AURA STATEMENT ON CORONAVIRUS IMPLICATIONS IN RELATION TO AUSTRALIAN ULTRA RUNNING

Rob Donkersloot • March 17, 2020

The implications of the Coronavirus are wide ranging across society. While ultra running is significantly less important than the overall health and wellbeing of our families, friends and the population in general, it nevertheless plays a very important part in the lives of our members, and as such any negative effects on our sport are felt by us all.

Government mandates and / or recommendations in regards to social distancing, and capping of maximum numbers attending events has seen a number of AURA listed events to be held in the next months cancelled or postponed. To date these include:

20 March Sri Chinmoy 48 Hour Track Festival

21 March Duncan’s Run

4 April The Canberra Times Marathon Festival 50km

14 May Ultra Trail Australia

The Sri Chinmoy 48 Hour and Canberra 50km were both Australian Championship events. It is likely that more events on our calendar will need to take similar action. The IAU Asian 24 Hour Championships due to take place in India in July is also looking unlikely to proceed.

AURA recommends that race directors follow the Australian government mandates and recommendations regarding the maximum number of people allowed to gather for events. These recommendations can potentially change with little notice, and the situation is fluid.

For our members who are entered in upcoming events we recommend you regularly check event websites or social media to ascertain the current status.

Lastly, we ask that you be considerate of our race directors in these difficult times. Many will have expended a significant amount of their race infrastructure budget already, with refunds from their suppliers in many instances unlikely. In some instances, they may not be in a position to refund you all or some of the race fees you have paid. Please remember that when this is all over we want a healthy ultra running community with lots of events as we have enjoyed in the past. For this to happen, we will need our race organisers more than ever, so let’s support them now as much as we can.

The AURA Committee has resolved not to charge event listing fees or Insurance costs to any race organiser who has been required to cancel their event because of the Coronavirus. Insurance costs are prepaid by AURA to our insurers and are not refundable, we will absorb these costs.

The AURA committee wishes all members and everyone involved with our ultra running community the very best in the coming months.

Rob Donkersloot
President
17 March 2020

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Location : Bangkok, Thailand Dates : November 21 - 24 2025 Role Type : Volunteer Position Time Commitment : Pre event planning + Travel Application Deadline : 7th 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 24 hour 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 on the 3rd 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