Harriers rise for Prom

Sunshine for Prom Country Challenge

Numbers were down a little in both entries and onlookers, with the Olympic Games and the after-effects of the party celebrating Toora Football Club’s last games for the season both being cheerfully blamed as causes for lack of entrants and spectators!

Bouts of the ‘flu and injury problems were also reported by would-be competitors who either came along to watch but not to participate, or else chose the six-kilometre run instead of the 30-kilometre race. Nonetheless the atmosphere was festive and competitive, especially among the numerous youngsters who chased each other up and down Toora’s Stanley Street to vent their excess excitement in the wake of the Mt Best Challenge start and a 30-minute wait until their own events.

Australian duathlon champion and former Mirboo North resident Nadelle Legge officially started the 30-plus competitors off on the Mt Best climb with honks on an air horn at the corner of Stanley and Gray Streets in Toora. Ms Legge also provided excellent commentary as the Mt Best Challenge runners made their final burst of effort down Stanley Street to the finish line.

With a pack of youngsters vying for position at the front of the pack, Mark Lindsay of GippsSport gave the signal half-an-hour later for the start of the six-kilometre event, backed up by siren whoops from a Toora Fire Brigade truck. Despite the departure of the race participants, the shopping street continued to bustle with activity.

Toora Returned and Service Leagues Club members cooked and served at two barbecues, the tables at the Windmill Café were full and the Parents Club from Toora Primary School handed out oranges and other fruit donated by Aherns Fruit Market to competitors on their return.

Folk music played by Southern Collection could be heard drifting down the street, where many shops were especially open for business.

Throughout the day, people made their way in and out of Toora Hall, where Hall Committee members served sandwiches, cakes, hot drinks and soup from their new kitchenette/bar facility on the hall landing.
Upstairs in the hall, four masseurs organised by Jenny Fenwick were kept busy voluntarily soothing the runners’ tired muscles, the hall committee had books and bric-a-brac for sale, Toora Lions Club sold collectables items and South Gippsland Hospital Health Promotions Officer Sue Evans encouraged various aspects of healthy living. Down at Sagasser Park, children flew kites, men played bocce and the Foster Police Blue Light Disco juke box played music as part of the alternative activities associated with the PCC.

Using water supplied by South Gippsland Water, drinks tables run by Foster Rotary, Bennison Adult Riding Club, Mt Best Hall Committee and Toora Primary School kept runners hydrated around the courses, with balloons, streamers and even stray chooks providing additional ‘bling’.

Members from South Gippsland Group Fire Brigades, organised by Toora Captain Ray Argento, cautioned traffic, guided runners in key locations and provided radio contact, while Toora policeman Mal Heywood supervised crossing over the South Gippsland Highway.

Members of Toora Netball Club were cheerfully busy as they noted the times of each competitor at the finish line, though acknowledged things got a bit hectic at the peak period.

The six-kilometre runners and walkers were all back before the last of the Mt Best challengers, with lots of clapping and encouragement calling to help hurry the final few in to the finish some 30 minutes before the course was due to close officially.

On behalf of the PCC committee, Cheryl Glowrey thanked the numerous sponsors and volunteers whose contributions helped make the event successful. Their support included financial donations, lead cars and ‘sag wagons’ for the events, work at the registration tables, manning the drinks stalls and providing prizes such as the medals and dinner vouchers for the local resident awards.
Comments made by runners either as first-time entrants or as reasons for returning each year included:

Cathy Roberts

Running the 30km Prom Country Challenge around the hills of Toora last year was a real thrill for me, and my very proud parents for a range of reasons.

I was born in Toora over 40 years ago. Mostly when I tell people where I am from it is easier to say I grew up on a farm near Wilson’s Promontory, as most people know of the “Prom” and its beautiful beaches and walks, but not many people know about the special little town of Toora which is about 2 ½ hours south-east of Melbourne. The “Prom Country Challenge” is putting Toora on the map for runners.

Mine is a bit of a Cliff Young story as my entrée to long-distance running was helping Dad round up sheep and cattle on foot, all part of growing up on a farm. At school I did a bit of cross-country running but it wasn’t till my mid twenties that I started firstly going for a bit of a jog, usually around 4 to 5kms, then building to 10kms. With the encouragement of a friend I did my first half-marathon on the Gold Coast when I was about 28 years old.



My twin sister, Keryn lives on the Gold Coast so I started combining a trip to see her with doing the “Gold Coast half-marathon”. After completing my third half-marathon on the Gold Coast in 26degree heat, and suffering badly from dehydration, I asked Keryn to remind me of how bad I felt at that time just in case I ever thought of running a marathon. Well, they do say you don’t remember pain. Only 18 months after that experience and at the age of 40 I ran my first-marathon; the 2005 Gold Coast marathon.

Since then I have continued to combine travelling with running. In November 2005 I ran the Florence marathon (Firenze maratona) in Italy. Last year I completed three marathons: the 111th Boston marathon in April, Melbourne marathon in October then four weeks later the New York marathon in November. It was an enormous buzz to run these races, particularly the Boston marathon as it is considered the most elite marathon in the world. You need to run a qualifying time for Boston. There are some advantages of being a “mature” age woman runner. The qualifying time for Boston is 3hrs 50mins. Currently my fastest time is 3hrs 38mins 40 seconds.

On 6th July I will run the Gold Coast marathon for the third time which will be my 7th marathon.

I really never thought I would run a marathon, let alone really enjoy it. Training and running marathons has allowed me to dispel lots of myths around running long distances. Running my first marathon did coincide with my 40th year, however, it wasn’t particularly about being 40. The seed was planted when I watched an iron-man race and was totally in awe of the variation in age and body-shape of the people completing the race after many hours. Something inside me knew that if I never challenged myself to a major endurance event I would regret it. And, what I have experienced over the past several years while running has been fantastic.

The feeling of coming back to Toora, my home town, to run around the hills where I grew up in the Prom Country Challenge is truly wonderful. It is a tough hilly race. The view that you get after making it over Mt Best, looking out across Corner Inlet and Wilson’s Promontory is well worth the effort and would rival any view in the world. I will be completing in the Prom Country Challenge again in August as part of my lead up to the Melbourne marathon. I’m looking forward to the challenge of improving on my last year’s time.

Steve Glowrey

This is the first year that I have been involved with the Prom Country Challenge, so I thought that it was vital to get an understanding of what the runners would be up against on the Sunday, 17 August. What else was there to do over the June long weekend? I had decided to run the course excluding the section on the flats below the main street, as it was the hills that were of more concern. As this was just a training run, and after all it was a long weekend, I decided to just take it easy and test the course.

The initial stages of the hill section of the run (about 28km of the 30km) takes runners up Creamery Valley Road. This is a sealed road that is undulating and provides runners the chance to get into a good rhythm. From Creamery Valley Road, the most scenic part of this incredible run begins. From the turn off at Woomera Creek Road until hitting Creamery Valley Road for the return trip to the finish line in Toora, the road surfaces are gravel. In many places the gravel is compacted down and provides a similar level of support to what you would find on many running tracks, such as the Tan in Melbourne. There are several sections of Woomera Creek Road that will see runners looking for the best line, as the road through the corners slopes away a little, but this is to be expected on most runs.

From my experience, the key to the Woomera Creek Road section of the run is to take some time to soak up the incredible views and the fresh air. While the gravel might provide a track like the Tan, the view is unmatched. As you start to climb towards Mt Best, the surrounding green hills and native Gippsland bush provide an excellent backdrop for an enjoyable run. On the occasional bend, while trying to sneak in a view of your competitors behind you, runners will need to make sure that they don’t get too side-tracked by the view across Corner Inlet of Wilson’s Promontory. Taking some time to appreciate the view is best done with quick glances (almost tripping over while looking over my shoulder was the inspiration for that little tip!). It is easy to see why the food from Gippsland tastes so good and is always served so fresh. Completing the Challenge is made all the more challenging by the availability of freshly caught seafood and locally sourced dairy and other produce.

As I was running along the Woomera Creek Road section, I was thinking about any other little pointers that might be worth passing on to potential runners in the Challenge. And then, as I headed to the side of the road for a little ‘pit stop’ – it hit me. For those that are not aware of what plain wire that is attached to fence posts with a plastic clip means, it means DO NOT TOUCH. While there is no issue for those runners staying on the course, should anyone venture off the road for a ‘pit stop’, be sure not to try and climb over, through or ‘pit’ near the plain wire…this will not help you enjoy your day!

After weaving your way up Woomera Creek Road (including one left hand turn that appears to be at an intersection – thanks for insisting that I take the map Mum!), runners make their way up Tin Mine Creek Road. This is the most challenging section of the run and all runners should be aware of pacing so as to enable them to get to the top of Mt Best. Finding a good steady rhythm on the earlier sections of the run will ensure that runners can climb Mt Best and enjoy the amazing views at the top (again, there is a little pinch as you come off the top, so as hard as this may be, when looking over the shoulder stick to glances not stares). It is a solid climb, but is easily achievable by taking small steps. For those runners familiar with the Anderson Street hill on the Tan, it is a little steeper and a little longer, but there is no need to go crazy with hill training to make sure you get through the run – but remember, the race is called the Prom Country Challenge for a reason! If runners are going to find out about their pacing through the first half of the course it is going to be once they have finished the climb. I certainly questioned my ‘taking it easy’ pace as I approached the top of the mountain. Most endurance events have their trademark challenge, and without a doubt, the climb to the top of Mt Best provides the Prom Country Challenge with a trademark.

Once conquering Mt Best, runners will gather speed as they head down the initial 200m from the summit. Although gravel, the road provides good traction and excellent support. I have never been great at running down hill, but I was comfortable enough with the surface to allow my body to gather a little speed and not put too much pressure on my knees. After the initial 200m, the road flattens a little and runners will make their way down the Mountain towards the intersection with Creamery Valley Road. There is a little bit of clay on the road as you make your way down, so it is worthwhile picking your line if there has been some rain. The course was a little wet over the June long weekend, and there was no problem picking a line to ensure that you kept good traction. Onto Creamery Valley Road and runners are given the chance to find a good rhythm and possibly even pick up the pace as you make your way into Toora. As with climbing the summit, the final 3km section on Creamery Valley will show all runners exactly who got their pacing right.

Overall, the run was one of the most enjoyable courses that I have ever gone over. The scenery rivalled the Puffing Billy run and the countryside was as scenic and challenging as anywhere I have ever run. This course will without a doubt attract many runners, both competitive and recreational, to come to Toora and participate in the Prom Country Challenge. The run is well positioned around both the Melbourne and Traralgon marathons, and provides the triathlete community with an excellent way to keep fit over the winter months. Although I may be a little biased (or perhaps quite a lot!), the trip to Toora for the weekend of 16-17 August is well worth it…wherever you are coming from.

2007 30km results

Nenet Susa wins 30km event

In a tight finish Nenet Susa beat course record holder Joseph Mania Ndirangu. The female event was won by Nadine Kayler only 24yrs old and winning in a time of 2.08.10 a new female course record by 5 minutes. She won from June Petrie who was also backing up after Saturdays A.V. run. John Duck put in a great effort to win the 40-59 age groups with Lavinia Petrie winning the female 60+ age group beating our Rod Goodwin who won the male 60+ age group. Richard Comber put in a great performance running a huge P/B for this run. Russel Northe was another great performer finishing under 2:20. Race walker Brian Glover was also prominent with another stellar performance.

2007 race description

19/08/2007 04:33 PM

Runs like Walhalla and the Prom Country Challenge are rare so after missing Walhalla early this year I was delighted to wake up Sunday morning feeling tired but able to run the 30km event. It starts with a loop around the town of Toora before crossing the Highway and looping your way up through a deep valley heading for the top of Mt. Best. Before you get there you must traverse some nice rural, forest and hilly country side for some 18km. Once on top there is a great reception from all the locals, glorious views of the Prom, the coastline and those magnificent Wind Turbines.

There is a nice descent of about 7km with your main focus on the Prom and the Wind Turbines the idea the closer you get to them the closer you are to the finish. The last 5km winds back along the bitumen to the finish in the heart of Toora with a great reception from the locals. The course is peaceful, challenging and scenic. It is well marshalled and drink stations are well organised. The presentations of trophies and prizes is also well organised.

Shane Pettingill cleans up in 12km event at Prom Country Challenge.

Race report - Run foR youR life

24/06/2006 05:00 PM

The Mirror report

31/08/2005 05:11 PM

Mirror 2005 pg1
Mirror 2005 pg2
Mirror 2005 pg3