Run away from a Canberra winter with the Capital to Coast Trail Race 2023

Posted on 4 July, 2023

What better way to celebrate the end of another Canberra winter than with a weekend literally running away from it?

We told you last year about the Capital to Coast trail race, but for new players, imagine a multi-stage, trail running event with a festival atmosphere and a weekend away down the coast with your friends and family. That’s the Capital to Coast, a unique event on the running calendar.

Race Director and local trail runner Doug Richards gives us the lowdown.

“The C2C is organised by a volunteer committee who all love the trails around the capital and the region. We know there’s a special connection between Canberra and the South Coast, what better way to celebrate this by running from here to there?” he says.

But don’t stress – this isn’t an endurance event if you don’t want it to be. The event starts on Friday at Stromlo Forest Park and finishes two days later at Mill Beach in Murramarang, just north of Batemans Bay. In between, runners travel through some of the region’s most beautiful state forests and towns, mostly in pristine bushland on well-marked trails with full event marshalling support for participants.

For those returning for this year’s event, there are some exciting new stages at Braidwood, Tallaganda and a superb new coast finish stage from Maloney’s Beach along the recently opened Murramarang South Coast Walk.

The total race distance is 100km, over nine stages of 8-15km, and a fantastic opportunity to challenge yourself as a solo runner or put together a team of two to four people to form a relay team. Join our new C2C100 Strava Club and keep tabs on how others are prepping for race weekend and meet some of your fellow runners.

If you need any further convincing check out the C2C Insta and Facebook pages and this *stunning* video from last year’s event. Those pages and the video are full of smiles, with runners, spectators and volunteers alike had aching face muscles as well as tired but happy legs. The event truly has a unique vibe!

Runners can take the time to immerse themselves in everything the region has to offer– like sneaking in a cheeky arvo beer at Stromlo, grabbing lunch in Bungendore, dining in Braidwood and a quick coffee stop in Mogo–with some stunning trail running thrown in! Great prizes will be on offer for category winners including from Canberra’s own The Runners Shop as well as good natured brews from Capital Brewing Co..

Not a runner but coming along as someone’s support crew and getting FOMO? Then join the party as a volunteer! You’ll get the same festival feels and an exclusive volunteer’s buff. There are heaps of different roles across the weekend — head to the volunteer page to find out more.

Entry for the Capital to Coast trail running festival is open now and fees vary for teams and solo runners, with discounts for Canberra Runners Club members.

Early bird entries close on Friday 14 July, so gather your posse or sign-up solo. All entrants receive a free event t-shirt – and this year we’ll have a special gift for all finishers who cross the line, well, sand!

 Images supplied