Townsville Peter Lahiff Around the Hill

Peter Lahiff Around the Hill is a Townsville Road Runners club race in tropical North Queensland, offering 12 km and 5 km road options starting from Kennedy Street in North Ward. The race begins early to allow runners to start before the heat intensifies and to benefit from the morning sea breeze. It is included in the club’s Saturday running schedule, and the gold coin entry fee maintains its character as a friendly club run rather than a large commercial event. The route circles Castle Hill, the pink granite landmark overlooking Townsville, utilizing both waterfront paths and residential streets. Runners follow the hill’s base through a heritage-listed area, with vistas of Cleveland Bay and Magnetic Island. The 12 km course includes some undulating sections, while the 5 km option provides a way for newer runners, visitors, and those preferring shorter distances to participate in the same event. The race is named after Peter Lahiff, one of the club’s founding members who had a fondness for running around Castle Hill.