Pyrenees Tourism Guide - Accommodation, Attraction

2012 Marathon

Since the Nemises Marathon Championship in 2010, there is no doubt that this track has been very much talked about. Most have referred to this track as the hardest marathon in Australia and maybe it still is. However that doesn't mean that a lot hasn't changed for this event making it today one of Australia's greatest marathons and an event that should be on the to do list for any riders calendar.

Challenge is all about reward and the BHE Marathon challenge is offering more reward than you can poke a stick at. You only need to ask somebody who has been to the event about the way it is run and you will soon find out that this event never stops rewarding its participants. Big Hill Events is run by Rohin Adams and this event is something he puts on to try and bring some of his huge international racing experience back to his fellow Australian riders. The main difference between this marathon and the others in Australia is the feed zone offers on course. Whilst other events may offer a bottle drop and water refill the BHE Marathon Challenge gives you sports drinks, sports gels and tables covered in bakery food, fresh cut fruit and lollies to keep you riding.
The course has been designed to be similar to a European marathon course, no its not jammed full of single track but instead has a great mix of open fire roads, harder climbs, longer gradual climbs, undulating sections and then the reward of riding the Pyrenees Endurance Trail that cuts right through the Pyrenees hills behind Avoca. Yes there are some hard sections of this course but that's all part of the challenge and completing the course is another part of the reward.

Since the first year of the event Rohin along with many great volunteers have spent hundreds of hours re-building the Pyrenees Endurance Trail. There is a big future for the area and the track has changed substantially over the years. This year some great new sections of restored trail are back and the steeper descents have become a thing of the past with newer longer and far more rewarding tracks replacing them. Soon this trail will become a cycling destination and this event offers you the opportunity to ride it fully supported whilst you challenge yourself over your set distance.

In 2012 the BHE marathon Challenge is offering a new distance as you build towards the full 90km distance. The new 65km distance will have 4 fully stocked feedzones for riders and takes in the full Pyrenees trail which its shorter 45kms brother only has half of. The 65km course is not to be taken lightly. Its still got a whopping 2500m of climbing for its distance and has the majority of the events challenges. But if you have done the 45km in the past and still feel you're not ready for the full 90 it's a great steeping platform for you.

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