Run Calendar - Blog

Last weekend, we took the family to the East Melbourne 5K Foam Fest at the stunning Wandin Park Estate. It was an experience packed with mud, foam, obstacles, and—most importantly—fun! With 22 obstacles spread over 5km, the event was designed to be family-friendly, focusing on enjoyment rather than competition. It was the perfect way to get active while embracing the messiness of adventure.

A Family-Friendly Atmosphere

We had the whole family participate – my wife and three boys, and it was fantastic to see an event that truly catered to all ages and abilities. From the moment we arrived, the high-energy DJ at the start line got everyone pumped up. After a countdown from ten, we charged through a wall of foam to kick things off.

22 Obstacles of Pure Fun

The course was packed with a mix of muddy, wet, and foamy challenges, ensuring there was never a dull moment. Some of the highlights included:

• Sliding down inflatable slippery dips into a pool of water – so fun!
• Traversing a shallow, muddy dam – a great chance for some strategic splashing.
• Climbing over hurdles – testing our agility and teamwork.
• The epic 42-foot inflatable slide – the undisputed favourite, especially for the kids.

With three boys in tow, there was no shortage of laughter, brotherly mud-flinging, and splashing. While some parts required a little effort, the course was designed for all fitness levels, with the option to skip obstacles if needed. The supportive and encouraging crowd made it all the more enjoyable.

Capturing the Moments

Throughout the course, professional photographers were stationed at key points, ensuring every muddy, foamy, and triumphant moment was captured. With AI-powered facial recognition, we could easily find our photos after the event—a great way to relive the fun!

Post-Race Celebrations

After crossing the finish line and receiving our medals – muddy, wet, exhausted, but happy – we hosed off the dirt and grabbed some well-earned food and drinks from the food trucks. It was the perfect way to refuel and reflect on the adventure.

Final Verdict

The 5K Foam Fest was an absolute blast, and we’d highly recommend it for families looking for an active, lighthearted event. The kids are already asking, “When can we do it again?”—which is the best endorsement of all!

If you’re looking for an event that brings fun, fitness, and foam together, put this one on your calendar!

Check out the upcoming dates for the 5K Foam Fest. or visit their web site https://the5kfoamfest.com/australia/.

Prepare for your race with our handy pre-race checklist.

The golden rule is not to try anything new on race day. Whilst you may want to wear a new top or pair of shorts, is race day the time to be experimenting with new clothing that may end up causing chafing?

Melbourne has some fantastic running routes to help keep you fit and prepare for your race. 

Here are six of our favourites: 

Joining a running club is a great way to improve your running and keep you motivated.  

Here’s a list of running clubs from around Australia.  

How far do I have to run to burn that late night snack I just ate? Essential reading if you are running to lose weight.

There are many factors which determine how many calories you burn whilst you’re running – your weight, gender, pace, elevation. Runners World have a good calculator if you want some personalised figures, however this table will give you a good summary.  

How do you lose weight by running?

One of the more common reasons people run is to lose weight. It makes a lot of sense – there aren’t too many activities where you can burn 1000 calories in an hour… but you can with running.  

Here are some useful lessons we’ve learnt whilst trying to lose weight running.

Do you have a target time for your 10k, half marathon or marathon and need to know what your splits should be? Well you are in luck! Today we are releasing our super-easy to use Pace Calculator. Simply choose your distance, time, and it will calculate your pace and splits.

Check it out here.

GPS Art (or Strava art) is basically drawing pictures or designs with GPS tracking. You plan out a route beforehand and then follow it with a GPS-enabled device like a watch, bike computer or phone. Then, the route you take is displayed on a map on apps like Strava. It’s a cool way to make digital art by biking, running, or walking. People do it for fun, as a challenge, or even to raise awareness for a cause. You can share your Strava art on social media and compete with others to create the most awesome design!

With Heart Rate Monitors now cheaper and more accessible than ever, it’s time to learn how to use your Heart Rate monitor in your training.

Heart rate is the measure of the number of times your heart beats per minute (expressed as bpm). It essentially measures the intensity at which your cardiovascular system is working. Heart rate is influenced by various factors, including physical activity, genetics, emotions, the weather, and your overall health and fitness level.