"My Mumma always said life was like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get."

Trailrunners are in for a treat at the Forrest Gump Chocolate Box. The lid is lifted on our surprise location!  Formartine State Forest, Speewah - just 45 minutes from Cairns CBD, or 45 minutes from Atherton.  Carpooling from Smithfield Dan Murphys is encouraged.  

There are three distances on offer - the Milky Bar Kid; the Snickers; and the Toblerone!

“Always be able to look back and say, at least I didn’t lead no humdrum life.”  

Have a good read of the detailed course descriptions and be sure to note the elevation and terrain - think Rocky Road and Coconut Rough not Caramel Whirl or Strawberry Creme!

Event Location and Parking: 

Race start and parking are on opposite sides of the Kennedy Highway.  Please exercise extreme caution when crossing the highway to and from the race start/finish.  

Travelling from Cairns:

Formartine State Forest and the race start is on the right hand side of the Kennedy Highway before you reach the Speewah turnoff.  Keep a look out after you see the "Top Rock Quarry turnoff" on your right.  Parking is on the left hand side of the Kennedy Highway on a stretch of the old highway running parallel.   Plug in "1965 Kennedy Highway" into google maps or use this link:   https://goo.gl/maps/RAcABa6Queu5khGv5 .  The turnoff is will be signed, but is quite a sharp turn.   Please pull off and clear the highway as quickly as possible so we don't cause a traffic hazard, and park in the direction of travel keeping to one side (so we can all get to the Tavern afterwards!). Please bunch up so there is room for everyone.  If you miss the turnoff, keep going and take the Speewah exit, turn left and park there (follow the 'Mareeba' explanation below).  Race presentations and social are at the Speewah Tavern, so in the alternative you can arrive early, park at the Tavern and walk up to the race (along the old highway not the new). 

Travelling from Mareeba:

Formartine State Forest and the race start is on the left hand side of the Kennedy Highway after the Speewah turnoff.  Plug in "1965 Kennedy Highway" into google maps or use this link: https://goo.gl/maps/RAcABa6Queu5khGv5 to find your travel time.   Travelling from Mareeba, you may find it easiest to take the Speewah turnoff (right hand turn),  take the immediate first left onto the old Kennedy Highway, and park at the end of it.  There is a bush track connecting the two sections of highway, you can follow to ll take you along to where the 'Cairns' runners will be parking (see above).  Race presentations and social are at the Speewah Tavern, so in the alternative you can arrive early, park at the Tavern and walk up to the race. 

Facilities/ Water etc.

There are no toilet facilities at the start/ finish but plenty of bush!  Closest facilities are the public toilets in Speewah (Speewah Road).  There will be water at the start/ finish for you to fill up your own bottles, but no water on course and no cups (keeping it green). 

Times:

2.30 pm: Check-in open

3:00 pm: Toblerone start

3:30 pm: Snickers and Milky Bar Kid start

6:00pm: Presentations & Social, with dinner available for purchase.

Plot Synopsis:

The Milky Bar Kid is for the young and young at heart, but not the faint of heart!

Distance 3km; Elevation 150m. Start Time 3.30pm. Out and back Course.

 

The Snickers: Did you know the Snickers was called the Marathon bar in the UK until 1990? Well. Now you do.

Distance 8k; Elevation 300m. Start time 3.30 pm. Out and back course.

 

Toblerone: Visualise the shape. Pointy. The course is 3 pieces of Toblerone.

Distance 12km; Elevation 600m. Loop course.  Mandatory gear: snake bandage & head torch

Detailed Course Descriptions:

 

My mumma always said there’s an awful lot you can tell about a person by their shoes.” Do they love gnarly trail? Can they handle adventure?

All courses begin with a steep 1.5k climb on a sometimes rutted and rough track. Stop coveting thy neighbour’s shoes and watch your step! At the top of the rise, you’ll be rewarded with an FNQ view we bet most of you haven’t seen before. After enjoying the view and a quick breather, the Milky Bar Kids will return the way they came with guns blazing (but courteously giving way to any Snickers competitors still huffing up the hill) to the start/finish of their course.

Snickers and Toblerone competitors will continue on, enjoying more great views from the ridge track and a short reprieve from the ascent. The climbing is not over, but we guarantee you will feel a thrill as good as choosing a chocolate without reading the box when you enter the shade of the forest from the open eucalypts. Magic.

“My mumma always said you’ve got to put the past behind you before you can move on.” Snickers runners will turn around after 4km, and return the same way to the start/ finish.

For the Toblerones the day has just begun. Returning from the Snickers turnaround point, Toblerones will peel off from the main course and enjoy a glorious, long, free-flowing caramel-like descent through rainforest. You’ll love it.

“Mumma always had a ways of explaining things, so I could understand them” How’s this for an explanation: After the downhill there is an uphill! It’s a long ascent but don’t rush, just enjoy – first you will have about 1k climb on a beautiful rainforest trail, through ferns, and majestic Kauris, then you will pop out to open grassland to enjoy magnificent views from a ridge track to the highest point on the trail (632 metres).

“Mumma says they was my magic shoes. They could take me anywhere.” If you have magic shoes, wear them. The descent from this highest point will test the best trail runner out there – it is STEEP, ROCKY and LOOSE. Take. It. Easy.

“Miracles happen every day. Some people don’t think so, but they do.” When you finally reach the flats at the 8km mark you’ll get your magic shoes wet through a creek crossing; and then begin your epic 2km climb, back to the Milky Kids turnaround point, all the while admiring your achievements with views back to the dizzying high point of the course.

From the Milky Kids turnaround point you’re as good as home. “Run, Forrest, Run”. You can fang it down the last slope of the Toblerone and You. Are. Home.

Although it is not likely to be required, a headtorch is mandatory for the Toblerones as you may be running into dusk.

Entry Fees:

Members $10;

Non-members $20

Member Kids Free

Milky-Bar Kids $10