President's Report: February 2025

Simone Hayes • February 26, 2025

FEBRUARY, 2025

Hello Runners!

February has been a has been jammed packed with some great events, lots of productive meetings, the announcement of our AUTRA Annual Awards, the 100km National Championships and more. As usual there is always a lot going on here in this space.

We were proud and excited to announce the winners who were selected by both member vote and the Committee, for the 2024 Performance of the Year and Runner of the Year awards.

I wish to offer a huge congratulations to all of the very deserving recipients. Our sport is large; it’s diverse across many disciplines of running, different distances and terrains. We are a national association, and we have so many runners to select from that it is always a really hard task. Thank you to all of the members who took the time to vote and assist in these awards, and in doing so we can celebrate these athletes’ achievements. If you missed it, the winners can be viewed here.

Over the weekend the Australian 100km Road Championships were held in Canberra and hosted by the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Club who put on another fabulous event. Congratulations to the Male and Female 100km Champions for 2024, Chris Hatherly (male) and AUTRA Member Lindsay Hamilton (female).

Coming up in March is the Australian 24 Hour Championships being held, again, in Canberra by Sri Chinmoy on 21 March. It’s also hosting a 48 Hour event over the same weekend. We thank the Sri Chinmoy team for their ongoing support of AUTRA and for hosting these championships.

Also on the events calendar for March is the Belair Marathon, The Running Works Lark Hill Party Ultra, the Backyard Ultra Trial Series, Coombabah Trail Run, I’m Still Standing (LOS) Sydney, Noosa Ultra Trail, Herdy’s Frontyard Ultra, Washpool Heritage Trails, Buffalo Stampede Festival, and the kunyani Mountain Run. Check out all the event details here.

Shortly our 2026 calendar will also be released so that you can all get planning for your upcoming races with plenty of notice! So, get amongst it!

Don’t forget that our merch store is FULL of new gear and we can’t wait to see you all out on the trails wearing it! Get your hands on our new Fractel hats – they look awesome! As do the new shirts and singlets, and the hoodies are going to come in handy as we head into Autumn! Check out the store and purchase here. Make sure you send us in a photo if you have been out wearing it! Kate, our marketing gal loves all pics! Kate.dzienis@autra.asn.au

The nominations for selection for the 2025 World Mountain Trail Running Championships team are open until the 31st March so please make sure you get your forms in if you are considering applying.

Just another reminder that the 2025 Annual General Meeting is approaching and a tentative date has been set for 28 May 2025. As mentioned last month there are a few committee positions up for nomination and we urge anyone who has a passion for the sport to consider putting their hands up to volunteer. The results of our survey are being collated and a report prepared to inform our strategic planning committee. Many of you took the time to provide a lot of feedback, so I know there are people out there who care! But giving advice or having an opinion doesn’t get the job done – only action does. We need people to step up and dedicate some spare time. All questions can be directed to president@autra.asn.au

That’s all for this month, keep at it and run happy!

Simone Hayes

AUTRA President

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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