From The President (JULY 2025)
July 2025
On the ground, listening: A new chapter for Australian ultra and trail
Over the past month, the AUTRA committee has been doing what we believe is most important right now, on the ground, listening.
We’ve been out on course, standing at finish lines, timing, crewing aid stations, running alongside you, at eleven races in the last month, having real conversations. With race directors, with runners, with volunteers, and with the broader trail and ultra community. What’s clear is that this sport is powered by passion, grit, and an overwhelming generosity of spirit.
Our race directors are the quiet architects behind every start line. They deal with thousands of moving parts so runners can toe the line and chase something big. And often, they do it without fanfare, recognition, or sleep. They are the backbone of our sport.
Our runners, whether front of pack or finding their way through a first 50km, are what make this community special. The stories we’ve heard, the battles fought out on course, the selflessness shown mid-race to help another runner all of it reminds us why this sport is different.
And the volunteers, those who spend hours in the rain, in the dark, or in the middle of nowhere to keep others moving, are the soul of every event. Without them, we simply don't have a sport.
As a new committee, we came in with a mission: to represent and support this community in action, not just in policy. That means building stronger connections with race directors, advocating for runners, and creating real value for volunteers. We’re not just sitting in meetings, we’re out there with you, learning what needs to be done and where we can help.
There’s a long way to go, and we're not pretending to have all the answers. But we’re here. We’re listening. And together, we can build something powerful for the future of ultra and trail running in Australia.
Gary Mullins
President, AUTRA
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