Notes by Kevin Cassidy:
For the 52nd consecutive year, the annual Frankston to Portsea 55km run will take place on Sunday April 14th 2024 starting at 7am.
Commemorating Percy Cerutty, the run retraces the footsteps of the many famous athletes from the 50′s and 60′s that pounded the road to Portsea under Percy’s coaching. The run is very low key and conducted in the true “Fat Ass” style.
Toilets: There are no actual toilets at the start area but there is a toilet block located one block north of the start going back up the highway [approx 200 metres] This is on the corner of the Nepean Hwy and Playne St. If these toilets don’t appear suitable, continue north [another 150 metres, 350 in total] and you will find a 24 hour McDonalds. This is on the corner of the Nepean Hwy and Wells st. Check these locations at Melway Map 100A Ref. C7. Allow adequate time to walk to and from the toilets. Heading up to them at 6:50am is leaving it way too late.
Parking: There is free all day parking on a Sunday at the start area.
Meeting point for the start is in the car park behind the nightclub/restaurant on the South East corner of Davey St. and the Nepean Highway [Melway ref. 102 C3]. On arrival, let me know you are here and I will put your name on the paper sheet via the old fashioned pen and hand writing method!!!
Traditionally, this has been a do it yourself run requiring runners to organise their own crew/helpers etc. However, we can usually find a ride or two back to Frankston for anyone who may not have any other transport. If you do need transport, let me know as soon as possible on 0425733336. There is also a bus that leaves from the finish line back to Frankston each hour on a Sunday….Myki card required, of course!!
Please don’t roll up to run with three bike riding friends to accompany you then announce at the finish that you all [with bikes] need to get back to Frankston just as the last car has left and I am standing there on my own!! No, I won’t even TRY to describe how we sorted that one out a few years back!!
For those runners with crews, we hope you don’t mind if we lean on you at the finish to perhaps provide a seat or two for someone needing a return lift.
Also, there is free parking at the finish area which is through the gates and into the car park of the visitors centre if anyone desires to leave a vehicle at Portsea.
As always, there will be a few people doing this run for the first time and you need to know that a degree of care should be taken out there.
There are no road closures and the roads carry fast moving traffic which would not expect to see runners on the kerbside. Try to wear something visible and take care not to drift onto the road. Take special care whenever crossing roads as you may not judge the speed of approaching traffic correctly if you are tired.
Another point to consider is the fact that recent developments around Rosebud and Rye have made it necessary at certain stages to either run on the grassy verge on the beachside of the highway or tackle the pedestrians on the footpaths through the shopping strips. Put simply, these sections no longer have any spare room on the roadsides. It is only a very small percentage of the course as bike lanes are available for most of the way
Being “Fat Ass”, water and any specific individual requirements would require runners to organise such things themselves.
Many runners bring along a helper/drinks waiter but others in years past have survived by planting drink bottles on the course the day before or carrying some money and relying on the numerous shops and camping ground facilities on route with both methods proving to be more than adequate.
Anyway, having said that, all standards [fast and slow] are welcome to run and etch their names into the race’s ongoing history. If you think you may take eight hours or longer to complete the course, you are most welcome to make an early start [please let me know!!] which a few runners have elected to do in recent years. Ron Hayward made a 4am start in 2004, thoroughly enjoyed his journey and was thrilled with his performance of approx. nine hours. More recently, Peter Gray has been starting around 2am and spending up to 10 hours in the course.
The traditional chocolate goes to every finisher.