Monday, 03 September, 2018.
By Kellie O'Sullivan: Sponsorship Coordinator and fun run participant
The 2018 Mudgee Running Festival, set at Lawson Park on the banks of the Cudgegong River bordered by tall, bare trees willing on the spring season, welcomed nearly 800 runners to the rural NSW central western town.
The sun was shining, though obstructed by clouds, and the sleet was falling – so this really was the event that had everything!
I was one of three Newcastle Permanent staff members running. Helen Worrall and I ran together in the 10km event, while Gerard Nesbitt took it one step further (well, a few more steps really…) and lined up in the half marathon (21.1km).
The 10km course was a relatively flat course and run predominantly on footpath, along the river, past farm land and the Glen Willow recreation area.
The atmosphere was encouraging all around with supporters cheering on runners throughout sections of the race; and the lollies at the drink station certainly provided a much-needed energy hit!
Heading towards the finish line, and the streets were lined with more people cheering to carry runners over the final 1km of the event. The thought of a warm coffee at the end certainly made Helen and I find a gear we didn’t think we had!
It was great to see Gerard in such high spirits at the finish line after battling the chilly cold weather for double the distance that Helen and I ran.
The event emcee kept spectators and participants entertained, and seeing our Mudgee branch staff waiting at the finish line presenting finishers’ medals really highlighted how important our support and involvement of these events is.
Congratulations to the Mudgee Triathlon Club for organising and managing such an atmospheric, supportive and social event. To everyone who walked, ran, supported and sponsored: without you these events can’t happen.
Mudgee, you may have been bitterly cold but you warmed many hearts.
We can’t wait to be The Mudgee Running Festival back in 2019 – perhaps with an NPBS running team…!