2011 Report

The 2011 Bellarine Rail Trail Run (17/34km) was held on Sunday Aug 21 with glorious running conditions! The trail is tremendously scenic and the vast majority of it is on soft trail that is perfect for running. The run continues to grow and this year 292 runners took part.

As many now know, the run is unique in that it is organised as a training run and not a race, has ample support and is free! The Fat Ass tag has lingered form it’s origins under Phil Essam in 2004 but will be formally dropped as we go forward simply because it’s no longer an accurate reflection of the run.

This year, additional sponsors asked to be a part of the run and were keen to donate all manner of spot prizes! As there are no postrun presentations, many of these prizes were won the week prior via Facebook competitions and plenty of interest was generated!
As in 2010, the Bellarine Railway participated in the event and ran a separate service for the run. This was used by over 100 runners & family to take them from Queenscliff to the Drysdale start before running the 17km one way (mostly downhill) journey back to Queenscliff. Because the train line runs adjacent to the trail nearly the whole way, runners on the train got a great look at the course on the way out and also passed all of the 34km runners who had started slightly earlier and were making their way to Drysdale. Some family and friends made the return journey as well and saw nearly the entire field on the way back to Queenscliff.

The run attracted runners of all abilities with many using it as an ideal training run for the upcoming Melbourne Marathon events. Some of those running included Rowan Walker who won the 2007 Melbourne Marathon and was the first Australian home in 2010. Also running was Dan Hornery who ran 2.19 in Japan earlier this year one week before the devastating earthquakes hit. Dan was fortunate to have flown out just one day prior!

The run will be sure to return in 2012, bigger and even better again. And we’d be happy to receive the same sunny, windless day !

2011 Run Times