Date • Weather • Course • Finish • Rules • Entrants • Qualifications • Risks • Race_Categories • Entry_Fee • Awards and Presentation • Communications • Medical • Checkpoints • Cut-Off Times • Compulsory_Equipment • Drop_Bags • Withdrawal • Transport • Support_Crew • Pacers • Accommodation

Date  The 2008 Race will start at 6:00am on Saturday, 8 November 2008, and finish by 6:00pm on Sunday, 9 November 2008, a time limit of 36 hours. There will be a time limit of 22 hours for the 100 kilometre event.  The date has been chosen to provide a maximum of light with a likelihood of mild temperatures.

Weather  The table below shows average November weather conditions for several locations near the Course.  Runners must be prepared for the possibility of hot weather although there is still the possibility of very cool nights and wet weather.

Course  The course is described on the Course Overview, Detailed Directions and Detailed Maps pages on this web-site.  Both races have been measured using a hand-held GPS and are over-distance (the 100 Kilometre Event is actually 103.7 kilometres and the 100 Mile Event is 108.5 miles long).  The Great North Walk is marked with permanent signs at intersections/turns throughout its length and there will not be additional marking or marshals for the event.  All runners must be capable of following a sometimes faint trail through rugged country in darkness.

Finish  The 100 Kilometre event will finish at Yarramalong Public School by 4:00am on Sunday, 9 November 2008 (a time limit of 22 hours), and the 100 Mile event will finish by 6:00pm on Sunday, 9 November 2008, (a time limit of 36 hours).

Rules  The Rules for the GNW100s are detailed in The 2008 Great North Walk 100s Race Manual.

Entrants  There will be a maximum of 100 runners, in total, for both races.

Qualifications  All entrants must be 18 or over on 8 November 2008 and have pre-qualified by running a verifiable marathon in better than 4:30 in the preceding three years, or an equivalent performance over a greater distance.

Risks  All runners are responsible for their own safety in this event.

Despite its proximity to the populated Central Coast of New South Wales, the course passes through rugged and spectacular terrain and is a demanding challenge for all runners. Entrants need to cope with precipitous ascents and descents, muddy trails and creek crossings, slippery rocks and roots, and hard-to-follow trail. There are a number of sections where running is impossible. There will be no marshals on the course and all runners will need to be capable navigators and prepared to travel at night in remote areas on difficult trail.

IT IS EASY TO GET LOST OR INJURED ON THIS COURSE IF YOU DO NOT EXERCISE SUFFICIENT CARE AND/OR ARE ILL-PREPARED.

Runners will also be required to carry certain equipment and must carry sufficient water to last them between checkpoints which can be up to 30 km OR SIX HOURS TRAVEL APART. a number of runners dropped out suffering from dehydration after the relatively short second leg in 2006.

IT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT, ON AVERAGE, ONLY A THIRD OF 100 MILE RACE STARTERS COMPLETE THE EVENT.

Maps are available on this web-site (in colour) to download and will be supplied on request to competitors in hardcopy (in black and white).  Runners should also consider purchasing and carrying the Land & Water Conservation Dept’s “The Great North Walk” map package, the Forests NSW Central Coast Forest Map and the various NSW Lands 1:25,000 topographical maps that cover the course.

Race Categories  There will be categories for Open, 40+, 50+ and 60+ age groups for both Men and Women.

Entry Fee  $150 for the 100 Mile Event and $125 for the 100 Kilometre Event.  There will be a surcharge of 10% for entrants who are not members of the Australian Ultra Running Association (AURA).  This is a non-profit community event and the Entry Fee is set with a view to recovering costs.  Entries will open in mid-July 2008 and close on 24 October 2008 or when the first 100 entries have been received.

Awards and Presentation  This is a non-profit community event. There will be a Presentation Ceremony where small awards will be made to Category Winners in both the 100 Kilometre and 100 Mile events at 6:00pm on Sunday, 9 November 2008, at the Finish area for the 100 Mile in Patonga. Finishers Medals will be presented to all official Finishers on completion of their event (competitors who enter the 100 Mile event, but withdraw at 100 Kilometres, will not be eligible to receive a Medal) and Certificates recording time and place will be mailed to all finishers after the GNW100s.

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.).

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).

Checkpoints  All Checkpoints will have water, sports drink, Coke, jelly beans, snakes and bananas available and be manned by one or more volunteers.  Additionally, all checkpoints will be vehicle-accessible for support crews who are expected to provide any other supplies their athletes need.

Cut-Off Times  The following Cut-Off Times will be rigorously applied.

Compulsory Equipment  RUNNERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO CARRY THE FOLLOWING EQUIPMENT AT ALL TIMES UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED.

• MAPS AND DIRECTIONS AS ISSUED BY ORGANISERS AT CHECK-IN ON RACE DAY.  The maps will be in black and white.  If you want maps in colour then download them beforehand from www.terrigaltrotters.com.au/GNW100s_Detailed_Course_Directions.htm and www.terrigaltrotters.com.au/GNW100s_Detailed_Maps.htm ).
• WATERPROOF MAP CASE.
• COMPASS.
• WHISTLE.
• RAIN JACKET.
• WATER CONTAINER (1 litre minimum, more recommended).
• TORCH/HEADLAMP INCLUDING SPARE BATTERIES which must be carried from Checkpoint 2 and used at all times between 8:00pm and 5:30am.
• BACKUP TORCH/HEADLAMP INCLUDING SPARE BATTERIES which must be carried from Checkpoint 2 until at least 5:30am.
• REFLECTIVE VEST DESIGNED FOR NIGHT USE which must be carried from Checkpoint 2 and be worn at all times between 8:00pm and 5:30am. (See www.runhappy.com.au/accessories/rv210.html for an example. Similar Vests are also available at bike shops and work wear stores).

Drop Bags  At the Start, runners will be able to give organizers Drop Bags containing personal supplies for delivery to nominated Checkpoints and can leave personal supplies at Checkpoints for delivery to the Finish.  In the latter case, however, the Bags will not be transported from the Checkpoint until the last runner has passed through or the Cut-Off time for that Checkpoint has passed.

Withdrawal  Runners can withdraw from the event at any Checkpoint but may have to wait for the last runner to pass, or the Checkpoint Cut-Off time to be reached, for transport to the Finish unless they have their own Support Crew.  It is imperative that withdrawing runners notify the nearest Checkpoint of their withdrawal so that no unnecessary concern is caused or searches are conducted.

Transport  No transport will be available for runners to return to the Start of the event.  A shuttle service will be provided from Yarramalong (Finish 100 Kilometre) to Wyong Station and from Patonga (Finish 100 Mile) to Woy Woy Station from where trains are available for travel north to Teralba (the Start) and Newcastle, or south to Sydney.

Support Crew  Support Crew vehicles will be limited to one per runner.  The Support Crew can provide their runner with any supplies and clothing they need in addition to that supplied at Checkpoints or required to be carried by the runners.  The Support Crew can also provide transport for their runner from the Finish or if their runner withdraws from the event.  In the latter case, they must notify the organizers at a Checkpoint in person.  Each Support Crew will be requested carry a mobile phone and provide the numbers to the organizers.  They will also be advised to park safely when supporting runners, and only be allowed to meet runners at official Checkpoints.  Failure of the Support Crews to observe race rules will result in the disqualification of their runner.

Pacers  Runners in the 100 Mile event are permitted to have the support of a Pacer from Checkpoint 4 onwards.  Pacers must run with their runner and are not permitted to carry any supplies or equipment for their runner.

Accommodation  There are motels and hotels within 30km of both Teralba (which also has a train station) and Patonga and commercial campgrounds/caravan parks in both towns.  Click here for more detailed information.