RUNNERS GUIDE

WELCOME TO THE SYDNEY TRAIL MARATHON

Thank you to every single one of you who has registered for the Sydney Trail Marathon in 2026. It’s been twelve months since the last STM and we can’t wait to see you all back in Bidjigal Reserve

Bidjigal reserve holds significant value to many. I’ve run countless hours beneath the towering eucalypt canopies and we’re very lucky to still have this slice of bushland relatively untouched in the middle of Sydney. 

As the race day approaches, we promise to do everything we can to ensure you all have a great day running through the bush. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out

Alex Treglown, Event Director

SYDNEY TRAIL MARATHON - STM 42

  • The race starts at 7:00am on Sunday the 4h of October 2025.

    The race will start at Eric Mobbs Reserve in Castle Hill, Sydney.

  • Runners will be able to park at Eric Mobbs Reserve which is next to the startline.

    Parking is free for the entirety of the event. There will be no need for additional shuttle buses or to purchase a parking pass

  • Race Day: You can collect your bib between 5:30 AM and 6:45 AM

    Bib Numbers will be emailed to you the week of the race.

  • Your bib number can be found on the live results. The live results will be updated on race week with your bib number.

  • The 42km course takes runners through the stunning landscapes of Bidjigal, which are among the best trails in the world

    You can find a link to the course on Strava here.

    You can find a link to the course on Garmin here. 

  • You will pass an aid station five times in the STM 42. Aid stations can be found at the following KM marks: 9.5, 15.3, 21.4, 30.9, 36.6

  • All participants are required to carry the full list of mandatory gear from start to finish throughout the race. Random gear checks will be conducted before letting you into the starting corral. Failure to carry all mandatory gear during the race will result in disqualification

  • There is a 8 hour cut off to finish the STM 42. All runners must reach the finish by 3:00 pm in the afternoon.

    The pace you need to average to finish in 8 hours is 11:25 min/km 

    If you do not reach the Eric Mobbs Aid Station (21 km) by 11:00 am you will be not be allowed to start the second lap.

  • There will be a bag drop available at the start and finish line

  • Safety is a top priority for us at the Sydney Trail Marathon. We strongly encourage all runners to keep an eye out for one another throughout the race. In the spirit of camaraderie and mutual support that defines the trail running community, we ask that you stay vigilant and assist fellow runners in need

    Should you encounter any issues or emergencies during the event, please do not hesitate to contact the medical team immediately. Their number is found on the back of your bib

    For your safety and wellbeing, we have trained medical staff stationed at the race hub and all aid stations. Additionally, to ensure everyone's safety throughout the event, sweepers will follow the last runners

MANDATORY GEAR STM 42

The Sydney Trail Marathon 42km course traverses trails where it might take some time for medical and support services to reach you, therefore it is essential that every athlete carry their mandatory gear at all times.

STM is also a cupless event. Athletes are required to carry their own drinking cup, bottle, flask or hydration vest which can be used at the aid stations.

MANDATORY GEAR LIST

  • Must be fully charged with a live SIM card capable of making calls and accessing the internet.

  • The bandage is required as you might need to use it treat sprains or potential snake bites. We recommend this snake bandage from Amazon.

  • This can be in the form of 2 × 500ml running flasks, a bladder or normal water bottles.

    Please note that STM is a cupless event.

SYDNEY TRAIL MARATHON - STM 21

  • The race starts at 7:00am on Monday the 5th of October 2026 (long weekend).

    The race will start at Eric Mobbs Reserve in Castle Hill, Sydney.

  • Runners will be able to park at Eric Mobbs Reserve which is next to the startline.

    Parking is free for the entirety of the event. There will be no need for additional shuttle buses or to purchase a parking pass

  • Race Day: You can collect your bib between 5:45 AM and 6:45 AM

    Bib Numbers will be emailed to you the week of the race.

  • Your bib number can be found on your Njuko Dashboard. It will also be emailed to you the week before the evnet

  • The 21km course takes runners through the stunning landscapes of Bidjigal Reserve which are among the best trails in the world

    You can find a link to the course on Strava here.

    You can find a link to the course on Garmin here. 

  • You will pass an aid station two times in the STM 21. Aid stations can be found at the following KM marks: 9.5, 15.3

  • All participants are required to carry the full list of mandatory gear from start to finish throughout the race. Random gear checks will be conducted before letting you into the starting corral. Failure to carry all mandatory gear during the race will result in disqualification

  • There is a 4 hour cut off to finish the STM 21. All runners must reach the finish by 11:00 am in the morning

    The pace you need to average to finish in 4 hours is 11:25 min/km 

  • There will be a bag drop available at the start and finish line

  • Safety is a top priority for us at the Sydney Trail Marathon. We strongly encourage all runners to keep an eye out for one another throughout the race. In the spirit of camaraderie and mutual support that defines the trail running community, we ask that you stay vigilant and assist fellow runners in need

    Should you encounter any issues or emergencies during the event, please do not hesitate to contact the medical team immediately. Their number is found on the back of your bib

    For your safety and wellbeing, we have trained medical staff stationed at the race hub and all aid stations. Additionally, to ensure everyone's safety throughout the event, sweepers will follow the last runners

MANDATORY GEAR STM 21

The Sydney Trail Marathon 21km course traverses trails where it might take some time for medical and support services to reach you, therefore it is essential that every athlete carry their mandatory gear at all times.

STM is also a cupless event. Athletes are required to carry their own drinking cup, bottle, flask or hydration vest which can be used at the aid stations.

MANDATORY GEAR LIST

  • Must be fully charged with a live SIM card capable of making calls and accessing the internet.

  • The bandage is required as you might need to use it treat sprains or potential snake bites. We recommend this snake bandage from Amazon.

  • This can be in the form of 1 × 500ml running flasks, a bladder or normal water bottles.

    Please note that STM is a cupless event.

SYDNEY TRAIL MARATHON - GENERAL FAQs

  • All runners will receive a running shirt for signing up to the Sydney Trail Marathon. You will be able to collect this after you finish the race

  • We will be working with the best photographers in the business to get you some amazing race photos that you will recieve for free after the event. A link will be sent to you when they are ready to download.

  • There are toilets found at the race hub (Eric Mobbs Reserve).

    On course there are no toilets, however, when STM 42 runners reach half way, they will be able to use the toilets at the race hub.

  • There will be trophies awarded to the first, second and third males & females to cross the line for each event.

    There are no age group trophies or awards.

    The live results can be found here.

    Final results will be sent to you after the race + uploaded to UTMB for indexing

  • There is an emergency number found on the back of your bib, if you need help, please call that number

  • As we run through some of Sydney's most beautiful and sensitive natural areas, it's important that we all do our part to maintain the trails and respect fellow runners. Please follow these trail etiquette guidelines to help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone:

    • Leave no trace (take all your belongings and trash with you)

    • Cupless event

    • Let faster runners overtake

    • Avoid wearing headphones, unless open-ear

    • Stay on marked trails

    • Communicate with others (e.g., "on your left" or "on your right" when passing)

    • Yield to hikers and other trail users

    • Keep poles close to your body when passing or being passed

  • Given that the course can be quite technical at points it is our recommendation that you wear a trail running shoes during the event.

  • Yes you can, however, they are only able to assist you at the aid stations. A detailed support crew guide can be found here.

    Pacers are not allowed for STM.

Shirt included with race entry

THANK YOU  TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS

The Sydney Trail Marathon could not happen without the support of our volunteers. When out on course, please give them a thank you! If you know someone who would like to volunteer, please contact us

THANK YOU  TO ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS

YOUR NEXT RACE

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