President's Report: September 2024

Simone Hayes • September 26, 2024

september, 2024

It’s so nice to see it warming up! I recently ran a race on the Coast Track in NSW on a stunning day, with whales breaching right next to me as I trucked along, looking out at all the many species of wildflowers and waratahs out in bloom, and it made me very grateful to be a runner that can get out and enjoy the trails that we are lucky enough to have on our doorstep (I live in Southern Sydney so the Royal National Park is my playground).

I’m sure many of you reading this also have your own unique playground and amazing places to run across the country, and we should all feel really grateful to have bodies that allow us to relish in this sport, no matter what level of runner you are. Runners come in all shapes and sizes and levels of ability, but we all get to enjoy the same great things by just being out there.

There is lots happening on the international stage before the year ends. Congratulations to the recently announced 100km World Championships team that will represent Australia at the 2024 IAU 100km World Championships in Bengaluru, India, on 7 December. We have such great depth in the women’s team this year which is amazing to see, and I hope this trend continues across all races, both road and trail, over the next decade.

On the trail side, next month we send off our trail team to South Korea to race in the APTRCs (Asia Pacific Trail Running Championships) which is being hosted by iTRA. We wish them all the very best as they wear the green and gold. They will be competing in the Short and Long Course as well as the U23 categories.

This month we launched a sneak preview of our new AUTRA merch which has been really well received and we hope to have it on the production line very shortly and available to you all for purchase before Christmas. If you are a fan of our original AURA shirt that we all loved we have a bit of stock left that will be available at a bargain price. You can never have too many running shirts!

We have great new AUTRA partners listed for our members on the website so jump on and log in and take advantage of all the new discounts on offer. Its worthwhile checking on a regular basis as we continually add more partners so our members can get more benefits!

If you haven’t visited our events calendar lately its time to jump on as there are new events being added each week and the 2025 calendar is now open. Just visit here and start planning! And training :)

That’s all the fun stuff and I won’t bore you with the boring but important stuff we are doing, but rest assured that your hard-working committee is at it every day working to promote the sport of ultra and trail running for you all, and ensure that it will be a sport that is able to withstand changes and challenges in the years ahead. We are here for you, our members, and the sport, and as always, we thank you for your continued support.

Simone Hayes, President

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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