Hunter Valley Running Festival

It's not everyday that you get to run through world famous gardens, historic homesteads, international golf resorts and of course, some of the most famous wineries in Australia. Mix that with a huge selection of races, a friendly country race crew, loads of prizes and you have an event not to be missed on 17 July 2011 Donations from the race proceeds will be given to Camp Quality

RACE TIMES:

• Lawler Partners Winery Marathon 7.00am Start
• Winery Half Marathon and 2 person Marathon Teams - 7.30am Start
• Winery 10km Run and 4 person Marathon Teams - 9.30am Start
• Pacific Smiles Dental Kids Marathon final 2.195km leg - 10.40am Start
• Pacific Smiles Dental Storybook 2K - open to all runners - 10.40am Start
• 6.25km Winery Wander - 11.00am Start

Winery 10 km Run
The 10km course will proceed through the Gardens, but exit the nursery and turn left and head up the hill towards Thompsons Rd through Tallawanta Vineyard. They will then turn right and run aprox 400m to Thompsons Lane and turn left. They then enter the back on Audrey Wilkinson's Vineyard and follow the half marathon course until the corner of McDonald's Rd and then turn left and follow the bike track back along McDonald's Rd and return to the finish via Brokenwood Winery.  

Pacific Smiles Dental Kids Marathon Hunter Valley

This event will see Kids from all over the Hunter, Central Coast and NSW complete the last 2.195m of a marathon that they will start in late May. Kids will run 5km per week for 8 weeks and then finish their marathon on race day. This event is part of a number of races happening around Australia. Thanks to Hunter Valley Gardens, our Kids will get to run through the famous Storybook Garden. What a great experience. Our thanks go out to Pacific Smiles Dental for supporting this great health and lifestyle experience for Kids. More information is available on the Kids Marathon Website.

Pacific Smiles Dental Storybook 2k (run/walk)
This new event is intended for children 5 years to 17 years who are unable to participate in the Kids Marathon program, but would still like to participate on the day. The course will also be through the famous Hunter Valley Gardens Storybook Garden and will finish under the main marathon finish arch. What a great way to get your children started on a life of health and fitness.  

Winery Wander (run/walk)
This 6km course will proceed through the Gardens, exit the nursery and turn right and travel anticlockwise around the vineyard and then head back up the hill towards Thompsons Rd through Tallawanta Vineyard. They will then turn left until the corner of McDonald's Rd and then turn left and follow the bike track back along McDonald's Rd and return to the finish via Brokenwood Winery. Participants then return to the oval. For walkers who are not in a hurry there will be an opportunity to check out the cellar door. Don't forget that we need you back before the race presentation, otherwise you may end up with a "DID NOT FINSIH"!!
 
Teams
Relay Marathon There will now only be one actual relay team marathon category starting just after the main marathon. This will require 2 runners who will run one lap each separately of the half marathon course, with the first runner passing the timing chip over after the first lap. These timing chips will be attached to the ankle and will be easy to swap over.
10km 4 person teams There will also be an option to join with some friends and run the 10km course together..

Pasta Party
Pasta party will be held at The Barrel Room on Saturday the 16th July.

For more information please contact:
Paul and Hanne Humphreys
PO Box 2251, Green Hills NSW 2323, ....Ph: 02 4934 8138
or see the official web site:- http://www.huntervalleymarathon.net/default.asp?

The Hunter Valley Running Festival is a part of the Hunter Festival of Sports. To read an article about this see the story in the Holiday and Travel News on 3 July..