Register now!

Vertical Kilometre 5km

1,000m+   Friday 22 March @ 2pm waves every 10mins, first bus departs runHub at 1pm

The best kept secret...

If you’re going to feel the burn for a full 1,000m of climbing, you should do it on a course as stunning as it is challenging! With four unique sections on a course that only previous runners know about, you'll learn trail running's best kept secret: you don’t have to runs up hills! This is the perfect event for anyone looking for a challenge: whether you’re a walker, hiker, or trail run enthusiast! This is Australia’s only certified Vertical Kilometre!

Register now! Mandatory gear Schedule

Presented by:
Cascade Brewery

ISF Certified Course - VK

ITRA - 0 point

Course description

Want to test your fitness? This is the steepest and shortest route up the mountain, run via some famous (and one secret) kunanyi tracks. The Vertical Kilometre course embraces the steepness of kunanyi’s eastern face, taking in the super steep Breakneck Track, Hunters Track, Organ Pipes and then straight up boulder fields to the Pinnacle to finish. Don’t feel bad if you can’t run this the whole way. Nobody – not even the top elites – will actually run all the way up this one.

Course video

Logistics

You can park at the runHub and we’ll drop you near to the start line on Main fire trail in the order of your start group. When you finish your VK effort, we’ll have buses waiting at The Pinnacle to bring you back down to the runHub for presentations and after party.

Drop bags:
If you’d like a warm jacket and any other personal favourites waiting for you at The Pinnacle, leave a drop bag with us at the runHub and we’ll get it up to The Pinnacle for you.

We care about your safety whilst out there – check out the MANDATORY GEAR LIST here

Qualifying: No race qualifying needed. Minimum 16yrs age (with parent/guardian consent) unless by exception; contact run director.

Mandatory gear list

FAQs:

No, but have a good look at the maps and course description to assess if you’re up for the challenge of taking on a leg. 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! www.kunanyiTrailSeries.com.au run a series of four 5-20km 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 minimum age of 16yrs on race day, unless by exception on application and with a medical certificate, best to contact register@kunanyimountain.run to discuss early

No, go for it!

If you arrive at an aid station after the designated cut off time, you will unfortunately be unable to continue. Please see logistics section on this page for cut off times.

The VK is the steepest route up the mountain! Not even the top elites will be running the entire length of this one. The best kept secret of trail running is you don’t really run uphill anyway so all good!

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

kunanyi pinnacle is typically 10 degrees cooler than the city.

Junction Cabin is a great place for your family and friends to go for a walk to immerse in the slopes of kunanyi themselves and cheer you on. We recommend they walk up from the end of Lenah Valley road or across from the Springs.

No, there are toilets at the runHub and each aid station 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.

Yes: water, electrolytes, fruit, lollies, salty snacks, toilets, first aid, and of course, friendly volunteers!

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 Feb 2023 – if your question can’t wait that long then no worries, go ahead and reach out here!