GET TO KNOW YOUR 24HR ASIA & OCEANIA CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM – NIKKI WYND

Kate Dzienis • November 29, 2018

IT WAS THE OXFAM TRAILWALKER BACK IN 2008 THAT SET OFF NIKKI WYND’S LOVE FOR ULTRA RUNNING. SHE JOINED HER LOCAL GYM AT THE TENDER YOUNG AGE OF 12 HAVING ALWAYS BEEN QUITE AN ACTIVE CHILD, AND PLAYED STATE LEVEL TENNIS AND BASKETBALL AS A TEENAGER.

She even threw in a marathon in her 20s, ‘just for fun’, but never really ran much after that.

Now 46, the Lysterfield (Vic) resident reveals that back in 2008 she participated in the Oxfam event with a group of her gym friends, and they all finished in 15 hours.

“Two years later, I did Oxfam again, and this is when I got competitive,” she says.

“We finished 1st mixed team and 3rd overall, since then I have completed many ultras in Australia and throughout the world, running 50kms to 343kms.”

For the past six months, Wynd has been working with coach Leigh Iacovangelo who has devised her current training plan based on an acute weekly load over a three-week progressive load formula, allowing her to increase by a certain percentage each week.

“There are no huge spikes or drops in training, with the highest weekly kilometres getting up to about 220kms,” she reveals.

Wynd trains on a mix of road, track and trails, and schedules in two speed sessions per week as well as two strength and conditioning sessions in the gym.

Running between six and seven times per week, she qualified for the 2018 IAU 24hr Asia & Oceania Championships in Chinese Taipei by completing 214kms last year in Belfast at the 24hr World Championships.

Despite her racing experience and background, Wynd says she was still elated when she found out she was on the team.

“I was so excited when I got the call to say I was in the Australian team for Soochow,” she says.

“To represent your country is a pretty special thing, and Soochow has been a huge goal race of mine for a few years now, so it’s a dream come true to be running there this Saturday.

“I think everybody should have dreams and follow their goals, and never think you can’t make an Australian team.

“My mum still reminds me now that I used to make her write a note to my teacher in high school so that I wouldn’t have to compete in cross country.”
Wynd’s advice to others in the ultra community is simple, but influential.

“Have a program, work hard, love what you do,” she explains.

“The training is the fun part, and the racing is the icing on the cake.”

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

Pictured: Nikki Wynd finished 1st Female in the 2018 Ned Kelly Chase 100km in 9:24:34. Photograph – Ned Kelly Chase Facebook page.

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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