{"id":361892,"date":"2025-06-23T17:04:16","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T07:04:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=361892"},"modified":"2025-08-01T21:31:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T11:31:07","slug":"wondais-ready-to-start-running","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2025\/06\/23\/wondais-ready-to-start-running\/","title":{"rendered":"Wondai’s Ready To Start Running"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Runners taking part in last year’s Wondai Country Running Festival Half-Marathon (Photo: Past Tense Photography)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

June 23, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

Runners taking part in the eighth annual Wondai Country Running Festival will be hitting the trails around the town again this weekend.<\/p>\n

The various activities kick off at 7:00am on Saturday with the regular Wondai parkrun and the Wondai Country Markets in Coronation Park.<\/p>\n

The markets will have an added twist time with more stalls, a petting zoo for children, plus open-air art sponsored by the Wondai Regional Art Gallery.<\/p>\n

Budding artists can drop into the gallery from 9:00am to pick up free art supplies and a canvas to paint either in the park or at The Studio.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Local artist Sue Warry will be helping people discover their inner creativity!<\/p>\n

There\u2019ll also be live entertainment during the markets, including performances by the Wondai Town & District Band, the CWA Choir and Terry Jacobsen.<\/p>\n

(The gallery is also hoping to have its new deck extension open in time for the weekend.)<\/p>\n

But the main focus of the festival is, of course … running!<\/p>\n

The 1km CROW-FM Dash for Cash on Saturday morning will start at 8:15am.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is held along the Rail Trail and there are cash prizes to be won. Numbers are strictly limited!<\/p>\n

There are three age categories: 18 & under; 40 & under and Masters.<\/p>\n

Also on Saturday, is the All Abilities Run at 8:45am – sponsored this year by local MP Deb Frecklington – followed by the Hansen Kitchens 2km Family Fun Run at 9:00am.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Fun Run along the Rail Trail ($5 entry on the day) is untimed and a social event for all the family. There will be lots of random prizes!<\/p>\n

Registrations for all the Saturday morning events can be made on the day.<\/p>\n

On Saturday afternoon, there are two Bega Peanuts McEuen Forest trail runs to choose from: 21.1km starting at 12:30pm or the 11.1km starting at 1:30pm.<\/p>\n

Sunday\u2019s events are the Ken Mills Toyota Marathon (starting 6:30am), Bendigo Bank Half-Marathon (7:00am), Parkside Rail Trail 10km run (7:30am) and the Bowy Active Rail Trail 5km rail trail run (7:45am).<\/p>\n

Online registrations<\/a> for the Saturday afternoon and Sunday events close at 10:00pm this Wednesday (June 25).<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Saturday night, the Wondai Country Running Festival dinner will be held at the Wondai Town Hall, featuring a licensed bar and live music.<\/p>\n

Tickets for this event were snapped up very quickly and it is now booked out<\/p>\n