There is only one word to describe this weekend’s inaugural kunanyi Mountain Run event: Epic.
This incredible new event, which kicks off on Friday April 8 and finishes on Sunday will bring trail runners, adventurers and the wider community together to feel the power of our mountain, kunanyi/Mt Wellington.
The solo ultra marathon will be the biggest challenge for competitors – a 68.5 km run that climbs to the mountain summit via Myrtle Gully, Organ Pipes and Zig Zag tracks before heading out the back of the Wellington plateau. Runners then tackle the knife-edged Cathedral Rock Track, move on to the Pipeline Track and down into Waterworks Reserve.
The epic journey finishes at the ‘runHub’ in Wellesley Park and once complete competitors will have climbed and then descended almost four vertical kilometres – that’s half the height of Mt Everest.
Weekend activities also include the 27km Mountain Run event and the calf-burning 5km “Vertical Kilometre” run, a 1000m climb described as ‘stunning and brutal’.
Culture, walks and tours
Organisers have put together a fantastic collection of cultural activities for the weekend, including walks, talks, tours and workshops. And they can all be booked online.
The City of Hobart’s Bush Adventures program is running a terrific event for the little ones, giving children 2-5 years old the chance to explore the bushland of Wellesley Park.
This adventure will take them into the world of native plants, fantastic fungi, and the lives of native animals big and small.
Our Bushcare team is also part of the action and is giving people a chance to get a taste of the Bushcare ethic. Participants at the “Bushcare Taster” event will learn all about the types of weeds that pose significant threats to Hobart’s bushland reserves, and gain new skills in protecting a patch of bush in their own backyard.
Bushcare activities are always filled with fun, are a great way to meet new people, and gain a sense of achievement in doing something that helps protect the incredible natural environment that surrounds Hobart.
Bushcare will also be giving away 200 native plants to help residents create their very own habitat garden, and staff will be on hand to answer any questions people may have about gardening with native plants.
This event would not be possible without the City’s amazing track and trails network.
The City of Hobart is proud to be a sponsor of this incredible new mountain event through a $15,000 funding grant as part of its Biannual Events Medium Grant Round.
For everything you need to know about this special weekend visit the kunanyi Mountain Run website.
