Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival.
The Timberfix course is the shortest at the Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival and the only one that stays below the ridge lines of Hassans Walls. Its five kilometres climb straight away, then drop for a long stretch: a race for anyone who wants to run trail at speed or try off-road racing for the first time.
Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival 2027: Course, Route Profile & Map
The loop opens with its steepest piece: the first 400 metres gain just over 30 metres of height. Even then the way does not turn down yet. Two smaller rollers carry you to the high point of the lap around kilometre 1.5, a little above 1,000 metres. From there the course falls for a kilometre and a half with barely an interruption, down to the low point at kilometre 3.
A short counter-climb and one last step just after kilometre 4 bring you back to the level of the start, and the closing section runs out almost level. The lap is cleanly divided: work first, then speed, and finally a test of how much of it you have left.
The hub of race day in early April, the southern autumn, is the Lithgow Pony Club at Sheedys Gully. The ground around Hassans Walls is rugged and shifts between singletrack, MTB trails, four-wheel-drive tracks, fire trails and dirt roads. You are spared the long ridges and their climbing, but not the footing: even over the shortest distance this is a proper trail race.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0 | 0.4 km | 9.2 % | 18.4 % | +34 m | — |
| km 0.7 | 0.4 km | 5.7 % | 9.2 % | +20 m | — |
| km 1.2 | 0.3 km | 5.1 % | 11.9 % | +16 m | — |
| km 3 | 0.4 km | 5 % | 9.3 % | +17 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 Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival.
Start under control
The first kilometre is where you can spoil this race. The ramp right after the start drags the whole field upward at once, and running it at road-race pace carries the burn into the two rollers behind it. Push, but so that your breathing has settled again by the high point at kilometre 1.5.
Hold your rhythm
The time is made after that. Between kilometres 1.5 and 3 you lose around 70 metres of height, and this is the fastest running of the day. Take the descent with short, quick steps and your eyes well ahead rather than braking. This is where you recover what you deliberately left on the hill.
Spend what is left
The trap sits beyond the low point. The counter-climb is short, but it arrives straight after the fastest section, and the rhythm breaks easily there. Keep the pressure on until you are over the step after kilometre 4, because from then on it is almost level to the end and you can lift once more.
Training plan for Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect 30 to 50 minutes depending on your form. It is an effort close to threshold with a clear spike at the very start: the opening ramp is anaerobic, and the rest asks for high speed on changing ground.
Train race pace
What matters here is being able to run straight after a hard climb instead of recovering first. Train short hill repeats of one to two minutes and attach 200 to 300 metres of brisk running on level ground to each one. That accustoms you to the moment when your legs are burning and the trail simply carries on.
Rehearse the course
The second focus is downhill running. A kilometre and a half of descent gains more time on this lap than any climb, but only if you dare to let go on uneven ground. Strides on gentle off-road slopes build leg speed and confidence without loading your legs heavily.
Arrive fresh
If you mostly run on roads so far, move at least one run a week onto paths and gravel, because the constant change of surface is what separates this lap from a 5K in the park. Shoes with a grippy sole are part of that. In the weeks before 3 April, run one dress rehearsal: hard uphill, quick downhill, and a deliberate last effort over a short rise at the end.
Courses
Download the Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival 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 Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival.
How long is Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival?
Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival is 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 Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival have?
Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival has around 120 m of elevation gain over 5 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival?
Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival is classified as Hilly, averaging 24.1 vertical metres per kilometre. 17% of the route is flat, 27% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 11% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival have?
The hardest climb of Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival starts at kilometre 0, runs for 0.4 km at an average of 9.2% and gains 34 metres. 4 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival a loop course?
Yes, Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival course?
Yes. The Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival 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 Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival?
Preparation for Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival should account for 5 km, 120 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 Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival?
The pacing strategy for Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival should reflect 5 km, 120 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 Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival take place?
Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival takes place on April 3, 2027.
Where does Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival take place?
Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival takes place in Lithgow, Australia.
Which distances does Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival offer?
Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival offers 6 distances — Timberfix 5km: 5 km; T8 10km: 9.7 km; Elevate Medical Hub 22km: 21.1 km (Half marathon); Lithgow Workies Club 30km: 30.1 km; Blue Mountains Running Co. 42km: 42.6 km; Trail Brew 50km: 49.9 km.
How do I register for Lithgow Ridgy-Didge Trail Run Festival?
Registration runs through the organiser: ridgydidgetrail.com.au. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
