Race Start

The race will start in three or four waves, from the swimming beach at the eastern end of Diddams Close, Lake Ginninderra.

Individual competitors will enter the water at 5.30 am.

Teams will depart in 2 or 3 waves, commencing from 6 am. You will be advised of the precise starting time for your wave at Registration on Saturday 14 November. Please assemble at the beach for final check-in fifteen minutes prior to your start time. Final briefing will commence five minutes before start time.

<Previous| Next>

Back to Contents

Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team articles - more articles

Leg 4: Cnr Majura & Phillip Ave (Dickson) to Rond Terrace, 23.1 km

NOTE DUE TO CONSTRUCTION AROUND THE WAR MEMORIAL, A DETOUR ROUND THESE WORKS IS NECESSARY. THE AMENDED COURSE APPEARS BELOW IN BOLD.

Download the complete navigable leg 4 course map, and leg 4 gpx file.

Continue east on the path from the transition area for 80m to cross Majura Ave at the RHS of the bridge and then follow the RHS of the canal along a dirt ST next to the houses of Ainslie. This track heads SE for approx. 500m then swings right to head SW/ W for 500m and then swings left once again (S) for just over 400m before you finally leave the houses track by turning left to cross the dry watercourse and 80m later take the left fork of the fire trail to head uphill into the trees on the Ainslie Link Trail. After about 200m keep left on the Ainslie Link Trail to climb 100 m up to an open area with large double powerlines and then turn left onto the large West 132KVA Track. Follow this for approx. 1.2K before the next major junction where you will turn left and head downhill on Hancocks Road for only 200m before turning right to follow the Hackett Houses track.

After about 1K follow this track as it zigs left (at intersection with Blue Metal Rd), zags right (now called Hackett Houses North track) and then climbs gently, directly straight ahead for about 700m (you pass on the RHS of the big water tank) before you turn right before the noticeboard to cross the logs and head uphill (E) on the Majura Horse trail. This trail climbs E and then swings N and after 500m crosses the Casuarina track.

A bit over 1K later you will continue straight on Majura Horse Trail as it intersects Oldfields Lane and then Clancy’s Walking Track. Approx 150m after Clancy’s Walking Track intersection you will turn right (uphill) to take the Mawson Majura Track, which heads E for about 230m and then swings left to the NE for about 120m before you come to a critical right turn (through hole in fence at white wire) to follow a set of powerlines along a clearing that takes you very steeply uphill on rocky terrain (no marked track, just follow powerlines).

After approx 400m the powerlines lead you up to Mt Majura Rd where you will turn right to run all the way up to the First Drink Station just below the Majura Summit Trig. Take the dirt ST up to the Trig and retrace your steps past the Drink Station to head down through a gate to head steeply down the ridgeline fire trail heading S. After approx. 800m the trail flattens out and you will turn sharp left downhill (to the E) at the wooden bench seat and proceed for only 50m before turning sharp right (before the gate) at the “Mawson/Majura Track” sign to head steeply downhill on a very rocky ST descent. After 570m the descent brings you to an intersection with a Green Signboard and horse stile on your left. Continue straight ahead on the narrow ST as it heads uphill for 120m before it merges with the main fire trail coming up from your right. You will now follow this undulating trail as it follows the ridgeline over Hackett Hill with great views to the E and W as it heads mostly SW for approx 1.8 K until a T-junction with Hancock’s Rd.

Turn left (E) and continue straight ahead at the saddle track intersection to continue heading down Hancock’s Rd towards the airport and Campbell Park. Now head downhill for approx. 1K on a long, smooth wide track. Turn right at the major trail intersection at the bottom of the hill onto Telecom Rd and then just under 200m later take the ST to the left that cuts the corner to merge with another main track heading E out towards the airport. This track swings right and then follows the fenceline on the edge of Campbell Park.

Stay on the main track as it temporarily veers away from the fenceline around a small dam. The track heads back into the trees and 120m later turns right (uphill) and turns into “Scotts Boundary Track”. Follow this track uphill, keeping the fenceline on your LHS. The track swings right past a “House Trail Link” sign. Approx. 400m later take the left fork in the track, which very soon intersects with a large cross road. Cross this road at the 4ft high cement post and immediately after crossing take the worn vehicle track heading off to the right at approx. 2 o’clock heading. This track swings left and starts to climb steadily uphill, hitting a clearing, passing under powerlines and then follows a single power line for about 140m before reaching a T-jn.

Turn right at the T-jn to take the wide dirt road heading uphill between the power lines. This road then descends steeply to cross a dry watercourse and then climbs quite steeply for about 200m. As the road starts to flatten out keep a lookout for an upcoming ST on your LHS that you will soon turn left at. This narrow ST soon climbs steeply and after 300m or so becomes wider and less steep. When this track merges with another road from the right you will travel only 40m before taking the right hand fork (BNT sign) at the track split onto some narrow ST. After 650m you turn left to climb a stone staircase and pass through a metal arch to reach Mt Ainslie Dr.

When you reach the road turn right (stay on the RHS) then head straight across Mt Ainslie Dr, heading straight up a dirt ST towards the Radio tower on the summit. At the tower take the steps back and down to the right to the road, cross straight across Mt Ainslie Dr onto a cobbled footpath (there is a water bubbler and tap and second drinks station to your left, just past the 1m high cement block). Continue straight ahead down some cement steps leading under the lookout and turn right around a metal barrier onto the main walking track. This sealed track passes some big steps and a lookout - 400m take care to stay on the main (sealed) track.

There are several sharp hairpin turns on the way down and you pass around 3 wooden corrals before passing a gate, a wooden footbridge and take 8 steps down onto a small dirt track that leads you to cross Treloar Cres behind the Australian War Memorial.

DETOUR HERE: TURN LEFT ALONG THE FOOTPATH ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF TRELOAR CRES, AND RUN ALL THE WAY ON THE LHS TILL YOU REACH THE MARSHAL. CROSS TRELOAR CRES AT THE MARSHAL WHO WILL BE STATIONED JUST BEFORE THE INTERSECTION WITH FAIRBAIRN AVE, THEN FOLLOW THE GRASS ALONGSIDE FAIRBAIRN AVE IN FRONT OF THE WAR MEMORIAL CONSTRUCTION FENCING, TO THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING TRAFFIC LIGHTS. CROSS FAIRBAIRN AVE AT THE LIGHTS WHEN SAFE TO DO SO.

After crossing at the lights you will follow the footpath to your right which then heads along the LHS of Anzac Pde past various memorials. Take care when crossing Blamey Cres and Constitution Ave (course marshal) at the lights.

Turn left onto the footpath immediately after crossing Constitution Ave to follow it past the construction site till you reach Wendouree Drive.

Turn right onto Wendouree Dr and cross over to the footpath on the LHS to pass under the two sections of Parkes Way. 70m later turn right to cross Wendouree Dr at the ped crossing and head down the path for 50m to turn right onto RG Menzies Walk near the Lake. Only 40m later take the bike path to the right to head up to Rond Terrace and the finish line chute on the grass.

Congratulations, you made it!

View full article »

Leg 3: Kirkpatrick St, Weston (next to RSPCA) to Cnr Majura & Phillip Ave, Dickson, 26.4 km

Download complete navigable leg 3 course map, and leg 3 gpx file.

The start point for Leg 3 is on the fire trail opposite the end of Kirkpatrick St, Weston, 20m N of the intersection of the dirt road and bike path.

Head N along the road from CP2 and after 110m veer right off the road to follow a dirt path next to a wire fence. This turns to bitumen after 120m. After another 100m make sure that you turn left between the pine trees (just before the path swings right) to head down a rutty single track to a small bridge after 50m. Veer right from the bridge to keep heading right across a larger bridge crossing the Molonglo River.

270m later (at the first 4-way road junction) you will turn left off the road to take a small MTB single track heading uphill into the pines. After 240m you will exit the MTB track and turn left onto a dirt road, which you will follow for 40m to where it merges with another road. Here you will leave the road, turning right to head up the single track that takes you up to the summit of Bold Hill, marked by two yellow posts and a sign marked “The Luxury of Time”. Exit the summit at approx. 2 o'clock heading to take a faint single track, which takes you down towards a green smokestack pipe, where you then join a gravel road heading towards the main pine forest. Continue straight ahead on this road for 320m until it brings you to a major 4-way road intersection (about 1.71K elapsed). Continue straight ahead for only 30m at this intersection before you turn left to take a MTB single track heading into the forest. Follow the marker tapes and the MTB track for approx. 800 m as it heads N to NE through the pines, running parallel with Forest Drive before swinging left to the NW to bring you out at Boundary Road (approx. 2.56K elapsed).

Turn right onto Boundary Rd and only 40m later (2.60k) turn left through the gate onto Pipe Flat Rd and then only another 40m later turn right to take the grassy track that heads NE under the large powerlines, and then becomes a dirt road heading NW. Stay on this major dirt road (which runs parallel to Boundary Rd and winds around the base of the Arboretum) for approximately 2K, following the marking ribbons.

At the end of this road turn right (approx. 5.06K) to head uphill on the Arboretum Emergency Access Track (green signs).

This brings you out at Boundary Rd (5.80K approx.) which you will cross (between yellow pole and the wire fence) and continue straight ahead up the hill towards Telstra Tower in the distance. Pass through the gate at the Works Compound (6.23K) and head left 80m later at the Emergency assembly point sign to follow the fence line. You will now follow this Boundary track which turns left downhill (N) past a Dam (6.32K) and then right (E) to commence a steady climb of about 700m up to the Cnr of Boundary & Himalayan Cedars Rd (7.35K). Turn left at the gate (7.37K) to keep following the dirt road which turns right (E) to head steeply downhill with great views of Lake Burley Griffin in front of you.

At the bottom of the hill turn left at the car park (8.06K) to enter the Cork Oaks Forest path. 60m later bear left onto the main single track which takes you to the entry of the Cork Oaks Plantation (8.35K) where you continue straight ahead on the Bicentennial Trail. At the end of this track (8.87K) turn right onto the path which goes down to the underpass. After 110m (8.98K) turn right at the T-junction to take the bike path heading towards Telstra Tower. After 250m turn left (at Bicentennial Trail sign, about 9.22K) to leave the bike path and cross the pedestrian stile leading into Aranda Snow Gums Reserve. Follow this single-track walking path (black arrows on white signposts) for approx. 600m before turning right (9.83K) to cross the watercourse to head NW up to a grassy area, through a gate (9.97K) and continue on track heading NE for approx. 300m until it brings you up to a gate (approx. 10.3K) where you will turn right onto the fire trail and continue heading NE on Finneran’s Road. for 600m until you reach a T-junction next to Caswell Drive. Turn right and after only 60m turn left to head under Caswell Drive.

As soon as you pass under the second part of Caswell Drive (approx. 10.98K) make sure that you leave the main fire trail by bearing right to take the single track that shortcuts the corner from Finneran’s Rd across to the Lower Woodland Track.

Turn right (11.1K) to follow the Lower Woodland Track as it heads south back down towards Lake Burley Griffin, running parallel to Caswell Drive for a few kilometres, during which you will encounter the first drinks station before swinging left (E), now called the Upper Woodland Track (12.95K) and climbing gradually for 160m and then swinging left again (N) to climb a very steep short pitch. Continue along this Upper Woodland Track, always taking the most upper right hand (uphill) options at the next two forks in the track (at approx. 14.0K and 14.6K), eventually turning right when you hit the intersection with the main Black Mountain Summit walking track (approx. 14.9K). Climb steeply up the track for several hundred metres, heading straight across the Summit Trail, and continue uphill on the cement path, being sure higher up (approx. 15.3K) to follow it to the left rather than take the dirt track to the summit. The cement track heads around the E side of the mountain and climbs up some steps to meet Black Mountain Drive near Telstra Tower (15.49K). Turn left and stick to the LHS of the road for only 70m or so before turning left to take the steps down a ST walking path (enjoy the amazing views of the Lake and Canberra City) for approx. 350m where you will head straight ahead into a car park (15.92K). Follow the LHS of the car park and at its end (15.97K) turn left towards the lookout and 30m later turn right (16.00) to take the single-track heading SE and then E downhill. After approx. 500m distance of steep, rocky descent (16.54k) turn left to take the Botanical Gardens Trail, which undulates along the East side of Black Mountain. This finally (17.15K) starts descending to a gate (17.34K) and 80m later veers left downhill to merge with a large dirt road (Frith Rd).

Turn right onto Frith Rd (17.43K) and head downhill for approx. 300m before turning left (17.73K) at the BNT sign to join and follow the dirt road that climbs up alongside the west side of the electricity substation. Approx. 200m after the substation (17.92K) take care to veer off the road to the right to follow the earth bank, following the BNT single track that runs under the powerlines. After approx. 300m the BNT drops off the embankment to the right to descend to Frith Rd. Cross straight across the road and over the low guard rail and then turn left (18.40K) to head through the Barry Dr. underpass on the LHS. After exiting the underpass, turn hard left at the BNT/Stop sign (18.47K) to take the BNT single track heading uphill into the trees. Follow the BNT track all the way through to the roundabout at Fairfax St/Dryandra St where a Course Marshal (2nd drinks station) will aid with crossing (19.38K).

Continue straight across Fairfax St heading N to join a bike path and follow this for 600m up a gentle climb before making sure that you make a hard right turn (20.14K) under the big powerlines to enter the O’Connor Ridge trails.

After about 100m make sure that you take the main track heading off to the left that climbs up to, and runs very close and parallel to Gungahlin Drive, not taking any trail options to your right (20.4K). After another 200m or so of track near the fence line, leave the fence line (20.59K) track at an approx. 2 o'clock heading and reach a 4 way track intersection (20.62K) where you will veer slight left to continue N on the main fire trail parallel to Gungahlin Drive. After 70m (20.69K) stay on the main track (left option) but at the next track split about 200m later (20.92) take the right single track into the trees, which you takes past the RHS of a small dam (21.05K), continuing straight ahead on the ST across the wooden planks (21.07K). Less than 200m later (21.25K) take the right, larger single track at the split which heads through the wattle trees and eventually swings further right to run along the RHS of a wire fence. Turn left through the gate (21.41K) and turn right to head E down the dirt road between Ginninderra Drive on your left and the powerlines, which 250m later passes a church and becomes Archibald St. Stay on the grass verge/footpath on the LHS of Archibald St for the next 840m (passing various churches, monasteries and Buddhist Temples) until it dead-ends at a T-junction with Mouat St. Turn right to cross Archibald St (22.51K, course marshal) and join the bike path, being careful after 180m to leave this path, turning left to cross the bitumen dead end and head to the pedestrian crossing/lights at Brigalow St (22.77K; Course Marshal). After crossing continue left on the footpath (22.79K) past the Lyneham Motor Inn (22.91K) and 90 m later turn right (23.00K) onto the bitumen bike path that runs along the RHS of the water canal. Follow this path for approx 650m before turning left at the end of the playing fields (Follow signs to Dickson Shops 2K) to cross the bridge across the canal and join another bike path heading towards Lyneham High School. Take care crossing Goodwin St (23.92K) at the speed hump/ped. crossing. After 50m merge left to take the bike path towards Dickson shops (blue and white sign). Cross DeBurgh St at the pedestrian crossing. (24.07K)

***Likely Scenario 1: Head Under Northbourne Ave

At this point, if the conditions are favourable, you will divert right across the grass to drop into the canal at a metal ladder just before Northbourne Ave (marker cones or arrows) in order to run under the two arms of the very busy Northbourne Ave and then exit the canal to the left at another metal ladder soon after the other side to re-join the bike path.***

Scenario 2: Cross Northbourne Ave at pedestrian crossing lights

If conditions do not favour use of the canal (heavy rain prior to race) you will have to continue straight ahead on the bike path to cross Northbourne Ave (24.22K) at the lights and pedestrian crossing to continue along the bike path to Dickson (24.26K).

Continue along the bike path to cross Challis St (24.45K) at the pedestrian crossing and then take after another 500m take care to cross Cowper St (24.95K) at the pedestrian crossing at the traffic lights. Continue straight onto the bike path (24.97K) that runs between the canal and the houses and follow (without turns) this for approx. the next 1.3K to finish at the 3rd (final) transition area where the powerlines cross the bike path (telephone pole with red tag 37387) in the grassy area on the west side of Majura Ave (26.24K) .

View full article »