From The Trails (July 2025)

Applications for AUTRA National Championships 2026 are now open!

AUTRA are currently seeking applications from Race Directors (RDs) that wish to apply to host our National Championships in 2026.

AUTRA aim to continue to improve the quality of the National Championships and provide more support and opportunities for RDs to promote their event as a National Championship event and attract more participants in their events. We also want to ensure they better align with World and Asian Championship events (as appropriate). We want to ensure that runners have time to plan their year ahead and encourage a good field of runners to compete at each event, therefore providing better results and raising the level of competition in our sport.

Our National Championship events provide a clear opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to:

• Runners - to support their journey, respect their effort, and build a clear pathway to compete, develop and thrive.
• Race Directors - to champion their work, listen to their feedback, and offer practical support without red tape.
• Volunteers - to acknowledge their service, celebrate their stories, and create ways for them to grow with us.
• The Trail - to protect it, promote stewardship, and ensure every decision respects the land we run on.

Our National Championships are annual events over various times, surfaces and distances. In 2026 we are excited to include two new events – Mountain Running (uphill/downhill) and 6 Day Ultra.

Applications for National Championships are now open and will close on Sunday 10 August 2025. The successful events will be announced week starting Monday 18 August 2025.

The events that are open for applications are:

• Long Course Trail (60-100km)
• Short Course Trail (30-60km)
• 100mile Trail
• 100km Road
• 50km Road
• 48 Hour Track
• 24 Hour Track
• Mountain Running (uphill/downhill) - new for 2026
• 6 Day Ultra - new for 2026

To apply to host a National Championship event, please complete the application form here.

All applications are required to be a listed event for 2026 and race directors must agree to follow the guidelines for listing as well as hosting a National Championship.

We look forward to receiving your applications and to a successful 2026.

See you next month
The AUTRA Committee