Welcome to the Falls Creek Mountain Raid 14-15th February, 2015

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1 Welcome to the Falls Creek Mountain Raid 14-15th February, 2015 Welcome Event Program (Trail Runs) The 2015 Falls Creek Mountain Raid Trail Runs are fast approaching and we are very excited to launch the second edition with a bigger and better series of trail runs across the weekend. We can t wait to get up to Falls Creek s adventure playground and share with you a great weekend in the fresh alpine air! The landscapes around Falls Creek and the Bogong High Plains are very impressive and will provide for some great trail running. All four courses will be held on a flowing mix of single track, double track and short sections of 2WD/4WD dirt road and allow you to take in the smell of the wild flowers and endless mountain vistas. We would like to express our thanks and appreciation to our major stakeholder Falls Creek Resort Management Board who lead the way in the development of this event. EVENT PROGRAM: you are receiving this event information program because you have entered the 2014 Falls Creek Mountain Raid Trail Runs and included below are some updated details on the event, such as the event schedule and course maps, as well as some gentle reminders about accommodation and food. Please read it very carefully. Good luck the Rapid Ascent Team Adventure Race and Trail Runs The Falls Creek Mountain Raid includes a 2 day adventure race held over Saturday and Sunday, and 4 different trail running races that will be held on Saturday morning, afternoon and Sunday morning. The information in this document primarily relates to the TRAIL RUNS. If you are doing the Adventure Race then there is a separate information booklet for you online.

2 Schedule and Briefings Schedule Friday 13th February 6:00pm 8:30pm Pre-race Pasta Dinner - Falls Creek Country Club Restaurant (primarily for Adventure Race, however Trail Runners are also welcome) Saturday 14th February 9:00am 10:00am Trail Run - Competitor Registration (Slalom Plaza) 10km Alpine Ash 10:00am Trail Run RACE START: 10km Alpine Ash 3:30pm 4:00pm Trail Run - Competitor Registration 3km Summit Sprint 4:00pm Trail Run - RACE START: 3km Summit Sprint Sunday 15th February 7:30am 8:30am Trail Run Competitor Registration (Slalom Plaza) 8:30am Trail Run RACE START: 19km Heathy Spur Run (Slalom Plaza) 8:45am Trail Run RACE START: 9.6km Rocky Valley Run (Slalom Plaza) 9:40am onwards Trail Run FINISHES begin crossing finish line (Slalom Plaza) 11:00am Trail Run PRESENTATIONS (Slalom Plaza) 1:00pm 4:00pm Post Event BBQ (Slalom Plaza) *Race Briefings will occur 10min prior to race start on the Start Line

3 Registration and Late Entries COMPETITOR REGISTRATION: It is compulsory for ALL trail runners to check-in at Registration to collect your race number plate and other race information during the times listed below Saturday 14 th February 9:00am 10:00am: 10km Alpine Ash Runs 3:30pm 4:00pm: 3km Summit Sprint Sunday 15th February 7:30am 8:30am: 19km Heathy Spur and 9.6km Rocky Valley Run Location: Grassed area, Slalom Plaza, on the Bogong High Plains Rd. (proceed up the stairs to the grassed area) LATE ENTRIES: Limited late entries will be available during registration times (includes late entry fees) GOT A FRIEND STILL TO ENTER? Entries are still available online (with NO late entry fee) until 12noon Wednesday 11th February. Race Kit Contents At registration you will receive your Race Kit. Contents include: Race Number Plate please pin your unique number plate to the FRONT of the shirt you wear during the run so it is easily visible Safety Pins to pin your number plate to shirt

4 Trail Run Courses The Start/Finish Line The START and FINISH for all trail runs will be located at Slalom Plaza, Falls Creek. Each race will commence with a mass start Self Seeding: Irrespective of which event you are in, we encourage all runners to be realistic about your speed and place yourself in the start chute accordingly ie, fast runners at the front, and slower runners at the back of the chute. Timing will begin from the start line when the horn goes Water will be available in Slalom Plaza (in addition to food/coffee) Course Markings Trail running events are quite different to road running events in that they do require you to look and think about where you are going because, not only will you pass through some lovely wilderness, but you need to KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR COURSE MARKINGS TO MAKE YOUR WAY AROUND. If you have your head up and are looking where you are going, the course will be easy to find and will be marked as follows: ALPINE ASH, SUMMIT SPRINT (Saturday) and HEATHY SPUR (Sunday) Run Courses will be MARKED with: RED arrows (pegged into the ground and fixed to trees or bushes) PINK coloured plastic surveyor s tape (tied to trees or bushes) ROCKY VALLEY Run Course (Sunday) will be MARKED with: GREEN arrows (pegged into the ground and fixed to trees or bushes) GREEN coloured plastic surveyor s tape (tied to trees or bushes) SUNDAY COURSE SPLIT: There will be a CLEAR SIGN showing the Heathy Spur and Rocky Valley COURSE SPLIT. 10km Rocky Valley runners follow GREEN arrow 19km Heathy Spur runners follow RED arrow TRACK INTERSECTIONS: All track intersections will be clearly marked and care should be taken to follow the RED or GREEN ARROWS and TAPE. The PINK or GREEN surveyor s tape will be placed immediately following a track junction to confirm you are on the correct track. Track markings on the longer, straighter sections, where there are no other options or intersections, will be far more spread out so take your time at the intersections to make sure you are on the right track. Unless otherwise marked or directed, competitors should follow the most major track at all intersections. If there is no arrow at a minor track junction then continue along the major track. Water Points Cups of water and electrolyte drink mix will be provided at each of the following water points. Alpine Ash There will be one water point at approx. 5km mark at Howman s Gap Summit Sprint There will be one water point at the summit Rocky Valley There will be one water point where runners turn right and head up the Cloud 9 ski run, approx. 4km mark Heathy Spur There will be 3 water points. One at the 3 km mark at the Roper lookout trail head, one at the 7km mark near Langfords Gap and one at the 15km mark back at the Roper lookout trail head FINISH LINE: Water and electrolyte at Slalom Plaza finish line

5 Alpine Ash Run 10km Race Start: Saturday 14 February 10:00am (Slalom Plaza.) This race takes runners on a journey through some of the mighty Alpine Ash forests that surround the Falls Creek resort. Runners start with a tough climb through the village, past the (secret) wishing well and uphill for some magnificent running above the tree line with views in all directions. Soon enough you'll be careering downhill into the tall timber forest before returning to the village on the historic packhorse trail past the Falls Creek water fall and into the finish at Slalom Plaza. The course will be marked with GREEN arrows and GREEN tape. Exact Length: 9.6km Elevation gain / loss: 570m

6 Summit Sprint 4.2km Race Start: Saturday 14 February 4:00pm (Slalom Plaza.) How quickly can you get from the base of the village to the top of the summit chair and back again in a straight up, lung busting smashfest? This is the ultimate challenge for runners of all abilities. Starting at the Slalom Plaza runners will power up through the streets of the village before tackling the Summit Bowl headwall with a steep, straight up ascent to the top of the chair, to ring the bell and then return back along the same course in a mad-as, downhill dash to the finish. Not a race for the faint hearted, this is a lactic acid overdose that will drain you to the bone. The course will be marked with RED arrows and PINK tape. Exact Length: 4.2km Elevation gain / loss: ~230m

7 Heathy Spur Run 19km Race Start: Sunday 15 February 8:30am (Slalom Plaza.) Pure trail running bliss in an almighty alpine setting. This run will lead competitors deep into the wilderness, past cattleman s huts, through fields of alpine daisy s and across sections of the spectacular Bogong High Plains. You ll run part way round the Rocky Valley Pondage before joining sections of the Alpine Walking Track that stretches out above the tree line providing endless views of alpine peaks in all directions. Turning for home you ll wind down the picturesque Heathy Spur trail as it twists and turns between the snow gums and alpine pastures before depositing you back at the Slalom Plaza at the end of a magnificent run. The course will be marked with RED arrows and PINK tape. Exact Length: 19km Elevation gain / loss: 500m

8 Rocky Valley Run 9.6km Race Start: Sunday 15 February, 9:45am (Slalom Plaza.) This is scenic run that passes through some magnificent areas of the Falls Creek ski area, giving runners a Grand Tour of the resort area by visiting many of the local landmarks including the aquaduct trail, the top of the Summit bowl, the picturesque Rocky Valley Pondage, Cloud 9 and plenty of other well know features above the tree line. The course has some nice flat running along the aqueduct leading to a thigh burning climb up the Towers ski run and then across the tops with views in all directions before a final descent through the snow gums on the flowing MTB single track. The course will be marked with RED arrows and PINK tape. Exact Length: 9.6km Elevation gain / loss: 350m The Terrain The terrain around Falls Creek and the Bogong High Plains includes a lot of rock (as well as wild flowers, shrubs and snowgums!), so the trails you ll be running over are what we d call moderately technical, meaning you need to watch where you put your feet. You won t be scrambling over boulders or jumping rocky gaps (so don t freak out) but it means that you ll do well to be light on your feet and watch where you step so you can keep moving OK. There are a couple of decent hills included in both courses that will see your thighs pumping hard to keep pace, and equally so there are some steep-ish descents that you ll need to concentrate on to avoid getting up-close and personal with a snow gum!

9 Social Adventures Event Functions A range of event functions will be held over the Mountain Raid weekend that we encourage you to attend all functions held in conjunction with the Adventure Racers: Pre Race Pasta Dinner, 6:00pm 8:30pm on Friday Falls Creek Country Club. The Falls Creek Country Club Restaurant will host the Pre Race Pasta Dinner that is simply the perfect way to start your race weekend. This is designed primarily for the Adventure Racers as the dinner flows on to their competitor briefing, but TRAIL RUNERS ARE ALSO MOST WELCOME! Tickets to be pre purchased on the event website (look for the merchandise/dinner tab) or via to Claire - Claire@rapidascent.com.au. Online ticket sales close Wednesday 11 th Feb, 12:00pmEST. Please phone Claire to arrange tickets after this time. Mid race dinner 7:00pm Saturday night. The Last Hoot 9 Slalom St The Last Hoot will host an optional mid event dinner on Saturday night for those wanting a place to congregate and celebrate being at Falls Creek! They serve a range of contemporary Australian foods and have a dish to suit all budgets and tastes with dinner served from 7:00pm. Post race BBQ, 1:00pm 4:00pm on Sunday afternoon in Slalom Plaza Celebrate your accomplishments over race weekend by joining us for a BBQ on Sunday afternoon, adjacent the finish line. Watch the Adventure Racers finish and enjoy the fresh mountain air all afternoon! Follow it on the twitter #mountainraid We will be tweeting plenty of race updates and photos throughout the event weekend so support crews and friends / family know how you re getting on. Follow us on TWITTER: Hash Tag #mountainraid Accommodation We encourage all competitors and their family and friends to make a weekend of it in Falls Creek, so why not book some on mountain accommodation and share in the excitement! View the range of accommodation providers listed on the Travel and Accommodation pages on the event website (including some great specials from Koki Alpine Resort and Cedarwood Apartments) or visit or call FALLS or speak to the reservation centre. Food, Petrol and Supplies Falls Creek has a small Foodworks supermarket at the base of the Slalom Plaza so you can get last minute supplies on mountain otherwise we d suggest you stock up before you get there. There are a number of restaurants open in the Falls Creek Village so there are a few different dining options available. There is NO petrol station at Falls Creek so make sure you fill up before you arrive.

10 Categories and Prizes Categories The following categories will be recognised in the Trail Run for the LONG & SHORT course distances: Under 20 Male and Female 20-39yrs Male and Female 40-49yrs Male and Female 50-59yrs Male and Female 60+yrs Male and Female Categories will be determined by your age on race day. Prizes A prize will be awarded for 1st in each category listed above. King and Queen of the Mountain: An aggregate points score based on overall placings will be calculated for runners who compete The Alpine Ash Run, The Summit Sprint and The Heathy Spur Run. eg. Runner A records overall a 1st place, a 5th place and a 3rd place in the three runs. His points tally would be 9 points. In the situation of two competitors having equal points the winner will be decided by whoever records the higher placing in The Heathy Spur Run. First place overall male and female (irrespective of age) in this aggregate will be awarded a prize as King and Queen of the Mountain! Rules and Safety Race Rules The rules listed below are for the 2015 Falls Creek Mountain Raid Trail Run The rules listed below are the final rules for the event: Juniors only - (under 18 on race day) must have their parent or guardian read and sign an authorisation and indemnity. Competitors must follow the complete course as marked and directed. Taking shortcuts or using any unfair means of obtaining an advantage over other competitors will result in disqualification. It is the competitor s responsibility to ensure that the correct course is followed Your race number must be visible at all times on the outside of your clothing (at the front). Littering is prohibited. Competitors shall not receive any external assistance on the course One competitor cannot provide assistance in forward progression through physical pushing / pulling / towing, or the provision of food or drinks to a competitor in another category except in emergency circumstances Australian Road Rules apply at all times on all roads, tracks and trails Any competitor who withdraws from the race MUST notify an official. This is an essential requirement to avoid unnecessary searches being conducted and emergency services being engaged All runners are permitted to lodge protests against results or decisions enforced during the event. A judging panel of three Rapid Ascent Directors will adjudicate on all protests and other contentious matters, and their decision will be final Rapid Ascent has sole discretion to alter or amend the race rules in order to increase the safety of participants or for any other reason deemed appropriate If the race is cancelled or called off after it has started, it is each competitor s responsibility to get themselves to the start / finish area as soon as you have been notified of the cancellation

11 Fire Safety and Extreme Weather We are in constant communication with Falls Creek Resort Management (FCRM), Parks Victoria (PV) and the CFA about the prospect of a fire and / or extreme weather in the region of the event. We have made a commitment not to compromise the safety of any competitors, any FCRM, CFA, PV or DEPI personnel dispatched to attend a fire or weather incident, any private land owners or the wilderness and surrounding areas as a result of the Falls Creek Mountain Raid. As a result, there is a chance that the course could change on the day or the event could be cancelled. The event will only be cancelled if there are extreme weather conditions in the area over the entire weekend and it is determined that the danger is too great to permit runners to go through the course. Any change of course, evacuation or event cancellation will be communicated to competitors as soon and as safely as possible, through any of the following means: SMS sent to competitors mobile phones At the event registration area on Sunday morning When runners are assembled at the start line Directional arrows stating Emergency proceed direct to Finish All messages will be copied and placed on the official event notice board in front of the registration area and on the event website at Once again, these changes would be a last resort, but we respect your safety, the landowners, residents, flora and fauna of this beautiful part of the world in extreme circumstances.