We hope you’re all looking forward to the Jabulani Challenge on Saturday 17th April and finally being able to get out on course and run!
The course will look a bit different this year, planned maintenance work by NSW National Parks on the Gibberagong Broadwalk at the Western end of Bobbin Head means all 3 courses have been adjusted so as to avoid this area. While we would love to be able to run the normal course, that we know many of you have been training on, this is simply not achievable with the broadwalk being out of action. Therefore all runners will arrive back to Bobbin Head via the Bobbin Head Trail rather than the Gibberagong Trail. This will mean minor changes to all 3 course distances, we have endeavoured to keep these changes to a minimum while utilising the same trails as normal and keeping the course distances the same (or as close as).
Updated course maps are on the links below and a brief description on the changes for each distance are as follows;
12km Course – now 11km: Runners will leave Bobbin Head as per normal, along the Warrimoo Track before making their way up to the Aid Station via the Sphinx Track, they will then turn right at Bobbin Head Rd, onto the Bobbin Head Trail and follow this along the ridge, enjoying the views of Bobbin Head that slowly unfold as you run along before dropping back down to Bobbin Head and the finish. This change means the 12km course drops down a kilometre to a 11km course.
22km Course – now 23km: Runners will leave Bobbin Head as per normal, along the Warrimoo Track before making their way up to the Aid Station via the Sphinx Track, through the Landings, and then South via the Murrua Track. Instead of proceeding South all the way to McRae St the runners will cut off this section via the Lovers Leap Creek track, past Golden Jubilee Field and then off the end of Grosvenor St like normal. You then have another short sharp climb up the Gibberagong Waterholes Track to Murra Track again, back through The Landings and then across Bobbin Head Rd onto Bobbin Head Trail and back to the finish. These changes means the 22km course will now be a 23km course in 2021.
45km Course – still 45km: Due to the nature of the 45km course it remains the least changed. Runners still head along Warrimoo Track then up to St Ives to complete the out and back sections to Cowan Creek and St Ives Wildflower Gardens, the section from Warrimoo Ave to the Sphinx, The Landings and Grosvenor St Aid Station remain unchanged apart from skipping the Out and Back section along the Murrua Track (for now). Like the 22km course they will then head up the Gibberagong Waterholes Track to Murrua Track, complete the Murrua Track Out and Back (shorter this year to keep the overall distance the same) before heading back through The Landings, across Bobbin Head Rd and along and down to Bobbin Head via the Bobbin Head Trail.
We feel these new courses all retain the spirit of the Jabulani Challenge course and will still provide some of the best trail running to be found anywhere.
We look forward to introducing these new courses to you come event day, you won’t be disappointed!
