Summary.  The Terrigal Trotters running club is organizing two simultaneous long-distance foot races, a 100 Mile and a 100 Kilometre, along the course of The Great North Walk from Teralba on Lake Macquarie in the north to Patonga on Broken Bay in the south (the 100 kilometre race will finish at Yarramalong).  The Event was held for the first time in 2005 and has proved to be a tough but rewarding challenge.  In 2008, of the 40 Runners who started the 100 Mile race, 28 managed to finish, with first place going to Joel Mackay of Sydney in a time of 26 hours and 31 minutes.  Ewan Horsburgh of Sydney was first of the 39 starters in the 100 Kilometre event in a new record time of 12 hours and 21 minutes.

Date.  The 2009 Race will start at 6:00am on Saturday, 14 November 2009, and finish by 6:00pm on Sunday, 15 November 2009, a time limit of 36 hours.  There will be a time limit of 22 hours for the 100 Kilometre event.  On this weekend, the sun rises at 5:45am and sets at 7:33pm. A new moon will rise at 4:11am and set at 6:08pm.

Course.  The course has been measured using a GPS device and detailed course information is available which includes route, distances, facilities, checkpoints, vehicle access, etc.  The Great North Walk is marked with permanent signs at intersections/turns throughout its length and no additional marking will be provided for the race.

Checkpoint	Location	Dist.	Cum. Dist.	First Runner Time	Cut-Off Time
Start	Tulkaba Park, Teralba	0.0	0.0	06:00am	06:00am
CP1	Old Watagan Forestry HQ (Watagan Camping Area)	28.6	28.6	09:00am	12:00am
CP2	Congewai Public School	23.9	52.5	11:00am	05:00pm
CP3	The Basin Campsite	29.1	81.7	03:00pm	11:00pm
CP4/Finish 100km	Yarramalong Public School	22.1	103.7	06:00pm	04:00am
CP5	Somersby Public School	28.2	131.9	10:30pm	10:00am
CP6	Mooney Mooney Creek Bridge on Pacific Highway	17.4	149.3	00:30am	01:00pm
Water Station (not CP)	Staples Look Out Road Jct	11.5	160.8	02:30am	03:00pm
Finish 100ml	Patonga Wharf, Patonga	13.9	174.7	05:00am	06:00pm

Entrants.  There were 80 starters in 2008, up from 60 starters for the 2007 Event.  The Race has continued to receive very positive reviews and publicity and numbers are expected to again increase significantly for the 2009 Event.  For planning purposes, we are expecting to reach our maximum number of 100 Entrants.  All Entrants must be 18 or over and have pre-qualified by having run a verifiable marathon in better than 4:30 in the preceding three years, or an equivalent performance over a greater distance.  They will be bluntly warned about the toughness of the course, the risks of the race and their responsibility for looking after themselves during the race, including navigation, particularly at night.  Entrants will be required to carry maps, lights, mobile phones and specified safety equipment.  There will be categories for Open, 40+, 50+ and 60+ age groups for both Men and Women.

Entry Fee.  This is a non-profit community Event and the Entry Fee is set with a view to covering costs.  The fees will be $150 for the 100 Mile race and $125 for the 100 Kilometre race.  The Closing Date for Entries will be 31 October 2009.

Prizes.  Medals and Certificates will be provided to all finishers.

Sponsorship.  We are planning to seek sponsorship for the Event, and would be willing to offer naming rights, in return for sufficient backing.  We don’t yet have anyone in mind, but would aim to cover at least the cost of some prizes and maybe T-Shirts.

Publicity.  We have placed preliminary advertisements for the event in Race Calendars on internet web sites for runners in Australia and the US, and have already generated significant interest in the Australian running community and some interest from overseas athletes.  Previous years’ events received broad publicity on local radio stations.

Medical.  Qualified medical staff with transport will be on duty for the duration of the event.  Some First Aid capability will be available at all Checkpoints along with the means to access emergency medical personnel (see Communications section).

Race Communications.  Hunter Wireless Institute Communications Emergency Network (WICEN) provides communications support at all Checkpoints.  Although some Checkpoints will not be within mobile phone range, phone coverage can be accessed at higher elevations within a short driving distance of these Checkpoints.  All race officials will carry mobile phones and have phone lists that include the numbers of organizers, other checkpoints, Support Crews and emergency numbers (police, doctor, hospital, ambulance, poisons information, tow trucks, NRMA, etc.).

Authorization.  Approval will be required from the following organizations for the event.

•          Police

•          RTA

•          Gosford Council

•          Wyong Council

•          Lake Macquarie Council

•          Cessnock Council

•          Forests NSW

•          National Parks and Wildlife Service

Insurance.  Terrigal Trotters has Public Liability Insurance coverage for events it organises.

Checkpoints.  Runner progress will be recorded at all Checkpoints.  All Checkpoints will have water, sports drink, Coke, jelly beans, snakes, bananas and vegetable soup available and be manned by two or more volunteers.  Additionally, all Checkpoints will be vehicle-accessible for Support Crews who are expected to provide any other supplies their athletes need.

Compulsory Runners Equipment. Runners will be required to carry the following equipment.

•          Water Bottle

•          Whistle

•          Torches/Headlamps*

•          Reflective Vest*

•          Rain Jacket

•          Mobile Phone      

•          Maps

•          Compass