Ewen Maddock - the ideal starter race

If you live in South East Queensland and you’ve been toying with the idea of running trails, then the SEQ Trail Series event at Ewen Maddock dam, near Landsborough in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, is a great option to whet your appetite.

Like many on the SEQ Trail Series calendar, it’s a very pretty race, so it’s got that in its favour. But more impressive is the course elevation - or lack thereof. According to Strava, the long course at Ewen Maddock (14.6km) has 173m of elevation and the short course (8.1km) just 72m - making it by far the flattest race in the SEQ Trail Series.

I entered the long course and was comfortably able to run every hill bar the final steep uptick just before the finish line. Apart from that slightly disheartening finish, the course is full of flats and gentle undulations, making it nice and fast.

Some argue this is the most picturesque course of the series, and while it is certainly easy on the eye, in my view it’s not got the same variety as Numinbah, which puts the Gold Coast hinterland course just in front.

The course

The course skirts around the northern and western shores of the lake and there are plenty of water views. There is some single-track, especially at the beginning and end of the course, but other than that it‘s mostly fire trails which makes passing easy.

It’s worth noting the single track makes the start slow, so if you don’t want to be held up early on, make sure you start near the front of the pack and set off at a decent pace. There are only two waves here - long course and short course.

While you are bombing along that single track, don’t forget to take in the view. The lake is on your left as you head out and it really is gorgeous.  

One thing to note for long-course runners - the turnaround point comes more than 8km in, and you don’t have to be a maths genius to realise that’s more than halfway through a 14.6km race. But on the way back the course cuts a corner, so the run out is longer than the run home.

There are no creek crossings at Ewen Maddock, although in 2025 there were a handful of mud puddles that needed to be run around or through, depending on how mucky you were prepared to get.

It’s a shame the only non-runnable hill on the course is so close to the end, but it doesn’t really affect your finish photos because when you reach the top of the hill, you come around a bend before passing through the finishing arch.

This means the assembled crowd can’t see you struggle up the hill and if you play your cards right you can burst across the line looking as fresh as a daisy.

The vibe

No surprises that the vibe is fun and inclusive at Ewen Maddock, as is the case at all the SEQ Trail Series events. The start/finish precinct is a lakeside picnic ground, so there is plenty of space to spread out for a post-race picnic, or just to enjoy your rehydration fuel of choice.

The lake also has a designated swimming area, so there’s an opportunity to have a dip before jumping into the car to head for home.

As usual, the team from the Trail Co are on hand in case you need any merch. There were test shoes from a couple of brands available to try at the 2025 race, plus the sort of race-day gear you might be craving.

Presentations take place as the last dozen or so runners are completing their morning’s work, and they are all cheered home by Laura and Tim in between presenting medals to those who made the podium. The random prize draw encourages people to hang around to recognise those at the very front of the field and encourage those at the back of the pack.

Notes 

• There are no water stations on the course and it’s mandatory to carry at least 500ml of water with you 

• One feature of all SEQ Trail Series races is that the courses are extremely well marked - no excuses for taking a detour! The long course is marked with pink arrows, the short course is marked in blue. There is also plenty of reflective yellow and pink tape hanging from trees, fences and whatever else is convenient 

• No dogs but kids under 12 can run provided an adult runs the entire course alongside them - if you can keep up, that is 

• The event is timed using bibs which must be worn on your front, fastened with safety pins or similar 

• There are photographers at various points on the course to capture the action  

• Make sure you leave plenty of time for a portaloo stop before the race gets underway. There will be queues!