BUNYAVILLE PARKRUN REVIEW

GETTING THERE

Bunyaville Parkrun is tucked away in the Northern suburbs of Brisbane off Collins Road in the Bunya forest just past the refuse transfer station on the Jinker Track. Getting there is a bit of a mission; especially because we drove from the Southside of Brisbane. It took us almost an hour to get there. When we entered the car park, it wasn’t that clear where we should go as it was tucked back on the far oval, but we had plenty of time to find the start.

PARKING

There is a parking lot at the venue with ample parking spaces.

TOILETS

There is also a toilet facility at the building opposite the car park and right next to the far oval. It is really clean and well maintained. The Parkrun website says that there isn’t a water bubbler on the premises but we found one outside the toilet entrance.

THE COURSE

This course is not for the feint-hearted! Of all the different events I have run, this would probably be the second most difficult run of all time. I have been told of one up in north Queensland which is reputed to be the most difficult in Australia but that will have to wait for another day.

You start at the far end of the field and run around an un-mowed grass patch causing the pack to be constricted into a narrow single file before running across the oval and on to a forest path. I was racing a good friend who is much younger than I am and he did neglect to warn me about the narrowing of the track. I suspect this was part of his master plan because an older fellow with a small dog clogged up the path and slowed almost everyone in his effort to get a PB. After the race, my friend had a good chuckle at my expense because of this. Once you have entered the forest, you climb up to a turnaround point before heading down the path again going further into the forest.

The path is typical of all Queensland trail runs. It is uneven and you have to keep your wits about you so that you don’t roll an ankle. The trail down to the creek crossing has many loose stones which adds to the challenge. There is another steep uphill climb before you reach the second turnaround point. The return journey also included a mammoth uphill trek to the original turnaround point, before you exit the forest and dash for the finish.

I am not a fan of multiple turnaround points and this course has a few. The path is rough but that is part of the adventure. Like all Parkruns, the course is on tracks or pathways which are open to the public. In this case, the course was clear of other public members, thus avoiding the potential bumping which can be experienced at more popular events. The course also attracts runners with dogs and there were more dogs at this event than I have seen at any other events I have done.

This course is definitely challenging and a little off the beaten track so it was quite encouraging to see a field of 91 runners on the day I ran. They have had a few as 37 and as many as 126 runners at any one event throughout the event history so it is definitely on the small niche side in that regard.

VOLUNTEERS

Like all smaller events, finding volunteers can be a greater challenge, but all credit to the sense of community, which has been cultivated here. My friend Claire was the instigator of this event and she has worked tirelessly to develop it to where it is today. The Facebook page has a few requests for the occasional marshal but in general, this is well supported.

PHOTOS

It goes without saying that such a strong community has to have a well-maintained Facebook page with many photos that have been uploaded weekly. I found it really easy to find my exhausted looking picture from the event I ran and the page is very well organized.

Click here for the Facebook page

THE ALL IMPORTANT COFFEE AFTERWARDS

Okay, so I can't imaging there being a coffee shop close by, seeing you are out in the middle the Bunya forest. But in true community spirit, runners are encouraged to bring a picnic and share a coffee with their mates after the event. We were invited to our friends' house for brekky afterwards as well as to be reminded of the crushing defeat I received at the hands of my much younger mate.  (I hope he reads this haha)

OVERALL 

So the community spirit is great. Because it is out of the way and the course is not conducive to a fast time, it obviously attracts much fewer runners or the more dedicated trailblazers. I don’t like the triple turnaround points but it is certainly pretty. I certainly wouldn’t run this often because it is so far from home and it is really tough, but it is a cool thing to do when we are up there visiting our friends. The Gary rating for this event is thus a respectable 7.5/10.