Frequently Asked Questions
What's the weather like in September?
The weather in September in this area of Central / North Queensland is very pleasant. Day time temperatures typically vary between 19 and 25 degrees Celsius.
Most of the Whitsunday Walk track is shaded, however there are areas with little or no shade and it is strongly recommended that race participants wear hats and sunscreen / zinc.
It is unlikely to rain in September and the humidity should be quite tolerable, between 40 – 60 percent relative humidity.
How much training do I need to do this event?
We would recommend that you be able to comfortably run (or walk) a half marathon. The event is considerably longer than a half marathon and the hills and uneven terrain make it more akin to a marathon in terms of physical exhaustion. Unless you are an extremely experienced hill runner (or very fit), you should expect to walk some of the more difficult hills.
We recommend that some hill training, including tackling steep descents, is attempted prior to doing the event.
There is a six hour cut off for this event and we encourage walkers and others who will not run the whole course to give it a go. The whole track can be walked at a good pace within the six hour timeframe.
Typically, runners can add about an hour to an hour and a half to their half marathon time to get some idea of their approximate finishing time.
What's the track like?
The track comprises of graded enjoyable running in some sections to rocky, undulating and steep in many others. Be prepared by wearing good shoes and keeping an eye not only ahead of you, but on the ground too!
Does the event make money?
No. The event is run by a committee of volunteers who are all passionate about the Mackay / Whitsunday region and running / walking.
The cost to enter this event is relatively high due to the levels of resources involved in making sure this event is safe.
The event could not go ahead successfully without the support of the Whitsunday SES, Ambulance Service, Police, Whitsunday Helicopters, Whitsunday Council, Queensland Parks and Wildlife and Mackay Road Runners.
Any money left over from the running of the event will go towards future years events / Mackay Road Runners.