Most players were easing back into training during the first week of Essendon's pre-season, but two Bombers set themselves a big challenge. Mark Bolton and Ben Haynes travelled to Hobart on Sunday, November 16th to compete in the Point to Pinnacle. The challenging 21.4km fun run started from Wrest Point Casino, Hobart and finished on Mt Wellington - 1270 metres above sea level.

Fitness coach John Quinn travelled with Bolton and Haynes to Hobart to support them in the race. ""The Point to Pinnacle is a tough run and the boys did exceptionally well. They are probably at their lowest fitness point for the year considering they had just returned to training, so it was a fantastic effort by the two of them,"" Quinn said. The 2003 race was the 100th year celebration of the first recorded and fully documented race to the pinnacle of Mount Wellington.