THE torturous Tower Trail Run will return this Sunday and is anticipated to be the biggest and most difficult yet.
Over 300 competitors from all corners of the state are expected to tackle the growing long-distance event, which now includes five scenic courses around the Valley Lakes precinct.
There is a distance to suit any age or ability, with layouts ranging from a new 5km loop to the giant 56km ultra marathon course.
Other options include a 42km marathon, 21km half-marathon and a 10km loop.
Each loop has approximately 420m of elevation gain, which results in a daunting 1972m of climbing for the 56km runners.
This year’s event has attracted record numbers thanks to its addition to the South Australian series of long-distance trail events calendar.
It is expected to bring over 200 tourists to the region, with around 70pc of entrants from outside the Limestone Coast.
Event organiser Phil Ackland said the elevation to the SA series has given the ever-growing event another boost to reach record numbers.
“It has grown quite a bit in the last five years and the inclusion of the series has definitely played a role in that,” he said.
“Overall we are looking at over 300 entrants, while we had 205 last year.
“It definitely has attracted quite a bit of interest from runners in the Adelaide region.
“The addition (to the series) has brought a lot more people to the event because they want to be part of the series this year, which is the attraction.”
Ackland said the tourism aspect was a goal he wanted to achieve when he started the Tower Trail run five years ago.
“The event has always been to make a bit of a tourism draw to the region and get other people in to do it,” he said.
“I have done a few trail events over the years and if anyone locally wanted to do those sorts of things, we had to travel somewhere else and pay for everything that goes along with it.
“So we thought we should have our own thing here, where the reverse happens and the people come to us.
“It is good to see that happening now.”
Ackland said the event has slowly grown one step at a time in a deliberate manner.
“It has been going for about five years and has grown from a small group run into a larger event,” he said.
“We did not start everything at once, it has progressed one piece at a time, quite deliberately.
“Last year was the first time we had the 56km event as an option and 25 people competed.
“This year there will be a tick over 80, so that particular distance event has grown significantly in just 12 months.”
Ackland said the loop layout of the course separates this event from others in the South Australian series.
“Here some people find the multi-loop thing a challenge in itself,” he said.
“We use the style because we have got long stretching volcanic craters along a mountain range.
“One of the benefits of the multi-loop aspect is people are always returning through the hub which can generate a positive vibe through the day.”
Runners will have a wide range of challenges thrown their way around the picturesque, yet challenging circuit, which winds its way past some of the region’s most iconic tourist attractions such as the Blue Lake, Centenary Tower, Valley Lakes, old hospital and Leg of Mutton Lake.
It is an “amazing” element of the Tower Trail which Ackland said stuns travelling competitors.
“We always get really good feedback from visitors,” he said.
“As locals you tend to take what you have for granted, because it is just there and you see it all the time, but whenever tourists come in and run around the lakes area, they just rave about it how amazing and awesome it is.
“It opens your eyes a bit then to have another look at it and think, yes that is pretty good.”
Some of the region’s top endurance talent will be on show, including last year’s overall 56km winner Brad Tilley from Millicent.
Tilley will return for another crack at the ultra 56km layout and strive for back-to-back titles.
Fresh off their pending Guinness World Record attempt, the tireless Penola couple Justin and Kate McDonald, will be another star attraction on the day.
After they recently completed a half-marathon for 77 days straight, the McDonald’s will take part in the slightly more modest 10km race.
Both have tasted success at the Tower Trail last year, as Kate won the women’s 56km in impressive fashion to finish sixth overall, while Justin finished runner-up to Tilley.
Ackalnd said the event puts a greater emphasis on the participation aspect rather than the overall results.
“Most of the focus is on the participation side of it,” he said.
“Just getting involved and creating the right atmosphere across the whole field is what it is all about.”
The Tower Trail will kick off at 7am with the start of the 56km event, while the shorter races will start as the day goes on.
The Tower Trail Run hub and start/finish line will be located at the old hospital’s laundry room.
