look after each other apply common sense at all times.
- Am I able to bring my dog on leash to a social run? This depends on the social run and the location – see the information on Forestry SA areas here and National Parks areas here to determine if this is permitted, and follow the guidelines that are given.
- How do I download the map into the Guru app? Check the Routes page. Above the map list on the page are instructions on how to download the maps and gpx files.
Race Competition Rules
- For the Race Competition Rules click here
Querying the results/timing of an event or series scores
- Not completing an event: If you do not complete the event that you nominated your entry will be classed as a DNF.
- My age category is incorrect: Age categories are calculated as of the 1st of January. This is so that we can keep you in the same age category throughout the series.
- Timing / Query about the results of an event? Click here to submit a query.
- Errors in the results: Click here to submit a query.
- Error in series score: Click here to submit a query.
- Please note we aim to have final results posted by the Wednesday after the event.
If you have a question that our community could answer – try asking in the Trail Running SA Lounge on Facebook.
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If you have not found the answer to your question and need to contact us please email: