The amazing popularity of the Six Foot Track Marathon – the iconic 45 kilometre trail race from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves – has created a nightmare for organisers of this year’s event.
The marathon, to be held on Saturday March 13, reached its 850 entry limit in just 10 hours after an on-line stampede of runners signed up for the race in record time. Last year’s event was the first to be fully subscribed and took seven weeks to fill but after opening entries at midnight, December 1 all positions and a waiting list of 150 was shut off by noon!
Obviously many runners who missed out were upset, giving race director Colin Jeftha a baptism of fire in his first year at the helm. “It took us completely by surprise,” he said. “We had no idea it would fill so quickly.”
The runner’s website, CoolRunning, ran hot with complaints and accusations for weeks, some personal, others verging on hysteria with demands for new qualifying rules, different entry procedures even calls for priority status to be afforded veteran runners.
In the end, a lot of runners who entered early withdrew due to injury and other commitments giving organisers the chance to promote all runners on the waiting list and even inviting others to re-apply.
The Six Foot Track Marathon captures the imagination and fires the spirit of runners like no other event.
There are many reasons for this unbridled passion including the legend of the race which was born when seven runners headed off on their own adventure in 1984, running the arduous course without aid stations or medical backup, drinking from puddles and even getting lost along the way.
The route includes two severe, heart-breaking mountain climbs of more than 400 metres – each in just four kilometers of often rugged fire trail. There is dramatic scenery, native wildlife, harsh terrain and even a river to traverse. But, according to Colin Jeftha, it is the amazing atmosphere at the finish where runners descend in spectacular fashion to a cheering mob of fellow runners, family and friends waiting at historic Caves House that really gets into your blood.
“Once people experience this atmosphere it drags them back and it inspires others to have a go,” he says. “There is no other finish to a race like it.”
Colin Jeftha is no stranger to endurance events. He ran his first marathon aged 19 in South Africa in 1977. He has worked in race administration in his native homeland and, since moving to Australia, with the Sydney Marathon Clinic. He has twice competed in the Six Foot Track Marathon, achieving the slick times of four hours 39 minutes and four hours 40 minutes in 2001 and 2006. He has been a background helper for years and this year took over as race director from the passionate and hard working Kevin Tiller whose drive is largely responsible for the success of the race.
The event last year raised more than $40,000 for the Rural Fire Service which provides critical volunteer support on the day. It also raises funds for a heritage trust that maintains the historic course, the original bridle track to Jenolan Caves.
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff
Twitter