We are thrilled to have you join us for the Mudgee Running Festival this weekend. Whether it is your first time running with us, or you have been many times before, we hope you are as excited as we are for this event.
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Race Number Pick Up
You can pick up your race number (with timing chip attached), at our race HQ, in the covered picnic table section of Lawson Park (on Short St), Mudgee, from 2pm to 5pm on Saturday, or up to 25 minutes before your scheduled race start time on Sunday. Safety pins will be available for those who need some.
All you need is your phone. To check-in:
1. Scan our check-in QR code displayed in Lawson Park
2. Enter your phone number
3. Receive a code via text
4. Enter the code on the webpage on your phone
5. Your entry details will be retrieved
6. Take your phone to the Registration Desk
7. Pickup your race number and any merchandise
If you don’t have a phone with you, please bring some ID to the Registration Desk to complete your rego. If someone is picking your number up for you, they will need to provide some ID and some proof they have permission to pick your number up (eg SMS, email).
When you registered, an email from mycrowd@crowdcatcher.co was sent to you titled “Mudgee Running Festival 2024”.
Weather and What to Wear
The current weather forecast is 6° to 15°, cloudy, but with no rain. There has been some recent rain in the region, so we expect a little bit of water on the causeway in Tinja Ln.
Please be prepared for the cold conditions early in the morning, especially if you are not used to it. Consider wearing gloves, beanies, etc. Clothing can be discarded at the south Tinja Ln aid station, after 4km (except in the 5km event), and these items will be returned to race HQ in Lawson Park by 10:15. Runners in the Marathon and Half Marathon are running on open (but quiet) roads, and we recommend that you wear bright coloured clothing to increase your visibility.
Headphones and earbuds are not allowed. This is a safety issue, as you need to be alert to your surroundings. Bone conducting headphones that don’t block your hearing are permitted.
Bag Drop
We will have a bag drop at Race HQ. Please label your bag clearly and hand it to a race volunteer. Please do not leave valuables in your bag, as we can’t guarantee their safety.
Race Briefing and Start Times
Marathon and Half Marathon 6:45 am briefing 7:00 am start
10km Run 7:45 am briefing 8:00 am start
5km Run 10:45 am briefing 11:00 am start
Race Briefings will be held at Race HQ in Lawson Park. The briefings are compulsory and will cover all changes to the general conduct of the race, safety concerns, and conditions on the day.
The marathon and half marathon will start on Ulan Rd, next to Lawson Park, just before Hollyoak Bridge. The 10km and 5km events will start in Lawson Park between the river and the children’s play area. Competitors will be asked to self-seed according to expected finishing times.
The Races
Keep left when running, unless otherwise directed by an official or marshal. The marathon and half marathon courses have some sections on open roads, where you must run as far left as practical. Most sections of the course have runners going in both directions. Large parts of the 10km and 5km events are on two-directional bike paths. Do not run in the middle of the path, unless overtaking. Always be aware of your surroundings. Any competitors found to be acting unsafe may be subjected to a penalty, including disqualification.
The Courses
The courses are the same as our 2023 event, apart from a small route change near the half-way point of the marathon.
Marathon and Half Marathon: These events start on Ulan Rd adjacent to Lawson Park, then head left at the roundabout into Glen Willow. From here you follow closed roads up to Tinja Ln, where the roads become open. Part of the Tinja Ln section is on dirt.
The Half Marathon turnaround is 800m down Eurunderee Rd. Marathon runners continue past this point, turn onto Black Springs Rd and up to their turnaround on Lowes Peak.
The return through Glen Willow for both races follows a slightly different course and returns competitors to Lawson Park via bike paths for the last 5km. The race finishes in Lawson Park at our usual finish line beside the river.
The total cut-off time for the marathon is 5 hours, 30 minutes (12:30 pm) with a cut-off time of 4 hours at the drink station on the corner of Eurunderee Road and Craigmoor Road, which is at approximately the 33 km mark. Competitors will be asked to remove their number if they don’t make these cut-off times, and offered a lift to Race HQ. No further Aid Station support will be provided after the cut-ff time.
10km: This race starts in Lawson Park and heads out through Glen Willow via bike paths. You then run up Putta Bucca Rd (closed to traffic) before turning around on Tinja Ln. Keep left as you return to via the same route, before heading to the finish line in Lawson Park.
Note: You will pass and overtake half marathon runners during the race, so competitors will need to keep left.
5km: This race follows the same route as previous years, starting in Lawson Park before heading out to Glen Willow via bike paths, and returning the same way.
Special Needs
Special Needs are available for those doing the half and full marathons. All special needs need to be clearly marked with your bib name, bib number and aid station. Please put your special needs in the correct basket on race morning, or during race kit collection.
Marathon: There are two separate special needs aid stations, that you pass a total of 5 times. The first one is on Eurunderee Lane, between Craigmoor Rd and Henry Lawson Dr. Marathon runners will pass this twice, once at 9km and again on the way back after 32km.
The second one is at the corner of Black Springs Rd and Schools Ln, and passed three times (18km, 20km and 22km).
Half Marathon: There is one special needs aid station that you pass twice, at the 9km and 12km marks (same as the Marathon 9km and 32km point).
Aid Stations
Marathon: There will be 14 Aid Stations along the course, all providing water, Endura, lollies, wipes, lollies, Vaseline & toilet paper.
Half Marathon: There will be seven drink stations along the course, all providing water, Endura. wipes, lollies, Vaseline & toilet paper.
10km: There is one Aid Station near the suspension bridge that you pass twice (at 2km and 8km), and a further Aid Station near the turnaround point, approximately halfway. Water, Endura, wipes, Vaseline and lollies will be available at these aid stations.
5km: There is one Aid Station near the suspension bridge, that you pass twice. Water, Endura, wipes, Vaseline and lollies will be available
Medical
Emergency First Aid is available at Race Headquarters in Lawson Park. If you feel unwell, please do not start your race. If you feel unwell during the race and can’t continue, head to the nearest Aid Station and notify a race volunteer. If you withdraw for any reason, notify a race volunteer.
Presentation
Presentations will be held at the following times:
Half Marathon and 10km – 10:00 am
Marathon and 5km – 12:00 pm
All finishers get a medal, and these will be presented to each competitor at the finish line area. The top three overall, and the first person in each age group will receive an additional prize.
Parking
There is ample parking in Short Street and the nearby side streets. There are no parking time restrictions, however, do not park on the grass median strip in Short St. This is not allowed.
Facilities
Toilets, change rooms, and showers can be found in the Swimming Pool complex next to Race HQ. Food and drink caravans are also available at Race HQ.
Lawson Park provides a lovely atmosphere alongside the Cudgegong River. There is also a playground, walking tracks and exercise equipment throughout the park area. Please take care to watch small children as there are no barriers or fencing along the river’s edge.
See you on the weekend!