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I have to admit, I really love this race. It takes place on my home trails, it’s brilliantly organised and the 50k version was my very first ultra back in 2020. Happy memories.

On that day, I came across the line, had a beer pressed into my palm and said to my mates Stu and Jodie and my wife Caron: “When can I do that again?” So please excuse me if my enthusiasm for the event is a bit OTT. It has a special place in my heart.

Four races make up the event. The Guzzler is the 100k, the 50k is The Glass Half Full, there is a 21k called The Big Sipper and the 10k version is The Dry Run. The drinking references are due to the fact the courses take runners past reservoirs in the D’Aguilar National Park.

The Guzzler visits three - Lake Manchester, Gold Creek Reservoir and Enoggera Reservoir. The Glass Half Full skips Lake Manchester, The Big Sipper only visits Enoggera and, with a touch of poetic licence, The Dry Run bypasses the water altogether, but does take runners down “Reservoir Trail”. Close enough.

One of the beautiful things about these races is that, even though they start less than 10k from Brisbane’s CBD, they are more or less entirely run on trails. There are some road crossings, but at no point are you pounding the bitumen for any length of time.

And the trails are beautiful. There’s a combination of wide open, undulating fire trails that are eminently runnable and more technical single track - still runnable, but a bit trickier. There are some brutal uphills, which means there are also some brutal downhills.

Which brings me to Kokoda. Notorious is probably a good word for this trail, which runs up, and I mean up, to the top of the mountain near Brisbane’s Channel 9 studios. It features in all four distances, so there’s no escaping it. And for those running the 100k or the 50k editions, it comes after hours and hours and hours of hard slog, when your legs and your will to carry on are wavering.

Even the most seasoned runners respect Kokoda. For newbies, it’s a real challenge. One that some tackle on all fours, the gradient is that extreme!

While the courses earn an A+ rom me, it’s just one of a number of elements that make this a great event. The volunteers are first-class. The vibe is great. As always at trail events, it’s inclusive. Whether you’re first across the line or last, the reception is more or less the same.

The precinct works well in creating a festive atmosphere and there is plenty of room for friends and family. The relatively central location means there are always plenty of people on hand to cheer you home. And then there are the event shirts - iconic.

Even simple things like course marking are excellent. No detail is left unattended to. Which is credit to the race directors Laura and Tim from The Trail Co. They’ve said this seventh running of The Guzzler will be bittersweet for them because it’s their last.

But don’t worry, they’re handing the race on to new custodians, so The Guzzler will continue. They can look back with pride on what they’ve built. (Once they’re over the stress of it all, I suspect.)

The Guzzler

There is no question the full 100k Guzzler is the real deal when it comes to ultra marathons. With more than 4,500 metres of elevation, it’s a tough, tough challenge. The course takes you deep into the national park and features the broadest range of terrain to enjoy.

I’ve not run the 100k course myself (it’s in my plans for 2026) but these are my home trails and I’m confident if you are running it for the first time, you won’t be disappointed.

The race precinct and start line is set up in a carpark just off Scenic Drive, not far from the Mt Coot-tha summit. The road features stunning views of the Brisbane city skyline.

The start is fairly gentle, but picturesque as you climb to the top of the mountain before heading down to the west. The course crosses Gap Creek Road at about the 6k mark before heading towards the first reservoir on the list - Enoggera.

This is a beautiful part of the course with broad fire trails, some single track, gorgeous views and just enough cheeky climbs to give a hint of what lies ahead. There are also points on the trail as you skirt the western shore of the lake where all you can hear is a symphony of bellbirds. It really is magical.

Checkpoint one for both the 100k and 50k runners is by the lake at the 18k mark, after which you head north up Nebo Road Break, named for Mt Nebo. And, you guessed it, that means you’re running up a mountain. It’s the first real sustained uphill section of the course, lasting five or six kilometres.

That brings you to both the McAfee’s Lookout checkpoint and the start of the evocatively named Hell Hole Break - a very steep descent into a valley and creek crossing, followed by a very steep ascent to the top of the next ridge.

Once you leave the checkpoint, you begin the “Hell Hole Hustle” - a race within a race. This is a 3.3k “dash” which starts with a 243m descent, followed by a 176m climb to the top of the next ridge. It’s as brutal as it sounds, but there’s a prize on offer for the fastest male and female Hell Hole Hustler - on the proviso you actually complete the race you’ve entered. You can’t collect the minor prize if you DNF on the main event.

From the top of Hell Hole you follow the ridge for a few kilometres before descending to reservoir number two - Gold Creek, also home to checkpoint three.

This is where the 100k and 50k courses diverge. While the Glass Half Fullers complete a circuit of Gold Creek and head for home, the Guzzlers hit the western-most point of the reservoir and then start a long climb as they head for Lake Manchester.

After climbing pretty consistently for around eight kilometres you start to head back down into the valley and from about the 45k mark there is a good 20 kilometre stretch that, while it has some short, sharp spikes, is relatively flat - including the Lake Manchester checkpoint.

It would be good planning to rest the legs on that section because at about the 66k mark that all changes with about 370m of elevation in four punishing kilometres. When you reach the top you are rewarded with a chance to refresh at Lightline Rd Bush Camp - not an official checkpoint, but a chance to fuel up.

The respite is brief though, because from there you plunge down along Township Break with its ridiculous gradient of more than 30% in places. And then, of course, up the other side which is equally ridiculously steep. As if that’s not daunting enough, all but the fastest runners will be tackling it in the dark.

Once you’ve conquered Township though you are more than 70k in and the worst is behind you. By 76k you’re back on Nebo Road Break, this time heading downhill towards your second crack at the Hell Hole Hustle. Once you’re done hustling this time, instead of heading towards Gold Creek you pass between it and Enoggera and head back towards Mt Coot-tha.

After what you’ve tackled until this point, from the top of Hell Hole to your second crossing of Gap Creek Road is pretty steady going. Then, with 98k in your legs and close enough to taste that finish line beer (or other beverage of choice), you hit Kokoda.

And at this point you’re wondering what sort of a sadist puts a climb this steep so close to the end of a run this demanding. But once you’ve clawed your way to the top, it’s a glorious, delirious, mostly downhill run to the finish line. And a well-earned sense of achievement.

The Glass Half Full

While the full Guzzler is the blue ribbon event, the 50k version still asks plenty of runners. The first 34k of The Glass Half Full mirrors the 100k course - starting on Mt Coot-tha, crossing Gap Creek Road, skirting Enoggera Reservoir, heading up Nebo Road Break and then diving down and back up Hell Hole to reach Gold Creek.

But while the Guzzlers head off to Lake Manchester from there, the Glass Half Full crew complete a circumnavigation of Gold Creek and then head back up to South Boundary Road to head for home.

This section from Gold Creek back up to South Boundary can be punishing because it’s uphill and it’s very exposed. For back of the pack runners like me, you’re likely to be running this right in the heat of the day and it’s tough.

There are more trees and therefore more shade once you get to to the top though, and from there, Kokoda aside, it’s a manageable undulating run to the finish line.

The Big Sipper

Unlike the other three distances, The Big Sipper doesn’t start at the race precinct. Instead, you catch a shuttle bus from the precinct to the start line at Enoggera Reservoir. The race starts with an anti-clockwise circuit of the lake before heading out on South Boundary Road.

There are some decent hills as you run around the ressie, the gnarliest of which is at about the 5k mark and which I recommend you hike rather than trying to run. At 10k you hit a long, steady uphill on South Boundary, but I can usually run this as it’s long but not crazily steep.

From that point the Big Sipper course links up with the Guzzler and Glass Half Full courses for the final push for home. Don’t forget to save something for Kokoda.

And remember, there will be 100k runners out there on the course while you are running past. Give them some love. They’ve earnt it! And if they’re running past you … well, you know you’re in trouble.

The Dry Run

This is the shortest of the Guzzler events but still packs a bit of a punch with more than 400m of elevation in just over 10k. The course takes runners down Reservoir Trail, named for the water tank part-way along it.

At about the 4.5k mark you hit the bottom of Kokoda and it’s the same story from that point until the finish line as for the Guzzlers, Glass Half Fullers and the Big Sippers - except with fewer kilometres in your legs.

So be sure to use any excess energy to encourage any 100k runners who are, at that point, seriously questioning their life decisions. A kind word might help get them across the line!

So, that’s the Guzzler. Four events, 2,000 competitors. If you’ve not run it before, put it on your schedule for 2026. You won’t regret it.

Maps and elevation profiles courtesy The Guzzler website.

Upcoming Events

There are way too many events for me to list everything that’s happening around the country, but here is a selection of upcoming races (with a bias towards South East Queensland).

The Running Calendar website is a great source if you want a comprehensive understanding of what’s available around Australia.