Race Day
GPT50k · Mount Zero
Thu 5 Nov 2026
66
Days to go
Race Details
Date
Thursday 5 November 2026
Start Time
6:00 AM
Start Location
Mount Zero, Gariwerd / Grampians NP
Distance
49.5 km
Elevation
2,000m+ gain / 2,040m loss
Cut-off Time
7:00 PM (13 hours)
Finish
Halls Gap Town Centre
Goal
Finish comfortably — 9–11 hrs target
Course Overview
Km 0–18
Rock slab climb → Taipan Wall → waterfalls → GAR Aid Station
Km 18–33
THE CRUX — long exposed climb to Mt Difficult Rd Aid Station
Km 33–49.5
Wartook Lookout views → mostly downhill to Halls Gap
Race Day Nutrition
Target Intake
200–300 cal/hr — eat early, don't wait til hungry
Hydration
400–600ml/hr, up to 800ml/hr in November heat
Electrolytes
Salt tabs every 60–90 min — hyponatraemia is real
Food Ideas
Gels, dates, banana, rice balls, salted potato at aid stations
Golden Rules
Start Slow
First 10km will feel easy — resist the urge. Be disciplined.
Hike the Climbs
Power hiking uphills conserves energy AND spares the ITB. Km 18–33 is the crux — hike it.
Short Steps Down
Km 33–49.5 is a long descent. Quick short steps, high cadence, land under the body. Do not brake with the quads.
Small Goals
Break the race into aid station sections — never think about 50km.
Trust Training
You've done the work. Adjusted, but done.
Your Training Plan
28
weeks of training
1,558 km
total planned
17,030 m
total elevation
30 km
longest run (Wk 23 race sim)