Runners headed to Blackwood for trail series

HUNDREDS of runners are getting set to go and participate in the returning Rapid Ascent trail event at Blackwood later this month.

The first of three trail runs is part of an annual series that has been taking place for 16 years and was staged at Blackwood for the first time in 2025.

Race director with Rapid Ascent, John Jacoby, said the Blackwood inclusion was well received by runners last year, so the three different courses that featured then will be back again on Sunday 31 May.

Based in Torquay, Rapid Ascent is a small company that specialises in staging outdoor endurance events and this series also offers runs at Anglesea in July and at Silvan in the Dandenongs in August.

The distances vary slightly between each event in the series but those on offer at Blackwood include 22km, 15.8km and 7.9km runs.

“We’re expecting around 700 runners and it’s pretty evenly split across the three different distances,” Jacoby said.

“We’ve already got about 300 to 400 registered now.”

While runners can register on site on the day, Jacoby said it’s far more advisable to register online beforehand through Rapid Ascent’s Trail Running series site, as event weekend is busy, to the benefit of local businesses.

Jacoby said the Blackwood courses offer ideal trail running experiences, combining forest and bushland tracks with sections beside the Lerderderg River, historic aqueduct trails and some gnarly ascents on the longer course.

“They were really well received by the runners last year. It was Fantastic. We loved it,” he said.

“We used the Blackwood Recreation Reserve as headquarters. It is a superb location, and everyone enjoyed it.

“Last year we involved quite a few of the locals and they helped with food stalls down at the rec reserve and with coffee and the barbecue which was great.

“I think the town was super busy on the Sunday morning. It’s a really friendly event and it’s not all full of elite runners by any manner of means.”