Australia’s first 100km multi day stage trail running and trekking festival, Trailfest Sydney, to be held on spectacular National Park trails on Sydney’s North Shore and Northern Beaches, has launched with entries now open.

Taking place across the Anzac Day weekend, 24-27 April 2014, the three-day event will take runners through some of Sydney’s most iconic and scenic national parks and trails in Manly Dam, St Ives, Roseville, Belrose, Duffys Forest and Bobbin Head, affording sensational views of Bantry Bay, Middle Harbour, Cowan Creek and Broken Bay.

With limited places available, organisers describe Trailfest Sydney as being suitable for both amateur adventurers and seasoned runners and trekkers, offering achievable daily course times to attract participants to this emerging, globally popular format of multi day running events.

Returning each night to camp under the stars at St Ives Showground, runners will be able to view daily results as well as images and footage of the event on a big screen. The Anzac Day Dawn Service will also screen live in the campsite on Friday 25 April.

Trailfest Sydney has been launched by the team behind the successful Big Red Run ultra-marathon, held in the Simpson Desert in July 2013. There will be inspirational talks at the campsite hosted by special guest speakers to keep participants motivated for each race day.

Fundraising from the event will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) through the Born To Run Foundation, a charity founded by amateur runner and Trailfest founder Greg Donovan, whose son Stephen was diagnosed with the potentially fatal type 1 juvenile diabetes at age 14.

More than 130,000 Australians are living with type 1 diabetes, with six new cases diagnosed every day and around a quarter of Australians affected directly or through family and friends.

“This is an extremely accessible event, both in terms of locality and physical requirements,” says Donovan. “Everyone from youngsters through to retirees can participate and enjoy the sights of Sydney in this Australian-first adventure and support an important cause at the same time.”

“The unique difference with multi day events such as Trailfest is that they give the running and trekking community the chance to come together for a few days and share camaraderie at the campsite, which is something that single stage events are unable to offer. We are so lucky to have these fantastic trails right on our doorstep, and Trailfest will give people the chance to discover parts of Sydney they have never seen before ,” said Donovan.

Trailfest participants are not required to fundraise, but if they choose to do so they will be entitled to entry fee rebates as they reach fundraising milestones.

An Australian-owned and organised event, Trailfest Sydney will be underpinned by a comprehensive safety plan, with running and trekking event specialists Adrian Bailey and Lucas Trihey managing the event, safety and logistics.

There is a generous early bird discount for entries before 30 November. To register or for more information head to www.trailfest.com.au

Trailfest Sydney is Australia’s first 100km multi day stage race being held on Sydney’s North Shore from 24-27 April 2014. The event will be broken into three days of running and trekking through Sydney’s National Parks and trails: www.trailfest.com.au

Trailfest Promo from Born to Run Foundation on Vimeo.

ABOUT THE BORN TO RUN FOUNDATION

With the mission of “fitness for fighting diabetes”, the Born To Run Foundation aims to raise much-needed funds for diabetes research as well as awareness about fitness to tackle Type 1. The registered charity was founded by amateur runner Greg Donovan, whose son Stephen was diagnosed with type 1 juvenile diabetes at age 14. All donations to the Foundation will go to research projects and finding a cure for type 1 diabetes: www.borntorun.com.au