The UTA includes 11-kilometre, 22km, 50km and 100km courses and has been the focus of training for the past few months or more for many Novocastrians.

Runlab running coach Vlad Shatrov, who has won the 22km and 50km, is aiming to add the 100km title to his name while many others are hoping for personal best times or just to finish.

Setting yourself a challenge gives you motivation to train and trail running offers a lower impact option to pounding the pavement. There is also plenty of scenery to take in.

Raffertys Coastal Run is being held on July 13.

It starts and finishes at Raffertys Resort on the shores of Lake Macquarie and over 1000 participants are expected for this year's event.

The event is one of five trail runs Maximum Adventure hold annually throughout NSW and it has been gathering momentum since being first held in 2015 with 600 participants.

Organisers say it caters to the "fun runner" as well as "die-hard trail runners" and offers a stunning location with the coastline backdrop of Catherine Hill Bay and the Munmorah State Conservation Area.

It has a heavy family focus with 12-kilometre, 22km and 36km course distances on offer as well as a 1km kids event.

Entries are open and you can find out more at raffertyscoastalrun.com.au.

Lake Macquarie Fitness at Belmont will be hosting a charity bootcamp on Sunday (May 19) for Stars of Newcastle participant and NBN News camerawoman Lauren Drinkwater.

Lake Macquarie co-owner Tiff Smith said the gym jumped at the chance to help out a good cause when Drinkwater, who is one of her PT clients, floated the idea.

The Kick Cancer's Butt Bootcamp #2 will be held at 2 & 3/386 Pacific Highway, Belmont. It costs $15 which includes a workout plus breakfast with all proceeds going towards the Cancer Council.

Ms Smith will be helping plan the session and said it would cater to a range of fitness abilities, from beginners to the more advanced.

The session will start at 9am and you can find out more and show interest in the bootcamp so organisers can gauge numbers through www.facebook.com/events/1169655763215234/.

In case you missed it, City of Newcastle have continued their push to create more outdoor workout areas by announcing last week that Stockton would gain six new outdoor fitness stations.

They will be similar to ones installed along Fernleigh Track at Adamstown and will include a bench press, stretching station, cycle seat, shoulder press, sit-up bench, aerobic walker plus pull-up, chin-up and dip bars. Work is expected to start this month.

Maitland River Run, Maitland, June 2: A range of distances are on offer, including 4km, 8km, 12km, 21.1km and the River Maitland Mile. The courses hug the banks of the Hunter River.

Raffertys Coastal Run, Raffertys Resort at Lake Macquarie, July 13: Offering 12km, 22km and 36km options, this trail running event is held through Lake Macquarie, along the shores of Catherine Hill Bay and in the Munmorah State Conservation Area.

The Bloody Long Walk, Newcastle, July 28: A 35-kilometre walk from Belmont to Newcastle beach to raise funds and awareness for Mitochondrial Disease.

Bust the cold weather with a session like this:

Set 1: 15 minutes running/walking. Work hard for 2min followed by 1min recovery. Repeat four times. This could be 2min of hard running then 1min at a slow jog. Or it might be running then walking or walking fast and walking slower.

Set 2: 15-minute strength circuit. Pick five strength exercises and complete them in succession. Repeat from the top twice. Either perform 1min of each in succession or 45 seconds with a 15sec rest. It might be squats, push-ups, lunges, rows/pull-ups, shoulder press.

Finish with 5min of core work.

Send your health and fitness news to r.valentine@fairfaxmedia.com.au.

Renee Valentine is a writer, qualified personal trainer and mother of three.