GET TO KNOW YOUR 100K WORLD TEAM – GARY MULLINS

Kate Dzienis • August 23, 2018

MOST OF THE TIME, YOUNG CHILDREN DREAM ABOUT FAR AWAY FANTASY PLACES, TALK ABOUT WANTING TO BE VETS OR ASTRONAUTS WHEN THEY GROW UP, OR ARE HAPPIER THAN PIGS IN MUD PLAYING CRICKET OR FOOTY ON THE QUIET CUL-DE-SAC WHERE THEIR HOUSE SITS.

Not Gary Mullins.

As a youngster, he was always drawn to the marathon, and in his words, ‘Watching Deek and Mona’s at the Commonwealth and Olympic Games was a must for me.’

He played every sport as a junior, and even tried to get onto Gladiators as a 21-year-old, training his backside off only for the show to be cancelled.

“I suppose training ethics were there from the beginning,” he says.

“I ran my first marathon aged 21 off four weeks’ training, and going on a party bus two nights before the Honolulu Marathon – it was awesome,”

“But then life took over.”

At 32 years young, Mullins was 95kgs and living life to the full, but a friend asked him to run a 10k in Brisbane and Mullins admittedly had forgotten ‘that feeling’.

“Running…it is so free,” he reminisces.

“Two years later, I was 80kgs, a personal trainer, and coaching.

“In 2012 I tried my first ultra, and I was simply hooked.

“I started looking at qualifying times for 24hrs, 100kms and 50km World Championships, so in 2014 I set my eyes on making the 100k team and headed over the following year to Auckland, NZ with friends Sarah Jane Marchell and Lise Gribely, where I ran 7hrs 12mins.

“I’m not ashamed to say I had tears in my eyes, because achieving that qualifying time is an awesome feeling.”

Now aged 45, Mullins lovesracing, saying there’s something in it that he gets more out of for himself. From 800m sprints to ultra distances, the sport’s got it all – training, recovery, struggles, mental aspect, and fuel, and most will be surprised at his training schedule.

“I usually average only 90 to 100kms per week,” he says.

“As a coach and personal trainer, I cover an extra 30k to 40k, so I feel I have the balance right for me.

“I always I would like to represent Australia at least three times; wearing the Aussie singlet is such pride. Getting that phone call from the selectors is always a good feeling, but it also meant that I had to get that training right.

“The AURA team have backed 14 athletes chosen to represent their country, and we don’t just want to compete – we want to win.

“We have some amazing runners in Australia that are just outside of running qualifying times, but I say don’t give up. Just keep working away with your coach, talk to past Aussie representatives and get an idea of what it takes to get there.

“Representing your country is an amazing honour, and we want more runners stepping up to represent the great culture that is developing in our teams.”

Pictured: Gary Mullins getting air in this shot of him at UTA 2018. Photograph – Supplied/Facebook.

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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