Entries open for Trail Running Series at Anglesea

THE Trail Running Series will return to Anglesea later in 2023 in a refreshed format, with a range of options and new features on the program as it heads into its 13th year.

First held in 2012, the series aims to make trail running accessible to as many people as possible and continues to be one of Australia’s most popular trail running events.

Entries for the three 2023 races – Plenty Gorge, Anglesea and Silvan – are now open online, with organisers Rapid Ascent inviting all runners to come and escape to the trails this winter.

The Anglesea courses start and finish on the beach and explore a range of coast and hinterland trails.

“From being pioneers into the trail running scene, we want to continue to move with the times: to stay engaged and give runners the races that they want,” Rapid Ascent event director Sam Maffett said.

“Too often we see these sorts of races come and go, but that’s what makes the Trail Running Series stand-out – we are heading into its 13th year and it’s the competitors, supporters and followers that really keep us going,”

Features of the trail include three wilderness locations within an hour’s drive of Melbourne, with each event offering short, medium and long course options including even longer kilometres for die-hard runners.

There are a variety of course options available for different running abilities.

The three-race format will begin with Race 1 in Plenty Gorge near Bundoora on June 4; Race 2 at Anglesea on July 9 with the inclusion of the Friendly 4km; and Race 3 is set for August 6 at Silvan in the Dandenong Ranges.

Competitors will run on little-known trails, down single tracks that pass through scenic landscapes of towering gum trees, trickling creeks, fern-lined valleys and native wildlife – all in a welcoming event environment.

A new super-social handicap format has also been devised for Race 3, where all runners will start at different times according to their pace so that everyone finishes at the same time.

“Standard races mean we all start together but finish spread apart and disparate. Well, we’re turning that on its head at Silvan because we want to finish the Series all together, with all runners descending on the finish line in unison as a true celebration of trail,” Mr Maffett said.

Competitors can enter all three races for a range of series benefits, or choose just the ones that suit them.

For more information on the Trail Running Series, head to TrailRunningSeries.com.au