MOUNT Gambier’s scenic lakes area will host the city’s annual Tower Trail run on Sunday, with an expected 200 competitors to line up for a range of distances.
The event, which last year boasted a 42km marathon distance, along with 10km and 21km options, will see runners able to participate in a 56km ultramarathon distance, the first of its kind for the Blue Lake city.
Tower Trail run event director Phil Ackland started the trail run in hopes to attract people from outside Mount Gambier and create a drawcard for runners both out of town and interstate.
“It’s an event we have run for about five years officially,” he said.
“It started as a bit of a group run and then it formed into an annual event.
“And now the last few years it has had electronic timing, a crew comes down from Adelaide and does the timing for us.”
Each year has seen the participation increase and the new ultramarathon distance is sure to attract even more keen athletes who are eager to test their fitness.
“The event has grown each year,” Ackland said.
“Initially it was just a 10km loop, then we added a 21km version and the following year there was a 42km marathon distance.
“Now this year we are going to include the ultramarathon distance.”
With current figures showing about 56pc of total entrants are from outside Mount Gambier, Ackland said he is pleased with this statistic.
“For me I have always wanted it to be a drawcard for other runners to come into Mount Gambier,” he said.
“I have done quite a few events myself and there is a growing number of people doing running events and we are always having to travel.
“The big thing for me was to bring one to Mount Gambier.
“We are drawing people from other areas into Mount Gambier and they they are staying in town and spending their money.
“We have entrants from Sydney and some from Queensland coming for it.”
Also among the entrants are many Adelaide runners and Ackland said those who competed last year are returning with friends after raving about the event.
On a local level, one Mount Gambier runner who will take on the ultramarathon distance is Centenary Tower caretaker Ben Deering.
Having moved to the Blue Lake City around a year ago, Deering is excited for the event, as he takes on the distance for the first time.
“I have not run this far before,” he said.
“But you do a lot of training to make sure you know what you are capable of, so I am more excited than anything.”
Deering said he is not surprised of the growing participation numbers, with the trail not only challenging, but providing great scenery along the way.
“It is such a unique setting and even in the colder months it is still beautiful,” he said.
“I can understand why more and more people are coming.”
Having ran his first marathon back in 2004 in Holland, Deering said his only concern is the hilly landscape of the Tower Trail.
However, he remains enthused for the run and joked tackling the hill to the Centenary Tower each day has helped him prepare for this aspect of the run.
The hub for the event will be the old laundry building, which will also act as the start and finish line for races, while a pop-up store will also be situated in this location.
Those competing in the 10km and 21km events are required to be at least 16-years-old, while the two marathon distances have a benchmark of 18-and-older.
The ultramarathon will kick off the day with a 7am start, with the final cut-off for all runners at 4pm.
Starting times: 56km – 7am; 42km – 7.15am; 21km – 8am; 10.5km – 9.30am.
