Tamworth Trail Blazer will pit man against mountain

The brainchild of physiotherapist and ultra-running enthusiast Warren Ansell is certain to test the limits of even the fittest and most experienced athlete, although, with a shorter version available is certain to grab the attention of the weekend warriors up for the challenge as well.

The unique event will see entrants taking on 15km loops of the Wentworth Mounds’ finest tracks, including Flagstaff Peak, with over 900m of vertical climbing per lap.

The main event will be three laps of this beast, although there will be one lap, two lap, and team entries available as well.

“This event isn’t like anything else offered, and will be one of the toughest trail races in Australia - the hills are brutal but beautiful!”​ Mr Ansell said.

Mr Ansell is hoping the race will attract athletes looking to start building towards the Ultra Trail Australia, a 50km and 100km race held in The Blue Mountains, that already attracts a solid Tamworth contingent.

“We have a strong contingency of trail runners and ultra marathon runners in Tamworth and the North West.  Many enter the Ultra Trail 100, although until now there hasn’t been a training race available to prepare for this event.”

“The Tamworth Trail Blazer will offer runners a distance of their choice as well as some premium hills to get their bodies in peak condition.”

The run will head straight up the Flagstaff trail, taking the Gully Run from The Saddle to the peak of Flagstaff, before heading 2km down Hurcum’s Horror Hill, and back up.

“Hurcum’s Horror has an average gradient of 14 per cent, with some parts up to 21 per cent – to put that in perspective the road up the Oxley Lookout is 8 per cent,” Mr Ansell said.

The run will  then finish with one final loop of the Lookout, with three laps expected to take a minimum of seven hours.

Entries open in January.