NUMBERS BOOST: Entries for the upcoming Mount Panorama punish are on track to better the figure from last year’s event. Photo: CHRIS SEABROOK
THIS month’s Mount Panorama Punish is on track to better the entry numbers seen in last year’s edition.
With three weeks remaining until the October 27 event numbers are already sitting ahead of where they were at this point in 2018’s build up.
The allure of running Mount Panorama has drawn in a large number of runners from outside of Bathurst.
Event organiser Jenn Arnold said interstate numbers have also increased as word of the event continues to spread around the country.
“We’ve got well over 700 entries already. At this stage we’re tracking ahead of each previous year and it’s great seeing such growth,” she said.
“We’re seeing more locals entering and at the same time we’re getting more people travelling to Bathurst for the race.
“We have three private flights coming in from Sydney from a group called Rachel’s runners who filled one flight last year.
“There’s a big contingent coming up from Victoria and more coming down from Queensland and even some from Tasmania.
“We had around 850 runners enter last year so to be above 700 already is fantastic.”
This year’s Punish isn’t just about the main event on Sunday morning.
There’s an exciting build up towards the race, with participants encouraged to take part in a range of events on Saturday.
“We encouraged people to come up for the full weekend to take part in a two days of running,” Arnold said.
“We’d like to see people coming to parkrun on Saturday morning. Parkrun tourism is quite a big thing. Then there’s the RunNation Film Festival on the Saturday evening, which is a two hour screening of a selection of short films.
“That’s been to five continents and has travelled the world so to bring it to Bathurst is a big thing.”
This will be the third edition of the Punish, and organisers are eager to see where the final number of entries will finish up.
A total of 482 people took part in 2017’s inaugural event and numbers soared for last year’s edition when 721 people completed the race, though more had initially entered the run.
Online entries for the 2019 event close on Wednesday 23.
Entries on the morning of the event will be accepted but they are a $50 cash only option.
Entries will be closed should the amount of entries reach 1,200 participants.
The race will get underway from 8am.
Tickets for the film festival can be found on the RunNation website, with the event being held at CSU.
https://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/6418663/punish-entries-are-on-track-to-beat-last-year/