Molesworth Course Break Down

The following is a break down of the course for the Molesworth, taken from the Marlborough Harrier Club's web site.

Race Distances and Course Description

Leg One:
km from start
Start		Molesworth Gate. Short sharp undulating run, sharp corners and steep pulls leading up to Wards Pass, then steady zig zag up to summit.
9.0km		Summit Ward Pass. 1145m. Steep descent into isolated flat and the
10.9km		Acheron River Bridge, - flat open country excellent running to
13.8km		Saxon River Bridge, similar country through to
20.0km		End of Leg One, Sign post west end of Isolated Flat.
Leg Two:
km from start	km from start of stage
Start		300m of flat before a steady climb to summit of Isolated Saddle.
21.2km	1.2km	Isolated Saddle, easy down hill to
22.2km	2.2km	Red Gate turn off. Undulating easy run to
24.4km	4.4km	Severn River Bridge. Short, sharp sections through to
35.9km	15.9km	Yarra River Bridge. Similar country through to end of Leg 2 at a point
42.0km	22.0km	being 2.5km passed pylon no. 1078. Leg Two Ends. Clearly signed. MARATHON CHANGE OVER POINT.
Leg Three:
km from start	km from start of stage
Start		road closely follows Acheron river with several steep pulls around bluffs to
50.5km	8.5km	Five Mile stream. Road gradually eases, and the valley widens as the confluence of the Acheron and Clarence Rivers become visible at -
58.5km	16.5km	Historic Acheron Accommodation House. Road descends gently to the Molesworth boundary on the Clarence River Bridge.
58.9km	16.9km	Clarence River Bridge. Public road from here to Hanmer. Crossing the bridge the road follows the Clarence upstream to a gate and
63.4km	21.4km	End Leg Three.
Leg Four:
km from start	km from start of stage
Start		road continues adjacent Clarence River gently climbing towards Jollies Pass and Jack's Pass roads.
70.1.km	6.7km	Jollies Pass Road, continue past this intersection to
75.4km	12.0km	Jack's Pass Road and the final mountain. One final effort up a steep 2.9km to the top and
78.3km	14.9km	Jack's Pass Summit. Road then descends steeply into the outskirts of Hanmer township, turn left at end of Jack's Pass road, (opposite camp ground) and follow road into town keeping to right hand side of road. Finish through avenue of trees opposite Thermal Pools. Finish will be clearly coned, marked and visible. Take a deep breath and lunge over the line at
84.7km	21.3km	The Race is Over!!!

On a side note the weather is looking pretty average for the next few days. rain Friday night camping and 100km winds at 1000m in exposed places. Could be a bit breezy running over Wards Pass........