Return to The Wild
RUNNERS TO GO WILD AT MOUNT BEERIPMO
Events are back up and running – literally – in the western region of the state with hundreds of runners set to tackle the wild trails of Buangor State Park and Mount Beeripmo, near Beaufort, on Saturday 11 December, 2021.
Wild Mount Beeripmo Trail Run will be one of the first events to get underway in the Pyrenees region post COVID lockdowns. The event has been confirmed to operate after receiving a Victorian Government Kickstarter Grant and support from the Pyrenees Shire Council.
The trail run had its inaugural outing last year with 250 runners participating in a half marathon (21km) distance. This year two new distances join the long course with 11km and 5km distances ensuring there is something for everyone wanting to go a little wild with their running prior to the festive season.
“There’s something special about that mountain in the sky,” says race director Chris Ord, from the organising event company Tour de Trails. “The landscapes of Mt Beeripmo, Mt Cole/Buangor and the Cave Hill Creek valley below it is a slice of captivating wilderness and the Beeripmp walking trail on which we run is a hidden gem. Spiritually, it feels like a powerful place, something that makes sense given it is located near the intersection of three First Nations: the Wadawurrung, Eastern Maar and the DjaDja Wurrung. Something tells me it was a somewhat peaceful and meaningful meeting place,” hypothesises Chris.
“It has certain a sense of serenity, energy and abundance. Of course, more practically for runners seeking an experience they won’t forget, there are the breathtaking views towards Mt Langi Ghiran, the sweeping trails, the climb up to Raglan Falls – it’s a trail runners’ paradise!”says Chris, who characterises the runs as mildly technical, but “always fun”.
“The 21km has a decent amount of climbing in it – approaching 1000 metres of ascent – so that distance is for runners who have at least a little training in their legs! The 11km has a decent climb profile also, but it is shorter and no real cut off time, so you could walk it at a fast pace and be fine. The 5km is great for a quick dash or for beginners, families and kids – although my two daughters did the longer 11km loop and got along it just fine!”
Wild Mount Beeripmo Trail Run will operate from nearby Cave Hill Creek Camp which is supporting the event hosting the start and finish in a clearing nearby the popular school camp.
Organisers expect 300-400 runners and are hoping participants from across the district – Ballarat, Bendigo, Ararat, Stawell, the Grampians, Horsham and Avoca – will embrace the run and help it grow to become a premiere trail running event of Western Victoria.
Wild Mount Beeripmo Trail Run is supported by the Victorian Government via a Kickstarter program for events, the Pyrenees Shire Council via its Events Grant Program, along with The Running Company Ballarat, Cave Hill Creek Camp, Tailwind Nutrition, Melton City Runners.
As organisers and guests on their homeland, Tour de Trails would like to acknowledge the Eastern Maar as the Traditional Custodians of the earth we run on for Wild Mount and would like to recognise their continuing connection to the land and waterways. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend this to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
What: Wild Mount Trail Runs
Where: Cave Hill Creek, The Glut Rd, Raglan (near Beaufort)
When: Saturday 11th December
Distances: 21k, 11km, 5km
Sign up: www.wildmountrun.com