Race Report: I'm Still Standing LOS by Clayton Talbot

March 27, 2024

i'm still standing sydney, los - 16 march 2024 - heffron park, maroubra, nsw

contributed by clayton talbot, aura member (sydney, nsw)

16 March saw the inaugural running of ultra runner and now race director Lisa Sherman’s I’m Still Standing Sydney Backyard Ultra, held in Lisa’s backyard of Heffron Park, Maroubra, Sydney.

100 runners, 88 for the first time running in this format, toed the line at 7am to find out who would be the last one standing.

Having grown up in the eastern suburbs and with my mum and brother just around the corner from Heffron Park I was keen to enter a backyard ultra so close to home. I jumped online as soon as registration opened at noon then waited 5 minutes before registering as I didn’t want to get bib number 1! I was assigned bib number 7. Lucky number 7 as many people told me throughout the event.

Without knowing who would be there on the day I was happy to see legends such as Annabel Hepworth and Zed Zlotnick there. One of the highlights of the event for me was Zed complimenting me by saying I was putting on a “lesson in consistency”!

Commentator Dave Stewart did a stellar job at the event with positive comments to the runners to keep them going and humorous ones to the spectators and crews to keep them entertained.

Amazing praise from Lisa at the end of every lap along with great support and encouragement from her husband Grant and all the volunteers over the weekend made for a great event. A big thank you to all involved.

A warm afternoon made me question whether I should enter races in the hotter months. Despite commentator Dave saying he didn’t think I was sweating yet, I was definitely feeling the heat.

The heat of the afternoon finally gave way and when the cool change came it was a very welcome relief to the runners still in the event. Rain was forecast for the evening and they were right. It rained. Heavy!

For myself I was happy to make it to my previous backyard PB of 21 in reasonable shape. I was hoping the allure of a sunrise would help get me further, but the clouds wouldn’t let up. Torrential rain continued in the early hours of the morning and just when you think it couldn’t get any wetter the park sprinklers came on! A group of us weren’t sure whether to try and dodge them or laugh and run straight through them. So we did both.

The sopping wet shoes and short turnaround time for me resulted in some sore toes and blisters ending my race after 25 times around the park.

The final 5 runners remaining at noon on the Sunday were Jon Berry, Baden Reynolds, Mitch McInnes, Peter Kaldor, and Thomas Gilanyi.

With Jon Berry finally being the last person standing with 36 yards. A very impressive performance from him. The assist went to Baden Reynolds. Congrats on an amazing run Baden. The final female standing was Savanna Lawson who made the 100 miles with 24 yards.

It was great to reconnect with runners I’ve met at previous races such as Zed, Baden, Glenn Lockwood, Christine Ta, and Glenn Parrott, and to make new friends such as Peter Kaldor, Thomas Gilanyi, and Will Lewis.

A great addition to Sydney’s ultra scene and an event and I’ll be signing up for again next year at 12:05pm to hopefully nab that lucky number 7 bib.

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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