HUGHES TAKES ON TUNNEL HILL 100MI IN ILLINOIS, USA

Kate Dzienis • December 18, 2019

Contributed by Stuart Hughes, AURA Member

Tunnel Hill 100 Mile Run (Illinois, USA)

November 9, 2019

“Oh, so you did it for bragging rights?” said the chirpy hotel receptionist upon hearing I’d come all the way from Australia to do a race for no cash prize.

He had seen straight through me.

Yep, I had my 100 miler ‘Why?’ – ‘This’ll look good on Facebook if I get anywhere near my target, so just keep running, and no one will remember how flat it was in six months’ time’.

I had found a 100 mile trail ultra where I could still be tucked in bed by midnight.

But dialling it back a bit, in 2017 Camile Herron smashed the Tarawera 100km in February, which I ran, and then in November smashed the 100 mile world record at the USATF certified Tunnel Hill 100 in Vienna, southern Illinois running 12:42 on a former rail trail.

That sounds like a PB course, I thought. Seemingly I am the only Australian or New Zealander to have had this thought so far. It must be because I don’t hear the mountains calling. I flirted with the idea of doing it in 2018 but it sold out. Just as well, as I had a year to train for it with a mission of flatter, longer and faster along the way grabbing 100km and 24hr PBs, with a 100 mile spilt of 16:51 in the 24 hour which I now hoped to beat.

I entered, booked flights, and drew it to the attention of my American-based running buddy Mandy Hufstader, who entered the 50 miler. I told Amelia Griffith (fellow AURA member) about it on one of several Sunday long runs we did (she didn’t believe the Tunnel Hill course records, at first).

I told Rohan Day (would it be a qualifier?).

Otherwise it was a secret mission, only Katherine Macmillan guessed outright what longer, flatter and faster in November meant. I can’t remember whether I denied it, or swore her to secrecy. Probably both.

I spent most of the year running enjoyable 100km weeks with an ‘easy running will get me there’ mantra, but in September, egged on by Rohan, I hit the panic button and joined Sean William’s Melbourne Pack to work on the ‘faster’ bit, with two sessions at Edithvale a week, backed up by a program from Sean that had me doing some long flat runs at specific paces, with lots of time on some of Victoria’s former rail trails.

Sean’s aim was to get me in a rhythm, and it all worked, picking up consecutive parkrun PBs the weekends before travelling to Chicago and meeting Mandy and driving south.

We stayed in a converted barn on a farm and went for a run in the frosty back blocks. Mandy put me in a hi-vis vest so I wouldn’t be shot by deer hunters.

We went to scope out the start/finish and course. Laz was there helping set up, Mandy bowled up to chat to him, we tried to help him unload his van, and we put in a good word for Aussies silly enough to want to do the Barkley Marathon.

At rego we got to hear Camile Herron give an awesome talk, two weeks out from breaking her own 24hr world record. I purchased all the merchandise, and we had a pasta dinner in the local school hall, and turned in early.

Aside from the regular hypochondria, my main worry was how I’d cope in the un-Australian cold, so I had three drop bags each with arm sleeves, fleeces, gloves, and thermals. But thanks to Brett Smith telling me about the optimal temperature for running, I took a chance and started in -5 with a singlet, shorts, a buff, arm sleeves and gloves. I dumped my jacket with Mandy 60 seconds before the start, and took off with a 4:57 first km, before settling into a rhythm as the day warmed up that got me 100km in 9:22, just before dark, at which point I put a fleece on.

The course was flat, and straight. Run south, turn and run north, then turn and run south, then turn back north, turn, and run south to the finish.

Frog Hollow parkrun has more cornering. I was able to see and say good morning to the entire 100 mile and 50 mile fields of several 100 runners, including Mandy three times, and Darrell Duke who we’d met at rego wearing a t-shirt saying ‘No one cares you run ultras’.

Some of the aid stations I could see 7km or 8km out on the straights. I cussed only once, when I put my foot on the only small stone I saw underfoot all day. I got to run through the Tunnel Hill tunnel built in 1929 four times. At one point Camile – the reason I was there – ran past on her afternoon run saying I was doing great. Eeeek!

The aim had been to run 10km an hour as long as possible, and get as close as possible to 16 hours. At 100km I had 38 minutes up my sleeve to spread over the next 61km, and I was hoping for sub-16, but of course the pace slowed and there were too many 7-minute kms after dark.

I managed to hold on and picked it up on the final push heading south, crossing the line to receive a buckle, a towel, a railway tie with my place on it, and a finisher’s jacket. Mandy, who’d just smashed out her first 50 miler sat me down, got all my drop bags, and got me to the car and back to the barn. I was completely lucid and compos mentis, and moving freely; no doubt she will tell it otherwise, but she’s a champion anyway. Thanks to her support and wisdom, and that of all my other running buddies, and Coach Sean, and Kylie, Harriet and William, I’d finished in 16:09:02.

Near enough, and good enough for 8th. I’d been hoping for top 10 based on previous year’s results. Ha ha, 8th in the world’s fastest 100 miler, or 8th in the world’s easiest 100 miler, just depends on how you look at these things!

Pictured (feature): Stuart Hughes welcomed to Illinois ahead of his race. Photograph – Supplied.

Pictured (1): Stuart Hughes’ friend Mandy Hufstader with Gary ‘Lazarus Lake’ Cantrell. Photograph – Supplied.

Pictured (2): Stuart Hughes with Camille Herron and friend Mandy Hufstader. Photograph – Supplied.

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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