expansion of aura to include trail running

For the past year AURA has been in discussion with the trail associations in Australia to look at forming one large federation that recognises both ultra and trail as one. In November 2023 we held a conference to further investigate the possibility of bringing the trail community into our association and what the benefits would be for AURA and its members. What ensued was an overwhelming realisation that this move needs to happen to ensure the longevity of AURA. We saw only positives, and forged ahead with a plan to take AURA into the next decade and beyond as a strong and productive association, whilst still preserving its purpose and rich history which is of the utmost importance to us.

For years AURA has listed many, many trail races so by joining forces with the trail associations we continue to operate as AURA always has, but we will formally recognise that trail running is also part of ultra running, and ultra running is part of trail running – we want to work together as one.

Working together means AURA can have bigger stakeholder engagement as a larger group with more members, and then ALL members will reap the benefits from being a larger and continually growing organisation.

This move is fully supported by Athletics Australia, ITRA and the IAU.

The legacy that AURA has built over the past four decades will not change – AURA will not change – it will just be better and stronger. We will be able to provide more support to athletes, more opportunities for the running communities and events, and the potential for a much larger voice both nationally and internationally.

We have gone down this path due to the huge growth of trail running so that AURA does not get left behind. Having an already big involvement in trail running, we see that it is only a matter of time before a national trail body is formed and if we don’t do it, it’s only a matter of time before someone does. If it was to be another association it would have the capacity to severely impact the ongoing relevance of AURA. This is a critical time in the sport and we want to see AURA survive and thrive, not suffer and shrink to its bare bones which we discovered over this past year is a possibility if we don’t act.

Therefore we need your support as members as we push to go ahead with these small but important constitutional changes that will be presented at the next AGM on 28 May.

These changes are:

• Name change from AURA to AUTRA (Australian Ultra and Trail Runners Association)
• Purpose amendment – to include
• Recognition of ultra and trail running by the highest level of athletics in Australia.
• Representation of both ultra and trail running cohesively and on behalf of these running communities.
• Respect for the unique histories and culture of both ultra and trail running.
• To include the word ‘trail’ alongside ‘ultra’ throughout
• A Trail Sub-Committee will be added to the current AURA organisation structure consisting of 5 members and sit below the executive committee. Positions will be filled by member vote at the AGM.

So as we move towards our next Annual General Meeting we urge all members to consider this and please vote yes so that we can help AURA continue to grow and further support the sport of ultra and trail running in Australia for many years to come.