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Foothills

2027 Australian Classic Up/Down Mountain Running Championship events

In association with
AUTRA Athletics Australia

2027 Australian Classic Up/Down Mountain Running Championship event

5km/9km/14km   Sunday, 21st March 2027 from 8.45am

The family favourite

There are 3 difference distances for the event that's become the family favourite, the Foothills. The 5km and 9km are perfect for people starting out on their trail running journey, for those who have supported family or friends on Saturday, or are doing the full KMR Immersion – the VK, Ultra Solo or Mountain Run, and the Foothills!

The 14km Foothills edition is a little more challenging but it is open to everyone to enter. In 2027, it is the Classic Up and Downhill for Mountain Running event, as part of the Australian Mountain and Trail Running Championships (Open Category), while the Foothills 9km is the Under 20 Classic Up and Downhill Mountain Running event.

Register now! Course maps Mandatory gear Schedule Kids Drop-off

Presented by
Kieser

Photo credit: Calumn Hockey

Foothills 14km

2027 Australian Classic Up/Down Mountain Running Championship event (Open)

680m±    Start: 8.40am

Course description

Starting at the Runhub, there’s a fast downhill, down to the historic Cascade Brewery, where you can feel and almost taste the history (and certainly smell!) of beer being made here for almost 200 years. With Kunanyi looming above, you’ll run through the quaint and English-style Cascade Gardens before climbing up to the ridgeline, through dry sclerophyll eucalypt forests.

There’s a nice bit of downhill along the Jurassic Shark MTB track and then up Slides MTB track which connects to one of the steepest, driest climbs on the Mountain: Breakneck Track. Topping out at Junction Cabin, immediately bombing down Myrtle Gully Track and Cascade Track - a favourite of local trail runners.

You’re totally immersed in the lifeblood of the mountain here, running past lush, green ferns. You’re so close to the finish but yet you’re a world away. There are several lovely creek crossings, where you can admire the beautiful stone work.

At the bottom of Cascade Track you can follow your nose (literally!) as you’ll come past close again to the Cascade Brewery, across the paddocks and finish in the Runhub, and celebrate your achievement.

View map

Foothills 9km

2027 Australian Classic Up/Down Mountain Running Championship event (U20)

380m±    Start: 9.00am

Course description

Starting at the Runhub, there’s a fast downhill, down to the historic Cascade Brewery, where you can feel and almost taste the history (and certainly smell!) of beer being made here for almost 200 years. With Kunanyi looming above, you’ll run through the quaint and English-style Cascade Gardens before climbing up to the ridgeline, through dry sclerophyll eucalypt forests.

There’s a nice bit of downhill along the Jurassic Shark (a community-built mountain bike track), before you head up the Main Firetrail with a view out to Hobart.

From there, it’s pretty much downhill, through Cascade Track and gorgeous ferny gullies. You’re totally immersed in the lifeblood of the mountain here, running past lush, green ferns. You’re so close to the finish but yet you’re a world away. There are several lovely creek crossings, where you can admire the beautiful stone work.

At the bottom of Cascade Track you can follow your nose (literally!) as you’ll come past close again to the Cascade Brewery, across the paddocks and finish in the Runhub, and celebrate your achievement.

View map

Foothills 5km

220m±    Start: 9.30am

Course description

Starting at the Runhub, there’s a fast downhill, down to the historic Cascade Brewery, where you can feel and almost taste the history (and certainly smell!) of beer being made here for almost 200 years. With Kunanyi looming above, you’ll run through the quaint and English-style Cascade Gardens before climbing up to the ridgeline, through dry sclerophyll eucalypt forests.

Flying down Golden Gully and across the Old Farm Rd connects to the bottom of Cascade Track. You can follow your nose (literally!) as you’ll come past close again to the Cascade Brewery, across the paddocks and finish in the Runhub, and celebrate your achievement.

View map

3D Fly through

FAQs:

You can find all the information about the Australian Mountain & Trail Running Championships on our AMTRC2027 page.

KMR no longer requires qualifying runs to enter. Have a good look at the maps and course description to assess if you’re up for the challenge. Please pay close attention to the warnings we’ve provided. Please self-assess your skills and experience before registering, ensuring that you are in great condition with strong fitness.

If you’d like to know more about trail running before signing up, join the Hobart Trail Runners and come out to a few social runs. The friendly crew has heaps of knowledge to share! The KMR team also delivers the Kunanyi Trail Series which is series of four 3-20km events over the year and is a great intro to trail running events on Kunanyi as well as a serious challenge for more experienced trail runners wanting to push the pace.

Yes there is, please refer to our Registration Policies

No, go for it!

Yes, you can walk/hike the Foothills 5km and Foothills 9km events.

Yes absolutely! We care about your safety and this mandatory gear will help you survive in the unlikely event of requiring a rescue.

No, there are toilets at the Runhub to use. If you must go to the toilet on course, leave your run pack on the side of the track so sweepers do not leave you behind, dig a 15cm deep hole and fully bury, or carry out all waste.

Statistically, March is pretty much the most stable weather month of the year. But this is Tassie, and every few years or so it does snow on Kunanyi on Christmas day - so be prepared for wild weather! The mandatory gear is specified for your safety. We will be providing some more guidance prior to the event on when and why to use the mandatory gear to keep you as safe as possible. We also have a professional wilderness event medical and emergency response team and first aiders at all aid stations and roving on course to assist you if required. There are extreme weather circumstances which would postpone the event, eg, extreme or catastrophic bushfire danger (Wellington Park is then completely closed to everyone), or Severe Weather Warning for damaging winds – no one wants a tree falling on them. Emergency services will be involved in all such decisions, and you will be notified at earliest opportunity of any course changes, or event postponements – which may be very late notice.

Not likely, and how cool is running in snow! Even if is a blizzard at the pinnacle, it’s likely that the runs will still go ahead, but would likely be re-routed to avoid alpine areas, and you will be notified at earliest opportunity of any changes.

If you need more info to enable you to register then please let us know! If you would like more info to prepare for your Kunanyi run, we will be producing a detailed Festival Booklet ahead of the event – if your question can’t wait that long then no worries, go ahead and reach out here!

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