From the Editor’s Desk (December)

Kate Dzienis • December 22, 2017

Well, that’s a wrap for 2017!

Although having only been in the editor role for three months, putting together everyone’s stories and keeping track of all the AURA-listed events as well as the efforts put in by all members, it has truly been an impressive time to cap off the year.

This month in Beat the Mental Block in a Lap Course, I spoke with sports psychologist Graziella Thake about how to get through those barriers when racing in a lap ultra. And although there are plenty of you out there who have been running long distance a lot longer than I have, it’s still great to get a fresh perspective from a professional, because who knows? You could walk away with a whole lot more that just might come in handy.

December’s Ultramag also takes a glimpse into the world of support crews, and features a story on how long distance helped one runner with his PTSD.

Earlier this month, I tackled my own challenges having entered WA’s 6 Inch Trail Ultra for the first time – the 47kms. Six months of training to get me prepared for the event had seen me take on board all the advice from the running community that I could fathom. I’ve been running for a few years, namely short distances, but 6 Inch was to be my first ultra, and it was to be the first race I’d ever entered where I’d be running without a partner or within a group of friends.

As mad as it seems, I was really looking forward to it.

Despite the torrential downpours and a chill factor, absolutely unheard of in WA for early December, almost 300 racers took to the Munda Biddi from North Dandalup to Dwellingup on the 17th. With an eight-hour cut off I thought I’d be fine; I’ll be the first to admit I’m not fast with pace, and hills are my adversaries, but given the conditions, 6 Inch was not only a beautiful course, it was also where I ran my best – everything was going right for me nutritionally, physically, emotionally and mentally.

But it was an involuntary DNF for me at 38.39kms, where I didn’t make cut off at aid station 2. Devastation took the better of me, and for hours I struggled with my first ever forced non-finish. But no less than a day later, determination sunk in to not let 6 Inch get the better of me. The next 12 months, I had decided this week, would be about getting leaner, fitter, and stronger to exact retribution.

The ultra running community I know personally in my side of the world is one of pride, benevolence, consolation, fortitude and solidarity. Encouragement is tenacious, but dignity in defeat grounds you when you’re surrounded by others who have been to the same dark place as you at one time or another.

And there is no other group I’d wish the happiest of holidays to than the ultras.

Cheers to all of you and your families for a Merry Christmas, and may the new year bring you all new goals and achievements – hopefully with AURA there right beside you.

Feature Photograph by Dennis Tan/Paparazzi on the Run.

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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