FRASER DOESN’T GIVE UP HER TITLE AT GREAT OCEAN ROAD 60K

Kate Dzienis • May 27, 2021

Contributed by Natasha Fraser, AURA Member & 1st Female at the 2021 Great Ocean Road Ultra 60km

Great Ocean Road Running Festival, 16 May 2021, Lorne Vic

The Great Ocean Ultra is a race that has challenges in terms of steep climbs but constantly rewards in terms of the sheer beauty of the scenery.

After losing the back half of 2019 to the slow diagnosis of a cuboid fracture, 2020 being a year of restrictions and niggling bony issues, I had a lot of doubts in the lead up to this year’s event.

Running in the Global Solidarity run on 21 March had convinced me I could complete 60km but I really still questioned whether I could run competitively again.

The weather Sunday morning of the Great Ocean Road started out much better than I had expected, and I remember regretting by choice to wear short sleeves about 4km in as the crowds cleared and everyone stated to hit their own pace.

There is no shelter from the elements on the marathon course and the headwinds really started to kick in from Kennett River until Skenes Creek. I remember chuckling at one point running downhill into a headwind thinking ‘where is my recovery?!’

Around 33km, the 60km runners take their first turnoff which involves a 5km climb before running back to re-join the marathoners. Keeping this in mind I tried to run as comfortably as possible and stopped to drink at each aid station.

Climbing up Sunnyside Road at the first turn off was pleasant as it gave me a good opportunity to get out of the wind, catching sight of the third placed runner just ahead lifted my spirits even more and I was eventually able to pass him towards the top.

Every year I run the 60km; I am always amazed at the number of runners that will shout out encouragement climbing the turn offs as they see you running down, the vibe amongst the ultra-runners here is just so supportive!

Once I hit the marathon course again the second turn off at Hickey’s Cutting seemed to appear quickly.

The climb here is around the 48km mark of the run. It’s short (around 3km) but super steep and I kept myself accountable by setting a goal to keep my position in third place as I headed up.

It was at this point that I realised my focus on strength work for the last year had really kicked in as I managed to run the whole way up without walking for the very first time ever, I was over the moon with this!

Running back down the heights you have climbed certainly gives you an opportunity to re-group. Once again the awesome encouragement from fellow runners as we passed on the way down was a massive pump up for me and I was so very thankful for this comradeship.

Unlike other years once I hit the bottom it did not seem long before Apollo Bay started to appear, and I hit the finishing straight. The spectators cheering out encouragement gave me a much-needed boost to finish strong in both pace and spirit.

The Great Ocean Road Ultra is one of those rare road events that gives you the same sort of eye candy you get on trails.

If you have yet to run this one, put it on your bucket list!

Pictured: Natasha Fraser crossing the finish line at the 2021 Great Ocean Road Running Festival 60km Ultra event in mid-May. Photograph – Supplied/Great Ocean Road Running Festival.

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Australian Mountain and Trail Running Championships 2027

By Jin Kato • July 8, 2026

The world-class trails of Kunanyi/Mt Wellington will play centre-stage for one of the country’s fastest-growing sports, after the Kunanyi Mountain Run (KMR) was awarded the hosting rights for the first-ever combined Australian Mountain and Trail Running Championships (AMTRC). KMR was awarded the National Championships after a competitive bid process, overseen by the Australian Ultra and Trail Running Association (AUTRA) and Australian Athletics (AA). AUTRA President, John Claridge, said that KMR “offered everything we were looking for”. “World-class trails, proven event management and a passionate community. It provides the perfect stage for Australia's first combined National Trail Championships," he said. It’s expected that Australia’s elite mountain and trail running athletes, and support crew, will travel to Hobart, as they vie for a spot in the Australian team that competes at the 2027 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. "This is a landmark moment for trail running in Australia,” Mr Claridge said. "We're excited about what this championship represents; not just next year, but for the future of trail running in Australia... helping grow the sport and inspire the next generation of trail runners." The 2027 AMTRC at KMR will be the first time that all championship distances have been held together, at the one festival. “It aligns us more closely with the way World Championships are presented, creating a stronger pathway for athletes and raising the profile of the sport,” Mr Claridge said. KMR, a 3-day trail running festival which has been held annually since 2022, expects to draw more than 1500 runners and hikers from across Tasmania, Australia and internationally next year. The AMTRC will be embedded within KMR’s existing event program, allowing elite athletes to compete for the national titles, while sharing the same spectacular trails and event-experience as recreational runners. “We’re honoured to have been selected as host,” KMR’s founder and director, Lincoln Quilliam said. “KMR continues to welcome runners, and hikers, of all abilities. From the elites who want to represent Australia on the world stage, the group of mates or work colleagues who run the team relay together, the mums returning to running after having a baby, as well as those who are trying trail running for the very first time,” Mr Quilliam said. Tasmanian runner, Jessica Collins, who has represented Australia, said it was exciting news for KMR, Tasmania and the sport. “This is such a great opportunity for Australian athletes. I’ve run many of the KMR events and know the courses and the terrain are on par with what we see at the World Champs,” she said. The City of Hobart has supported Kunanyi Mountain Run since its inception, and Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said she was “thrilled” with the news. “Events like this not only showcase the natural beauty of our region but also reinforce Hobart’s reputation as a vibrant destination for world-class outdoor experiences.” The 2026 edition of KMR brought in $4 million to the Tasmanian economy, generating more than 8000 bed nights across the state, which Alex Heroys, Chief Executive of Destination Southern Tasmania, said was a “significant return for the visitor economy”. “Kunanyi / Mount Wellington is one of Tasmania’s great natural assets, and the Kunanyi Mountain Run shows exactly how powerful events can be in driving regional tourism,” he said. “We have an epic mountain right on Hobart’s doorstep, an airport less than 30 minutes away, and a city that is well set up to welcome thousands of visiting athletes, support crews and spectators.” “This event also reinforces Tasmania’s growing reputation as a world-class trail running destination. With steep, technical trails and real mountain terrain, Kunanyi offers conditions that are genuinely comparable to what athletes will experience at the World Championships, making it an ideal place to compete, train and visit.” For more information: Kunanyi Mountain Run Dates: 19-21 March 2027 Pic credit: David Nolan & Ryan Slater