Mt Crawford Challenge 2017

Results & Photos

Date: Sun, 06 August 2017

Weather update – last updated Sunday 5:30AM – The event is still going ahead. For detailed Mt. Crawford weather updates, click here.

HAVE FUN – All trail runs should be fun. Just because it’s muddy doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yourself. In fact, wet trails are more fun than dry and dusty ones. Remember being a kid playing in the rain and mud? Stop trying to skirt the puddles and charge right through. Get dirty.

GORGE ROAD CLOSED – The SA Transport Department has closed Gorge Rd between Playford Bridge and Torrens Hill Rd due to the continuing wet weather so please find an alternative route to the event if you planning on coming that way. See here for more details.

Source:

Contents

The Mt. Crawford event is the third event in the 2017 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.

The course goes mainly along 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.
Trophies for 1st 3 male & female runners in each event.
Points in the TRSA 2017 Series for all finishers.
5 water stations along the 35 km course, 3 along the 24 km course, and 2 along the 13 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

35 km long course run:
- Before entries close Midday (noon) Friday, August 4, 2017: $32
24 km medium course run:
- Before entries close Midday (noon) Friday, August 4, 2017: $26
13 km short course run/walk:
- Before entries close Midday (noon) Friday, August 4, 2017: $21
- Kids under 15 (must be participating with an adult), before entries close Midday (noon) Friday, August 4, 2017: $12

Random Draw

Trail Running SA members will be eligible for the following random draw prizes. Joining Trail Running SA is easy and costs only $10. Click here for more info.

B3 Massage and Movement: 1 x 30 min massage voucher and 1 x class of choice voucher.
Form Physiotherapy: 2 x Running Fit vouchers.
ioMerino: 4 x $50 vouchers.
The Running Company: 3 x $50 vouchers for use in store on any footwear, packs or GPS watches, and 4 x pairs of lucky dip Salomon shoes.
Groovy Gaiters: 4 x pairs of Groovy Gaiters.
Mojo Kombucha drinks: 1 x mix case (12 bottles) of Mojo Kombucha drinks, valued at $50.
Trail Running SA will be giving away 3x free entry codes to our following event, Mt Hayfield.

David from ioMerino, Sue from Groovy Gaiters, and Mark from Mojo Kombucha drinks will be set up on the day for you to check out their products and buy anything you like the look of. Bring cash for purchases. Toby from Form Physiotherapy will also be there on the day for a chat and advice about all things running.

Carpooling Required

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.

Registration

Head over to the registration page to enter now. Entries close Midday (noon) Friday, August 4, 2017. There will be no race-day registrations. You must register in advance using the link above.

If you’re interested in helping out on the day, or perhaps you have a family member or friend who might like to volunteer, click here.

Cancellations and changes

Please do not contact Trail Running SA requesting a cancellation or change until you have read the procedure for cancelations and changes here. Due to the additional workload placed on our volunteers to process each change or cancellation, there will be a $10 fee plus any price difference for changes or cancellations.

Entries close

Entries close Midday (noon) Friday, August 8, 2017.

Printed bibs

If you want your name printed on your bib then your entry must be received by Midnight, Sunday 30th of July. Your name will be automatically included on your bib if you get your entry in by this date.

Age Categories

Your age category is calculated according to your age as at 1 January 2017.

Camping

Trail Running SA has booked the whole Chalks camp ground from 5 pm Friday till 3pm 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. The race director will be there from Friday evening. To RSVP and let us know you are coming, fill out this form.

Course Map & Cut off times

Course Map

Scroll down to the bottom of this page to see the course maps.

The courses will be marked.

Course Closures

All courses close at 12:10PM, giving the following cutoff paces:

35 km run: closes at 9:17 min/km.
24 km run: closes at 10:28 min/km.
13 km run / walk: closes at 14:41 min/km.

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

Walkers

Welcome! We permit walkers in 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 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.

Start times

35 km run at 7:00 a.m./li>
24 km run at 8:10 a.m.
13 km run/walk at 9:10 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.

Presentations

Presentations will be at 11:30am.

At the race

Bib pickup procedure

Bibs will not be mailed out and will be available for pickup on the morning of 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.

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. For those who forget to bring water containers, soft bottles (at $3.30 each) and small plastic bottles of spring water (at 35c each) will be available for sale at the bib pick-up table.
There will be water, fruit, and Maurice’s delicious brownies, as well as two commercial coffee vans, a food truck and Mojo Kombucha drinks at the race start/finish. Bring cash for coffee, the food truck and Mojo Kombucha drinks as EFT-POS facilities will not be available.

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 in 3 places.

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.

Toilets at the event

There will be portaloos and a single bush toilet at the Chalks Rd camp ground. There are also toilets, with showers, at the Forestry HQ 3.5 kms towards Williamstown, on the north side of the road.

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.

Photos, Videos and Results from last year

Accident Insurance

The organiser of the Event, Trail Running SA, has public liability insurance and volunteer’s insurance cover. This does not include personal accident insurance for competitors. We recommend that you arrange your own personal accident insurance, ambulance cover and income protection insurance before participating in the Event to cover any unforeseen personal costs you may incur due to ambulance trips, medical expenses or time off work due to injuries sustained whilst participating in the Event. For information regarding costs of ambulance or helicopter rescue refer to the SA Ambulance Service website.

The Fine Print

In order to enter a Trail Running SA event you must agree to the Trail Running SA conditions of Entry.

Routes