Black Diamond
A night run requires a headlamp. Check the mandatories! And so it's appropriate that one of the best in the outdoors business, Black Diamond, is our major supporter, lighting the way with their awesome range of headlamps, from the light and easy Ion to the trail specific Sprint. Or go for something a bit beefier if your outdoors adventure demands it. For Afterglow we reckon either the Ion or Sprint will fit the bill perfectly. Black Diamond also has an awesome extended range of trail kit from poles to rain shells and comes aboard with the support of Australian distributor, Sea to Summit, purveyor of all manner of outdoor kit perfect for and trail outing - check them out!.
Brooks
Brooks Running has a simple purpose - to inspire people to run and enhance their running experience. Kinda like Afterglow. They might not be quote as fluro (although some of their shoes have a crack!), but the shine just as brightly when it comes to performing on the trail.
They create running shoes and clothing that will keep you running longer, further, faster and happier. Brooks creates men's and women's running shoes for feet big and small, wide and narrow, in need of support, or looking for a little cushion. Not sure what shoes are best for your run? Just check out their great Shoe finder tool for advice.
Tailwind
A force in the endurance nutrition scene, Tailwind’s potent energy and electrolytes are all you need to go all day and night on trail. No juggling gels, pills, or chews—just pour, shake, and go. Check in to any of the event's hydration stations and you'll get a taste of what Tailwind is all about.
Surf Coast Shire
Located not much more than an hour beyond Melbourne's West Gate Bridge, the Surf Coast is a stunning stretch of coastal landscape that stretches from Torquay, Anglesea, and Aireys Inlet to Lorne. It is also the gateway to the Great Ocean Road region. One of it's principle attractions in terms of enjoying the environment is the Surf Coast Walk, a 44km graded walking trail stretching from Torquay to Fairhaven. Perfect for trail running, you'd think. Well, we did.
The Happy Runner
The Happy Runner is a locally based (Bell Street, Torquay) running specialist store offering what it says on the tin: happy service to make happy runners. Great range of shoes and clobber, including plenty of trail kit (shoes, bags etc) plus hydration and nutrition options and of course a great range of Black Diamond running headlamps! (you'll need one for Afterglow).
Torquay Sports Medicine Centre
Torquay Sports Medicine Centre will be providing post race massage at Afterglow to ease your weary legs on the night as well as answer all your running related questions on how to keep out there and active! Check out all the Clinic's services at:
ESCAPING YOUR COMFORT ZONE
Body positive hiking and adventures for women and non-binary people. The outdoors don’t care about your size, your speed or your fitness, and neither do we! 100% body positive, no focus on weightloss. Just having fun in the outdoors, with new friends, cause we can! Says founder Richelle Olsen: “We want to inspire people. We want someone to look at us and say because of you I didn’t give up.”
T8
T8 is a new run kit brand that has set out (from the hot and clammy design HQ that is Hong Kong) to solve the problem of chafe, especially on the long run and especially in humid conditions where the sweat factor is high. That's the T8 goal: ultralight, supercool, chafe-free. (While the crew at T8 - which references a severe typhoon, the type of which Hong Kong can experience up to 6 times a year - call their gear #typhoonwear we obviously don't recommend that you go running in a T8. But at Afterglow - this kit will rock. As it will on any trail run. Buy some (free shipping) at:
Great Ocean Road COAST & PARKS AUTHORITY
The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority was established on 1 December 2020 to deliver better protection and management of the iconic coast and parks of Victoria’s Great Ocean Road.
In partnership with the Traditional Owners, its role is to manage, protect and foster resilience of the natural, cultural and heritage values of coastal Crown land and marine waters along the Great Ocean Road. The Authority manages public land of all types within the Great Ocean Road coast and parks. Its role includes:
Guiding sustainable tourism, supporting local employment, and enhancing the visitor experience
Strengthening the protection of land and seascapes from the impacts of climate change
Improving economic development for a prosperous and liveable region.
As a public land manager for the Great Ocean Road coast and parks, it manages a wide variety of public land from National Parks to coastal beaches and town foreshores.
All revenue raised through our commercial endeavours is reinvested back into the coast to ensure the Great Ocean Road region can be enjoyed now and for generations to come.
The Salty Dog Cafe
Salty Dog is a Surf Coast institution and a bit of a runner's hang, as the HQ for Afterglow, the start line for sister event, Surf Coast Trail Marathon, and for the every-Saturday Parkrun, plus just a general great place for a coffee and refuel after any run along the Surf Coast Walk. Good coffee? You know it!
Surf Coast Trail Runners
One of the biggest (and we think best) social trail running groups in Australia! SCTR have been staunch supporters of all trail running events on the Surf Coast and are a fun crew to run with any day of the week. Check them out on their FB page now.
MELTON CITY Runners
Okay so these guys are ‘the best’ alongside SCTR :). Seriously what a mob - always up for helping out, responsible for some awesome social group runs and the powerhouse behind getting pretty much most of the western side of Melbourne moving and on trail. Legends the lot! And nice kit. Unless you aren’t an Essendon FC fan.
ASCEND MOVEMENT TRAINING
Specialising in movement awareness, Sarah and Ben from Ascend Movement bridge the gap between running & strength and mobility training. The focus on getting the essentials spot on, ensuring your body is moving as it should to keep you running injury-free. Join up for a program, jin their classes (in Anglesea) or book some online coaching. These guys rock.
Torquay Foreshore Caravan Park
The Torquay Foreshore Caravan Park is THE place to pitch your tent for Afterglow! Located within walking distance to the start line, the course also runs right out front for your friends and family to cheer you on. So come stay, run and then wander out for breakfast the next morning (Bell Street cafes are right near you!).
By using the discount code GLOW10 event attendees will receive 10% discount off accommodation at the Torquay Foreshore Caravan Park.
To book please contact park directly on (03) 5261 2496 or book online at
BELLS BEACH BREWING
“Where the thirst follows the surf.” is their catch cry - we’d add turf in the form of single track to that mix and you have a match made in Surf Coast Heaven! The crew at Bells Beach Brewing love spending as much time as possible either at the beach, in the water or mountain biking in the surrounding country-side. So they are “one of us”. The rest of the time they are working hard to create surf inspired beers to quench our thirst after a hard day of fun. Through their travels they have sampled beers from all over the world and strive to use those experiences to create beers that are a little different whilst blending in as many ingredients from Australia and NZ. They even have a Point Addis Pale Ale (and ode to where Afterglow 21km begins) and a Southside Saison, celebrating the start line of the 13km! No - they won’t be serving up at the start line!! But at the finish - ohhhhh yessssss…. Check em out whenever down the Coast with the most…
Glimmer Gear
Glimmer Gear Australia is passionate about fitness, fun, family, friends, activity and getting out and about. Most importantly though they want to make sure everyone makes it home again. So it's all about the glow - bright wearable gear that helps you stay noticed (in a fun way but also with serious results!) when out on trail or road. Everything they sell is about making sure you get to train and make it home again. We are all about you running safe, riding safe, training safe and getting home safely. And it just so happens their Glimmer Gear is perfect for Afterglow fun. Better yet - it's all reusable - so you can get decked out in Glimmer Gear for Afterglow, but then use it over and over on your night training runs afterwards! Check them out: