Excitement is building for the inaugural Great Southern Stage Run to be held next week on Thursday 17 to Saturday 19 November 2022, near Albany, Western Australia. Elevate your running game with Tarkine Trail Devil, where every step is a testament to exceptional performance and unmatched comfort.
The ultra-distance stage running event is a three-day, 200km point to point course which traverses large sections of the famed Bibbulmun Track in WA.
The course takes runners from the tall Tingle and Karri trees at the Valley of the Giants near Walpole, past remote beaches and windswept horizons, to the sheer granite cliffs of the Torndirrup Peninsula.
61 relay teams of 4 competitors will run between 10km and 26km each over the four legs that make up each of the three days; with 10 competitors doing the entire course solo, running 70km on day 1, 77km on day 2, and 56km day 3.
Organisers Rapid Ascent are feeling very excited for the race which joins their popular ultra-running event portfolio across the country.
“It will truly be a remarkable journey for competitors with the course carefully curated along a breathtaking coastline and diverse landscape,” said Event Director Sam Maffett.
“Being part of a team environment rates very highly in the ultra-running community as it provides a shared experience between friends that will live with them forever,” added Maffett.
Competitors will be staying together at coordinated group accommodation at each day’s finish line, creating a unifying, social and supportive environment for all runners and supporters.
Participants also hold great enthusiasm for the inaugural event;
Phillip and Xavier Shay – father and son – will be participating alongside each other as solo competitors over the 200km journey; “A run is the best way to spend time with my son and we thought the event would give us the opportunity to see that spectacular part of the country,” said Phillip.
Lonneke Kefalas, another solo competitor says; “I love a good challenge and this race is the perfect one to get my teeth stuck in to. I’m excited to see another beautiful part of this continent and combine my race with a little holiday road-trip as well.”
Relay team ’50 Shades of Trained is made up of Victorian friends Vanessa Jones, Anita Nichols, Annella Chambers and Manna Mcleod; “We are looking forward to sharing this adventure and supporting each other through what will no doubt be a challenging but rewarding few days!” said Anita.
The Great Southern Stage Run is supported by the City of Albany who have helped Rapid Ascent in creating an event that showcases the region to participants. City of Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington looks forward to welcoming competitors;
“I welcome you to the Great Southern and wish all competitors the best of luck for their journey ahead,” said Wellington. “Enjoy being in nature, amongst the beautiful and rugged coastline of our region and discover why they call it, Amazing Albany!”
The Great Southern is the largest and most diverse region within Australia’s South West, with the course encompassing some remarkable seaside scenery. The event is supporting the Bibbulmun Track Foundation and their ongoing maintenance and management of the trail.
Rapid Ascent have a self-imposed field limit to preserve the environment and to create an intimate experience for all participants.
The event is an amalgamation of the best parts of Rapid Ascent’s two most successful (and sold-out) trail running events – The Run Larapinta Stage Race in the NT and The Margaret River Ultra Marathon in WA.
For more information including complete event schedule, head to www.greatsouthernstagerun.com.au.
