Jos Middleton, who claimed the Weipa Running Festival women’s marathon crown in 2024, said this year was for “embracing, not racing” after she suffered an injury late last year preparing for her first 100-kilometre event. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
There will be a mix of old hands and first-time participants when a record field of racers contests the 2025 Weipa Running Festival (WRF) on 20 July.
The annual event will have more than 350 people donning their race bibs across five distances on Sunday morning, with both returning and new competitors admitting to being a bundle of excited nerves ahead of race day.
Jos Middleton, who claimed the women’s marathon crown in 2024, said she was only able to tackle the half marathon this year due to an injury sustained training for an endurance event.
“It’s safe to say this year is a year for embracing, not racing,” she told Cape York Weekly.
“After acquiring an injury late last year whilst preparing for my first ever 100-kilometre, I have had a slow recovery which has impacted my preparation for any events in 2025 so far; but I’m not one to cave easily, so I will still be showing up; I won’t be expecting anything much from my body other than to make it to the 21km finish line whilst enjoying the morning.
“I will soak up the buzz of the festival and bring gratitude to the beautiful Country we run on, and all of the volunteers for their contributions and time to make the event possible.”
Jarrod Ausburn will be aiming for back-to-back marathon titles but admitted his race preparation had been less than ideal.
“My race prep has been a bumpy one with Bali trips, rodeos and dry season Cape adventures, but we all have our excuses,” he laughed.
It remains to be seen whether the pre-race excuses are part of some cunning play designed to psyche out his opposition, but Ausburn said he was chomping at the bit to hear the starter’s pistol fire.
“Bring on race day – I can’t wait to have a run with a few hundred old mates and new,” he said.
One of those new mates will be Polly Nash, who is gearing up to tackle her first race after getting the running bug through the Weipa Aquatic and Sports Precinct’s eight-week challenge and Weipa parkrun.
“I’m doing the 5km with some friends,” she said.
“I’m excited, because it’ll be the first official race that I’ve ever done, and I’m not a runner, so I’m very much looking forward to it.
“The whole event has such a good vibe as well.”
WRF president Rose Robins said she was proud to see what participants had achieved since committing to be a part of race day.
“I love the conversations during the lead-up, the ‘I’ve just ran my very first 10kms’, or seeing the pathways crawling with people out training,” she said.
“I’m the sucker who can tear up at the finish line watching anything from someone digging deeper than they thought possible, someone’s family cheering them home and embracing them, or even just the little ones storming across the line looking for the Zooper Dooper.
“Bring on the sound of the cowbells.”
There will be plenty of smiles on Sunday morning when racers cross the finish line to the sound of the famous Weipa Running Festival cow bell. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
