FIND YOUR FLOW STATE AT SURF COAST TRAIL MARATHON 2024

Brooks Surf Coast Trail Marathon and Tour de Trails are super stoked to be partnering up with local distillery, Flowstate, a crew of bevvie lovers out of Torquay who have come on board to help celebrate our tenth birthday edition of Australia’s best coastal trail marathon!

Now everyone knows that good craft Gin goes with Tonic like Trails go with Running, and to combine the two pairings just quadruples the froth of finding flow on Surf Coast singletrack and then at the bar for post run drinks.

Even better, the fine crew at Flowstate are offering Surf Coast Trail Marathoners a special…

For the months of April/May get down the the Flowstate Distillery bar, mention SCTM and get a 15% discount on all retail bottle sales.

Also, if looking to grab an online delivery, use code FLOWSTATEFRIEND on their website to receive 10% your online purchase.

Cheers to that, fine flowstate lovers of both the trail and craft gin kind!

“Anyone who knows me, knows I have a penchant for craft gin as one of my favourite off trail hydrations,” said SCTM Race Director, Chris Ord. “And I love partnering with good spirited crews from my local Surf Coast region. And, to be fair, I had already enjoyed a few fragrant G&Ts and cocktails at the Flowstate Bar before we even hooked up, so it’s a legitimate partnership forged over good conversation and love of fine tasting tipples.”

Post run statistics shows that around half of entrants in SCTM stay back in Torquay, says Chris. “So while the usual afterparty dancefloor shenanigans will still held Aireys Inlet / finish line end at the Aireys Pub, we reckon for those staying in Torquay, the afterparty will also descend on Flowstate bar post run. So get along enjoy the flow of good conversation, post run brags - or commiseration pending how your day went - and enjoy the hospitality of the crew at Flow State. They are legends and they brew a fine gin (not to mention amazing cocktails, and other spirits!).

Flowstate will support both Brooks Surf Coast Trail Marathon and Tour de Trails’ sister event Black Diamond Afterglow Night Trail Run, with special offers and at event tastings and sales where permitted.

FLOWSTATE BAR & CELLAR DOOR SALES CAN BE FOUND AT:

17/10 Cylinders Dr, Torquay VIC 3228

WEBSITE AT:

www.flowstatecraft.com.au

SURF COAST TRAIL SHINES FOR WINTER RUN 2023

The Surf Coast, Victoria, played host to more than 600 runners on the weekend, with the Brooks Surf Coast Trail Marathon once again proving to be one Australia’s most popular coastal trails runs, attendees lured seaside by clifftop trails, big surf views, and this year…mid-winter sunshine.

Given the near-solstice timing, the event has a reputation for some wild weather and big swell tides to contend with. This year, however, turned out mostly blue skies and the waves only lapping minorly at competitors’ feet as they tiptoed along Torquay, Bells, Anglesea and Sunnymeade beaches.  

Participants took on marathon and half marathon challenges as individuals along with a team of two marathon relay, starting at Torquay and finishing at Fairhaven Surf Lifesaving Club.

Running Happy, and some of em, running fast!

The course record of 2:51:17 seemed under threat with eventual men’s winner Mathieu Dore, from Albury, NSW, running record pace splits early on. The notorious 3.5km stretch of Urquharts Beach and its high tide soft sand forced the lactic acid brakes on a little however, Dore eventually winning in a time of 3:12:30. Daniel Loughnan from St Kilda was hot on his heels in second place, barely a minute behind crossing in 3:13:32 .Local, James Ralph from Newtown, managed a credible third place on the podium a further 10 minutes back in 3:23:03.

In the women’s marathon, another border town visitor took home line honours with Moama-based runner Rebecca Cladingboel storming home comfortably in 4:00:21, followed 11 minutes later by Sally Theobold from Trafalgar (Vic) in second (4:11:32) and Karen Moir from Hawthorn less than a minute behind in a close third (4:12:12).

DEFINITELY RUNNING HAPPY AT BROOKS SURF COAST TRAIL MARATHON

In the half marathon, it was a fairly close tussle between first and third in the women’s with Alicia Cognian from Brunswick (Vic) drawing away to claim first place in 2:04:14. Second and third were separated by only 22 seconds, with Nicole Evans from St Kilda triumphing in second in a time of 2:07:08, with local Torquay resident Sandra McKie home third in 2:07:30.

Only five minutes separated the men’s half marathon podium, Adamo Traini  from Wallan (Vic) coming home the victor in 1:46:16. Local runner Tom Pearce from Geelong West, took silver line honours under two minutes later (1:48:04) with Felix Esperson from Ivanhoe (Vic) rounding out the men’s podium in 1:51:14.

The Teams Marathon was won by Team Heatcool Today’s Shaun Mooreand Brad Rindfleisch in a time of 3:33:16 with Team Tez n Flash William Kiel and Nicholas Waters in second (3:47:58) and mixed team Kanga Kanga Kanga, Claudia Higgins and Max Mills, in third (3:48:22)

STILL HAPPY, VICTORIAN ULTRA RUNNER MICHELLE GROCOCK PASSES THE SPLIT POINT LIGHTHOUSE AND NEARING THE FINISH LINE ONLY 2-3KM AWAY

Event Details at: www.surfcoasttrailmarathon.com.au

Full results at:https://tomatotiming.racetecresults.com/Results.aspx?CId=16&RId=29491&EId=1

Surf Coast Trail Marathon is supported by the Surf Coast Shire and Surf Coast Events via its Major Events Grant Program, along with Brooks Running, Tailwind Nutrition, Surf Coast Trail Runners, Melton City Runners, T8, Salty Dog Cafe, The Aireys Pub, Salt Brewing, The Happy Runner, Active Feet Geelong & Ocean Grove, Glimmer Gear, Beyond, and Runner Chats. 

TIPS & TRICKS FOR THE LONG RUN

Top tips to avoid a running injury

With another Brooks Running Surf Coast Trail Marathon on the horizon, we thought it might be a good time to check in with our partners at Torquay Sports Medicine Centre, to get some advice on how to stay uninjured coming into the run, along with a few tips about blisters and shin splints - the scourge of runners!

Did you know that returning to running (or rapidly increasing your mileage) after an extended lay-off brings with it a big risk of developing an injury in the first 6 weeks?

Follow these tips to reduce the chance of becoming a broken runner! 

Achilles pain

Running is fantastic for the body. It helps you feel good and the evidence has shown that it is great for your joints (yep…even your knees!), bones, heart and lungs. Unfortunately, Achilles pain in runners is quite common. 

Our friends at Torquay Sports Medicine Centre love seeing runners getting active, hitting PBs and STAYING active. Check out their 5 top tips for runners to prevent achilles tendon pain/injuries HERE.

Blister Prevention & Treatment

This one’s a biggie at Surf Coast given the sandy stretches and potential for wet feet. Check out how to avoid blisters HERE.

And if it’s too late - you already have one - check how to best treat them HERE.

Shin Splints

While the trails of Surf Coast are pretty soft an forgiving, shin splints can still happen if you have come back too quickly. Find out how to beat shin splints and run pain free HERE.

https://torquaysmc.com.au/4-tips-beat-shin-splints-run-pain-free/

So what socks to wear to prevent blisters? Check out the advice from Maddy, from Torquay Sports Medicine Centre:

For more sports med advice, connect with the cool crew at Torquay Sports Medicine, they know what they’re talkin’ ‘bout!

www.torquaysmc.com.au

WHAT THE PLOG? SURF COAST TRAIL MARATHON GROWS GREENER

Now in its sixth year and regarded as one of the must-do trail marathons in Australia, the Brooks Surf Coast Trail Marathon is set to help clean up the Surf Coast Walk with the introduction of a new collaborative green initiative. 

The event, which incorporates more than 700 participants running either a 42km marathon or a 21km half marathon from Torquay to Fairhaven, is to host a ‘plogging’ recovery run the day after the main outing. It is expected to result in a kilograms of non-event rubbish being cleared from footpaths and environs at Fisherman’s Beach, Torquay. 

Plogging is a new active environmental initiative that started in Stockholm, Sweden, and has since spread across the globe fuelled by environmentally-aware runners who take rubbish bags and gloves on their run in order to pick up any litter they encounter along the way. 

The Surf Coast’s first ‘plogging’ event will happen in conjunction with the Brooks Surf Coast Trail Marathonand will be hosted by The Plastic Runner, which has hosted twenty plogging events to date across Melbourne, eliminating more than 500kg kilograms of rubbish from trails and footpaths. 

“Trail runners are a pretty mindful crew and don’t, as rule, litter the trails we run on,” says Anglesea-based Race Director, Chris Ord. “But we are always mindful of finding ways to leave the environment through which we run a cleaner, more sustainable place.” 

“Of course, the event itself is already run under strict waste-wise and environmental guidelines. In collaboration with the Shire Council and the Great Ocean Road Coastal Committee, we have already implemented environmentally beneficial actions, such as a no disposable cup policy and a ban of single use plastics. But when we learned of The Plastic Runner’s plogging initiative, we were excited to get aboard and provide a platform for them to come to the Surf Coast. And with 700 runners descending on Torquay, what better chance to engage them in helping clean up Surf Coast trails as an ideal recovery activity post marathon.”  

The Plastic Runner is spearheaded by two self-proclaimed “crazy trail running bag ladies” who have – with the help of more than 200 volunteers – created a small Australian social enterprise with a big vision. 

“That vision is to bring more awareness to people about waste pollution in their local communities and create opportunities for these communities to coordinate their own plogging or clean up events,” says The Plastic Runner’s Deb Clemens, who, along with Karin Traegerh, is the powerhouse of energy behind the initiative.  

“Put simply, plogging is a mix of running or jogging and litter collecting. It’s a fun and easy way to demonstrate the impact of plastic pollution in our environment whilst keeping active and fit. Partnering with environmentally aware events such as the Surf Coast Trail Marathon is a no brainer in that the participants all love trails, are passionate about the environment and eager to engage in anything that helps protect it. And at Surf Coast there are 700 potential volunteer ploggers – so we could make a huge impact in terms of giving Torquay’s trails a spring clean, even though it’s already winter!”

“We also hope that locals who aren’t necessarily participating in the running event will still come down and join in – it’s a gentle activity and you don’t have to be super fit to help out!” says Deb, who notes that the event is also an official Clean Up Australia event. 

The Surf Coast Trail Marathon itself will take place on Saturday 29thJune, and is expected to break attendance numbers once again with the Surf Coast Walk being one of Victoria’s most popular trail destinations for runners. 

“And while the running is highly regarded, I reckon we’re nearly as famous for the after party which is held as a tradition at the Airey Pub, complete with live band. Have you ever seen a marathon runner dance on tired legs? It’s worth coming along to see,” laughs Chris. 

Online entries will remain open until Thursday 27th June 2019. 

 The Brooks Surf Coast Trail Marathon is supported by Brooks Running, Suunto, Salty Dog Cafe, Surf Coast Trail Runners, Trail Run Mag, The Happy Runner Torquay, Tailwind Nutrition, Torquay Sports Medicine Centre, Aireys Pub, Salt Brewing.

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SURF COAST PLOG

The free plogging event will take place on Sunday 30 June with registrations recorded on the morning.Participants and locals are all welcome to attend. The plogging will begin at The Salty Dog Café, 47 The Esplanade, Fishermans Beach, Torquay, from 9am (until 10.30am). 

Every registrant to the event (bringing with them a reuseable coffee cup) will be rewarded with a free coffee courtesy of The Salty Dog Cafe post plog! Glove and bags will be provided, just bring willing hands. 

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The Surf Coast Trail Marathon stats 

·      Saturday 29 June 2019

·      42km solo and teams of two (half distance each)

·      21km solo

·      700+ participants

·      Torquay to Fairhaven + Point Addis to Fairhaven

·      Afterparty with live music at The Airey Plu. Music from 8pm

·      Entries open until Thursday 27thJune

www.surfcoasttrailmarathon.com.au

Surf Coast Trail Plog Event

·      Sunday, 30th June  2019. 

·      Race participants and the local neighbourhood are invited to join for what will be a fun, gentle plog recovery session!

·      Time: 9am (until 10.30am) 

·      Location:Salty Dog Café, 47 The Esplanade, Torquay.  

·      Details: Glove and bags will be provided, just bring willing hands. 

·      Freebie: Every registrant to the event will be rewarded with a free coffee courtesy of The Salty Dog Cafe post plog! A reusable coffee cup for your free coffee is requested.

The Plastic Runner stats

·      1 year old

·      2 trail running, crazy bag ladies

·      100-200 volunteers

·      20 events held

·      500kg waste collected

www.theplasticrunner.com