JOHNSTONE CRACKS RECORD AT THE 2021 DELIRIOUS W.E.S.T

Kate Dzienis • October 21, 2021

By Kate Dzienis

For AURA member Shane Johnstone, the Delirious W.E.S.T 200 Miler (from Northcliffe to Albany in WA) was meant to be his comeback event from illness back in 2020. However a COVID-19 lockdown when the race was originally meant to be held in February 2021 saw a 6 month postponement, and in that time Johnstone raced at UTA, launched the Transcend Ultra, and found out he was going to be a father to a second daughter.

The start line of the Delirious W.E.S.T, which was held from 6-10 October 2021, saw participant numbers drop from about 100 to 34 due to border restrictions and lockdowns in other states. And when Johnstone stood at check-in for the race, he began to hear rumours that he was a ‘shoe in’ to win.

“If there’s anything I’ve learned from ultra running, it’s to respect the distance and even if you look good on paper, it doesn’t necessarily translate to an automatic comfortable win,” he said.

“Anything can happen in 340km over trail with none to minimal sleep in challenging conditions; it’s a bloody long way.”

Johnstone revealed he had done a decent amount of preparation for the Delirious W.E.S.T, and said he felt in good shape.

“I was really lucky with how the body responded, and continue to be amazed with how much the body can be challenge,” he recollected.

“I was certain I’d find my breaking point in the 100mi event; I think I was very close, but I feel I still crossed that finish line functioning way better than I could have ever imagined.

“The course was definitely different to the usual course, so it wasn’t technically a course record, but on the topic of holding records I’ve thought a lot about this over the past few years.

“I’ve set a few FKTs now and event CRs, and what I love is how they inspire people to go to the next level. Dion Leonard’s 61-hour CR was instantly my go-to target to beat, and so will my 54hr 50min benchmark for the next group of Delirious W.E.S.T starters.

“Records are there to be broken; it’s a privilege to be a part of history that prompts that next level.

“The most exciting element now is how the women are mixing it with the men. Three of the top 6 at Delirious W.E.S.T were female, and Meghann Coffey (AURA member) featured on the overall podium, which is awesome. I run most weekends with strong and fit women on the trails – one of them, Erika, is currently having a crack at my Bibbulmun Track FKT and I’d say she’s a solid bet to go the distance.”

Johnstone said he gives full credit to the people that crewed for him at Delirious W.E.S.T, and that he couldn’t have done it without them.

“Very rarely will you see a solid performance without a solid team behind it,” he said.

“I had as good of a crew that one could ask for! Massive thanks to Jo, Adam, Nick, Wayne, Amanda, Claire and Lochy; at times the concept of running more was undesirable but those guys kept me honest and stopped the train from derailing.

“Team work makes the dream work. Also a massive kudos to the legends at the aid stations offering so much time, generosity and love for days to complete strangers!”

Johnstone took the win at Delirious W.E.S.T, coming in 1st Male with a total time of 54:50:00.

To see personal footage of the event created by Johnstone, and to hear some of the emotional thought process that an ultra runner goes through, click below for his visual race recap.

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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