GET TO KNOW YOUR 24HR ASIA & OCEANIA CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM – JOHN YOON

Kate Dzienis • November 26, 2018

MANY OF US ARE AWARE OF THAT FEELING AND THOUGHT PROCESS OF, ‘I’M NEVER DOING THAT AGAIN’, IN PARTICULAR WHEN WE FIRST STARTED ON OUR RUNNING JOURNEYS…OF WONDERING ‘WHY AM I DOING THIS’, AND STRUGGLING TO LEARN HOW TO RECOVER PROPERLY AFTER OUR FIRST LONG RACE.

John Yoon, 47, from Kensington in Victoria contemplated just that when he took on his first serious marathon event back in 2003, the Sydney Marathon – but look where he is today!

Yoon always loved sports, and says he ran ‘here and there’ like any casual runner, sticking to a plan for perhaps a week or two, then trailing off, then hitting the road again a couple times a week. But come 2002, and a friend completely changed his view on the sport.

“It was a mate of mine who completed the Sydney Marathon, and prior to this I seriously thought only professionals ran those sorts of distances, but it fascinated me,” he reveals.

“After a few months of really thinking about it, I signed up for the 2003 Sydney Marathon.

“After what I remember being a wishy-washy training regimen of about 40kms per week (I just didn’t think it was possible to do anymore), I struggled with the event. I finished it in about 4:20 and remember not being able to get out of bed for two days.

“I thought, never again, but ended up signing up again, and again, and again, and then managed to qualify for the Boston Marathon in 2012.

“I haven’t looked back since.”

That same year, Yoon heard a friend of his had finished the North Face 100 in the Blue Mountains, and as any runner would, signed up for it because it sounded ‘crazy’.

It was the race that started it all for him.

He completed his first ever ultra, the 100km, in a net time of 17:59:54.

“The North Face 100 kicked off the ultra running bug, and since then I’ve been lucky enough to travel and participate in a lot of big races like Tarawera, UTMB, UTMF, and Diagonale des Fous,” he says.

“In 2016 friend Donna Urquhart managed to talk me into signing up for my first 24-hour in Sydney, the C2K, which I thought was insane, but here I am having this year won the National 24hr Championships in Adelaide, and in the Australian Team for the Asian Championships.

“It goes to show that anything is possible if you put your mind to it, because as far as I’m concerned, I’m far from talented!”

Yoon claimed second overall behind a German runner at the 2018 Adelaide 24hr the weekend of July 14-15, winning the national title with 245.6kms.

He explains the fascination for him in a 24-hour race is how straightforward and uncomplicated the format is.

“It’s so simple, yet tough on the body and mind,” he says.

“There is no variation in surface, no hills, and full support of your crew at every lap, so it’s just you and the track and the clock.”

These days, Yoon is average between 100 and 140kms per week, peaking at 180kms with runs on a daily basis.

“I’m currently doing about 10 to 25kms on my weekday runs and then 30 to 70kms on Saturdays and Sundays; they’re mostly tempo style runs aimed at sustained a certain race pace,” he explains.

“Some lactate threshold-type sessions for the shorter sessions give me headroom while running at slower race pace, otherwise it’s about mileage to get my legs (and my mind) toughed up.

“I was so humbled and proud to get the call that I made the team, I’m extremely proud to be amongst all the great runners that I look up to. I never thought I’d be representing the country at anything.

“Thank you AURA and the ultra community for all your support, I’ll certainly give it my best on the day!

“Don’t litter, be good, and smile!”.

Yoon will be racing alongside his Australian team mates at the 2018 IAU 24hr Asia and Oceania Championships in Chinese Taipei the weekend of December 1-2.

Pictured (feature): John Yoon. Photograph – Supplied.

Pictured (above right) John Yoon competing in the 2018 Adelaide 24hr. Photograph – Simon Linden.

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AUTRA News Report 11-09-2025

By Kate Dzienis • September 11, 2025

Run The River Half, Qld Murphys Creek Challenge, Qld Lighthorse Ultra, WA Kunanyi Trail Series, Rialannah, Tas Upcoming Events WEEKLY NEWS REPORT FOR 12-09-2025 As always, we're continuously on the hunt for your stories and reports, so get those race reports and photographs in to ultramag@autra.asn.au with the following information: Word document, single spaced Include the name of the event, the date and the location anywhere in the report (just a bullet point at the top is great) Please attach photographs to the email – do not put images in the body of your Word doc. You’ll just get me emailing you back asking for the photos sent in the correct way! As many photos as possible. With our new website, it’s now easier than ever to include a nice gallery in each race report No PDFs please And remember, it doesn’t have to be about an AUTRA-listed event specifically! You just have to be an AUTRA member for the 2025 year. Also too, if you’ve run in a non-AUTRA listed event anywhere on home soil or internationally, we’d love to include your race results and experience in our Member Updates, so please do reach out to us via email to kate.dzienis@autra.asn.au If any corrections need to be made in any of the results listed below, please alert me via email.

Team Manager 2025 IAU Asian and Oceania 100K Championships

By Gary Mullins • September 8, 2025

Location : Bangkok, Thailand Dates : November 21 - 24 2025 Role Type : Volunteer Position Time Commitment : Pre event planning + Travel Application Deadline : 17th September 2025 Thank you for your interest in supporting the Australian team for the 2025 IAU Asian 100k Championships. This role goes far beyond logistics. It’s about leadership, inclusion, and creating a positive, empowering environment for athletes competing on the world stage. AUTRA is committed to opening doors for those outside traditional pathways. We strongly encourage applications from coaches, former athletes, club leaders, volunteers, and passionate community members. You don’t need to have served on a board or managed a team before as we’re looking for people who genuinely care, are highly organised, and can proudly represent our athletes and country. Role Overview As Team Manager, you’ll work closely with AUTRA President Gary Mullins and Vice President Geoff Russell to prepare and support the national team before and during the championship. Pre-Departure Australia Act as the main contact for selected athletes and crew Assist with final entry forms and travel planning Prepare a Championships Agenda in alliance with the Team Managers Agreement Document Coordinate flights, uniforms, and team communications Help identify and organise crew support Attend online team planning meetings On the Ground in Thailand Be present and ready as athletes arrive Ensure all athlete needs are met so they can focus fully on their race Attend all technical meetings and represent the team professionally Coordinate team attendance at the opening and closing ceremonies Ensure the team and crew are prepared, organised, and calm Address any issues that arise with efficiency and discretion Provide hands on leadership and moral support throughout the race Support Provided Accommodation in Bangkok for 3 - 4 nights will be provided by AUTRA An official team uniform will be supplied A volunteer allowance of $1500 will be provided to acknowledge your time and service during the championship period. What You’ll Need Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Strong organisational ability under pressure A calm, inclusive, and athlete first mindset Commitment to AUTRA’s Code of Conduct Member of AUTRA Applying To apply for the role of Team Manager please CLICK HERE and fill out the Application Form. Applications Close at 5pm 17th September 2025. Selection Process Following the application deadline, the AUTRA Committee will review all submissions and select the most suitable candidate. All applicants will be contacted by Gary Mullins within 7 days of applications closing. Gary Mullins AUTRA President