Australia’s first truly world class trail run will be held in Western Australia’s remote Kimberley region starting 25 April 2010, with six stages spread over seven days. The bad news is you’re already too late to enter, the field of 200 is full.

This event is part of the worldwide RacingThePlanet series which features landscape’s like the Gobi desert and Namibia’s Fish River Canyon, and the field includes representatives from thirty-five nations. Says Mary Gadams, founder of RacingThePlanet “It’s a lengthy journey for most of our competitirs, but when we ask our community of participants where they would like to race, Australia has long been a popular suggestion.”

“We had no doubt that Australia would be able to provide many breathtaking locations for one of our endurance races. We considered a number of locations, and have planned a race through some of the most dramatic and culturally important landscapes of The Kimberley. Competitors will pass through one section called “The Maze” which will require them to swim and scramble their way through pure Kimberley rock.”

The youngest and oldest competitors are both Australians - Christian Prendiville, 20, a student and pro tennis player from Perth, and frank Maloney, 65, a keen marathon runner and surgeon from Brisbane - and neither has attempted a race of this lengh and format before! In contrast, ten of the competitors have completed RacingThePlanet’s 4 Deserts series, racing in the Atacama Desert in Chile, the Gobi Desert in China, the Sahara Desert in Egypt and the polar deserts of Antarctica … None of Antarctica’s cold here though, with daily average temperatures in The Kimberley above 30 degrees even in winter.

Enough words then; here are pictures which tell a far better story, from the course recce:

 

RacingThePlanet website: www.4deserts.com/beyond/australia
more pics: here

More on the RacingThePlanet series

You can enter or be a supporting volunteer, which might be a good experience and cheaper. From their website:

4 Deserts Series:
Your US$3100 entry fee (for 2010 events) or US$3300 entry fee (for 2011 and 2012 events) includes the following: international staff and medical support throughout event, mineral water for duration of event, campfire (morning and night) during event, emergency medical evacuation and hospitalization insurance policy, two nights in a hotel (one night before and one night after the event, double occupancy), meals before the event (breakfast and lunch) and meals after the event (lunch and dinner which includes the Awards Banquet), a medal and t-shirt.

RacingThePlanet 100 Series:
Your US$1600 entry fee include the following: international staff and medical support throughout event, mineral water for duration of event, campfire (at midway point) during event, emergency medical evacuation and hospitalization insurance policy, two nights in a hotel (one night before and one night after the event, double occupancy), a medal and t-shirt.

Top Race Items, by RacingThePlanet Staff

RacingThePlanet Staff stage events in some of the world’s harshest environments. By combining firsthand experience with competitor feedback, our staff have garnered extensive knowledge on what gear works best during one of our events. We’ve asked them to come up with a top-ten list of must-have race items (editor: here are the top four - the rest read more like product placements)

1. Gaiters: A must for any rough country / desert race. They help keep out sand and debris which can cause discomfort and lead to nasty blisters. The question shouldn’t be whether or not to wear them, but rather which pair to wear.

2. Blister Kit: A blister kit designed and developed by the RacingThePlanet Medical Team to meet the mandatory requirements of the 4 Deserts and RacingThePlanet events. The Blister Kit contains everything you need to keep your feet healthy.

3. Hydropel Sports Ointment: Excellent for preventing chafing and blisters. Gives your skin the maximum strength protection available. Virtually eliminates the friction between your body and your clothes or shoes that extreme physical activity and athletic competition can create.

4. Technical Socks: If you haven’t guessed it by now, taking care of your feet during an event is of the utmost importance, and having the right socks can make all the difference. Technical socks combine comfort and support with moisture wicking capabilities. Merino wool socks work particularly well. 

the last word…