18 October 2022

It's all about energy - a wind farm run fun is racing into the region this weekend

| Evelyn Karatzas
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runners and windmills

The Run with the Wind festival has been held since 2012. Photos: Kylie Stewart.

After two years of cancelled events caused by COVID-19, a unique community fun run is racing into the region once again and will be held this weekend.

The annual Run with the Wind festival has been held since 2012 and is a fun way to get people out and about and active, and gives them the chance to learn more about renewable energy on the way.

Whether you love to run just for fun, or you’re training for the Olympics, there’s something for everyone to take part in, including a two, five, 10 and 21-kilometre race.

To be held at the Woodlawn Wind Farm, Tarago, by Elite Energy Events and the Goulburn Mulwaree Council, it will be held on Sunday, 23 October, from 8 am to 5 pm.

Run with the Wind race director Mark Emerton said he was excited to deliver this yearโ€™s challenging yet immensely rewarding course.

โ€œThis is such a unique event- the wind turbines are just incredible to experience up close, and the views are phenomenal,” Mr Emerton said.

“Our team is very excited to be involved in this iconic run.”

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Elite Energy marketing and communications manager Kylie Stewart said she was eagerly awaiting the event.

“We’ve really been looking forward to having our annual event return post-COVID, it’s such a fun event that our team really love participating in,” Ms Stewart said.

“It’s something that the community gets really involved with and they love that it’s got that small-festival feel to it too. It’s also about promoting the renewable energy component, which the community love supporting.

“People just love a good challenge and the views are so spectacular, so it’s definitely worthwhile.”

Runners at wind farm

Spectacular views make the challenge even more rewarding.

Ms Stewart said it would be the ninth event to be held at the wind farm.

“This race takes you up between all the wind turbines in Tarago which are often seen on the way to Canberra, overlooking Lake George,” she said.

“People who participate get the opportunity to run past them, and it’s actually really impressive how big they are.

“It’s really a spectacular course, which is also very challenging to complete, as it’s got many up-and-down sections.”

Data from previous events shows that 95 per cent of entrants come from outside the Goulburn region.

“Most of our participants are from Canberra, but we do have a few South Coast people and Sydney people that come along,” Ms Stewart said.

“This then drives a lot of tourism and economic support into Tarago too, as people will go to find accommodation and stay as close as they can to the running festival.”

Ms Stewart said 900 people were expected to lace up their running shoes for this year’s challenge.

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She said it was the first time the event included a 21 km half-marathon race.

“The 21 km race is quite challenging and designed for a hardcore runner,” she said.

“Our 2 km race is great for families, as we even get people pushing prams and all sorts of things.

“It’s a really great family day out.”

Entry to the races is $5 a person, but Ms Stewart said if participants ran in any of the longer events, they could take part free in the 2 km challenge with their kids.

To find out more and register for a race, visit Run with the Wind.

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