The Hobbit 42K is Saturday’s mountain marathon
The opening dirt-road descent spreads the field before a steep climb behind The Hog. Later sections include a rock scramble, river valleys and a long climb back over the mountain. Prepare for sustained time on feet, controlled descending and hiking on steep ground rather than translating a road-marathon pace directly to this route.
The organizer warns that slower finishers may complete the race after dark. Check the compulsory kit list and practise carrying the required equipment, including whatever lighting the current rules specify. A morning start does not remove the need to plan for the conditions expected late in your own race.
Course checkpoints have time limits, and runners who miss them can be directed onto a shorter route. Read those current limits before entering and include support stops in your estimate. Follow an official shortening instruction; completing a changed route safely is preferable to treating the original distance as permission to continue beyond the supported course.
The festival runs across three days with optional shorter races, while the 90 km starts from Maden Dam on Friday. Use the Saturday 42K entry, collection and start instructions for this guide. Multiple-race discounts are not a training recommendation. Confirm the supplied food and water, carry permitted essentials for the gaps and do not assume natural river water is suitable to drink untreated.
Confirmed race date
Hobbit 42 km Mountain Marathon: May 1, 2027. Verified on October 14, 2026 against the official event information.
Last-known race profile
These details identify the race page; they do not establish the next edition's operations. The previous race date does not establish the next edition. Use the confirmed date above and recheck the final participant instructions before committing to a race-day schedule.