Leg 1. Knowsley to Knowsley
4.8 km

Google Map Link (Knowsley)

Leg 2. Knowsley to Moorabbee Foreshore Road
3.3 km (flat with slight undulations)

Google Map Link (Knowsley)
Google Map Link (Moorabbee Foreshore Road)

Leg 3. Morrabbee Foreshore Rd to Derrinal Station
4.3km (mainly flat but good downhill section)

Google Map Link (Moorabbee Foreshore Road)
Google Map Link (Derrinal Station)

Leg 4. Derrinal Station to Mia Mia Rd
2.9 km (very gradual incline in some parts)

Google Map Link (Derrinal Station)
Google Map Link (Mia Mia Rd)

Leg 5. Mia Mia Rd to Speed St
3km (gradual incline in first half before mainly flat finish)

Google Map Link (Mia Mia Rd)
Speed Street (Google Maps)

Leg 6. Speed St to Barrack Reserve (Finish Line)
2.9km (gradual incline in first half before mainly flat finish)

Speed Street (Google Maps)
Google Map Link (Barrack Reserve)

Bibs:

Team Captains will be required to collect their race packs from:

• Full-Ekiden – Marathon Start Line: Barrack Reserve on the morning of the event, unless otherwise arranged.
• Mini-Eki – Half Marathon Start Line: Knowsley on the morning of the event, unless otherwise arranged.

Do we ALL need to attend the Pre-Race briefing?

No. Only the first runner needs to attend the Pre-Race briefing just prior to the race start.

 

Do we carry a baton or a sash?

(Example only)

Every member of the team when running their relay leg will wear the Ekiden Sash. It is like a relay baton and passed from runner to runner at the changeover points.

The sashes can be collected either at Bib Collection OR at the race start.

 

Is there transport provided for the Ekiden Relay?

Ekiden Relay teams must manage their own team transport to and from each checkpoint.

‘First leg’ runners may book to travel on the bus to the Half Marathon start line in Barrack Reserve with the other Half Marathon competitors. Please note there is no bus for the marathon this year as it starts and finishes in Heathcote. The cost of these spots is $5 for the bus.

This bus will be leaving Heathcote in High St near Barrack Reserve at 7:50am for the Marathon start in Junortoun. Bookings essential.

Is there a ‘Bag Drop’?

Please make sure your own transport person collects your warm-up clothes if you leave them behind. The runner that you take the Ekiden Sash from may also collect your clothing. Alternatively, wear clothes that are going to the opportunity shop as clothes discarded on the day will be donated to charity.

 

Parking in Heathcote

 

It is essential that instructions are followed from parking marshals. There is plenty of parking at the race start.

 Parking at Barrack Reserve in Heathcote

There is limited parking available close to Barrack Reserve at the event finish site. Nearby options include the Heathcote Primary School car park off Herriot St and also the Former Heathcote Railway station site, which is also on Herriot St and is the former O’Keefe Rail Trail Marathon finish location. These locations are a short 10 minute walk from the event finish site.

Parking at the Half Marathon Race Start – Knowsley

 

It is essential that instructions are followed from parking marshals. There is plenty of parking at the race start for the competitors.

Parking – Parking is available in the recreation reserve car park to the right of the Knowsley CFA. These spaces are to the right hand side of the start line area. We ask people DO NOT park cars on Moorabee Road between Moorabee Road and Bywater Street.

 

Parking at Changeovers

 

Please follow the directions of the parking marshals at each Changeover. Whilst there is traffic management in place for the runners, all drivers are required to abide by road rules.

Event Catering for Spectators

At the race finish at Barrack Reserve, there will be a BBQ and coffee from local community vendors.

Are there toilets along the route/s?

Yes! There will be official toilets located along the route/s at each of the Ekiden Relay Changeovers.

There will also be toilets at the start and finish locations. (When you’ve gotta go, you’ve gotta go)

 

What First Aid is available?

Basic First Aid is available at all Relay changeover stations. There are event nurses at the finish line also.

We also ask other runners to be observant if they see an athlete in trouble and notify aid stations. A ‘Tail end’ rider will also be out on the trail.

Are the drink stations along the route?

Yes. There will be drink and aid stations, manned by local volunteer groups, along all course routes and at the start and finish locations. Please note these are water only.

Runners can have drinks or gels handed to them by support people or family along the Trail. We ask though for any helpers not to obstruct other runners. There is no sports drinks provided and only water.

These stations are situated roughly every 4km – 5km along the Marathon course.

Cattle Grids

The 10 cattle grids between Heathcote and Knowsley which will be covered in this year’s event. The covers are wide enough to fit two runners wide. Some runners though may have the agility to get over them easily with one step in the middle without an issue if a runner is just ahead blocking their way. These have never caused any issues.

Roads and Course Management

There are over 20 road crossings, most are minor road crossings with normally small numbers of houses in the area.

Most major road crossings will have qualified traffic management personal there to stop traffic.
Most minor roads will have traffic marshals only that will have flags. Even though if it is very unlikely you see a red flag, you must stop. A yellow flag means ‘cross with caution’.

‘Event In Progress’ Signage will be around all roads warning of runners. Everything has been done to ensure your safety, but we also share the area with all others and it is not a closed athletics track.

On some cross roads you will see a set of upside down U-shaped poles with red on it. Unless indicated, you must run between them. There are several when you enter the residential area of Heathcote where you do cross over a few roads. 

 

The Final Relay Runner 

Please ensure the final relay runner crosses the finish line!

If the other runners want to link arms with their final runner and run the last 200 metres on the oval, we encourage this. Your team has gone on a long journey. Just be respectful of other runners if they are behind you completing other events.

Are there cut off times for this event?

To reduce the time commitment of our volunteers and our road closure teams, there is a cut off times of 6 hours for the full ekiden and 5 hours for the mini-ekiden.

Participants outside of these cut off times will not be removed from the course, but will need to obey all normal road rules. Unfortunately, they will not receive an official electronic time in the official results, however, they will receive a Finishers medal.

Will I receive a participants medal or badge?

Yes, all finishers will receive a Participants’ medal or badge at the finish line.
IF you are ran an earlier leg of the Ekiden Relay, please speak with our finish line officials and show your bib to collect your bib.

Where will I find our results?

Results will be published on our Results page by Multisport Australia within 4 hours of the event finish. Please note that only the total team time will be officially recorded, not the individual legs.

Race Presentation

The race presentation for the winners of the Ekiden Relays will be held as close to 12 noon as possible. There is a strong possibility it may be later as some teams will not be in by this time and so all categories will not have been decided.