Marathon Course
Distance: 43km
Date: Sunday 18th June 2023
The Glow Worm Tunnel Marathon course takes runners on an amazing journey along a course that takes in the best sights of Newnes and the Wolgan Valley. The course is the tale of two halves and runners will encounter creek crossings, sections of long single trail, old mine cuttings, ruins and some long forgotten railway easements. The terrain is exciting, challenging and you may find it hard to keep the smile from your face. The first half of the marathon is a steep mountain trail and the second half is a railway grade up trail, skirting the cliff line and making its way up through the Glow Worm Tunnel and returning to Newnes. The event starts and finishes in Newnes and from the moment you arrive in “town” you will revel in the serene surroundings.
Statistics
Distance: 43km
Ascent: 1950m
Profile & Map: Here
Contingency Course if Wolgan Road is still closed:
- Start/Finish at Glen Davis Campground
- Run the Pipeline Track to Newnes (Aid Station) and on to 4 Ways (Aid Station)
- Run the Old Coach Road to the Pagoda Track
- Turn onto the Glow Worm Tunnel Walking Track and do an out and back into the tunnel
- Return the same way you came – GWT Walking Track, Pagoda Track, Old Coach Road, 4 Ways (Aid station), Newnes (Aid station), Pipeline Track to finish at Glen Davis
Marathon Course Description – The Original Glen Davis is Back
Leg 1: Start Event Hub – Newnes Campground – Pipeline Pass – Pagoda Lookout – Pipeline Pass – Glen Davis Campground – Pipeline Pass – Event Hub –> Distance: 21km
Description: Starting at the Event Hub, runners make their way towards the campground and do a quick clockwise lap before heading down into the Wolgan Valley on the Riverside Trail. Here runners ascend the steep Pipeline Pass with an excursion to the Pagoda Lookout at the top. Quick turn around after seeing the awesome view and then rejoin the Pipeline Pass. You then pass through the ferny gullies to the amazing Starlight Canyon entry point before descending the technical terrain of Pipeline Pass to Glen Davis. A dirt road leads you to town and the Glen Davis Camp Ground. This is where the first aid station is located. After a quick check in and refreshment head back the way you came to Pipeline Pass. Climb the steep terrain to the saddle at the top (no excursion to Pagoda Lookouton the way back) and then down the technical descent back to the Riverside Trail. No lap of the campground on the way back to the Event Hub Aid Station.
Leg 2: – Event Hub – 4 Ways Penrose Aid Station – Tunnel – 4 Ways Penrose Aid Station – Event Hub –> Distance 22km
Description: After hydrating and grabbing some refreshments at the Event Hub Aid Station, runners cross the Wolgan River and make their way onto the Wolgan Valley Rail Trail. After 7km at the 4 Ways intersection of the Old Coach Road and Wolgan Valley Rail Trail at Penrose Junction there will be an aid station. From the Aid Station, runners will follow the Old Coach Road up the hill for 3 kms and then take the Pagoda Trail to the opening of the Glow Worm Tunnel (Note this is the opposite way we have done this in the past). Runners are then required to walk through the Glow Worm Tunnel. Upo existing the tunnel athletes are to make their way to the turnaround point, and go back through the Glow Worm Tunnel (yes you get to go through twice) and upon exiting the tunnel make their way onto the Pagoda Trail, Old Coach Rd and down to the 4 Ways Penrose Junction Aid Station. It is then a fast 7km back down the Wolgan Valley Rail Trail towards the finish line at the Event Hub.
Checkpoints and Aid
Details of Check Points and Aid Stations will be provided if a contingency course is to be used for the event due to road closures or other reasons.
