Welcome

Welcome to the Bullen Merri Challenge

Sunday 1st April 2012

The Crater Lakes Region sits between the Grampians National Park and the Otway Ranges in Western Victoria. It's a remarkable region geologically, and the picturesque Lake Bullen Merri makes a perfect place for a multi-sport challenge event.

Event Summary

We start the event at 9:00am at South Beach on Lake Bullen Merri. This will give time to travel from Melbourne or enjoy a leisurely start to the day. The event itself will be very easy logistically with the start, finish, all transitions and the presentations taking place at the South Beach precinct. The race starts with a 10km paddle, competitors will line up in their kayaks between the 2 piers, this gives heaps of room for an exciting mass paddle start. You then paddle 1 lap of the lake keeping the marker buoys to your right, finishing where you started. The second leg is a 31km road ride which takes you around the lake with only left turns, it would be a fast course if it wasn't so hilly, and one lap is only 15.5km so you have to do it twice. The last leg is a run which heads around the lake in a clockwise direction, the first half of this will be relatively flat dirt road with some cattle grids to jump. The second half is more off road following the lakes edge before heading up the crater to run along the lip before the down hill run to the finish line.

The winners are expected around 11:30am, and those just out for some fun will finish in time for the Lions Club lunch. The Presentations will be held at the finish line on South Beach once the majority of competitors have finished, approximately 1:00pm.

Lunch and drinks will be organised by the local Lions club, the money you spend goes back into the local community, so feed the engine and hydrate the body to aid your recovery.

The Bullen Merri Challenge is a perfect lead up to the Marysville to Melbourne event to be held 4 weeks later. The Bullen Merri Challenge is designed to be a good hit out to give you the confidence you need to complete the Marysville to Melbourne but not leave you tired or sore, recovery will be a couple of days at most and then you can start your training again.

Saturday Pre-Race Dinner

There will be an informal gathering of anyone interested in some pre-race socializing and dinner at Maddens Commercial Hotel in Camperdown on the main street. Any time from 6:30pm arrive and find the crowd that looks remarkably slim, fit and toned and join in. There's a full menu to order from so there's a good choice for your pre-race meal, it could mean the difference between first and second!