West Australian Marathon Club

	West Australian Marathon Club (Incorporated in Western Australia) PO BOX 104, BURSWOOD WA 6100 Ph.9472 4833 Fax 9472 4855 e-mail wamc@iinet.net.au		Preview Course Description Results History Race History WAMC Home
BROOKS ROTTNEST MARATHON & FUN RUN 21st October, 2007 COURSE DESCRIPTION
The marathon course (see map below) 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. The Race Preview is here.