Up for a bout of rainforest running? Keen for cool clear creeks, smoothly flowing or challenging single track and social but competitive trail running?  Entries have opened for events in the 2012 Dirty Northern Trail Running Series.

All events are within an hours drive of Cairns and have been selected to showcase some of the most scenic and diverse, as well as the most enjoyable and runnable rainforest trails in the region.

The Dirty 30 and Sweaty 60 Adventure Run in late February (25^th) provides a nice little intro to tropical trail running with a fun and obstacle filled loop course beside Lake Tinaroo. Expect mud. Expect to get wet. Expect a slip and slide. Expect to get dirty, very dirty. Expect obstacles that provoke more laughter and fun than you previously thought possible during 30 dirty or 60 sweaty minutes of tropical running. There’ll be the Hay Bale Hills (but bigger), Mud Wallow Stinger Nets (but with a real sting!) and the sweet flowing Single Track (and now with lakeside views) you loved at the 2011 Smithfield Mud Run Event.  But there’ll also be novel new obstacles (keep an eye on the website), better spectator access, great photo opportunities, a couple of wades (that’s water running – not blokes called Wade, although they’re welcome too), nice steady uphill, rip roaring downhill fun and a very memorable running experience jammed into a 1.5km loop you can tackle as many times as you like in your chosen 30 or 60 minutes.

March’s (18^th) Speewah Legend Footrace is the first race in the actual Dirty Northern Trail Running Series and sends runners out on a scenic 17km loop of heavily shaded rainforest single track. Highlights include stunning panoramic views of the famous Barron Gorge, Trinity Bay and the Cairns region, a couple of speccy crossings of Stony Ck, massive Kauri Pines and following the foot tracks of Traditional Owners the Djabaguy and the pack and dray routes of early European pioneers. Check out some video footage from the course here. The park itself protects 2820ha and nine vegetation communities ranging from lush tropicalrainforest to mountain heath and forms a natural wildlife corridor linking the northern and southern reaches of the wet tropics. Possums, Tree Kangaroos, Flying Foxes, Musky Rat Kangaroos, Cassowarys, Amethystine Pythons, Spotted Tail Quolls and the odd leech are some of many native species resident to the park.

Also in March (24^th), and a brand new event on the Trail Running calendar is the Bustard Express. If you’ve been hanging out for a teams Trail Running event where you run with (well kinda with) your mates rather than against them, or an opportunity to run the brilliant Davies Ck MTB Loop, or the chance to show off your retina burning new headlamp, then here ‘tis. You can look forward to a multi loop, day / night Trail Running experience for 4 hours in the Pony Express (relay) style of racing. There’ll be solo alternatives along with the teams option, some very junior friendly opportunities and all the fun of tropical trail running.

In April (22^nd), the Gold Rush Trail Marathon boasts of being one of the most scenic marathons any adventurer could hope to tackle as it heads off into the heart of Australia’s wettest rainforest and traverses the saddle between Queensland’s two highest peaks. An out and back course over the historic Goldfields Trail, some say crossing the lovely East Mulgrave River without stopping for a dip in one of the North’s best swimming holes is a tremendous challenge in itself. Starting and finishing at the popular Babinda Boulders Swimming Hole it is one of the mosteagerly anticipated events on the endurance calendar.

Or, if up for some ultra ‘action’, the Spiny Cray Ultra is the third and final event in the series (24^th June) and allows runners the opportunity to run through the naturally air conditioned Wet Tropics Highland Rainforest and a patch of cloudforest. The 57km run climbs (and descends) over 1550m through Mt Lewis NP – an area of rainforest described by the Department of Environment and Resource Management as a “a treasure trove of endemic plants and animals”. Wildlife protected by the park includes Golden Bowerbirds, Southern Cassowarys, giant 2m long blue Earthworms, Lemuroid Ringtail Possums, Daintree River Ringtail Possums and the event’s namesake – the Mount Lewis Spiny Cray.

With multiple distances to choose from in each of the Dirty Northern Trail Runs, a course is available for runners of all abilities, experiences and levels of sanity. For all the dirty details check out the Adventure Sport NQ website.

Adventure HQ and the Tinaroo Tourism and Recreation Group are gearing up for an exciting weekend of adventure in the great outdoors in and around Tinaroo Township on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 February 2010.

Registration & updated final event details will be available

here on Monday 15th Feb

The weekend will feature a series of “Come n Try” events including a 1 hour Metrogaine, 2 hour bush rogaine, Come n Try multisport race and off-road triathlon as well as a longer event for those ready to move up to the next level or kickstart their year with some off-road action. The longer distance race should attract some of the best triathletes and multisport racers in North Queensland, some of whom will be preparing to tackle the legendary XPD Adventure Race when it comes to the region in May 2010.

A highlight of the weekend will be an Outdoor and Adventure Sport Expo to be conducted on the Sunday morning from approximately 9.00 am until 11.00 am. This will provide additional activity and interest for spectators while the off-road triathlons/multi-sport races are in progress.

We believe this will be the first Expo of its kind in Far North Queensland and provides a fantastic opportunity for businesses and organisations to promote to their target market – outdoor and sports enthusiasts.

In keeping with the “come n try” theme of the weekend there will be a number of local clubs conducting demonstrations, workshops and activities promoting the wonderful Tinaroo environment.

The Program

Saturday
1300	Metrogaine registration
1400	1 hour Tear Around Tinaroo Metrogaine around the Tinaroo township
1500	Conclusion of Metrogaine
1600	Registration for rogaine
1630	2 hour Bash around Barrabadeen bush rogaine
1830	Conclusion of rogaine with random draw prizes
1845	BBQ dinner at Barrabadeen

Sunday
0700	Registration for off-road triathlons/multisport races
0800	Start of off road triathlon/multisport race
0830	Start of Come n Try off road triathlon/multisport race
1115	Presentation (including random draws)
1200	Conclusion

Tinaroo Tourism and Recreation Group members are also offering great deals on meals and accommodation for those seeking some Adventure on a Summer’s Weekend.

Adventure HQ and Tinaroo Tourism and Recreation Group acknowledge the generous support from our major sponsors: It’s Extreme and Pump n Pedals.

For further information please contact admin@adventuresportnq.info or phone Kim on 0407 725 909 or checkout the events page here.

If you are unfamiliar with our events, below is a brief description of each of the event types included in the proposed program.

What is a Metrogaine?

Urban navigation – participants are given a street map with the street names deleted and a clue sheet. Numbered checkpoints are marked on the map and the clue sheet provides description of the feature/object on which they will find coloured dot. Once located, participants mark off the relevant colour against the clue on the clue sheet. They hand in the clue sheet and the team with the highest score wins. In the case of a tie, the placings are assessed on time. The race time (eg 2 hours) is the maximum time participants are allowed on the course before points are deducted as a late penalty. No compass navigation required.

What is a Rogaine?

Bush navigation – participants are given a topographical map and a clue sheet. Again numbered checkpoints are marked on the map and the clue sheet provides a description of the feature/object at which they will find a unique punch or electronic tag which they use to punch their scorecard or electronic tag. The scorecard or tag is handed in at the conclusion of the event to determine scores and placings. The aim is to accumulate as high a score as possible in the allotted time (or less). As above, time is also considered where there is a tie of scores. Compass navigation is required.

What is a Multi-Sport Race?

A multi-sport race is essentially any race that has more than one discipline to it, but generally refers to an event that includes trail running/hiking, mountain biking, and canoeing/kayaking but may also include abseiling, rock climbing or other forms of traversing various geographical features. Compass navigation is generally not required as courses are linear in nature and well signposted by the course designer.

What is an Off-Road Triathlon?

Triathlon is also considered a multi-sport race as it comprises the three disciplines of swim, run and ride. In an off-road triathlon the swim leg may be substituted for a canoe or kayak. The run is usually on a trail through the bush rather than on a marked road and the ride is completed on a mountain bike rather than a road bike or triathlon specific bike and again the course is generally on trails through the bush rather than on a marked road.

Happy Racing