6 Inch Trail Marathon.
The 6 Inch Trail Marathon runs one way along the Munda Biddi Trail from North Dandalup to Dwellingup, about 80 km south of Perth. The biggest climb of the day comes straight out of the start at Goldmine Hill, but the real examination waits beyond km 35, where a short, steep ramp meets tired legs.
6 Inch Trail Marathon 2026: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The start at Goldmine Hill allows no settling in: the course climbs from the first metre for 2.6 km, averaging just over seven percent. That takes care of a fifth of the day's nearly 900 m of ascent before you are properly warm. After that the race changes. Until about km 30 one short wave follows another, none of them climbing for longer than two kilometres, and the high point does not arrive until km 25.
The marathon is a pure point-to-point on the Munda Biddi Trail, from North Dandalup to Dwellingup, with no return to where you began. Two checkpoints break up the day, at around km 23 and around km 36, each with water, sports drinks, fruit and lollies. The long course shares its finish with the half marathon.
The closing stages bring no relief. From km 30 the course gives up about 80 m, then, just before the second checkpoint, comes the steepest section of the race. It lasts only 650 m but averages almost ten percent. From km 39 a climb of just over a kilometre rises once more. After that the swings stay small, and the line sits a little under 150 m higher than the start.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0 | 2.6 km | 7.1 % | 17.6 % | +187 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 11.2 | 1.7 km | 4.4 % | 7.2 % | +74 m | — |
| km 14.6 | 1 km | 5.4 % | 9.6 % | +53 m | — |
| km 18 | 1.3 km | 4.4 % | 14.4 % | +55 m | — |
| km 20.8 | 0.7 km | 3.2 % | 5.6 % | +23 m | — |
| km 25 | 0.9 km | 5 % | 9.6 % | +45 m | — |
| km 35.9 | 0.7 km | 9.9 % | 27.2 % | +64 m | — |
| km 39.2 | 1.2 km | 4.3 % | 7.2 % | +52 m | — |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace 6 Inch Trail Marathon.
Start under control
More than 44 km still lie ahead at the top of the first climb, so treat it as a warm-up. Take it at a pace that lets you run again the moment you reach the top, even if that means walking the steepest pitches. Whatever speed you force here gets paid back beyond km 35.
Hold your rhythm
There is no steady pace to be had in the long middle section: more than a third of the course climbs and less than a quarter is flat. Run by effort rather than by kilometre split, and hold an even effort over the short waves instead of attacking them. With the first checkpoint not until around km 23, plan on your own fluid and energy up to that point.
Spend what is left
The race is decided between km 36 and 41. The trap sits just before it: the drop from km 30 invites you to win back lost time, and it loads the quads right ahead of the steepest ramp. Let the descent roll without pushing, take the ramp at a brisk walk, and save your last real effort for the climb from km 39.
Training plan for 6 Inch Trail Marathon: 12-week build
Build the base
Age-group runners should expect around five to seven hours at the 6 Inch. The base load is aerobic, but it is broken up by many short climbs, so your heart rate rises and falls all day without staying long in the hard zone. What you need above all is endurance that tolerates a lot of small spikes.
Train race pace
The key session is a long run over rolling ground with the hardest gradient at the end. Add short, steep repeats to the end of your longest runs, several hours in, because that is exactly what the ramp before km 36 demands. At least one long run should also finish with a sustained descent ahead of a last climb, so you learn what the drop from km 30 does to your legs.
Rehearse the course
Practise brisk uphill walking as a discipline of its own, on gradients you can no longer run. It decides how much you spend on Goldmine Hill and how much time you lose on the ramp later. Downhill running belongs in the plan too, since the course goes down nearly as much as it goes up.
Arrive fresh
The 20 December date puts your longest runs in November and leaves the first half of December for sharpening. Use those runs as a dress rehearsal for fuelling as well: carry everything yourself for just over 20 km, then find out whether fruit, sweets and sports drink still sit well after several hours.
Courses
Download the 6 Inch Trail Marathon course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for 6 Inch Trail Marathon dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about 6 Inch Trail Marathon.
How long is 6 Inch Trail Marathon?
6 Inch Trail Marathon is 47.5 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does 6 Inch Trail Marathon have?
6 Inch Trail Marathon has around 890 m of elevation gain over 47.5 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of 6 Inch Trail Marathon?
6 Inch Trail Marathon is classified as Hilly, averaging 18.9 vertical metres per kilometre. 24% of the route is flat, 36% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 6% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does 6 Inch Trail Marathon have?
The hardest climb of 6 Inch Trail Marathon starts at kilometre 0, runs for 2.6 km at an average of 7.1% and gains 187 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is 6 Inch Trail Marathon a loop course?
No, 6 Inch Trail Marathon is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the 6 Inch Trail Marathon course?
Yes. The 6 Inch Trail Marathon course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for 6 Inch Trail Marathon?
Preparation for 6 Inch Trail Marathon should account for 47.5 km, 890 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for 6 Inch Trail Marathon?
The pacing strategy for 6 Inch Trail Marathon should reflect 47.5 km, 890 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does 6 Inch Trail Marathon take place?
6 Inch Trail Marathon takes place on December 20, 2026.
Where does 6 Inch Trail Marathon take place?
6 Inch Trail Marathon takes place in North Dandalup, Australia.
Which distances does 6 Inch Trail Marathon offer?
6 Inch Trail Marathon offers 2 distances — 6 Inch Trail Marathon: 47.5 km; 6 Inch Half Marathon: 23.4 km.
How do I register for 6 Inch Trail Marathon?
Registration runs through the organiser: 6inchtrailmarathon.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
