I should be there on the 4th June. Whether it's the 55k or 27.5k not sure yet.

I'll be deciding way closer to the date, bottom line after what i'd describe as three sh#t performances (as far as my standards are concerned) in my 3 Ultras this year (and continuing injuries from each :) ), last thought on my mind is 4 in a row then 100K's then Traralgon Marathon hence six in a row.
As far as i'm concerned only half decent race performance this year was 19:58 at last weeks 5KM Gunn run (and even then was only 6th of 46 :angry: ).

We'll chat on the way to the Dam in a couple of weeks Cheers FiIK

Hi All,

A quick update. I have established a website for the Second Two Bays Trail Run. OK it's very basic and I can't figure out how to get pictures on there yet, but the information is there. No laughing please.

Check it out. Book mark it, check it regularly and watch my html/ftp progress.

http://www.twobays.coolrunning.com.au

Key updates:

* Race name now has the subtitle "The Toughest Trail Run on the Mornington Peninsula" (Thanks Kelvin)

* Race for the 55km "Ultra" starts at Cape Schanck at 07:30 and returns to Cape Schanck. Going up Arthurs Seat after 30km should add a nice twist for the ultra runners.

* Race for the 27.5km "Challenge" starts at Dromana at 10:30

* Cutoffs.

a) 55km. 4hrs for first leg (11:30) to Dromana then 4hrs for second leg back to Cape Schanck.

b) 27.5km Challenge, 5hrs to the Cape. Course closes at 3:30pm for both runs.

* 27.5km "Challenge" start begins at the Information Centre in Dromana. There will be ample parking and the toilets are open 24hrs/day.

* Entry Forms will be available at the end of March.

Cheers, Brendan

Looks good Brendan.

I like the idea of both runs finishing at the same spot, though it may be interesting around 10:30 in Dromana with some 55k runners coming in near the start time of the 27.5km run.

Instead of a bus, I think the 55km runners could drive the 27.5km runners back to Dromana, as they will be finishing within the same timeframe.

Virtual.
At least all the info is now centralised on the racewebsite.

The weather on 4th June will be interesting. I reckon a spray jacket or thermal top may be required for the return leg of the ultra, as it's quite common to have 10 deg max at that time of year.

The start/finish of the ultra at Cape Schanck sounds good to me. Have penciled this one in.

Nice work Virtual,
I'll do my best to be there again this year. I've moved to Mildura which is a 6 or 7 hour drive to Melbourne. I'll be coming down to Melbourne though for the important runs and I regard this as one of them. It's not as easy training up here for the Ultras though. The heat can be a killer and a 20 min run can zap your energy. See you all soon,
Dash

Hi all, long time lurker, first time poster here.

Just did a fantastic run from Cape Schanck to Dromana this Saturday. Cool and cloudy, saw more roos than I did people, couldn't have asked for a better introduction to the Two Bays Trail. At a number of points I wasn't clear on which way to go but, with the aid of Virtual's excellent directions, I made not a single wrong turn. Thanks Virtual!

Looking forward to 4th June.

Well done Nature Lover. We need more naturalists in our sport. :)

I've been fielding a steady stream of email enquiries which has prompted me to make this event less of a fat ass type run and more official and get permissions and insurance etc... It looks like we'll have +/- 50 runners for this year's events.

I've just updated the website. Why does ftp not like apostrophes?...

Brendan Mason
0425 786542
http://www.twobays.coolrunning.com.au/

---------------------

News – 1 May 2006:
 
• Public Liability Insurance has been arranged and approved by the Australian Ultra Runners Association, which is affiliated with Athletics Australia.
• Permission for the event is pending from Parks Vic. But now insurance has been arranged we hope that permission will be granted
• 55km Ultramarathon starts at Cape Schanck at 07:30
• 27.5km Challenge starts at the Dromana tourist information centre at 10:30
• Race entry forms will be available on the day at the start. Entry will close 30 min prior to each event
• Entry fee is $10 for either event
• The Race Director will run the course the night before and ensure that the course is clearly marked
• A mini bus will be hired to provide limited ferrying of runners from Cape Schanck back to Dromana
• Finishers awards will be provided to all finishers
• All runners are encouraged to carry food (gels or sweets), some food will be available at Dromana and Cape Schanck, the kiosk will be open at the Cape Schanck finish
• All runners are encouraged to carry a mobile phone containing the RD's number. 0425 786542
• Only experienced runners permitted in the 55km event.  ie. Completed a Marathon or International Distance Triathlon or Trailwalker type event

I'm happy to say that Interest is growing in this event. Thank you.

Excellent work Brendan !

1. If You thinking all naturel, it can get EMBARRASINGLY cold, that time of the year.

2. The night before run by RD, sounds a bit tempting any details on that ? Time, start and finish point etc ?

point 2. has strictly nothing to do with point 1.!!!

Rudolf, Probably will go so that I arrive at the Cape by 5:30pm. Will have a backpack full of flour and streamers. cheers, Brendan

All, Another update..

Looks like we have secured the lighthouse keeper's stables where hot tea/coffee, a BBQ and fresh water will be available after the Two Bays Trail Run on the 4th June. We'll also do the presentations here.

We may make the finish inside the lighthouse enclosure.

Looking for volunteers if anyone wants to assist. Current roles available in order of urgency.

1) Aid station volunteer/s water stops can be unmanned but thought one proper aid station at Greens Bush would be cool.
2) Sweeper for the 27.5km event
3) Mini bus driver

Council is requesting marshalls on the Browns Rd and Boneo Rd crossings. I've pushed back and suggested that decent warnings for both cars and runners should be sufficient.

I'll be running the course at 2pm on Sat 3rd June to ensure there's no dangerous bits and to mark the course.


Cheers Brendan.

Sounds very tempting as a long training run Brendan. I have walked the 2 Bays twice (once extending to Fingals) and it would make a very pleasant run with lots of variety. Some kind of transport back to Dromana afterwards would be really useful.

Greybeard, We are getting a minibus so that we can ferry people back to Dromana. On top of that there will be a number of cars heading back after the run. Hope you can make it. Cheers, Brendan

Did my last hill training today. Accomodation booked. Now the mental preparation.......55km is a long way - hell, 42km is a long way! See you all at Cape Schanck 7am for registration.

I'm trying to swing it to get to this. I gather that the start/finish is at Cape Schanck? Any ideas how long it takes to get down there from some reference point like the Westgate?

Westgate to the cape to be there by 7am (for a 7:30 start) 1hr 20min should be safe. Brendan

Hi Team, Here are some final instructions for the second Two Bays Trail Run, to be held next Sunday on the 4th June.

Both Events
* Entries only taken on the day, bring $10, 4x safety pins, mobile phone, money for kiosk at end, warm clothes, carry a bottle (optional but recommended)
* Extreme care must be taken crossing the two high speed road crossings. Browns Road (12km from Dromana) and Boneo Rd (22km from Dromana, 5.5km from finish) Both roads carry light traffic but all of which travels at high speed
* Bags will be transported from Dromana to the finish line at Cape Schanck
* The finish will be in the Cape Schanck Lighthouse enclosure. When you get to the end of the trail continue through the Cape Schanck carpark, run to the kiosk and go along the trail to the right of the kiosk for 20 metres to get to the finish line
* The Light House Keeper is equipping a warm area with hot tea/coffee facilities, I’ll ensure there’s some food to help you recover
* Hot food will be available for purchase from the kiosk at Cape Schanck
* John Lindsay has offered to be the grim sweeper. Thank you very much John
* There are a number of board walk sections covered in chicken wire. Large runners (80kg plus) are advised to take it very easy as some of the boards are rotten. If you bound through at full throttle you may break a board (and maybe an ankle too)

55km Ultramarathon
* The start for the 55km is at Cape Schanck at 07:30. I will be there to take your entry.
* 55km runners can arrange to have one drop bag taken to the Dromana info centre turnaround

27km Challenge
* The start for the 27.5km challenge will be at 10:30 from the Dromana information centre (big yellow building in the small park on the corner of the Point Nepean Hwy and Permien St. Dromana (Melways 159 F7)

Thank you to Blairgowrie House Winery for donating some vintage Pinot Noir from their museum cellar for the awards.

Here is the time line for the day..

06:30 Entries open at Cape Schanck for the 55km run, $10
07:15 Entries close for the 55km run
07:20 55km compulsory pre race briefing
07:30 55km Ultramarathon start
09:00 Entries open at Dromana for the 27.5km run, $10
10:00 Entries close fro 27.5km Challenge
10:10 first 55km runners expected at Dromana turn around
10:20 27.5km compulsory pre race briefing
10:30 27.5km Challenge start
11:30 Halfway cut off time for 55km Ultra (at sweeper’s discretion)
12:15 55km Winner expected at Cape Schanck
12:40 27.5km Winner expected expected at Cape Schanck
15:30 (3:30pm) Course closes

Vacancies are still open for the following positions.

1. Marshall for Boneo Rd crossing. 12noon to 3pm
2. Aid Station at Greens Bush 10:45 to 14:15
3. Minibus driver

FINALLY, I ran the trail last night (Sat) starting at Cape Schanck at 3am to see what it’s like in cold/wet conditions. Apart from tripping over roots that I couldn’t see and the feeling of millions of little eyes watching me the going wasn’t too rough. Some advice. If it is cool, wear a long top and a cap and be very careful especially if it is wet. Don’t go out too hard. Especially up Arthurs Seat. Save a bit of energy for the last 25km

Any questions please email or call me.

Brendan Mason
blmason@bigpond.net.au
0425 786542

PS if anyone wants an elevation profile I can send it to them via email. ie. Don't know how to post it here..

Brendan

and last years competitors

cheers Plu

Thanks for that Plu.

I forgot to mention that there is a $4.10 fee to exit the Cape Schanck car park.

Brendan

Virtual, a long suffering volunteer is willing to do Boneo Road from 12 to 3 [if still needed]......after her morning bike ride.

Also, the 3:30 cut off time means runners have 8 hours. Is this cut off "hard and fast"? From memory, their were runners slower than 8 hours last year.

Whippet, yep that is correct. No entry fee only an exit fee of $4.10.

Kevin, Fantastic. Thanks.

Brendan

Love to join you on this one Virtual, but don't get back from WA til Sunday, so will be next year now. Spotted the link in the Melbourne Herald Sun on the way over on Monday and was almost tempted to catch the red eye back, maybe if I was Kelvin I would have ;)

Good luck all, looking forward to great reports like last year.

Read last year's reports with interest and got good feedback from one participant. Had it in mind to do the run (27.5K) this year but too close to last week's Williamstown marathon for me being my first.

Pleased to see the growing support. Will look forward to event reports. Good luck to all participants and hopefuly reasonable weather.

Team,

Looks like the next weekend's Two Bays Trail Run is in in doubt. Yesterday the council insisted on two new approvals apart from theirs.

I now need to gain permission from no less than four organisations.

· Parks Vic (will approve if MPS approve)
· Mornington Peninsula Shire (Will approve if VR and police approve)
· Vic Roads etc..
· Police

Plus a number of new requirements that will be almost impossible to implement in time. For example step down speeds on the two road crossings from 100kph then to 80kph to 60kph to 40 kph in both directions plus signage that will cost $400 to rent and two blokes at $75/hr to set it up and pull it down. There's more.

At this point I've asked for assistance with the implementation of those requirements.

If the council help we're all systems go. If not I have no alternative to cancel or postpone the event. As you can imagine I'm really really disappointed as you must be. More later today.

Bummer. If there's anything that can be done I'd love to help out.

I've got accommodation booked etc. so I'll be starting from Dromana at 10:30am this Sunday regardless.

Good luck Virtual and thanks for all the hard work you're putting in.

Hi Virtual,
That's terrible news. We know how hard you have worked to try and put this event on. Is there a possibility of it being changed to a FatAss event if the council doesn't give the green light.
If not we could just be a big group of people going for a Sunday morning training run. They can't not let us do that can they? I hope things work out. I will be making the trip down from Mildura on Saturday. If I can be of any assistance please ask. I promise not to try and cross the freeway this time.
Thanks,
Dylan

This sure is disappointing...but typical of authorities who just hate people having fun for free. Don't you just love pompous individuals in monogrammed nylon shirts sitting in highback chairs.....oh for the good old days!

If I can help by not running and serving the event in another capacity then I shall.

Failing all else, I plan on having a run on the trail starting at Cape Schank at 7:30.....anyone care to join me? Surely nothing can stop a group of runners just heading off onto the trails for a run

I'll be there regardless. $240 (non refundable) in accomodation not to mention the headache of organising childcare and time off work. By the time I pay for petrol I think it even beats the price of my OS marathon. Having the small amount of support that was organized would have been great, but I'll be doing it unsupported if necessary. Virtual - it's probably not worth the headache of the red tape, we'll just run it as an unofficial run, which the council cannot stop us from doing unless they close the trail to all pedestrians. See you Sunday as planned.

Thanks for the comments. A letter has been written to the council but the new requirements won't be through in time. As well as that the Traffic engineer wants Vic roads approval which will take 10 days.

I won't run the event without the correct approvals because I will risk the future of the event and at the very least cop a fine.

Just off the phone.. I asked this hypothetical question.

"If I am in a bushwalking club and I want to walk the trail with 15 friends, do I need approvals from the four different authorities?" And the answer was. "Yes, and you need to comply with the traffic requirements as well"

I have no option but to postpone the event.

Apologies to all.

Virtual.
Probably best to get everything done properly. As for a new date either mid July or mid Sept suits me. ;)

Virtual, it's a total bummer for sure. I suspect the downfall is the road crossings. Permission may be easier if there are none.

The bushwalking analogy is a good one (for bush areas only presumably).

In the blue mountains: In accordance with Section 4.3.2 Recreation Opportunities, group size for bushwalking will be limited to a maximum of 8 people in the wilderness setting, and groups larger than 20 people who venture more than 300m from a public access road will require the prior approval of the Regional Manager (see 4.3.2 for details).

(refer: npws plan p75)

ie permission not required for groups less than 8 in wilderness areas (defined elsewhere) or less than 20 (non-wilderness areas). Most runners will be in groups of less than 8. Commercial activities are different, as are competitive events - suspect that a free event, with no race numbers and no formal start or finish line could be argued as non-competitive in the same way as a bushwalking group.

YNPMV (your national park may vary).

That is my defence in court for 12 foot and other events .... PMC is a different matter being road only. ("me ? no i am not in a race, just running around the block")

so it just happened by coincidence, that on the same day, there were 2 groups of 6, 2 groups of 4, one group of five, one group of 3, and few individuals not in group, running at the same place, in the same direction, and the same target?

Yep officer, pure coincidence, we do not know each other, and the blue yellow CR singlets are the common cothes from Target.

How many are still starters for the 55km?

Sorry to hear of your hassles with the bureaucracy Virtual but I think you have made the right decision. Kevin's post hits the nail on the head - you need to be comfortable that you are not personally exposed if something (however improbable) goes wrong.

Having said that I'm very surprised about the comment regarding a bushwalking party of 16. As a leader with one of the most active bushwalking clubs in Victoria I organised and led an overnight walk on the 2 Bays track in recent months and was not required to obtain any permits - just to work within the rules of the club.

I'm still keen, Lap Dog. Even if it just two of us.....remember, Frankston to Portsea went ahead with one runner [me] back in 1996.

would it help for next years event if we all keep our eyes out for 40, 60 & 80 traffic signs?

I would like to have a close inspection of the area on that day and time as referred to. Seems too good an opportunity to let pass.

I have a bus stop sign in my back yard :P

Ok all we need now are 2 x 40 & 2 x 60.

The situation stinks :angry: , but you are doing the right thing in postponing the event Brendan. Enjoy the training run on Sunday morning guys, I'd join you for sure if I could.

Rotten luck Virtual...especially after getting so close.

Another victory for the pen pushers.

Major bummer Brendan. I'm out. I have no doubt 2 Bays will be back and I'll make the pilgrimage across the bay to support you then. Good luck to those that go ahead. Long live the Fat Ass spirit. Solidarity in running. B)