Course Description 50km We’d love to describe the Glass Half Full course as “rolling” although some of you might disagree. Depending on your level of fitness, and your willingness to leave nothing in the tank, all sections of this course should be runnable but we’d expect most of you to power hike some hills. The terrain varies from wide, hard packed fire trails to narrow, winding single track and everything in between so trail shoes are recommended to provide better grip, especially on the down hills. There isn’t too much of what we’d call “flat”. The Guzzler is proud to be 99.9% trail, with only two quiet roads to quickly cross on the way out and back to Mt Coot-tha, Brisbane’s leafy gate to the wilderness. These descriptions will give you an idea of what to expect from each section. In addition to our website and Facebook page, The Guzzler also has a vibrant Facebook group where runners are sharing their unfiltered, on course adventures. For more course detail, you can also view our course maps or downloadable .gpx & kml files, which can be loaded onto your GPS watch or smart phone. We also have a course fly-by available for those who would like to visualise what lies ahead. On event day, the course will be fully marked, with volunteer marshals also posted at some key intersections. Here goes.. lets see what we have in store for you!
Transcript
Course Description 50km
We’d love to describe the Glass Half Full course as “rolling” although some of you might disagree. Depending on your level of fitness, and your willingness to leave nothing in the tank, all sections of this course should be runnable but we’d expect most of you to power hike some hills. The terrain varies from wide, hard packed fire trails to narrow, winding single track and everything in between so trail shoes are recommended to provide better grip, especially on the down hills. There isn’t too much of what we’d call “flat”. The Guzzler is proud to be 99.9% trail, with only two quiet roads to quickly cross on the way out and back to Mt Coot-tha, Brisbane’s leafy gate to the wilderness. These descriptions will give you an idea of what to expect from each section. In addition to our website and Facebook page, The Guzzler also has a vibrant Facebook group where runners are sharing their unfiltered, on course adventures. For more course detail, you can also view our course maps or downloadable .gpx & kml files, which can be loaded onto your GPS watch or smart phone. We also have a course fly-by available for those who would like to visualise what lies ahead. On event day, the course will be fully marked, with volunteer marshals also posted at some key intersections. Here goes.. lets see what we have in store for you!
Leg 1: Start (Hoop Pine) 0km to Checkpoint 1 (Walkabout Creek) 16.8km
The Glass Half Full starts at 7:00am, with all runners leaving Hoop Pine Picnic area in one wave. It will be light at this time so you won’t need your head torch to start. The Trailiens will be there to get you off the line. Once you cross the start line, you’ll head towards the bottom of Powerful Owl track and start climbing to the top, 3.1kms away. This section is mostly wide fire trail and also happens to be a race within a race, the Suunto King Of The Mountain! With a Sunnto GPS watch up for grabs, why not sprint up the first 220m of vert vertical gain? Maybe because you’re running an ultra and still need to reach the finish line to claim the crown!? We are very keen to see the tactics that emerge in this mad, little bonus race! Thanks Suunto! The trails in Leg 1 start wide to allow the field to dissipate on the first climb. At the top of the hill, you’ll be directed straight across Sir Samuel Griffith Drive by a marshal and start heading out of Mt Cooth-tha towards D’Aguilar National Park where a variety of single track and wider paths await you. As a general rule, the climbs are wide and the descents are narrow, allowing you to pass other runners easily on the uphills and to enjoy the ride on the downhills. When you reach Enoggera Reservoir, you will find some flat sections as you loop around the shore but the trail doesn’t hug the water the whole time so you’re still in for a couple of good climbs before the first checkpoint. Lap up the views of this beautiful body of water and try not to get fooled by a number of tricks of the trail, where it might look like you’re nearly at Walkabout Creek picnic area, only to be led back around another arm of the reservoir. Once you reach the small beach, follow the marked course towards the Event Lawn area where the first checkpoint, and the amazing volunteers from InTraining are waiting for you.
Leg 2: Checkpoint 1 (Walkabout Creek) 16.8km to Checkpoint 2 (McAfees
Lookout) 23.1km
As you leave Checkpoint 1, make sure to enjoy your last look at the stunning Enoggera Reservoir as you head onto First Gate Track and on towards Mount Nebo Rd Break to begin the “short” trip to the next checkpoint. We could call the climb that awaits you “rolling” but you may disagree..
This track could be described as loose, single track, fire trail - a contradiction in terms. While it would appear wide enough to drive down, a main ‘single file’ route will probably be your path of choice to navigate most of this section. There isn’t any flat to be seen between here and McAfee’s – just lots of ups and lots of downs that will make you wonder if you are really climbing at all. You’re about to experience what many locals refer to as the Roller Coaster! High fives from the incredible Brisbane Trail Runners at the McAfees Lookout checkpoint will be well deserved!
Leg 3: Checkpoint 2 (McAfees Lookout) 23.1km to Checkpoint 3 (Gold Creek
Reservoir) 30.7km Once you leave McAfees Lookout, you’ll start your descent into Hell (Hole). With a long, runnable downhill ahead, you’ll want to move quickly to avoid the rumoured ghosts and ghouls that may be visiting Hell Hole during the race. Before you know it, you’ll reach Hell’s main allure, a beautiful creek crossing. Avoid the temptation to stay here for too long lest your running dreams turning into nightmares!
To escape Hell Hole, you’ll face your second serious climb of the day. Keep going, you can still escape! Once you reach the top of Hell Hole, you’ll turn left towards safety and start your journey along the wide trail of South Boundary Rd for the next 1km before reaching Gold Creek Rd. From here, enjoy an easily runnable 2km of downhill fire trail to reach your second reservoir. Why not give this section a bit of a push? The Mountain Goat Trail Runners will be at the bottom to cheer you in to Checkpoint 3. Be nice to them, you’ll see them again soon!
Leg 4: Checkpoint 3 (Gold Creek Reservoir) 30.7km to Checkpoint 4 (also
Gold Creek Reservoir) 35.6km
Don’t feel too sad as you say goodbye to the volunteers at Checkpoint 3. You’re about to start an anti-clockwise loop of Gold Creek Reservoir which will take you back to this point in about 5km. As a 50km runner, Gold Creek will be your second and final reservoir visit of the day - unless you happen to ignore the very important signage to come! Take in the spectacular views and maybe even pop your head out at the reservoir viewpoint just after the dam wall. This loop takes you around some awesome, technical single trail with some pretty awesome views to match so keep your eyes peeled until you reach Checkpoint 4, where the friendly, familiar faces of the Mountain Goat Trail Runners will greet you once more. We hope you were nice to them the first time around!
There is one VERY critical point on this loop where you’ll need your eyes open and your mind switched on. At the far end of the reservoir, the 100km runners head up Leahys Break while you will continue around the rest of reservoir by taking a 90 degree turn just as Leahys Break starts. Failure to turn left here will put you onto the 100km course, heading up hill towards The Guzzler’s third reservoir, Lake Manchester. Although you will be rewarded with more spectacular views via well marked trails, if you see Lake Manchester, you are very much NOT on the 50km course! Please follow the numerous markings and signs on course to avoid an accidental upgrade to the 100km event. You won’t be able to miss this turn unless you are somewhere very very distant..
Leg 5 Gold Creek Reservoir (Check Point 4) 35.6km to Finish As you leave Gold Creek Reservoir, you’ll hopefully have made the most of all the refreshing reservoir views before you start to make your way back towards the finish line.
The first part of this final leg will be a 2km climb out of Gold Creek Reservoir, back up to South Boundary Rd. As you reach South Boundary Rd, make a right turn and continue along the fire trail of South Boundary Rd for 4.5km, before making a right turn and heading through Brisbane Forest Park back to Gap Creek. While there may not be any more reservoirs awaiting you, this section should be relatively kind to the legs and allow you to enjoy the simple beauty and quiet birdsongs of the bush you’re passing through. As you leave Gap Creek, you’ll take a right down Bellbird Trail and head towards the infamous Kokoda trail. This climb is famed in local circles for its steepness and may be the toughest on the 50km course, but as the last real climb for the day, you can enjoy the knowledge that it will all be (relatively) downhill from there! Do whatever it takes to reach the top where you’ll cross Sir Samuel Griffith Dr to the top of Powerful Owl and down onto the Eugenia Circuit to enjoy the final 2.5 km run down towards the finish line. Once you cross the Simpson’s Falls footbridge and make a right down a fun, fast track, all that awaits you is the glory of crossing that finish line where the Trailiens will be ready to make you comfortable. Congratulations you have successfully finished The Guzzler Glass Half Full 50km!
