After visiting the McAfees Lookout Check Point, 50km and 100km runners will experience Hell Hole Break and a chance to rank in the The Hell Hole Hustle time trial segment.

In fact, 100km runners will run through Hell (Hole) twice!

Despite the grimacing name, this ~3km long fire break descends quickly down to a beautiful creek crossing before challenging runners to a short scramble up a steep slope, becoming a grinding climb up to South Boundary Road.

The Hell Hole Hustle segment starts as soon as runners leave the McAfees Lookout Check Point, and finishes at the end of Hell Hole Break as runners exit onto South Boundary Rd. If bragging rights weren’t enough, The Guzzler Ultra has a prize for the fastest runners through the segment on race day – one each for the Hustle King & Queen!

Brisbane’s heritage-listed Enoggera Reservoir was completed in 1866.

In its heyday, this aquatic playground – now popular with swimmers and water craft users – supplied water to local residents. While the reservoir has now been decommissioned as a water supply, it’s still relied upon to store clean water in the event of drought.

Enoggera Dam itself was one of the first major dams ever built in Australia. Despite reconstruction changes over the years, the dam structure itself remained in near original form until 1977 when major modifications were made. Today it remains the only reservoir in Queensland still in its original structure, within the renovations.

The surrounding national park is home to abundant wildlife, and of course, an extensive trail network.

Our 42km aid station is placed at a lesser-known memorial, for fabled local runner Leland Pasion.

Back in 2017, as first time ultra-runner, Leland went out for a casual double-Pinnacles run. For those who don’t know, Pinnacles is a roughly 18km loop of Gold Creek Reservoir that provide a solid, hilly challenge.

Armed with 5 gels and enough water for his planned 4–5hr run, he was ready for a great day. Unfortunately for Leland, rather than taking Gold Creek Boundary Rd (where you come from on The Guzzler) he took Gold Creek Rd (where you’ll be going) and instantly it became a much longer run out towards Lake Manchester.

Luckily for him, two fellow trail runners found him, fed him, and ensured he got safely home, 9hrs and 12mins later.

Every time we pass this place, we pause to remember this hilarious but unfortunate mistake that led to the creation of Leland’s Corner.

Built between 1882 and 1885, as Brisbane continued to grow, the Gold Creek dam was designed to increase the water supply availability, originally supplying water directly to the city.

In 1928, Gold Creek reservoir was connected to Enoggera Reservoir via a tunnel beneath the South Boundary Road trail ridge line that separates the two basins and the Gold Creek dam acted as an upper reservoir for the Enoggera reservoir.

Nowadays the Gold Creek reservoir still collects and stores water from its 10.5km2 catchment but the pipeline was decommissioned in 1991.

The reservoir is circled by 5km of gorgeous single track, perfect for a short family adventure or a fun little bush escape during an ultra trail run.

The dam’s 187m long wall and 26m high embankment encloses the reservoir and is a feature of both the 50km and 100km courses.

This hill is the sting in the tail for all our Guzzler runners.

Coming up from Gap Creek, runners will experience a gentle rolling rise before turning left onto the infamous Kokoda track. While only 1km long, it packs 120m of elevation gain with some steep sections that require grit.

The top signifies the end of the course’s climbing and the start of the descent to those finish line feels.

Our 100km runners are rewarded with a trip to beautiful Lake Manchester. Construction started on Lake Manchester Dam in 1912 when it was realised Enoggera and Gold Creek wouldn’t suffice to supply the city much longer. Lake Manchester has been extended and still supplies the water grid. Fed by Cabbage Tree Creek and Branch Creek, which Guzzlers run down and up, Lake Manchester is a welcome checkpoint for 100km runners.

The high point of the 100km course at Lightline Bush Camp leads runners to one of the toughest descents and ascents of the day: Township Break.

This lesser-run break stretches over just 3kms, but will take even the fastest runners around 30 minutes to traverse. And half of it is down hill…

A fast and loose descent leaves runners with a grueling climb out from the creek bed, that will challenge the tired mind as much as it taxes the battered legs.

Runners towards the end of the 100km field will also have the added challenge of navigating this section by headlamp.

Once you survive Township and are through this tough section of the 100km course, Hell Hole and Kokoda will feel like a breeze!