Blue Lake Fun Run

The Blue Lake Fun Run started in 2010, and over 1,000 people participated to raise money for OPAL.

OPAL (Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle) is a program that supports children, with the help of their families and the local community, in becoming healthy and leading a healthy lifestyle.

The race commences on Bay Road near Cave Garden, and four distances can be tackled: 3.2km, 6.8km, 10.4km, and the half marathon. The 10.4km race runs twice around Blue Lake, with the 6.8km race running around it once and the 3.2km race running from town up to Blue Lake and back down again.

Lakes & Craters Half Marathon Course

The course will be monitored and directed by Marshalls and clearly marked. The elevation estimate is 305 metres. The course is all on Bitumen Road. The run incorporates the Lakes Precinct, which is a run into a dormant volcano. Runners will also have views of Mount Schank and the Centenary Tower.

The course commences adjacent to the Cave Garden/Thugi on Bay Road. Run south to the Blue Lake/Warwar, turn around, then back, turning around at the Sturt Street Lights.

This time, when reaching Blue Lake/Warwar, turn right to continue on Bay Road to the roundabout and run past the intersection with Davison Drive for approx 400 metres to the turnaround point. This time, turn left into Davison Drive and follow Davison down into the Lakes Precinct. At the intersection with Haig Dr, turn left to run clockwise around Brownes Lake, following markers and directions. When reaching the Davison Drive/Haig Drive Intersection, turn around and run around Browne’s Lake anticlockwise. Then, retrace the road back to the roundabout, turning left (to join 10.4 & 6.8 km runners) at the intersection of Bay Rd and John Watson Drive. Two full clockwise circuits of Blue Lake/Warwar, then back along Bay Road to the finishing point adjacent to Cave Garden/Thugi on Watson Terrace.

10.4 Blue Lake/Warwar Course

The course will be monitored and directed by Marshalls and clearly marked. The elevation estimate is 150 metres. The course is all on Bitumen Road.

The 10.4km course begins in Mount Gambier’s city centre alongside the Cave Gardens/Thugi, with the beginning stages of the course flat before a steady climb up Bay Road to the Blue Lake/Warwar. Participants turn left at the Blue Lake/Warwar and run/walk two undulating clockwise laps of the Blue Lake/Warwar. As participants make their way around the Blue Lake/Warwar, they will be exposed to views of farmland and an extinct volcano, Mount Schank, to their left and views of the Blue Lake/Warwar to their right. After completing the two laps around the Blue Lake runners descend Bay Road for a fast finish at the Cave Gardens/Thugi.

6.8 Mount Gambier/Berrin Run Course

The course will be monitored and directed by Marshalls and clearly marked. The elevation estimate is 95 metres. The course is all on Bitumen Road.

The 6.8 km course begins in Mount Gambier’s city centre alongside the Cave Gardens, with the beginning stages of the course flat before a steady climb up Bay Road to the Blue Lake/Warwar. Participants turn left at the Blue Lake/Warwar and run/walk an undulating clockwise lap of the Blue Lake/Warwar. As participants make their way around the Blue Lake/Warwar, they will be exposed to views of farmland and an extinct volcano, Mount Schank, to their left and views of the Blue Lake/Warwar to their right. After completing the laps around the Blue Lake/Warwar, participants descend Bay Road for a fast finish at the Cave Gardens/Thugi.

3.2 Cave Gardens/Thugi Dash Course

The course will be monitored and directed by Marshalls and clearly marked. The elevation estimate is 50 metres. The course is all on Bitumen Road.

The 3.2 km course begins in Mount Gambier’s city centre alongside the Cave Gardens/Thugi with the beginning stages of the course flat, before a steady climb up Bay Road to the Blue Lake/Warwar. Participants turn around at the Blue Lake/Warwar and descend down Bay Road to finish at the Cave Gardens/Thugi.

Event Restrictions (Age, Ability & Time Cutoffs)

The Half Marathon has a minimum age of 15 years. There are no age restrictions for other events, but be mindful of your child’s capabilities. You must enter with your child if they require supervision during the event.

Due to the elevation (over 300 metres), participants in the half marathon are expected to have suitable running experience.

The event is run on roads that will reopen at 11am. It concludes at that time, and anyone on the course must transition to the footpath.

Half Marathon participants must have completed the first 6.5km by 8am.

Prize Money

Individuals only for the Half Marathon:
1st $250 // 2nd $150 // 3rd $100 for both Male and Female participants.

Team prizes $200 for best dressed team, $200 for most kilometres completed by team. $100 lucky team draw

School team prizes are available

Under 8-year-olds 5 x $30 The Book Place vouchers to be won

Other events do not have prize money

Water Stations

There will be 5 Water stations supplying water only in paper cups.

1 Water station will be located at the start/finish station.

2 on Bay Road and 2 around Blue Lake/Warwar.

The furthest distance between drink station is from approximately the 6k to 13k marks of the Half Marathon.

Bib Collection & Shirt Collection/Check In

The collection will only be available from the Start/Finish at the Mount Gambier Library on Saturday, November 25th, between noon and 4 p.m. and also on the morning of the run.

No Bibs will be posted out. Safety pins supplied. Bibs must be worn, and visible from the front, at all times to ensure your time is accurately recorded.

Some shirts and Singlets will be available for sale at Bib Collection

Finisher Medals

All event finishers will receive an environmentally friendly pine finishers medal and lanyard. Medals will also be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd finishers, both male and female, in each event at a presentation ceremony. In addition, 1st, 2nd and 3rd finishers over 50 years of age, both male and female in each event, will also receive an additional medal at a presentation ceremony.

Toilets

Public toilets are available at the Start/Finish area. Additional public toilets are located at the Pumping Station kiosk where Bay road meets Blue Lake/Warwar. Half Marathoners will also have access to public toilets within the Valley Lake complex.

Team entries are encouraged, with over a thousand people entering from schools, sporting clubs, and workplaces each year.

Prizes for the fastest times for men, women, seniors and kids can include cash and a medal to show their achievement.

So come out for a great day of exercise and help raise money for a fantastic local cause. There are many things to see and do in Mount Gambier, so why not make the trip and spend some time in this beautiful part of Australia.