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The Sri Chinmoy Googong Challenge Long Course Maps and Descriptions
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 The first leg of the Long Course is a 5 km run around the Foreshore Loop Track. The run starts from the Foreshores car park and heads up the bitumen road for a hundred metres or so, then turns left through the gate onto the main dirt road heading south. Follow this road for about 2 kilometres. At the bottom of a long hill, look for the signs onto the wallking trail to your left. Follow this walking trail across a small creek (if it is flowing), then follow the inlet out to the lake foreshores. The trail heads north to the finish at the Foreshores car park, where you transition to the paddle leg. The transition compound is in the car park at the top of the concrete boat ramp. Unfortunately, the present water level in Googong Reservoir is so low that even the boat ramp does not reach down far enough to access the water. Athletes may take assistance from either a helper or a team-mate to carry their craft from the transition compound to the water's edge. |
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The paddle course is 2 laps of a 5 km loop, travelling in a clockwise direction. Head out from the starting cove and turn to your left, towards the dam wall. A few hundred metres before the dam, turn at the marker buoy and head towards the far shore. Turn right again at the next marker buoy near the far shore, then follow the eastern shore directly south for over 2 kilometres. Turn right again at the southernmost marker buoy and paddle back towards the Foreshores car park. On the first lap, just cruise past the marker buoy without turning in to the starting cove and continue on your second lap. At the end of your second lap, re-enter the little cove and alight at the bottom of the boat ramp. Once again, athletes may take assitance porting their craft from the shore the short distance to the paddle/mountain bike transition. |
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 Leg 3 is a 31 km mountain bike ride, starting once more from the Foreshores car park. Head up the main bitumen road for a hundred metres or so, then turn left through the gate onto the Western Foreshores Walking Track, a dirt road in good condition (the first few kilometres are the same as your first run course). This road follows the western foreshores, though with the water level so low, the lake disappears after a few kilometres. There are a few decent climbs and descents, then the road flattens for the final few kilometres before Tin Hut Dam. Just before you reach the Tin Hut car park, turn left, then right onto another track still heading south (this way you avoid the public road). After another short climb, you will come out above the London Bridge Woolshed car park. Here the short course turns right to the car park, but you will turn to your left, down a long swooping incline to the usually-bone-dry Drawdown Crossing. Follow this track around, looping up to your left, then turn left at the next intersection. The next few kilometres are 2-way traffic, so be sure to remain on your left at all times, particularly coming down hills. Follow the signs to Gelignite Crossing. The track borders private property and the nature reserve for a while, then heads into a very steep descent to Gelignite Crossing. Take great care here and look out for bikers coming the other way. Turn left to cross over Queanbeyan Creek at Gelignite Crossing. You may have to wade a little. There follows a series of very steep climbs and drops. From the highest point, there is a long and satisfying descent all the way to the next crossing of Queanbeyan River. From here there is another long climb, then another steep descent back to Gelignite Crossing, which this time you do not cross. Continue straight ahead here up the steep hill out of Gelignite Crossing. This is the 2-way section again, so look out for bikes coming in the other direction! Ignore the turn-offs to your right. Eventually you will come out into a clearing, with London Bridge Arch on your right. Veer left at the signposted intersection, then turn right at the next sign to the London Bridge Woolshed (do not go all the way to London Bridge Homestead). This track brings you to the London Bridge Woolshed car park. Go through the gate at the bottom and immediately sharp left into the car park, round the large rocks and into the transition area on the grass in front of the car park. Transition here to leg 4, the final run. |
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 From the transition area, run straight up across the grass towards the small gap in the fence. Go through this gap and cross the road, looking out for bikes and runners coming from your right. Turn left onto the upper road a few metres higher. At the 4-way intersection, turn right to head down a long hill to the Drawdown Crossing, which hardly ever sees any flowing water these days. Just after the Crossing, look for a walking track heading up a series of steps on your left. Take this track and continue following it to the top of the ridge. Along the ridgeline you will come to a fork where another track joins yours from the right. Do a hairpin right hand turn here and follow this other track down to Washpen Crossing.  Continue on the main dirt road to your right, following this road straight ahead past a few turns to left and right. For a while you will be back on the bike course. Follow this dirt road up a small hill and out into a clearing. After a few hundred metres, turn right at the signposted intersection (where the bike course continues to the left). Head back towards London Bridge Arch. Run around to the right of the arch, then up and over it, turning to your right at the main road at the top. This road brings you back to the car park. Go through the gate at the bottom and immediately sharp left into the car park, round the large rocks and into the Finish Chute on the grass in front of the car park. |
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