The Hat Head Trig Marathon has been a boxing day tradition for the last 49 years, and preparations are already underway for this years town stopping race.
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As always, the event starts at the Hat Head Bowling Club, and chairperson, Margaret Meier is confident the race that stops Hat Head will deliver again this December 26.
"Last year a couple hundred people showed up, and I expect this year will be just as big," she said.
"They keep coming back for more, every year it's flat out, it never stops here."
After leaving the club, keen runners will make their way across a creek before trying to find their way through the bush, then up and down Hat Head mountain, but according to Margaret, that's where the fun truly starts.
"We don't set that part of the course, participants can go any way they like up that mountain, depending on which way they choose, they could finish very fast, or get very lost," she said.
After coming back down, it's back across the creek, and finally, the finish back where it all started at the Hat Head Bowling Club.
There are both junior and senior divisions with registration available on the day. There are trophies, a small cash prize and eternal glory on offer for the winners, but for one local, it will an extra special day as it will be his 47th time on the course.
"Ron Clarke has been in all but two, and I haven't heard otherwise, so I'd say Ron will be running again this year," Margaret said.
"It will be a good field of competitors, and I'm expecting some fast times.
"In the five years I've been doing this the fastest time I've seen was 11 minutes and 16 seconds, and I'm waiting to see this broken."
According to legend, the Trig started in the most Australian way possible, with a bet over a couple of beers at the pub.
"From what I've heard, it all started with two chaps called Les Caine and Allan Holloway; they were having a few beers," Margaret said.
"Someone asked Les how long it would take him to run up the hill, and his response was met with disbelief and resulted in a wager.
"Les took the challenge though, and that's how it all started, they then took it on and made a yearly event out of it."
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