DALY’S FIRST 12HR AND A 1ST MALE PLACING

Kate Dzienis • December 28, 2020

Contributed by Michael Daly, AURA member and 1st Male at Narrabeen Allnighter 2020

Narrabeen Allnighter, 5-6 December, Narrabeen NSW

In an unprecedented year full of race cancellations due to fires, rain and COVID-19, it seemed like a good opportunity to try something new. Thankfully the Narrabeen Allnighter was able to go ahead this year in early December. With my previous longest race being only 50km, a 12-hour race was a completely different challenge. One I thoroughly enjoyed.

I was a little nervous about the weather forecast (showers with a chance of a storm) but mostly I was excited.

I started off at a comfortable pace (which I’ve since been informed was quite fast for the start of a 12-hour). I went through my first marathon in about 3:15 and felt pretty good. Without much ultra experience I wasn’t sure about pacing so I thought I’d be safe and start a walk/run strategy between 3 and 4 hours. This was also when I started to eat real food to help prevent a big crash later in the night.

I really enjoyed being able to swing by my table and pick up nutrition each lap. It was good motivation to get through each lap knowing that I had a treat waiting for me (vanilla coke, banana bread, pizza).

Sometime around 10 or 11pm the forecast for showers came and not long after, the storm! Apart from providing some extra lighting at times, it was a little bit scary with a couple of lightning strikes hitting pretty close by. There was apparently talk of calling off the race, but I didn’t know anything about that and kept running.

It was 5:31am when I completed what I thought was my last lap. I was encouraged to go for 1 more by my crew and partner Gemma (an experienced ultra runner herself). I somehow managed to get through the lap and finish 1st with 126.6, a neat 3 marathons.

But enough self indulgence. I thoroughly enjoyed the event. Being able to see fellow runners each lap was often very encouraging, even when some runners were too tired to say anything, just knowing they were going through the same as me was quite motivating

Last but not least, the organisers put on a fantastic night. I couldn’t imagine what Ron Schwebel, Glenn Lockwood and the team had to deal with to get this event up and running, but they did it and my hat goes off to them. I would definitely recommend running Narrabeen Allnighter to anyone and I will certainly be back again.

Pictured: Michael Daly at the 2020 Narrabeen Allnighter. Photograph – Supplied.

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AUTRA News Report 11-09-2025

By Kate Dzienis • September 11, 2025

Run The River Half, Qld Murphys Creek Challenge, Qld Lighthorse Ultra, WA Kunanyi Trail Series, Rialannah, Tas Upcoming Events WEEKLY NEWS REPORT FOR 12-09-2025 As always, we're continuously on the hunt for your stories and reports, so get those race reports and photographs in to ultramag@autra.asn.au with the following information: Word document, single spaced Include the name of the event, the date and the location anywhere in the report (just a bullet point at the top is great) Please attach photographs to the email – do not put images in the body of your Word doc. You’ll just get me emailing you back asking for the photos sent in the correct way! As many photos as possible. With our new website, it’s now easier than ever to include a nice gallery in each race report No PDFs please And remember, it doesn’t have to be about an AUTRA-listed event specifically! You just have to be an AUTRA member for the 2025 year. Also too, if you’ve run in a non-AUTRA listed event anywhere on home soil or internationally, we’d love to include your race results and experience in our Member Updates, so please do reach out to us via email to kate.dzienis@autra.asn.au If any corrections need to be made in any of the results listed below, please alert me via email.

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