Lorne ready for Mountain to Surf run

LORNE will once again become a hub of endurance sport next week as the Mountain to Surf fun run returns to the Surf Coast.

Athletes will hit the track on Friday, January 9 for the scenic 8km run, which winds through the Otway Ranges before descending to the Lorne Pier and cliff trail.

The event draws walkers and runners of all ages and abilities and serves as a lead in to the Pier to Pub swim on Saturday, January 10, forming one of the town’s biggest summer sporting weekends.

Entries for Mountain to Surf have now closed, after reaching the race cap of 2,500 participants, marking the fastest sell-out in the event’s history and the first time the limit has been reached since COVID.

Race director Peter Williamson said the event was vital to the Lorne Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) and relied heavily on its volunteer base.

“Our preparations are on track for the run, with a huge amount of work already done by our team of volunteer organisers,” he said.

“The event is entirely volunteer operated and relies on over 300 volunteers, aged between 12 and 80, to ensure a well-marked and patrolled course and athlete safety.

“The event brings together Lorne locals and holidaymakers to appreciate the incredible forest and coastline. All proceeds support the Lorne SLSC and allow it to continue keeping the beaches and coastline safe and promoting water safety to the community.”

Williamson said the event would be enjoyable for amateur runners and walkers, while also delivering strong competition at the elite end of the field.

“This year, Ellie Pashley from Aireys Inlet, who has won the event a few times and ran at the Tokyo Olympics in the marathon, is returning from having a 2nd child in March,” he said.

“She will be challenging two-time defending champ Sarah Klein who ran in the Tokyo World Champs and came second in the Melbourne marathon this year. It should be a great race.”

The first wave of racing will get underway at 8.30am on Friday morning.