EVENT HEADS UP: Trail events are sparked up for many reasons with many different tag lines and selling points: the toughest, the biggest altitude climb, the most beautiful, the most competitive field, the most singletrack… some claims are marketing speel, others smack-bang-mud-in-your-face truth.

Go The Extra Mile is not the biggest, brightest, shiniest or most brutal outing. But it is a worthy event that has latched on to the goodness of trail running as a symbiotic means of raising awareness and funds for a cause. And sometimes, you don’t have to have a biggest or baddest reasons to go for a trail run: a feel and do-good reason is enough.

So if you’re a trail runner without any ego (“I don’t do trail unless it takes me to the top of Everest”), but with a lot of heart (“this one’s for a good cause and fun”), then check out Go The Extra Mile, a 50 km walk/run happening on 12th October in New South Wales from Turramurra North through Bobbin Heads, Mount Kuring-gai and then rejoining the Great North Walk at Berowra.

Keeping the vibe one of inclusion, the event (like an Oxfam) is targeted at walkers as much as runners and is to raise funds for Aussie teenagers and their families addressing serious social issues (suicide, binge drinking, drugs, depression, bullying, sexuality, eating disorders) through Focus on the Family Australia’s prevention-based programs that specialise in this area. Still, it’ makes a great ‘time on your feet’ trainer for trail runners with bigger race targets in mind and will be a fun outing in a beautiful part of the state.

Says Focus on the Family Australia’s CEO Brett Ryan: “As a self-confessed boot camp junky I know the benefit of hard work and commitment. That same amount of hard work and commitment is needed to have healthy families.  Unfortunately, many Australian families are having to put in extra work in dealing with challenging issues such as teenage suicide, drugs, binge drinking, pornography, depression, bullying and sexual identity. That is where Focus on the Family – Australia can help.

“Your hard work and commitment towards completing the 50km’s will not only provide you with a great sense of satisfaction, it will also go towards raising much needed funds to help support the range of preventative education activities delivered to families and individuals by the charity Focus on the Family Australia.

Melbournites may have heard of the event, with one held back in May (check a blog about the event from friend of TRM, Scott Knabel) and there is another sister event, the overnight Moonwalk, due on 24 November.

There is a small registration fee of $55.00 to enter for adults over the age of 18years old/ 12 to 18years old $25.00 and finally 6 to 12 years old $25.00. You can also enter Teams for this event.

GO THE EXTRA MILE
Turramurra North to McKell Park, Brooklyn, NSW
12 October 2013
Please note that all donations receive a tax deduction receipt. More information can be found by visiting www.gotheextramile.com.au
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