Six Foot Track Marathon - Entry Criteria

1 - Minimum age of 18 years on race day AND

2 - You have had your entry accepted at the Six Foot Track Marathon previously OR provide proof of acceptable standard

Some good examples of acceptable standard are :

  1. Any 42.2km road marathon in 4:00:00 or faster
  2. Any Ultramarathon (longer than 42.2km) finished within race cutoff time
  3. Any ironman-distance Triathlon within the cutoff time allowed
  4. Mt Wilson to Bilpin run in sub 4hrs 30mins [website]
  5. Fitzroy Falls Firetrails Marathon in sub 5hrs 30mins [website]
  6. Brindabella Classic in sub 7hrs 00mins [website]
  7. Sydney Trailwalker in sub 24hrs [website]
  8. Black Stump Bush run (33km) in sub 5hrs 45mins [website]
  9. First half of Bogong to Hotham run (33km) in sub 7hrs [website

3 - As an option of last resort, for those people who are unable to provide proof of acceptable standard as above, in 2007 we will be trialling some Training Runs where your fitness will be assessed. In due course eg 2008 we might set a finishing time required to qualify, but we will play it by ear in 2007. More details here.

Further Notes & Small Print

Unfortunately the Six Foot Track Marathon is not particulary suitable as your first ever marathon due to its severe difficulty - there are plenty of others to choose from to gain some more experience.

The entry criteria is really a guide to help YOU, not for us to make the race "elite". We have a 7hour 00mins limit at Six Foot and find that because the route is hilly, that many people who fail to meet the standard above miss some of the cutoffs along the way or just give up. We really want everyone to finish in good shape. Although it is called the Six Foot Track Marathon it is actually longer (45km) and it is quite a hard event due to the hills, and (often) heat on the day. Basically we want to discourage people that might get into difficulties - we have had no serious incidents in the history of the event, and would prefer to keep it that way ! If you check the number of people that fail to finish, it is a very low percentage each year and we think this is due to all runners being adequately prepared.

Note that you don't have to do a marathon as long as you have done a "similar endurance event" - long distance triathlons, other off-road races, ultramarathons - whatever - an indication that you have some prior experience and ability, and are pretty self-reliant when the going gets tough. This would be an opportunity for you to try to convince us : at worst case you should list some details of your running history & current training.

Note that there is no time limit on when your qualifying event has to be run - could be 2 months ago, 2 years ago or 20 years ago. The reason for this is that you will know how much training you would have to do to get "into shape" and know that if you can't get into that shape again, then there is little point starting as you are likely to miss the cutoffs. If the results are not available on an official event website then you should photocopy your certifcate or page from the results book as proof.

If you don't have a lot of running background, it may be best to train up and do some events and return the following year, hopefully triumphant.