THE 54th Geoff Watt Memorial Fun Run and Festival is approaching.
Held at the Geoff Watt Memorial Athletics Track in Warragul, the running festival is Gippsland’s longest running fun run.
Distances available are the half marathon (21km), 10km, 5km and a 2.5km walk/run.
The events namesake was a long distance and marathon runner, who was a major force within the athletics community, helping to establish the Warragul Little Athletics Club.
Geoff’s daughter, former Olympian Kathy Watt, is continuing her father’s legacy, hard at work planning the event.
Kathy, from Warragul, enjoyed a decorated cycling career, winning gold and silver medals at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, as well as gold at four Commonwealth Games.
Little Athletics has partnered with the Geoff Watt Festival, and its chief executive, Myles Foreman said it was important to give back to the region’s next era of athletes.
“We are a community who likes to support each other and for us, (Kathy) as a member of our hall of fame, and a family (whose) very closely aligned to Little Athletics over many years, (it’s) very important for us to support,” he said.
Being that the event lines up with the start of the summer season, Foreman believes this is a great chance to have young, curious and active kids who may not have been aware of Little Athletics join up with their clubs following their experience on the day.
Geoff Watt mingled with some of Australia’s best, that included training with renowned athletics coach Percy Cerutty in a famous era of Australian runners such as Herb Elliott (Olympic gold medallist, 1960) and John Landy (Olympic bronze medallist, 1956).
“He was passionate about running and he really related well to people, gave them coaching plans,” Kathy said.
“I’ve met people in their 70s that have still got his training plan in their drawer… they said ‘it was like how to live your life’.
“He was really about encouraging other people and he travelled the world staying with other marathon runners and he made friends all around the world.”
Three-time winner of the Geoff Watt Half Marathon, John Duck, from Trafalgar, was on hand to launch the festival.
“Back in the day it was just a half marathon, that was it, but now there’s all the added events (for a) wider family appeal,” he recalled.
“It’s good to see it’s still going, not many events are still going after (54) years, it’s impressive to still be around.
“I’m happy to come along and put leaflets in letterboxes, whatever is required to promote the event.”
While the half marathon is sure to be competitive, the fun run is an easy-going, family-friendly occasion.
Dress-up is common for runners, while face painting, music and other fascinating stalls will surround the headline events.
This year, Little Athletics will be holding a junior clinic on the day, and kids will be treated to a green and gold presence, with the junior run-jump-throw workshop with sprinter Nana Owusu-Afriyie, heptathlon champion Taneille Crase, and Olympic throwing coach Gus Puopolo.
The Geoff Watt Memorial Fun Run and Festival will take place on Sunday, October 27.
The half marathon begins at 9am sharp, with other events following suit.
For more information, visit
https://geoffwattrun.com.au/ to enter.
