President's Report (JULY 2026)

John Claridge • July 30, 2026

JULY 2026

July has been another exciting month for AUTRA and for our sport, with strong participation at events across the country and continued momentum as we work to strengthen ultra and trail running in Australia.

Along with the announcement of our 2027 National Championship events, we had a major milestone announcement of the first-ever combined Australian Mountain and Trail Running Championships, to be hosted by the Kunanyi Mountain Run in 2027. This represents a significant step forward for our sport, bringing Australia's championship structure more in line with the international model while providing a clear pathway for athletes across all mountain and trail disciplines.

I'd like to thank our volunteers, committee members, race directors, and the many members who continue to contribute their time and passion to AUTRA. Your commitment is what enables our association to grow and support the wider running community.

We're also continuing to focus on improving member engagement, governance, and the services we provide, while working closely with event organisers and Athletics Australia to ensure a strong future for our sport.

As we head into the second half of the year, I encourage everyone to get involved—whether that's racing, volunteering, officiating, or simply supporting your local events. Together we're building an inclusive, sustainable, and thriving ultra and trail running community.