GUMBY

The Great Ultra Mediocre Back Yarder

The Event

The 2025 GUMBY, GumBABY and GumbyMOON will take place in the Brindabella Ranges to the west of Canberra. The event promises a vibrant community atmosphere for runners and supporters while camping at the historic Blue Range Hut.

The races are organised by ULTRA Mediocre Runners of Canberra Incorporated, a not for profit sports club furthering the sport of ultrarunning in Canberra and surrounds.

The Races

The GUMBY, starting on the Friday morning, is a traditional last one standing race on a 6.7km course. Runners complete a lap on the hour every hour until there is only one person standing. Everyone else receives a DNF. We expect the race to go all night and into the next day.

The GumBABY will be 8 laps of the GUMBY course beginning on the Saturday morning and run out of sync with the GUMBY. The total distance is 53.6km. The winner of the race will be the first person across the line on lap 8.

Our newest addition to the family is the GumbyMOON, a four lap race held on Thursday afternoon and into the night. The total distance is 26.8km and is perfect for anyone who wants to try the LOS format or have a shot at night running. The winner of the race will be the first person across the line on lap 4.

DNFers

All participants that don't finish the GUMBY will receive a Quitters Bitter as well as something to remember all that suffering, and of course, they will get to ‘enjoy’ the famous Quitters Ceremony!

When

GumbyMOON starts at 5pm, Thursday 24 April 2025.

GUMBY starts at 9am, Friday 25 April 2025.

GumBABY starts at 8:30am, Saturday 26 April 2025.

Where

Blue Range Hut, Blue Range Road, Coree ACT.

Number of Entrants

GUMBY: 50 participants maximum

GumBABY: 70 participants maximum

GumbyMOON: 30 participants maximum

Pricing

Entry price varies depending on when you enter.

GUMBY Entries

• Early Entry $210 (until 11:59pm Friday 28 February 2025)
• Late Entry $245 (Entries close 11:59pm Friday 11 April 2025)

GumBABY Entries

• Early Entry $150 (until 11:59pm Friday 28 February 2025)
• Late Entry $180 (Entries close 11:59pm Friday 11 April 2025)

GumbyMOON Entries

• Early Entry $80 (until 11:59pm Friday 28 February 2025)
• Late Entry $110 (Entries close 11:59pm Friday 11 April 2025)

*For camping fees see below under "camping."

*10% discount available for UMRoC members on all entry types.

*Information on refunds and transfers and event cancellation HERE

The Course

In 2021 athletes ran the course clockwise. In 2022 and 2023 athletes ran the course anti-clockwise. For 2024 clockwise again! Who knows which way we'll go in 2025, but there will be an annoucement before the start of the race.

The course is 6.7kms of undulating fire trail. Regardless of direction, runners will start in a corral at Blue Range Hut and exit the camp ground through the north gate.

Clockwise course description

It's about 300m from the corral to the north gate. From the gate, runners will travel up Blue Range Road to a sharp right turn known as Poo Bear Corner. The course climbs to the north then descends through a colonnade of trees to Dead Horse Gate Road.

Runners exit to the right where they crest Mt. GUMBY and enjoy panoramic views with Black Mountain in the distance before descending to Pissing Contest Point.

The course winds right and left before ascending to Facebook Hill where runners turn left for a short out-and-back along Gumbilical lane.

Returning to Facebook Hill, runners again turn left down a rocky slope to the north gate of the campsite and on to the corral.

Anti-clockwise course description

From the corral runners head through the north gate and turn right up a rocky slope to Facebook Hill. They continue to the right for a short out-and-back on Gumbilical Lane.

Upon returning to Facebook Hill runners turn right and descend a wide road. The trail weaves right then left before a climb to Pissing Contest Point where runners keep left at the fork to ascend Mt. GUMBY where they will enjoy views of the mountains and forrest of Coree, then continue on a gentle descent to Dead Horse Gate Road.

Runners will climb again and wind their way south before turning sharply to the left at Poo Bear Corner onto Blue Range Road, which will take them directly back to the north gate and on to the corral.

The Rules

Runners run the same course in the same direction once every hour. At the beginning of each hour runners who intend to continue must be in the corral next to Blue Range Hut. Any runners late to the corral will receive a DNF (all races).

The GUMBY

• Runners will start a 6.71 km (4.17 mile) on the hour, every hour
• Runners must finish each lap within 1 hour
• Each loop starts precisely 1 hour after the last
• Runners are called into the starting corral at 3 minutes to the hour
• Runners must be in the starting corral at the lap start bell, and start running on the bell (no late starts)
• Any runner not in the starting corral for any lap is not eligible to continue and is recorded as DNF (did not finish)
• Any runner who fails to finish a lap is recorded as DNF (did not finish)
• No artificial aids (including trekking poles)
• Slower runners must allow passes
• This continues until only one runner can complete the lap within the 1-hour time limit
• Except for toilet stops competitors may not leave the course until each loop is completed
• No non-competitors on the course (including eliminated runners)
• No personal aid during a loop (common aid stations are allowed)
• Each loop must be completed within an hour to be counted, including the final lap
• If no runner can complete one more loop than anyone else, there is no winner
• The winner is the last person to complete a loop

The GumBABY and GumbyMOON

Rules are the same for the GumBABY and GumbyMOON, however the winner will be decided by a race on the last lap. Whoever completes the final loop first wins. All others who finish within the time frame will be recognised as finishers instead of receiving a DNF.

Race HQ and Camp Ground

Blue Range Hut will be the Race HQ where race sign in and all the action takes place. The Hut is a basic facility with no power or running water.

There are composting toilets on site. Additional port-a-loos will be provided for the event.

There are no rubbish bins at the site. We encourage you to take your own rubbish home with you, but we will put out rubbish bins around the hut for convenience.

There may be tank water at the hut, but it is not considered safe to drink.

Supplies

The nearest shops are about a 45 minute drive away, so bring everything you need. Please bring food, water, toilet paper and firewood if you think you will need any of these.

Aid Station

There will be an aid station at the start finish line with water and Tailwind to allow you to refuel cleanly and efficiently. There will also be some other refreshments for runner use only.

Camp kitchen

A camp kitchen will be set up at the hut that will have gas burners and places to prepare food for runners.

Camping

Camping at Blue Range Hut is limited based on the below:

Any runners and support crew are encouraged to camp. All Camping is $12 per person per night (except where included in entry price for GUMBY runners and supporters) and can booked during registration. Numbers are limited and it may book out.

Thursday Night - Thursday night camping is available for GUMBY and GumbyMOON runners and their supporters at $12 per person.

Friday Night - GUMBY participants are allowed camping for one designated crew member on Friday night (included in entry fee). Camping for additional supporters can be booked during registration. Due to campsite restrictions GumBABY participants or supporters are not permitted to camp on Friday night (unless they are a designated supporter of a GUMBY participant).

Saturday Night - GUMBY participants are allowed camping for one designated crew member on Saturday night (included in the entry fee). Camping for additional supporters can be booked during registration.

Anyone else is welcome to camp (and encouraged to do so) on Saturday night for $12 per person. Bookings can be made during registration and may sell out.

Please be advised that no pets are permitted at the campsite on race weekend.

Race Schedule

*Except for race start times, all times are TBC.

Thursday 24 April

• 15:00 – Camp gate open
• 15:00 – Camp ground opens for setup/camping overnight
• 15:30 – GumbyMOON and early event check in opens (all events)
• 17:00 – GumbyMOON starts. All runners must have mandatory headtorch and wear high visibility reflective vest to commence race
• 17:32 – Sunset
• 19:00 – Early event check in closes (all events)
• 21:00 – GumbyMOON finishes
• 21:10 – GumbyMOON presentation
• 21:30 – Camp gate closes (for the night)

Friday 25 April

• 06:30 – Camp gate opens
• 06:33 - Sunrise
• 06:45 – Event check in opens (Gumby only)
• 08:30 – Camp gate locked (entry/exit after this time to be negotiated with Race Director - parking outside gate after this time)
• 08:30 – Event check in closes
• 08:40 – Race briefing
• 09:00 – Event start (GUMBY)
• 17:00 – All GUMBY runners must have their mandatory headtorch and wear high visibility reflective vest to commence next lap
• 17:31 – Sunset

Saturday 26 April

• 05:30 – Camp gate opens for GumBABY gear drop off - parking back out on Blue Range Road
• 05:45 - Event check in (GumBABY)
• 06:33 - Sunrise
• 07:00 – Headtorches and high visibility reflective vest optional during daylight laps(GUMBY)
• 07:30 - Camp gate locked (exit/entry after this time to be negotiated with Race Director)
• 07:45 - Event Check in closes (GumBABY)
• 08:15 - Race Briefing (GumBABY)
• 08:30 - GumBABY start
• 15:30 – GumBABY last lap commences
• 16:40 - GumBABY presentation
• 17:00 – All continuing GUMBY runners must have mandatory headtorch and high visibility reflective vest
• 17:30 – Sunset
• ??:?? – Event Concludes
• ??:?? + 15 minutes - GUMBY Presentations

Sunday 27 April

• 06:34 – Sunrise
• ??:?? – Event Concludes
• ??:?? + 15 minutes - Presentations
• 07:00 - (If event still going) Headtorches and high visibility reflective vest optional during daylight laps (GUMBY)
• 10:00 - Camp Ground Closes
• (If you wish to stay longer you will need to book directly through the ACT Government website).

Event Sponsors

Tailwind

Tailwind Nutrition is an all-in-one endurance fuel that will keep you energised and powering through your training and your big race! It contains all your calories, hydration, and electrolytes so you don't need to carry or consume anything else during your race. Order online at www.tailwindnutrition.com.au.

The Runners Shop

The Runners Shop is Canberras one stop shop for all your running needs. Stop by at 76 Dundas Court Phillip for the ACT's best advice on all things running, or find them online at The Runners Shop.

T8

T8 produces ultralight, super-cool, chafe-free running apparel designed by Ultrarunners for all runners. The T8 lineup includes the cult-favourite Commandos, guaranteed chafe-free running underwear to keep you comfortable whether you're hitting Parkrun or a 100-miler. T8 are also famous for their Sherpa shorts, ultralight running shorts with four hyper-stretch mesh pockets so you can carry all your essentials with bounce-free comfort.