Rottnest Marathon & Fun Run

Race Director:

Enquiries: WAMC Office Tel: 9472 4833 Fax: 9472 4855

STARTING TIME Marathon:

STARTING TIME 5k and 10k:

START & FINISH: Heritage Common, Rottnest Island.

The Brooks Rottnest Marathon (42.195km) and accompanying 5km and 10km fun run are organised by the West Australian Marathon Club with proceeds being donated to Channel Nine’s Appealathon.

The start of the Brooks Rottnest Marathon is heralded by the wail of bagpipes at 6.00am on the Sunday morning. The bagpipes have become a traditional part of the marathon and can be heard throughout the marathon at Armstrong Hill. It is anticipated that 175 runners will tackle the four-lap course around central Rottnest.

The Brooks Rottnest Fun Run starts at 10.30am by which time most of the marathon runners will be finished. 600 runners and walkers are expected to participate in either the 5km out-and-back course or the 10km fun run that covers the same route as the marathon course. Here is a map of the 5k/10k course and start/finish area.

It is essential to prearrange accommodation on the Island if you are contemplating the marathon as the Rottnest ferries do not operate before the start time (for accommodation refer to www.rottnest.wa.gov.au). Accommodation must be booked through the Rottnest Island Authority 9432 9111.

DISCOUNT FERRY TICKETS

Rottnest Fast Ferries and Rottnest Express are both major sponsors of this event and are offering discount ferry tickets to participants and those accompanying them.

Rottnest Express is offering 25% off same day return and extended return ferry fare (excluding the RIA Admission Fee) and $15.00 bike hire for online bookings only. To obtain this exclusive discount, please visit www.rottnestexpress.com.au and enter promotion code “brooks2012”. Note that you can transport your own bike to the island for $10.

For further Rottnest Express ferry details, please call 1300 467 688.

Rottnest Fast Ferries at Hillarys is also offering 25% off same day return and extended return ferry fare (excluding the RIA Admission Fee) and $10.00 bike hire, simply complete the Ferry Booking Form and send direct to Rottnest Fast Ferries with your payment. Please make a note of the date, time and departure point that you select, as there will be no refunds if you turn up to the wrong location or at the wrong time or day. You can book your bike across as well.

Tickets will be available for collection from Hillarys two days prior to or on day of departure. Please remember to reconfirm your booking 48 hours prior to departure. For further Rottnest Fast Ferries ferry details, please call 9246 1039.

How to Enter

• RACE FEES
  • Marathon WAMC Member Adult $45
  • Fun Run WAMC Member Adult $30
  • Fun Run WAMC Member Under 16 or Under 18 Student $10
  • Fun Run WAMC Member Family $60
  • Marathon Non-WAMC Member Adult $50
  • Fun Run Non-WAMC Member Adult $35
  • Fun Run Non-WAMC Member Under 16 or Under 18 Student $15
  • Fun Run Non-WAMC Member Family $70

• ONLINE REGISTRATIONS: Enter online before 11.59pm and receive a $5.00 discount on your entry fee. Normal online entries close 11.59pm . Race bibs will be mailed out for online entries received before 5.00pm . Entries received after this time will require the race bib to be collected Ferry bookings not available from the above website.

   

  HBF Members who enter online will receive a 15% discount on their entry fee.

• BY MAIL : Fill in this form Fill in the form and mail it to: WAMC, PO Box 104, Burswood WA, 6100. Please don’t forget to include your entry fee and a $1.20 stamped self-addressed 230mm x 160mm (C5) envelope so we can return your official race bib promptly. One entrant per entry form. Race bibs will be mailed out for mail entries received before 5.00pm , after this time will require the race bib to be collected Entries will only be accepted on the official entry form (Photocopies are acceptable).

• IN PERSON – WAMC OFFICE: Entry forms may be lodged in person at the

• FAMILY entry comprises parent(s) or guardian(s) and their immediate children (under 16 or attending secondary school) living at a common address.STUDENT concession is for bona fide secondary school students only.

• Late entries will be accepted on the day, however, no discount for on the day entries by WAMC members.

• The organisers reserve the right to reject or cancel any entry at any time. The entrant must sign the waiver. Entrants must turn 18 years of age by 31st December, for the marathon. The entry fee is nonrefundable once your entry has been processed.

• Accommodation must be booked through the Rottnest Island Authority (9432 9111).

Awards and Draw Prizes

The awards ceremony for the marathon and fun run will be held on the Heritage Common (adjacent to Settlement Shops) at 12.00 noon.

PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ALCOHOL IS ALLOWED ON HERITAGE COMMON AND STREET DRINKING IS ILLEGAL.

Great draw prizes will be drawn after the presentations. Entrants need to be present (i.e. not have someone holding your race number on your behalf) to be eligible to win the draw prizes that include a POLAR heart rate monitor and BROOKS running shoes.

Marathon Awards

• First five male and females
• First male and female in each 10 year age category
• All marathon finishers will receive a medallion, certificate, results and, where possible, a finishing photo.

10km Event Awards

• First five males and females
• First male and female under 16

5km Event Awards

• First five males and females
• First male and female under 12

All Fun Run finishers will receive a special finisher’s certificate to commemorate their achievement.

Timing

All registered participants in the event will be recorded by an electronic timing system on crossing the finish line. A disposable timing chip is attached to the back of the race bib. Do not remove or peel the plastic timing device from the race bib. Attach the race bib to the front of the body only, by pinning the bib in the holes at the four corners. Please make sure that the race bib is kept flat and not folded or crumpled. The race bib is allocated to the person nominated on the entry form and is non-transferable to another person. The race bib must remain in its issued form.

LOSS OF THE RACE BIB OR IF THE BIB IS LEFT AT HOME ON THE DAY, WILL RESULT IN A $5.00 SURCHARGE FOR ISSUE OF ANOTHER RACE BIB.

Rottnest Preview

The Rottnest Marathon (42.195km) and accompanying 5k and 10k fun run is organised by the West Australian Marathon Club with proceeds being donated to Channel Nine’s Appealathon.

The start of the Rottnest Marathon is heralded by the wail of bagpipes at 6.00am on the Sunday morning. The bagpipes have become a traditional part of the marathon and can be heard throughout the marathon at Armstrong Hill. We anticipate 150 entrants tackling the four-lap course around central Rottnest. The fastest time for the Rottnest Marathon is 2.29.24 set by Todd Ingraham in 1998 and for the women, 2.52.20 set by Nyla Carroll (a renowned New Zealand marathoner) in the 1994 inaugural event.

All finishers of the Rottnest Marathon will receive a specially designed commemorative finishers’ medallion. There are only runners who have completed all the preceding marathons;

It is essential to prearrange accommodation on the Island if you are contemplating the marathon as the Rottnest ferries do not operate before the start time (for accommodation refer to www.rottnestisland.com).

700 runners and walkers are expected to participate in either the 5km out-and-back course or the 10km fun run that covers the same route as the marathon course. The fun run starts at 10.30am by which time most of the marathon runners will be finished.

I came, I saw, I conquered

There is a page that will allow you to search, sort and filter all of the finishers of the Rottnest Marathon over the years it has run and there is also a downloadable document with the same data.

The inaugural Rottnest Marathon was run in October 1994. In that year 72 runners completed the four lap, scenic undulating island course and a plaque with the names of those finishers has been placed in the Rottnest Hotel. Ray Brown took out the men’s race in a time of 2:35:50 and visiting New Zealand runner Nyla Carroll took the women’s title in 2:52:20 - this remains the course record for women. The current course record for men is 2:29:24 held by Todd Ingraham set in 1998.

The race has established its own bit of mythology. The legend has it that Harry McFordyce, an immigrant prisoner on Rottnest Island some 70 years ago escaped the hands of justice and attempted to run off the island. On the fourth leg around the island McFordyce succumbed to dehydration and died. Those running the marathon will see and hear the ghost of Harry playing his bagpipes throughout the race. On the last lap at the foot of Harry’s Hill, runners are given a gold coin, which must be carried up the hill and deposited at the feet of the Piper.

Legend says failure to do this will result in cramps, dehydration and a possible DNF imposed on the runner by the ghost of Harry. The marathon is symbolized by its motto “Veni Vidi Vici” and it’s logo a quokka, a rat-like marsupial native to the island. The quokka that has survived throughout time reflects that this marathon will also survive because it is a marathon designed to meet the needs of all runners, regardless of talent, speed or size.

Course

The marathon course is entirely on a bitumen road surface in very good condition. It starts alongside the green open space area known as the Heritage Common, in the heart of the “settlement” area bordered by accommodation units, the Lodge (serviced accommodation) and the shops. The nearest shop is the bakery and the smell of the freshly baked bread wafting over the start area is enough to make you change your mind about running and go straight to the bakery.

The first part of the course (only done on the first lap), is an out and back 4km loop initially through the settlement on a relatively flat section until just after the turnoff to the old Kingstown army barracks when there is a 500m climb to the turn point overlooking the Rottnest airstrip. On returning to the settlement, the four 9.5km lap course proper begins, heading west from the Lodge out across the Causeway between two salt lakes. This 1km section can be the toughest part of the course as, although it is flat, it is very expose to the elements and you can be running headlong into strong westerly winds. At times it can appear as if you are running through a bubble bath with the froth (resulting from the strong winds whipping up the salt water) covering the road. At other times, it is very picturesque with the abundant water bird life.

You then climb up out of the lakes area, to the top of Forbes Hill (elv.20m) where the Rottnest Lighthouse can be seen standing proudly in the centre of the Island, down to the crossroads at Bulldozer Swamp (Oliver Hill Fort to the south, Rottnest lighthouse to the west and Armstrong Hill to the north). Turning north towards Armstrong Hill you experience perhaps the best part of the course as it weaves through another series of salt lakes (Pink lake, Lake Sirius, Lake Vincent, Lake Negri & Lake Baghdad) with large gum trees overhanging the road giving welcomed protection from the sun. This tranquil 1.5km flat section is alive with water bird life, the occasional nocturnal quokka and a dugite or two has been seen slithering across the road. Having crossed the centre of the Island, you venture around the base of Armstrong Hill to be greeted with panoramic views of the wild Indian Ocean, topped off with the wail of bagpipes (on the fourth lap you are given a dollar coin after crossing the lakes, that you deposit at the feet of the bagpipers to ward off the dehydration demons – it is also how the bagpipers get paid!).

From here you are heading back to the main settlement area, skirting around Lake Baghdad, more dugites and occasionally swarms of “miggies”, climbing up to Geordie Bay and more spectacular ocean views, through the Geordie Bay “settlement”, down a steep decline with great views over Herschel Lake, heading back into the Island and hopefully you will see other runners crossing the notorious Causeway following in your wake some 6km behind. It is now just a 1.5km sprint around Herschel Lake back to the Lodge and the crowd support to repeat that lap three more times before finishing on the Heritage Common.