WOMEN IN SPORT PRE-RACE AT NOOSA ULTRA-TRAIL

Kate Dzienis • March 29, 2023

CONTRIBUTED BY SIMONE HAYES, AURA TREASURER

On Friday (24 March 2023) I had the privilege of being a guest speaker at the Women in Sports luncheon hosted by Noosa Ultra Trail the day before their event.

There was an amazing turnout of athletes, mostly women but also a few men. I got to fly the AURA flag, talk about my Western States experience and others, but more importantly talk about the growth of the sport for women, the diversities and challenges women face as ultra runners, and I was able to encourage newer runners to have confidence in their ability and embrace new challenges and distances.

Athlete Jacqui Bell interviewed me which was a hoot and made for a relaxed and informal chat. We then formed a panel with myself, Jacqui, Kellie Emmerson and wheelchair athlete Natasha Price. Natasha and her coach Adam Sheppard are both amazing wheelchair athletes and together they became the first athletes to race a 10km trail run in a wheelchair on an adapted course. 10km took them 2 hours, and they smashed it, even though they said it was definitely a challenge, overcoming soft grass, steep trail and uneven terrain in their day to day chairs (not a racing chair or one that was made for trails!) Hats off to race director Nick Stewart and his team for leading the way and introducing the exhibition race making it an inclusive event.

The panel got to ask and be asked many questions which made for an interesting afternoon of discussion that I’m sure could have gone on for hours if we had the time (and didn’t need to race the next day!)!

Highly recommend this event next year!

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2026 AGM Notice (15 April 2026)

By Dave Martin • March 14, 2026

AUTRA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Wednesday 15 April 2026

AUTRA statement regarding Snowies Trail Run Festival

March 12, 2026

AUTRA has been in direct contact with the organisers of the Snowies Trail Run Festival, In2Adventure, regarding a recent situation involving an athlete and the event’s in‑person safety briefing requirements. In2Adventure has confirmed that the situation was discussed directly with the athlete at the time. From In2Adventure’s account, and for the purpose of clarifying the public record, AUTRA notes the following points: At no stage was the athlete prevented from breastfeeding at the event. The organiser states that the following options were offered to enable the athlete to participate while still meeting safety requirements: a quiet and private space where she could breastfeed while still being present at the briefing; the option to receive the required briefing at the 30 km start line after the start; and the option to change her registration to the 21 km event, where the briefing is conducted on the start line. At no stage prior to event registration on Saturday night did the athlete contact the organiser to advise of her situation or request alternative arrangements, which limited what could be put in place at the time. Face‑to‑face safety briefings have always been a requirement for In2Adventure events.