Letter from the Editor’s Desk

Kate Dzienis • October 23, 2017

Welcome to the first online edition of Ultramag, AURA’s premiere magazine packed with news and stories about events, members, records, rankings and so much more.

To be a part of AURA’s movement into a digital space is an absolute honour, and as the new editor and marketing officer, I am delighted to be entrusted with a magazine that has broken so much ground in years gone past.

Ultramag is a publication that stands for something. As runners, we embrace the idea that we can push ourselves further beyond the limits of our physical and mental abilities, and we believe that our higher goals of achieving what so few people accomplish on this planet reflect and embody what humanity is all about – that when we set out to challenge our own selves, we defy the odds and exhibit the best of Australian sportsmanship.

We want Ultramag to be entertaining and informative, at times contrary, but above all useful. In essence, I aspire the people behind the stories to inspire you, and I want to provide the how-tos and resources so that your own vision, goals and dreams become attainable to you in your own unique way.

As an AURA member, this website and its contents are for you.

It’s for those who harness their strengths and talents in themselves and others for positive change and have the capacity to connect with every person within these pages.

I have been a newspaper journalist and subeditor for over a decade, and the most uplifting interviews have always come from the running community – from Pat Farmer who in 2011 ran 21,000kms from the North Pole to the South Pole, to marathon legend Steve Moneghetti; from WA’s second-ever man to reach the summit of Mount Everest, Mark Sheen, to Paralympian Brant Garvey.

As a writer, scouring the region for original stories and genuine human connections has been a firm objective, and to be a part of AURA and its highly-esteemed Ultramag is in itself an opportunity for me to reflect on the magnitude of what I see when I am running on the trails, roads, and tracks. On a personal level, I have been incredibly fortunate to get to know some of the most amazing people within our running community, who offer not only genuine friendships, but also honest and pure advice when it comes to helping me achieve my running goals.

I look forward to bringing you Ultramag editions that are extraordinary, authentic and insightful; something we can take beyond the pages of a print magazine.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for connecting with Ultramag.

I want and will welcome all of your feedback and input, so that we can make it the very best that it can be.

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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