Riverwood Downs 30k Race Report

Race: Riverwood Downs 30k

Runner: Tom Scott

Race Date: 7/24/2021

Location: Monkerai, NSW, Australia

Results: 1st overall

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/5676467941

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

It’s a small local event with a great community feel. It traverses some really cool terrain with rocky climbs and descents, multiple creek crossings and some fast, flowy hills through open paddocks. It’s also an event where people can run with their dogs which gives a unique feel.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

This year the 30k was cut short and only covered 24k due to some access issues with neighboring properties.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

The dogs! Dogs are allowed to run the race with their owners and the first three dogs in each race get a trophy! There was even a dog masseuse on site!

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

The 30k race was two loops of 15k (12k this year!) and my goal/plan was to negative split them. I managed to achieve this by around two minutes, even though I was running faster than planned as I was at the front of the field.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

It doesn’t compare to some mountainous courses but it’s a quite pretty course in its own right some some great views of the nearby Barrington Mountains and some really cool creeks.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

It’s not particularly tough, although there are two short, steep climbs which get the heart racing.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

The race is run by a local company which specializes in smaller, community running events. This is the second of their events I’ve run and it was really good – I’m keen to do some more in the future.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

The race is a little remote (about 1.5hrs from the nearest large city) but it’s held partly on the property of a resort/campground. If you want to stay the night in a cabin it’s worth booking well in advance.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

There are two aid stations on each loop, and both are stocked with water, Tailwind and fruit.

How’s the Swag?

The finisher medals are really unique and are hand-painted by the RD’s family. The trophies are also kind of shaped like dogs which is cool.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

I’d definitely recommend any local runners give this event a go and support a local company!