📍 Queens Park, East Mackay QLD • Sunday 21 March 2027 • 7:00 AM
SUGAR CANE CUT
BACK YARD ULTRA MEETS BEEP TEST - 1.6KM PAVED LOOP
“We do really hard things — because we choose to!”
On the smooth, fast footpaths of Mackay's iconic Queens Park, we test our endurance as the time cut-off squeezes down lap by lap…
We endure the burn because we have the freedom to choose; those living with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) do not get that choice.
THE SUGAR CANE CUT
Queens Park, Mackay • We do really hard things — because we choose to!
ABOUT THE RACE
How far can you go before you get cut? Set on a fast 1.6km loop, this high-energy elimination race tests your speed, stamina, and race strategy against an ever-shrinking clock.
HOW IT WORKS
The Mass Start: Limited to only 150 runners, every runner toes the line together at the start of each lap.
The Progressive Pace: Lap 1 kicks off with a leisurely, warm-up pace and a generous cut-off time of 15mins. With every lap you survive, the allowed time drops by 15 seconds and the required pace sharpens.
Beat the Clock: Finish the 1.6km loop inside the lap time to earn your rest window and secure a spot on the next start line.
The Cut: If the clock strikes zero before you cross the line, your race ends right there. Your official result is the total number of complete laps finished before getting cut.
RUN YOUR OWN RACE
Whether you are a parkrunner testing your 5k legs or an elite endurance runner chasing maximum mileage, you choose your own challenge:
The Fun Runners: Knock out 2 to 4 laps for a social, punchy morning workout.
The Mid-Pack Grinders: Push your aerobic threshold through 10 to 15 laps.
The Ultra Contenders: Hold your nerve as the cut-offs squeeze down to flat-out race pace, battling through 40km, 50km, or beyond.
PRIZES & GLORY
Last Standing: The final male and female runner to survive the cut-offs take the overall win - $500 each. Juniors - $200 each.
Intermittent Giveaways: Spot prizes, milestone rewards and prime sprint bonuses awarded throughout the event.
Club Champions: The biggest Club overall distance takes home the glory and a Club pack.
7:00AM START
Until last solo standing
1.6 KM LOOPS
Smooth Paved Queens Park Path
LOCATION
Queens Park, Gordon Street, Mackay Qld.
MND QLD
Monies from every entry go to MND QLD
Fast, Flat & Repeatable
THE QUEENS PARK
PAVED PATHWAY CIRCUIT
No loose gravel, no sugarcane ruts, and no trail tripping hazards. The Sugar Cane Cut takes place on the wide, sealed concrete and bitumen shared pathways of Queens Park in East Mackay, Queensland.
✓ 100% Sealed Footpath:
Smooth, level pavement engineered for rhythm and metronomic pace control as cut-offs tighten.
✓ Historic Shade Canopy:
Winding beneath towering banyan and fig trees, offering vital relief from the late March tropical sun.
✓ The Central Paddock (Transition Zone):
Spacious open lawns beside the timing mat for your 3x3m pop-up gazebos, camp chairs, ice baths, and crew support.
📍 Queens Park, Goldsmith & Shakespeare Streets
East Mackay QLD 4740 • Dedicated athlete parking onsite
Disclaimer:
*Registration fee prices are dependent on course length and are subject to price increases. Early bird ends 23:59PM AEST on 31 December 2026. Late fees start 7 days from the scheduled event date. Event photos are free to download for the first 30 days following the event date. After the 30 days, photos can be downloaded for a fee.
THE SPIRIT BEHIND THE CUT
We Choose The Hard Thing.
They Don't Get That Choice.
$10 INCLUDED IN EVERY ENTRY | Direct entry fee contribution automatically forwarded to MND Qld.
Motor neurone disease is a progressive and life-limiting condition that affects the nerve cells controlling movement, speech, swallowing and breathing. Every day in Australia, two people are diagnosed with MND and two people lose their lives to the disease. For people living with MND, time matters. As the disease progresses, the need for equipment, support, information and care can change quickly.
By taking part in The Sugar Cane Cut, you're helping MND Queensland provide practical support, experienced care and advocacy for people living with MND, their families and carers across Queensland. Every day matters.
When your legs burn and the countdown buzzer bears down on you at Queens Park, remember our motto: we do hard things because we can choose to. Running until our quads seize is a privilege.
Every adult and junior entry directly includes a $10 financial donation to MND care and research, with 100% of optional donations delivered directly to support services in Queensland.
ABOUT THE COURSE
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Lap 1 starts with a relaxed, social warm-up pace (e.g. 15 minutes to complete 1.6 km). With every survived lap, the time window tightens.
With every lap you survive, the allowed time drops and the required pace sharpens.
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Finish early within your lap window, and the remaining seconds are yours to rest, hydrate, and refuel.
Every 10 laps we will pause the clock for 5 minutes to ensure that runners have time to for a toilet break, hydrate and eat.
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If the clock strikes zero before you cross the line, your race ends right there. Your official result is the total number of complete laps finished before getting cut.
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The final male and female runners left standing take the overall crown (and cash).
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The flat Queens Park pathway means pacing discipline is everything: run too fast early and you burn your legs; run too close to the cut and you forfeit your recovery window.
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1.6km is two loops of the paved, flat concrete beneath the historic fig trees in East Mackay highlighting the smooth surface advantage and marquee lawn transitions.
COMPETITOR INFORMATION
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6am - 6.45am - Set-up, sign in and bib collection from the FINISH/START Line opposite Chain Street. Note that Gazebos cannot be pegged.
6.45am Race briefing will be held.
Race start: 7am sharp, on a descending timer. The race start is self-seeded and we recommend the faster runners to position themselves at the front and slower runners at the back. This will help to prevent bottlenecks along the trail and faster runners becoming stuck behind slower runners.
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Recovery Zones will be first in-first served.
Ample lawn space for personal pop-up marquees, camp chairs, ice buckets, and nutrition stations near the start/finish line.
Athletes may choose their own areas. Gazebos cannot be pegged into the ground. Bring weights or sand bags to secure these if it is windy.
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Bring sufficient water and nutrition for the entire duration of your run for what you require.
Each competitor is responsible for their own nutrition and fuelling requirements.
We recommend bringing a chair and esky for the duration of the event to top up your supplies and rest between the finish and start of each lap.
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Parking will be along Gordon Street & Chain Streets.
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ALL runners to be self-sufficient. A support person is allowed to be available in the recovery zone.
Recommended gear:
Camp chair
Esky
Extra running gear including running shoes, socks and clothing (in case of wet weather)
Fueling, electrolytes and nutrition
Mozzie spray
Hat / Visor - some areas are not under the fig tree canopy.
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Toilets are available at the start/finish line and out on course.
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If you DO NOT FINISH the lap, you must see an event official prior to leaving. It may be hot so please take precautions to stay safe in the heat.
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Intermittent Prizes & Giveaways:
Spot prizes for best dressed, milestone laps (e.g., 5 km, 10 km, Half Marathon, Marathon milestones), and fastest prime lap splits.
Last Standing:
The final male and female runners left standing take the overall crown and $500
Junior Standing:
The final male and female junior runners will take home $200
Finishers:
Finisher medal
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Announcements will be made throughout the day for intermittent prizes and giveaways.
Last Male and Female (including Junior) will be awarded their prize money at the end of their final lap
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Last Male & Female Standing
$500
Last Junior Male & Female Standing
$200
RACE RULES
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Format: Backyard Ultra meets the ultimate Beep Test.
Start: 7:00 AM sharp.
The Rules:
The Mass Start: All remaining runners start together on the bell at the top of each lap.
The Clock: Lap 1 starts with a relaxed, social warm-up pace (e.g. 15 minutes to complete 1.6 km). With every survived lap, the time window tightens.
The Rest: Finish early within your lap window, and the remaining seconds are yours to rest, hydrate, and refuel.
The Cut: Fail to cross the line before the countdown horn sounds, and you are cut!
Last Standing: The final male and female runners left standing take the overall crown and cash.
No rego, No run! – Please respect our event, we have permissions from local authorities and have insurances to cover our athletes. Please do not jeopardise our licences and insurances by running without a registration.
Race bib – Race bib must be worn on the front of your body, this ensures correct detection of your timing chip by the electronic timing system.
No shortcuts – please stick to the marked track, for safety and fairness reasons. The course is easy and is clearly marked- we have marshals out on the course.
Fitness level – you don’t have to be the fittest to do this challenge. If you can run parkrun in 40-45 minutes you will be able to achieve 4+ laps….. see how far you can go!
Stick to the left side of the path at all times (unless overtaking).
Treat other competitors, officials, volunteers and spectators with respect and courtesy
Dress Code – please wear appropriate clothing and suitable closed in running shoes
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Do not leave any rubbish behind.
Keep left and give way to runners passing from behind.
Headphones are permitted, however you must be able to hear other runners approaching from behind and any information provided by race officials.
Outside pacing assistance is NOT permitted. If another runner is registered and not CUT - you can work together, however once a runner is CUT from the race, they are not permitted back on course to run with our registered runners.
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If you are unable to attend the event, you have the following options:
Registrations are non-transferable 14 days prior to the event;
Transfers & Changes: Allowed up to 28 days prior to the event with a $20.00 administration fee;
Refunds are not available for this event.
All notifications should be sent in writing to info@tri-activ8.com.au.
We reserve the right to modify the course without notice, as well as reschedule or cancel the event in consultation with emergency services, government agencies, and event stakeholders.
If the event must be rescheduled, all entries will automatically carry over to the new date. In the rare event that the event is cancelled and cannot be rescheduled, registered participants will receive a credit for a future event, valid for 12 months. Please note that refunds will not be available in this situation.
MAPS
Route map for Sugar Cane Cut - 2 X Laps Queen's Park by ActiV8 Adventures on plotaroute.com