event info

Mountain Bike Ride

“Ride the Hill then ‘Run’ it to ‘Nail’ the hill like an Ironman”
Download the Course Map Click here to enter the MTB race

Did you know that there is also a Mountain bike ride over Nail Can Hill before the run that you can enter as well and become a Nail Can Hill Ironman/Ironwoman. The 15km MTB ride starts at 8am from the same starting line at the Lavington Sports Oval, Centaur Rd and finishes at Bonnie Doon Park at around 9am. You then head back to Centaur Rd to start the run at 10am. Your times from the 2 races will be combined to determine the Ironman/Ironwoman of Nail Can Hill.

For any more information please contact Brad Spinelli on 0402 245581.

Primary School Can

In 2016 the Primary School Can was introduced.

The introduction of the 4.3km “Half Can Event” has been a huge success with over 500 participants taking part. Many of these participants are primary school age kids who often bring at times reluctant mums, dads or grandparents along for the run as well. This shorter 4.3 km run has introduced a whole new generation to the Nail Can Hill Event and reintroduced some older generations to the joy of exercise and community involvement.

We know that the majority of our Half Can participants are students at local primary schools and we thought a Primary School Challenge was the perfect solution to encourage teamwork and participation. The idea of including prize money to go to the winning local schools was then conjured. After all, this is what Nail Can is all about; community involvement and raising money to benefit local organisations. So in 2016 the “Primary School Can” was born including $1,000 prize money paid directly to the winning schools.

As a part of the Flex Out Physiotherapy Half Can run of 4.3km we encourage all Primary Schools to enter a team in the “Primary School Can” and have a go at winning the prize money.

$500 will go to the school that wins the event, this is based on the combined times of the first 4 runners in that team, and a further $200 for second place. We are also offering a prize of $300 for the school with the most entrants in their team. There is no limit on the number of primary age students you can enter in your team.

Flexout Health Half Can

Start Line is situated on the reserve just east of Bonnie Doon Park.

After running the length of the reserve the next 450 metres to the Nail Can Hill reserve rises slightly, crosses Banksia Street, and meanders through the trees. Then there is a right angle turn to the east/right. The track follows an undulating trail along the northern side of the dwellings for about 490 metres then there is a right angle turn to the south/right.

The track then slopes down to a creek about 260 metres to the south. Once across the creek the track continues in a southerly direction for another 170 metres where the track then has a sharp turn to the east/right and rise moderately for about 330 metres towards the water tank. This is the steepest part of the short course. Runners then go around the eastern side of the tank and join the main race track at this water station.

All runners should keep to the left once they get onto the main track so faster runners can pass on the right.
This will be the only water station for the 4 Km Course. Make sure you take a drink here and thank the volunteers from the West Albury Public School.

From this drink station there is about 2.3 kilometres to the finish line. For the next kilometre the track is generally slightly undulating as it contours around the base of Nail Can Hill and crosses a creek. The track then rises sharply for a short section. From here the course is pretty much all down hill to the finish with the odd undulation and creek crossing.

The track then heads south down through the bush corridor between the two West Albury housing estates, across Banksia St and continues towards the park, at the end of the houses there is a sharp right hand turn into the Bonnie Doon Park. Follow the marked track onto the oval and across to the finish line. There is always a great atmosphere amongst the crowd at the finish, enjoy swapping your experiences on the track with your fellow competitors.

After the Race

There are no free T-Shirts available with the 1/2 Can.

Medals will be awarded to under 12’s and there are a small number of prizes for the other categories.

Vitasoy Nail Can Hill Run – The Full Can

The course is run mainly along the ridge of the Nail Can Range that borders Albury on the west side.

The distance of the run is 11.3km. The route consists mainly of fire access tracks with short sections of gravel and bitumen roads. The course is marked with kilometre markers and directional arrows and lines. Walkers can expect to take up to 3 hours to complete the course.

Course Description

Section One
Section Two
Section Three
Section Four

Start Line to 3.5 km The Nail Can Hill run starts easily enough with the first 2km along flat roads, the first kilometre on sealed road and the second on gravel.

Soon after the two kilometre mark you will begin the long and in parts quite steep climb to the top of the range, for the less experienced runners and walkers it is advisable to begin the race conservatively so as to be still feeling fresh at the start of the climb.

At about 2.5km you will turn left through a gate and onto the Nail Can Range fire trail. There will be a drink station and first aid at this gate, you should take a drink here even if you don’t feel like it as you still have about 1km of climb left before you get some respite.

Your efforts will be rewarded during this section with some great views to the southeast (on your left). At about 3.5km you will pass through another gate with most of the climbing now behind you, time now to enjoy the bushland surrounding our city.

The elevation of the race start is 250 metres as you approach the high point you will have climbed to 405 metres

3.5km to 7km This is probably the most enjoyable section of the race with some easier ups and downs interspersed with some flat sections.

After passing through the top gate you have about 500metres of flat going to get your breath back followed by a short gentle rise to the high point of the course at about the 4km mark, where there will be another water and first aid station.

Soon after this you will encounter the first of the downhill sections, time now to stretch out those tight leg muscles. Just before the 5km mark there is another short sharp uphill known as Pete’s Pinch named after Peter Harper, one of the founders of the race.

From the top of Pete’s Pinch to the 7km mark is the easiest section of the course with a couple more downhills broken up by long flat sections.

A first aid station will be located at the 6km mark and water and first aid station at 7km. Remember the people manning these stations have given their time to help on the day so give them a smile and wave as you pass through.

7km to 9km Soon after the 7km mark you will again start to descend but don’t be fooled because there are still a couple more uphill sections ahead.

At the bottom of this descent you will come to a saddle with great views on your right over West Albury and the Murray River flood plain.

The height of the saddle is 295 metres meaning you have lost 110 metres of elevation since the high point at the 4km mark. Ahead of you the course continues sharply upward for about 100 metres, this is the last steep uphill for the day.

Just after the 8km mark you will reach the actual summit of Nail Can Hill, with the aptly named Hernia Hill track descending on your left, do not take this track, continue on straight ahead.

From here the track drops very steeply down towards Pemberton St. Approach this section with caution, it is wise not to run too fast down the steep hill if your legs are not used to it as you may find they will feel very heavy at the bottom and it will take some time to recover, also you would not want to undo all your hard work with a fall at this late stage of the race.

The elevation at Pemberton St is 215 metres meaning you have just dropped 100 metres in 1 kilometre since the top of Nail Can. At the 9 km mark, just before the Council water reservoir, you will take a sharp U turn to the right; you are now on the new part of the course.

Finish9km to the Finish 11.3km Just after the 9km mark will be the final water and first aid station, make sure you take a drink here, you may think its not far to the finish and you don’t need it but by now the day will be starting to warm up and you still have a bit of work to do yet.

From 9km to just before the 10km mark the course is fairly flat as the track contours around the base of Nail Can Hill. Just before the 10km mark you will start to descend for about 200m down into a dry creek bed, there is a short sharp climb out of the creek then a more gentle climb for approximately another 200m.

From here the course is pretty much all gentle down hill so you should be able to stretch right out push hard for the finish.

At the top of the final climb you will come out into some open ground for about 200m, the track then dips down & up through a gully, swings around to the left then heads straight down through the bush corridor between the two West Albury housing estates. Cross Banksia St and continue towards the park, at the end of the houses there is a sharp right hand turn into the Bonnie Doon Park.

Proceed across the grass on the high side of the park to the football goal posts at the western end of the park; run around the goal posts and straight up the oval towards the eastern goal posts, the finish line will be about 20 metres short of the eastern goal posts.

Enjoy the run up the finishing chute and savour the moment as you cross the line knowing you gave it everything. There is always a great atmosphere amongst the crowd at the finish, enjoy swapping your experiences on the hill with your fellow competitors.

The elevation at the finish is 185 metres, compare this to the 250 metre elevation at the start and you will see that overall there is more downhill than uphill; those early hills don’t seem so hard after all.