It has been a big year, but I’m also thoroughly looking forward to 2020.
It has once again been an incredible privilege to be a part of AURA and its community of incredible athletes and supporters. With every race report I wrote, every search for photos, and every strand of contact I have with an individual who runs ultras, I am reminded of the herculean efforts you all go through to test your bodies further and further through training and official events.
Personally, I haven’t had much opportunity to run as much as I would have liked in the last six months – two surgeries within three months of each other, a lingering chest infection, and continuous colds, I spent July through to now watching AURA members achieve mind-boggling goals and created myself a little bit of FOMO.
2020 will bring it all back to me though, and there are even more exciting things afoot with AURA. I will truly be sad to see Rob Donkersloot step down as president after a three year role leading the organisation. He has initiated quite a lot of change for AURA, moving into a digital age with the online edition of Ultramag and being a massive voice for ultra runners in Australia – all while still always planning and training for his own events and sharing with the world his adventures across the globe.
Alexis Oosterhoff also will be stepping down as Vice President, having served in the role for the past two years, and as Treasurer in 2017. He has been a rock and inspiration for me, and I will truly miss working alongside him in AURA – yet 2020 will bring a new committee, and it will be interesting to see how it all unfolds.
In 2019, I have witnessed unbelievable human achievements, and there is no doubt in my mind that the new year will see more and beyond (on that note, official results of AURA-listed events for November and December will be published in the next week or so, along with the points competition via Facebook).
I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year!
