10 km Run

WALMER FOREST

A challenging 10 km run that has a tough first half (but lots of lovely surroundings to distract you!) and a super speedy back end. A 10km run and a local bushland tour all in one.

Starting at Camp Reserve (1), you will head out along the wide access of Gingell Street (2) with Barkers Creek to your right. Crossing Walker Street, you will run along a grand oak-lined lane to the right of the commonly known Sunken Oval (3). This marks the 1 km point. You will then enter the beautiful Castlemaine Botanical Gardens, crossing via the Doran Street foot bridge that crosses Barkers Creek.

Our splendid marshals will guide you left after a couple hundred metres, then back again and over the second (white) bridge on your left (1.2km). You have now entered the local flora and fauna reserve (4), the home of the Eltham Copper Butterfly.

You will bear left as you climb the rocky and steep ascent. Marshalls will guide you to the left onto Mary Street. Mary Street winds around the hill, then into a lovely downhill dip (5)  as you head towards the Pony Club. Crossing Richards Road, you will test your fitness climbing up to the top of the hill for the 4 km mark, turning left (6) and left again through a drink station and along the gravel Boundary Road that skirts the Walmer Forest. Following this for 1km, you will run through springtime bushland before turning into Centre Road as the course merges with the half marathon course. There will be a Marshall here cheering you on.

Less than 1km back up centre road, you will emerge onto Castlemaine Muckleford Road, where you can run down that marvellous hill back across Richards Road, up Mary Street, and back into the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens.

This time, a Marshal will direct you to take the left track down the hill, across the Barkers Creek bridge, and then stay on the right of the track. You will join the 5km runners and exit through the Walker Street gate. Once across Walker Street, you can finish strongly down Gingell Street and back into the Camp Reserve for drinks, burgers, and a strong sense of achievement having completed the 10km at Grainger Legal Run the Maine.