A Tough Race Donegan Will Never Forget

Kate Dzienis • May 30, 2023

Contributed by Danielle Donegan, AURA member (NSW)

WEST MACS MONSTER, LARAPINTA TRAIL (CENTRAL AUSTRALIA), 20 May 2023

The West Macs Monster Ellery 128km started on 20 May at 9am with a 36hr cut off time. Getting to the start line I knew this was going to be a tough race. The fastest women’s time on record 22.5hrs. Given that, I knew I was going to be running for more than 24hrs.

The run starts on flowing trail and absolutely beautiful scenery. Before long (4km in) I started to realise how hard it was going to be to stay on track and not get lost. After heading off a cliff, I climbed back up and was on the right track again. Thirty kilometres flew by and all went to plan. The aid station was great, reloaded and ready to tackle 4km of riverbed and 40km of ‘un-runnable’ territory.

The riverbeds are stunning with the gorges changing shades of desert red with the movement of the sun. Three kilometres in and I was faced with a cliff climb or swim decision. It was 3pm, plenty of time to dry, so I swam! I put the pack in a dry sack, shimmying into the water and getting to the other side. I felt I’d fall off the ledge if I kept going along the cliff. The water was freezing but so invigorating. Feeling buoyed, I kept running.

I made it to Razorback Ridge in perfect light. Scaling huge rocks and making sure to stay on track. From there we ran down – one of the few runnable downhills for the race!

I came into Birthday Point aid station to traditional cowbells and party lights. I was feeling nauseous but knew I needed to push out of there fast. A quick cheese toastie and I was ready to climb Brinkley Bluff. I had trained for hills, this was my jam! Loved every step!

From there, we ran down through riverbeds into Stanley Chasm where the first drop bag awaited. That was 65km done and dusted. Some potatoes, sausages, a change of shoes and shirt, and I was on my way. The night was hard though. The wind was blowing hard. The riverbeds are so tough on the feet and navigating. After Stanley is the high route. There’s some rock climbing up and down. The wind blew my poles out of position. It’s loud. You follow tracks that end and need to visit gurumaps to get back on track. The night sky was so clear. There were so many stars and so much to love.

With daylight breaking it was time for a coffee and fruitcake. And more riverbeds… then at Mulga Camp the best cheese toastie I’ve ever had or will ever have again. The sunrise was stunning. It gave me a second wind and I was off to Simpsons Gap. By this time the 65km racers were starting to pass. They were speedy at the front and all very encouraging.

At Simpsons Gap I had to dig deep. I hadn’t drank enough water and was ready to stop. But another change of shoes, a ginger beer, some watermelon and some kind words from the race director and I was on my way to the finish line.

From here it got hard. People kept telling me I was close – I was 23km away and hurting! Euro Ridge was beautiful, but it was not the last hill! I kept going.

Unfortunately night fell again and I had to pull out the headtorch, but not for long. I did it in 34:00:57, 128km (plus 4km extra) and I crossed the finish line. The cheers were on point. The hugs were great!

This is one tough race, one that I’ll never forget.

West Macs Monster, you are a beast and I loved running this amazing trail.

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Team Manager 2025 IAU Asian and Oceania 100K Championships

By Gary Mullins • September 8, 2025

Location : Bangkok, Thailand Dates : November 21 - 24 2025 Role Type : Volunteer Position Time Commitment : Pre event planning + Travel Application Deadline : 17th September 2025 Thank you for your interest in supporting the Australian team for the 2025 IAU Asian 100k Championships. This role goes far beyond logistics. It’s about leadership, inclusion, and creating a positive, empowering environment for athletes competing on the world stage. AUTRA is committed to opening doors for those outside traditional pathways. We strongly encourage applications from coaches, former athletes, club leaders, volunteers, and passionate community members. You don’t need to have served on a board or managed a team before as we’re looking for people who genuinely care, are highly organised, and can proudly represent our athletes and country. Role Overview As Team Manager, you’ll work closely with AUTRA President Gary Mullins and Vice President Geoff Russell to prepare and support the national team before and during the championship. Pre-Departure Australia Act as the main contact for selected athletes and crew Assist with final entry forms and travel planning Prepare a Championships Agenda in alliance with the Team Managers Agreement Document Coordinate flights, uniforms, and team communications Help identify and organise crew support Attend online team planning meetings On the Ground in Thailand Be present and ready as athletes arrive Ensure all athlete needs are met so they can focus fully on their race Attend all technical meetings and represent the team professionally Coordinate team attendance at the opening and closing ceremonies Ensure the team and crew are prepared, organised, and calm Address any issues that arise with efficiency and discretion Provide hands on leadership and moral support throughout the race Support Provided Accommodation in Bangkok for 3 - 4 nights will be provided by AUTRA An official team uniform will be supplied A volunteer allowance of $1500 will be provided to acknowledge your time and service during the championship period. What You’ll Need Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Strong organisational ability under pressure A calm, inclusive, and athlete first mindset Commitment to AUTRA’s Code of Conduct Member of AUTRA Applying To apply for the role of Team Manager please CLICK HERE and fill out the Application Form. Applications Close at 5pm 17th September 2025. Selection Process Following the application deadline, the AUTRA Committee will review all submissions and select the most suitable candidate. All applicants will be contacted by Gary Mullins within 7 days of applications closing. Gary Mullins AUTRA President