A-Z Guide for the O’Keefe Challenge

Here’s our A-Z guide to The O’Keefe Challenge:

Acknowledgements

Firstly, we acknowledge the Taungurung as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the land upon which we are hosting our event and through which our participants will run and walk.

Accommodation

Looking for a place to stay pre- or post-race?
Find a bed in Bendigo:
Find a bed in Heathcote:

Age Limits

 All age limits are calculated on the date of the event.

The minimum and maximum ages for each event is as follows, as per guidance from Athletics Victoria

  • Marathon – must be aged 18 or older on the date of the event.
  • Half Marathon – must be aged 16 or older on the date of the event.
  • Teams Relay – must be aged 16 or older on the date of the event.
  • 10km – All children under the age of 13 years must be accompanied by an adult
  • 5km Run/Walk – All children under the age of 13 years must be accompanied by an adult
  • 1km – Children under the age of 13 years ONLY.
  • 500m Dash – Children under the age of 10 years ONLY.
  • Night ride – must be aged 12 or older on the date of the event.

Parent or Guardian Permission

If a participant is under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must agree to all entry conditions on behalf of the participant.

Aid Stations

There will be drink and aid stations, manned by local community volunteer groups (thanks vollies!), along all course routes and at the start and finish locations.
There are TOILETS at each of these aid stations.
We will have lollies and water at ALL aid stations this year.
All Aid Stations are accessible by support crew, so if an athlete has specific dietary or electrolyte requirements we encourage you to self-cater.
GELS!
Each Marathon and Half Marathon entrant will be given a ‘PURE Sports Nutrition‘ energy gel at bib collection that they can carry with them, with additional gels provided at selected aid stations (Knowsley, Derrinal Station and Speed Street).
For more information on Pure Sports Nutrition, please visit their website here >
Please check the list below for specific Aid Station locations, and be sure to check the course maps, too.

MARATHON – Aid Stations

WATER / AID STATIONS LOCATIONS, including distance from start (Distance from last station)

  1. Mia-Mia Derrinal Rd – Outbound 6.4km (6.4km from last station)
  2. Derrinal Station – Outbound 9.1km (2.7km from last station)*
  3. Moorabee-Foreshore Rd – Outbound 13.5km (4.4km)
  4. Knowsley – Outbound 16.9km (3.4km)*
  5. Knowsley Forest (Turnaround) 21km (4.1km)
  6. Knowsley – Inbound 25km (4km)*
  7. Moorabee-Foreshore Rd – Inbound 28.5km (3.5km)
  8. Derrinal Station – Inbound 33.5km (5km)*
  9. Mia-Mia Derrinal Rd – Inbound 36.3km (2.8km)
  10. Speed Street – Inbound 39.3km (3km)*
  11. FINISH 42.2km – Finish (2.9km)

HALF MARATHON – Aid Stations

Knowsley – Startline – 0 km
Knowsley (Second passing) – 5 km
Morabbee-Foreshore Road – 7.5 km
Derrinal Station – 9.5 km
Mia-Mia / Derrinal Road – 12.5 km
Speed Street (Heathcote) – 17 km
Barrack Reserve (Finish) – 21.1km

All above locations have toilet facilities.

10km – Aid Stations

Speed Street (Heathcote) – 5km
Showgrounds – (Water only – no toilets) – 7km
Barrack Reserve (Finish) – 10km

All above locations have toilet facilities except those marked ‘water only’.

5km – Aid Stations

Showgrounds – (Water only – no toilets) – 2.5km
Barrack Reserve (Finish) – 5km

Please note there are no toilets on course for the 5km event. Please go beforehand or hold on until after you cross the finish line!

Ambulance Cover

The Ambulance service is not a free service in Victoria. It’s your responsibility to check your health cover and ensure you are covered for ambulance cover in the case of an emergency.

To arrange cover with Ambulance Victoria, visit http://www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/

Animals and prams

  • No dogs are allowed on course or at the Event Village.
  • Prams are permitted in the Half Marathon, 10km, 5km, 1km Kids Race, but must start at the rear of the field at the start line, take extreme care and be alert to other participants.
  • Prams are not permitted in the Ekiden and Mini-Ekiden Relays.

App for Results

Download the ‘SportSplits’ app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and look-up ‘The O’Keefe Challenge’.
Within the app, you’ll find maps, live results and event news.

Bag Drop

For bags you want to leave while you are running, these can be checked in when you register and pick up your bib. Please have them with you ready to leave at the check-in desk. Your bib will have a tear-off tag to wrap around your bag.

  • We ask that you provide your gear in your own labelled, zipped “Woolworths-style” bag where practical.
  • We will have some basic bag tags available for you to write your name / bib number on.
  • We will collect these bags from the Half Marathon start line (Knowsley) and drop them at Barrack Reserve for collection later.
  • Bag collection will be manned by volunteers.

Bib Collection / Race Numbers

Race Bibs will be available for collection at each start line from one hour prior to the start time for each event.
  • Night Ride: Axedale / Bendigo (depending on the distance you are riding).
  • Marathon & Ekiden Relay: Barrack Reserve, Heathcote
  • Half Marathon & Mini-Eki: Knowsley.
  • 10km, 5km, 1km, 500m: Barrack Reserve, Heathcote

Participants will be sent an email with their Bib Number on it approximately 24 hours prior to the event.

These race bibs carry a timing chip which records each participant’s time.

Bibs – why have them?

There’s three reasons for you to have a bib on during your event:

  1. It will record your time as you cross the finish line.
  2. It helps us identify you if you are hurt, injured or need First Aid.
  3. On the back there is our Event Emergency Contact phone numbers.

Bibs – What’s my number?

You can look-up your bib number (or that of a friend or foe!) at any time via this link >

URL: https://raceroster.com/events/2024/75793/okeefe-challenge-2024/bib-lookup 

Bus to start line

Half Marathon: Departs Heathcote on High Street near Barrack Reserve at 7:50am sharp.

Please note you MUST have pre-booked a seat online during registration.
If you wish to add a Bus ticket to your order, you can click on ‘Store‘ on the registration page or click this link >
Please note there is NO return bus transportation back to the respective start lines from Heathcote after the events.

Bag Drop

  • We ask that you provide your gear in your own labelled, zipped “Woolworths-style” bag where practical.
  • We will have some basic bag tags available for you to write your name / bib number on.
  • We will collect these bags from the Marathon start line (Junortoun) and the Half Marathon start line (Knowsley) and drop them at Barrack Reserve for collection later.
  • Bag collection will be manned by volunteers.

Coffee

Huzzah! There’ll be coffee at Barrack Reserve through the Market.
We are also seeking a coffee provider at Knowsley for the Half Marathon start. (To be confirmed, we do love our coffee!)

Course Markings – Follow the Red Hoops & the arrows

The Marathon and Half Marathon and Relay courses all follow the O’Keefe Rail Trail and is clearly marked with red and silver reflective tape and hoops and directional arrow signage. There are also white wooden posts with ‘O’Keefe Rail Trail’ at cross roads along the way. There are arrows at all key intersection and decision points.

Course Description – Marathon & Ekiden Relay – Out and Back.

The course direction is fairly simple in that you follow the magnificent O’Keefe Rail Trail for most of your journey out and back from Heathcote.

Tens of thousands of people ride, run and walk along here each year and it is extremely well marked with signs at each crossing.

START AREA

We start in Camp Street and will head east towards Heathcote Hospital for 500metres before taking a U-turn and returning back towards the start.

You’ll then take a sharp left hand turn up a narrow path behind the Heathcote Skate Park. This path winds uphill gently until it reaches the O’Keefe Rail Trail where the athletes turn right.

HEATHCOTE – OUTBOUND

 After following the O’Keefe Rail Trail to Holy Rosary Primary School on the corner of Pohlman and Ebden Street in Heathcote, you’ll turn towards Bendigo for the long journey outbound.

From here the trail weaves and winds through bushland, past Lake Eppalock and through paddocks to Knowsley township.

KNOWSLEY TO THE TURN AROUND AND BACK

Once you reach Knowsley, it’s a quick left right right on some local roads that connects you to the next section of the O’Keefe Rail Trail towards Knowsley Forest. Once in Knowsley Forest, marathon athletes will run PAST the HALF MARATHON turnaround before coming to the far turnaround loop.

This loop will take you off the O’Keefe Rail Trail with a right hand track (there will be signs and marshals) before joining Hicksons Track and turning right again. Follow this back towards Heathcote (west) for approximately 2 kilometres.

From here it’s a blast back towards Heathcote. Heads-up there’s a steady climb over the final 8 km, so save yourself for this!

HEATHCOTE – FINISHING

Once you arrive back into Heathcote, you’ll turn LEFT into Pohlman Street from Ebden Street at the Holy Rosary Primary School. Follow Pohlman Street across High Street (the highway) and then turn RIGHT into Wright Street. Wright Street will lead you all the way to the rear of Barrack Reserve near the lawn bowls club. To enter Barrack Reserve, follow the road on the left and then you’ll arrive at the oval. After a short run on the grass, you’ll arrive at the O’Keefe Challenge poppet heads at the finish line!

Course Description – Half Marathon & Mini-EKi

KNOWSLEY TO THE TURN AROUND AND BACK

From the startline in Knowsley, you’ll turn right onto Bywater Street, then onto some local roads that connects you to the next section of the O’Keefe Rail Trail towards Knowsley Forest.

You will head back up the trail towards Bendigo until you reach 2.3 kilometres from the startline. At this point, you will be in Knowsley Forest, you will do a U-turn at the ‘HALF MARATHON TURNAROUND’ sign. There will be a marshal and witches hats at this turnaround point. You will then come back along the trail and head to the gate across the road from here. Please stay to the LEFT on the trail where possible.

KNOWSLEY TO HEATCOTE

Once you return to Knowsley. you continue onwards on The O’Keefe Rail Trail as weaves and winds through bushland, past Lake Eppalock and through paddocks towards Heathcote. Heads-up: there’s a steady climb over the final 8 km, so save yourself for this!

HEATHCOTE – FINISHING

Once you arrive into Heathcote, you’ll turn LEFT into Pohlman Street from Ebden Street at the Holy Rosary Primary School. Follow Pohlman Street across High Street (the highway) and then turn RIGHT into Wright Street. Wright Street will lead you all the way to the rear of Barrack Reserve near the lawn bowls club. To enter Barrack Reserve, follow the road on the left and then you’ll arrive at the oval. After a short run on the grass, you’ll arrive at the O’Keefe Challenge poppet heads at the finish line!

Cut Off

All courses will close at 2:00pm.
The Race Director and Event Management team will liaise with any athletes still on course to ensure they are safe and able to reach family and friends.

Dress Ups!

Dress ups and bright costumes are encouraged and welcomed for our Friday Night Social Ride and the 500m Superhero Kids Dash!

Entertainment

More than just a fun run or walk!  Be sure to bring the family for a great day out, featuring the famous Heathcote Bush Market, mega climbing wall, laser tag inflatable and S.A.F.E archery to try out on Barrack Reserve throughout the day. Proudly presented by the Heathcote Community House.

Event Schedule

Please check and review the event schedule here:

Finisher Medals

Every finisher in events 5km and longer will receive a Finishers Medal.
Participants in the Kids Dash events will receive a finishers ribbon!

First Aid and Medical

A qualified first aid team has been engaged at Barrack Reserve. There are also first aid trained volunteers at all Aid Stations on course.

Regardless of this support, everyone should help another athlete or runner in serious trouble if they come across them.

Maps

Maps are available for download on each of the relevant pages:

Merch

We will t-shirts, singlets and running t-shirts – all produced in Bendigo region – available to buy pre-event and on the day.
Visit: https://raceroster.com/store/60540/listing 

Parking

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 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.

Photos

The team from ‘Bendigo Photos’ will be taking photos throughout the event – both on course and in the village. These photos will be available for purchase after the event. If you do not wish to be photographed, please cross your arms in an ‘x’ across your chest and our snappers will skip you.

There will also be photo booth at the Event Village to capture memories of the day.

After the event, you can head to  https://marathonevent.photos/

Presentations and Prizes

Presentations will be held at 7:30pm on the Friday for the night ride.
Presentations will be held between 11:00am – 11:30am on the Sunday.
Please note this year for the running events we’ll ONLY be presenting Awards to the overall 1st, 2nd and 3rd placegetters.
Prizes are locally sourced gift boxes through the Heathcote Visitor Information Centre, which includes some of the finest wares of our region’s independent producers.

Refunds and Withdrawals

Please check our Terms & Conditions page for details of Refund options.

If you are withdrawing prior to the event, you do not need to notify us.

If you are withdrawing during the event, we ask that you notify the Event Director (number is on the back of your bib), a course marshal or Aid Station volunteer so that we know you have left the course.

Relays Information

We have over 20 relay teams signed up and ready to run!

Results

We will have timing locations at the Marathon startline, Axedale,  Knowsley, Derrinal and the Finish line.
All results will be published here:

Rules

  • Participants should stay LEFT at all times on course to allow space for other competitors.
  • Participants must follow the directions of course officials and marshals at all times. Failure to do so may result in immediate disqualification without the right of appeal or refund.
  • Participants consent to receive medical treatment which may be deemed advisable in the event of injury, accident and/or illness during the Event.
  • Participants, if supplied with a race bib, must wear their race number bib on their front at all times during their event.
  • Participants that Event Officials consider unlikely to be to reach the finish within the advertised time limit may be directed to withdraw from the event. In these circumstances the participant will voluntarily remove themselves from the course without liability to the Event Organiser.
  • Participants who fail to complete the course should report to race officials at the finish area or the closest aid station.
  • Dogs are not permitted on course or in the Event Village.

Seeding and Starting Procedures

All races are self-seeded. Please position yourself for the start based on your running pace, your ability and your expectations for the run.

The start procedure will the race starter call ‘On The Marks’, followed by a gun, whistle or siren.

Social Media and Strava

Hashtag your pics on social media – #okeefechallenge

Sponsors

Yes, we have them and they are amazing. We really couldn’t do this without them. Here they are, please do visit their websites to find out more about them:

Gold Sponsor:

Mandalay Resources

Major Sponsors:

Connallys Real Estate
Fosterville Gold Mine

Supporting Sponsors:

Emu Downs Contracting
RUC Mining
Heathcote Lions Club
Easy Tow Boat Trailers
Ben Stolz Myotherapy

Toilets

Don’t worry, we’ve got plenty of toilet spots on course and at the start and finish lines for each event.

There are Accessible Toilets at Barrack Reserve Clubrooms at the finish area at the western end of the Barrack Reserve precinct.

There are also public toilets at the eastern end of the Barrack Reserve precinct, near the Visitor Information Centre.

Please refer to the “A – Aid Stations” list above to find out where the toilets are on course for your event.

Note that all of the locations listed have toilets EXCEPT for the locations marked “water only”.

Please note there are no toilets on course for the 5km event. Please go beforehand or hold on until after you cross the finish line

Visit Bendigo and Heathcote

While you’re here, see the Bendigo Art Gallery, enjoy a wine tasting in and around Heathcote or enjoy the Central Deborah Gold Mine.

Night Ride – Specific Information

What do I need to bring with me to participate in the cycling events?

You’ll need to bring your own road legal bicycle, helmet, lights, water and comfortable clothing.

Lights

If you are participating in the night ride, you will need to have decent white forward-facing lighting on your bike of a sufficient level for you to see the Trail in full darkness without the help of others. We recommend around 300 lumens.
At least one red rear light is mandatory on all bikes.
Pre-ride checks will be conducted by the Ride Coordination team to ensure bikes have lights and working brakes.

Are the cycling events ‘races’?
No. Our cycling events are simply recreational, social rides aimed to encourage people and their families to enjoy the O’Keefe Rail Trail and it’s surrounds. No event timing will be provided and no prizes for first, second or third will be awarded.

Getting Back – D.I.Y
Unfortunately, we are no longer able to provide bus or car transport from Heathcote back to Axedale or Bendigo.

Participants are required to arrange their own transport.

Water
There will be water fountains to fill drink bottles available at the start area, but no water will be provided on the course on the Axedale to Heathcote leg.

On the Bendigo to Axedale, there is a water station at Bennetts Rd and the O’Keefe Rail Trail.

Riders are expected to carry their own water on course.

What’s included in the entry fee?

You’re entry fee helps to cover your Finisher Medal, first aid and medical support on course, a ‘sag wagon’ if you need to be collected, marshals, signage, permits and insurance – PLUS the awesome sausage sizzle and free entertainment at Palling Bros Brewery at the finish area. Any remaining funds are donated to our charity partner: the Heathcote Dementia Alliance.

What happens at the finish line?

You’ll be checked in, enjoy an awesome sausage sizzle, a complimentary soft drink or water and free entertainment at Palling Bros Brewery at the finish area.

We’ll also present our prizes for Best Outfit, Best Lit Bike, and our Encouragement Award to those outstanding humans who are just ace!

The prizes are bike shop vouchers to local bike shops.

What is the age limit for the ride?
Riders must be at least 12 years or older to participate in our night ride events.

We do ask that parents consider the suitability of the distances for their child, including fitness levels, general bike riding confidence and willingness to follow instructions.

We strongly discourage children under the age of 16 entering the Bendigo to Heathcote leg unless they are a very confident cyclist.