sport
Cairns Road Runners Prepare for Copperlode Cup Launch Next Month
The local club features prominently in the first of 12 scheduled events across the region through mid-2027.
How we reported this
Cairns Road Runners will open their contribution to the local calendar with the Copperlode Cup on Saturday 15 August at Lake Morris Rd in Cairns.
The timing aligns with the start of the main running season in far north Queensland, where cooler months draw participants to trail and road events that run from the city into surrounding national parks and coastal towns. Local runners have already begun base training for distances that range from short fun runs to multi-day ultras, and the club’s involvement across multiple fixtures gives members a direct pathway into competition without leaving the region.
Trail and Road Fixtures Through 2027
The full list published on the Running Calendar site records twelve events in the Cairns area. After the Copperlode Cup, the schedule moves to the Kuranda to Port Douglas Trail Ultra Marathon on 23 August, Run Port Douglas on 5 September, The Turtle and the Lamb Trail Run on 11 October at Upper Davies Creek in Dinden National Park, Smurf’s Backyard Ultra on 24 October at Smithfield, Cane Toads and Crocodiles on 1 November at Lower Freshwater Cane Farm, and the Black Snake Trail Race on 15 November along Clohesy River Road and Cedar Park Road. Further ahead sit The Great Wheelbarrow Race from Mareeba to Chillagoe in May 2027, The Douglas Dash in Port Douglas on 23 May 2027, a Charity Fun Run at the Esplanade Lagoon on 11 June 2027, the 3 Marathons in 3 Days series based at Kuranda from 8 to 10 July 2027, and the 7Cairns Marathon Festival at Fogarty Park on 11 July 2027. Several of these carry the Cairns Road Runners branding in their listings.
How Locals Can Join the Next Wave
Runners and walkers can register directly through the individual event pages on runningcalendar.com.au. Most fixtures offer both run and walk options, and several are set in locations within a short drive of central Cairns such as Smithfield and Freshwater. The calendar site also links to a separate Queensland-wide list for anyone wanting to travel beyond the immediate Cairns district. Athletes planning their year are advised to check entry deadlines soon, as the first race sits only four weeks away.
Details for every listed event, including dates, locations and entry links, appear on the Running Calendar Cairns page at https://www.runningcalendar.com.au/calendar/running/queensland/cairns/.