The Surf Coast region is ready to host its biggest-ever crowd of trail runners at this year's Brooks Surf Coast Trail Marathon, which will be taking place on 30^th of June 2018, Saturday, from Torquay to Fairhaven along the Surf Coast Walk.

This year's fifth edition event announces a new partnership with a locally-based ethical outdoors company, Patagonia, and puts the question to all participants: "can trail running help save a rainforest?" That is the focal question raised in Patagonia's newly produced documentary, 'Takayna', which will screen as part of race weekend festivities. The film will be featuring Nicole Anderson, who is a trail running activist, along with well-known environmentalist, ex-Greens Party leader and MP, Bob Brown, campaigning to save the Tarkine wilderness in the north west of Tasmania, using trail running as a tool in the fight to save the environment.

Photo Credit: SuperSport

Takayna screening

The film will be shown during the race bib collection on a Friday night, 29^th June, 7.30 p.m. at Patagonia Retail Store, Surf Coast Highway Torquay. Even those who are not participating in the run are welcome to attend and watch the screening.

The screening will provide inspiration for up to 700 runners braving wintry conditions to run a marathon from Fisherman's Beach, Torquay to the Surf Life Saving Club at Fairhaven. Alternatively, some will be running a half marathon which begins at Point Addis.

Photo Credit: SuperSport

About Brooks Surf Coast Trail Marathon

The Brooks Surf Coast Trail Marathon was created to shine the spotlight on the Surf Coast Walk and also serves as an ideal warm-up run to the Surf Coast Century trail ultra in September, which also uses the Surf Coast Walk and is operated by locally based events company Rapid Ascent. Between them, the two major events have put the Surf Coast region firmly on the map for Australia's trail running community, the region becoming a major destination for runners training year-round.

“Given our proximity to Melbourne, and the plethora of trails and other activities on offer from surfing to paddling and mountain bike riding, the Surf Coast really has become an outdoor adventurer’s playground and events like ours bolster that messaging. It is an ideal destination for those training for the Surf Coast Trail Marathon or indeed a multitude of other trail events around Australia. The trails of the Surf Coast have driven regional visitation hugely,” says Chris.

Photo Credit: SuperSport

Surf Coast Trail Marathon sponsor

This year's Surf Coast Trail Marathon welcomes a new headline sponsor in Brooks Running, one of Australia's largest running shoe brands who have partnered with a local running retailer, The Happy Runner, in Torquay, to present the event. It also welcomes Suunto on board, the world's leading run watch technology brand, who will be presenting the first-place winners, male and female in both distances, with a brand new Suunto 9 GPS watch which was just released in the market.

Race director, Chris Ord, says,

What we are most proud of,” says Race Director Chris Ord, “Is the fact that the Surf Coast Trail Marathon has become both a proving ground for some of Australia’s best trail runners, but also a crucible for those just getting into trail running. We tend to have a high number of first-time marathoners, half marathoners and even first-time trail runners using the beautiful but safe natural environment of the Surf Coast to begin their journey in trail running. So we make sure we cater for all levels of runners and welcome everyone along the Surf Coast Walk, no matter how fast or more leisurely paced.

Runners travel from across Australia and the globe to participate in the Brooks Surf Coast Trail Marathon, with participants registered from afar afield as the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States and New Zealand along with every Australian state represented.

What do you think? Can running help save the rainforest?