The Marysville to Melbourne Multisport Challenge is played out over a challenging but remarkably scenic course that takes in a range of landscapes as it winds its way from the main street of Marysville to the centre of Melbourne at Docklands.

Competitors will find themselves running through temperate rainforest with towering tree ferns lining the trail, riding on undulating hills through eucalypt bushland providing snapshot views to the city, and paddling on the serene Yarra River through extensive parkland and regional wilderness to the high rises and café strips of Southbank and the finish line at Docklands. This is a course with an incredible variety of scenery that will keep you interested from start to finish.

Broken down into six legs, the course contains no single leg that is too epic if done as a team, but when tackled as an individual doing the whole thing, it will take its toll as an ambitious challenge over a gruelling 157km from start to finish.

The 2012 Marysville to Melbourne program containing all the details on this website plus additional diagrams, maps and sponsor offers can be downloaded from here.

Leg #1: 19km Footpro Run

Start location: The main street of Marysville (Murchison Street – Northern end)
Start time: 6:30am Sunday April 29th, 2012
Leg finish location:at T1 – Dom Dom Saddle, Maroondah Hwy, 17km north of Healesville.
Estimated fastest time:1hr25min
Course Record:Campbell Maffett1:26:42 and Colleen Middleton 1:40:09
Cut off time to complete this leg: 9:30am

Course description: The Marysville to Melbourne Multisport Challenge (M2M) gets under way with all individuals and all team runners gathered at the northern end of the main street in Marysville (Murchison Street). After the starter’s horn is sounded, all runners head south-west along Murchison Street and then turn left at the round-about into Lyell Street, following this through the outskirts of town and then into the surrounding bushland. From here, the course follows a range of gravel 2WD and 4WD tracks, with some more clay based tracks nearer the end at Dom Dom saddle, the location of Transition #1 (T1).

The first 6.5km is up a steady hill that climbs over 200m from the word go, before a couple of steep descents drops you back into the water catchments. The middle section of the run consists of some smaller climbs and descents that should keep you moving pretty well before the final 200m climb up a steep 4WD track leading right to the transition area.

Hazards:
• Be aware that the course is open to the public and you may encounter 4WD and other vehicles at any time.
• If it is wet, the more clay based tracks will be quite slippery – so don’t wear your racing flats if it is going to be wet.
• There are no water points set up along the course – take whatever you require to get you through.

Safety actions in case of an emergency / difficulty:
• If you become injured and require assistance, stop moving and stay where you are. Tell the competitors that pass you to alert the next race marshal and advise them of your location.
• If you become lost, backtrack along the trail you came to return to the marked course.

Transition area notes:
• Individuals equipment must be stored at the far end of the transition area (nearer the main road) as signposted. Teams bikes must be stored in the signposted area nearer the competitors entry to the transition area.
• Upon entering the transition area please find your bike and/or team mate and conduct your transition at your bike (for teams: make sure you exchange your bib and timing band). Please be aware of cars and traffic when exiting the TA as you will be passing through a busy turn off and car park.
• All bikes must be stored in the fenced off transition area on the grass at Dom Dom Saddle as signposted, with individuals bikes nearer the road end and teams bikes neared the forest end of the TA.
• For teams: the team cyclist (only) must wait in the fenced off TA next to their bikes – please do not crowd around the entry to the TA.
• Support crews and other team mates are NOT permitted inside the TA to assist their competitors. This will be strictly enforced.
• The race bib must remain on runners until you are inside the TA. The transfer of race bib and timing band must take place next to your bike. The bib must be the outermost garment, over the top of hydration systems etc.
• All riders must walk bikes through the transition area and helmets must be fastened before exiting the TA (penalty 30 minutes).

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT T1
• Due to parking limitations at T1, and to reduce traffic along the (narrow) Black Spur road, T1 at Dom Dom Saddle will be a ‘drop and go’ transition for individual competitors / support crews. This means that support crews for individual competitors CANNOT STOP AND WAIT FOR YOUR COMPETITOR TO FINISH THEIR RUN but must stop to set up their cycling equipment only and then leave Dom Dom Saddle ASAP to make space for others to do the same thing.
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• Teams are advised that only ONE CAR per team will be permitted to park at Dom Dom saddle and that that car must have the parking pass (handed to the team runner at registration) on your dash board to gain parking entry. All other support crew cars must keep going and ideally meet up at Healesville.
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• Please read the notes explaining how T1 will operate in the Transition Area Information section further on in this program.

General points:
- Competitors MUST follow the taped trail and marshals’ directions along the course. The course is clearly marked with orange and/or red arrows on a white background and with fluorescent surveyor’s tape tied to trees but you still need to pay attention to where you are going, so you don’t get lost.
 

See an Insider's Course Preview video of the trail run legs below.

Leg #2: 50km The Difference Road Ride

Start location: From T1 - Dom Dom Saddle. Maroondah Hwy 17km north of Healesville.
Leg finish location: Kinglake village. Melway ref: p380, E11
Estimated fastest time: 1hr30min
Course Records: Steve Martin 1:29:15 and Jo King-Hudson 1:41:19
Cut off time to complete this leg: 12:00 midday

Course description: Riders exit the transition area at Dom Dom saddle and turn left to join the traffic heading to Healesville, starting off with a flowing descent down the Black Spur for 7km. After a short climb and further descending riders reach Healesville where competitors will deviate off the main road to avoid the traffic lights by turning right into Evelyn Grove, left into Westmount Rd, left into Westmount Rd, right into Walkers Lane, left into Wilson Street, right into River Street and finally right into the Healesville- Kinglake Road (Chum Creek Rd). This route through the back streets will be marked with large orange arrows but will not have marshals at all intersections so all riders are encouraged to keep your eyes up and follow the course markings.After leaving Healesville at the 15km point, the course climbs over 400mto Toolangi at the 33km point with a steady ascent on a good sealed road.

From Toolangi, the course descends to the Melba Highway at the 42km point (follow instructions from traffic management personnel and the watch for cars) and then climbs gradually, then steeply to the finish at the Kinglake village. Keep an eye out for traffic at all times along the road and follow the course signage and course marshals to ensure a safe ride for all.

Hazards:
• The road through the Black Spur at Dom Dom Saddle to Healesville is very narrow with minimal shoulder for bikes. Take particular care on this section and ‘stand your ground’ by only moving over for cars to pass you when you are comfortable.
• Take care turning right at all the right hand turns in Healesville. The first and last right hand turns in Healesville will be manned by traffic management personnel.
• Take care crossing the Melba Highway and follow the instruction of the traffic management personnel.
• Be aware that all roads are open to other cars so keep left at all times and allow them space to get around if needed.
• Be aware that if the roads are wet they may be slippery so descend in control at all times.

Safety actions in case of an emergency / difficulty:
If you become injured and require assistance, get out of the way of the traffic and stay where you are. Tell the competitors that pass you to alert the next race marshal and advise them of your location.

Transition area notes:

The T2 transition area is through a gate on the left hand side of the road 100m before the Kinglake round-about. All riders must get off their bike and walk through the gate and over the timing mats. If you are an individual or a team member doing both cycle legs then you must stay within the fences and do a u-turn to go back out through the gate and back onto the road. If you are interchanging with your team mate then you must transition the bib and timing band on the grass and the new rider must exit back through the gate and onto the road.

• Team mates waiting to interchange must wait out of the way of riders continuing through to the next leg.
• Support crews and other team mates are NOT permitted inside the TA to assist their competitors. This will be strictly enforced.
• All riders must walk bikes through the transition area and helmets must be fastened before exiting the TA.
• There will be water containers in the TA that competitors can refill their water bottles from if required or riders can give us your pre-prepared and pre-numbered water bottles and nutrition and we will take them to T2 for you. (Refer to the ‘Equipment Transfers’ section below for details)

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT T2
• In order to minimise the traffic on the roads the competitors are riding, we recommend that support crews for individual competitors or for teams whose rider is doing both ride legs do not drive to Kinglake. The reason being that the most obvious direct route to Kinglake from Healesville would see you driving on the same roads as the riders, so we suggest that you give us your riders’ hydration and nutrition to take there for them and you sit back and have a coffee en route to T3. (Refer to the ‘Equipment Transfers’ section below for more details)

General points:
• The course is clearly marked with large orange arrows on a white background at all major intersections. If you come to an intersection and there is no arrow then assume that the course continues straight ahead on the road you are already on.
• Drafting is permitted.
 

See an Insider's Course Preview video of the road ride legs below. 

Leg #3: 41km St Andrews Road Ride

Start location: From T2 - King Lake village. Melway ref: p380, E11

Course description: Riders exit the transition area onto the Healesville - Kinglake Road and turn left again 100m later at the round-a-bout into the Heidelberg Road. This road soon starts descending down a fast and technical descent on 

a good sealed surface to St Andrews – USE EXTREME CAUTION for the first 7km of this ride as there are a number of tight corners and two double apex left hand bends. Ride in control. From St Andrews, the course turns left onto St.Andrews - Kangaroo Ground Road and passes through undulating countryside through Smiths Gully and Panton Hill to Kangaroo Ground where riders turn left onto the Bells Hills Road, leading through to Mount Pleasant Road (MPR). MPR has a range of short steep climbs

 and descents, along with some tight corners (watch for tight right hand corner near the end) until it merges with Main Road 2km before the transition area. Keep left on Main Road and turn left at the roundabout to then ride along Fitzsimons Lane as it descends to cross the Yarra River. 50m after the bridge crossing the Yarra River, all riders turn left into the slip lane into Westerfolds Park which leads to the transition area 100m further on. Note, there are no traffic lights on this ride and no neutral time zones.
 

y traffic management personnel. Please obey their instructions.
• Take care on Mount Pleasant Road as this section also includes some tight corners and high speeds.

Safety actions in case of an emergency / difficulty:
• If you become injured and require assistance, get out of the way of the oncoming traffic and stay where you are. Tell the competitors that pass you to alert the next race marshal and advise them of your location.

Transition area notes: On approach to WesterfoldsPark, you will turn left into the slip lane that enters The Park itself. This slip lane will be closed to all cars 

and support crews (who enter the park on the right 300m further on)
• Team mates waiting to interchange must wait inside the fenced off transition area and transition inside the fence.
• Support crews and other team mates are NOT permitted inside the TA to assist their competitors.
• If you are an individual (or team) collecting your running gear that was relocated from T1, it will be lined up in race number order beside the TA fence. (Re

fer to the ‘Equipment Transfers’ section below for details)

General points:
• The course is clearly marked with large orange arrows on a white background and marshals at all major intersections – but always keep an eye out for signage so you don’t overshoot a turn. If you come to an intersection and there is no arr

ow then assume that the course continues straight ahead on the road you are already on.
• Drafting is permitted.

 See an Insider's Course Preview video on the road ride legs below. 

Leg #4: 14km Yarra Trail Run

Start location: From T3 – Westerfolds Park. Melway ref: p21, G12
Leg finish location: T4 – Eaglemont Tennis Club. Melway ref: p31, K10
Estimated fastest time: 48mins
Course record (although it was 1km longer in 2011): Rick Cooke 52:35 and Cassie Higham 57:15
Cut off time to complete this leg: 4:00pm

Course description: Exit T3 and join the sealed ‘Main Yarra Trail (MYT)’ as it follows the Yarra River downstream. The course basically follows this sometimes sealed, sometimes gravel trail as it follows along beside the Yarra River, crossing the river on a bridge at the ~2.8km point, crossing Bonds Road at the ~4.2km point and passing in front of The Greenery Garden Centre at the ~11km point. Follow the path under Manningham Road and then continue along the MYT through additional parkland until you pass under Burke Rd and then 100m later turn right onto the signed route into the transition area on the grass beside the Eaglemont Tennis Club.

The entire run course really is very flat and fast with the only hill being a short climb up to Bonds Road. There are no ‘technical’ elements and the tracks are all quite wide and open.

Hazards:
• The Main Yarra Trail is open the general public at all times so please be courteous and allow equal access to all.
• There are a number of turn off and additional paths that join / leave the MTY so keep a continual eye out for the course markings to ensure you are on the correct route.

Safety actions in case of an emergency / difficulty:
• If you become injured and require assistance, stop moving and stay where you are. Tell the competitors that pass you to alert the next race marshal and advise them of your location.
• If you become lost, backtrack along the trail you came to return to the marked course.

Transition area notes: Shortly after passing under the Burke Road Bridge, follow the course signs leading you on a 200m cross country route into the transition area on the grass beside the Eaglemont Tennis Club. Cross over the timing mat and enter the fenced off transition area and complete your transition.
• Team mates waiting to interchange must wait inside the fenced off transition area and complete the transition of bib and timing band inside the fence.
• Support crews and other team mates ARE permitted inside the TA and may assist competitors to carry their boat from the transition area to the river bank launch site.
• All boats MUST be on the grass inside the designated transition area until their run-leg competitor (or the individual competitor) arrives – boats CANNOT be pre-placed at the river bank launch site 200m away. Any support crew / team mate who tries to place their boat by the river bank before their competitor arrives into the transition area will attract a 30 minute penalty - this will be strictly enforced.

General points:
The course is clearly marked with large orange arrows or red arrows on a white background – but always keep an eye out for signage so you don’t accidentally turn onto a subsidiary trail. If you come to an intersection and there is no arrow then assume that the course continues straight ahead on the main track you are already on.
 

See an Insider's Course Preview video of the trail run legs below.

Leg #5: 15km Fitness Paddlers Australia

 River Paddle

Start location: From T4 – Eaglemont tennis Club. Melway ref: p31, K10
Leg finish location:T5 – Dights Falls. Melway Ref: p44, F3

Estimated fastest time: 1hr

Safety actions in case of an emergency / difficulty:

Transition area notes: Paddlers are advised to exit their boats at the designated location on river right 80m before the Dights Falls weir. This location is on the river bank just upstream of where the Merri Creek comes in from the right. Carry your boat over the small foot bridge over the Merri Creek and along the sealed Main Yarra Trail past the transition area to the launch spot downstream. The transition area will be on the grass area adjacent to the Main Yarra Trail (downstream of construction site).
• Team mates waiting to interchange must wait at the designated area. Support crews and other team mates ARE permitted to assist competitors to carry their boat from the get out point above the weir to the put in point below the weir.
• All boats waiting to be used for Leg 6 must be located in the designated kayak transition area beside the Main Yarra Trail until the transition of bib and timing band has taken place. Boats CANNOT be pre-placed at the river bank launch site.

General points:
• No section of the course may be portaged to make it shorter (other than over an exposed log or other obstacle in the river bed itself).
• The paddle course and any submerged hazards will not be marked.
• Wash riding is permitted.
 

See an insider's course preview video of the river paddle legs here. 

Leg #6: 16km Yarra’s Edge River Paddle

Start location: From T5 – Dights Falls. Melway Ref:p44, F3