HOW OUR MEMBERS ARE STAYING MOTIVATED

Kate Dzienis • April 29, 2020

Despite the cancellation and postponement of races across the country due to COVID-19, AURA members are staying motivated and inspired to continue their training and adapt their goals. Here’s what some have said when it comes to continuing their physical and mental practices and exercises – and in fact, it looks like most of our runners are taking advantage of the quieter times.

Kay Bretz

“I was in peak fitness, ready to give the 100km World Championships’ qualifier a go when Coburg (April 18, Vic) got cancelled. A shame, but my long term vision to be in great shape for the 24-hour World Championships next year in May has not changed. Perfect timing for strength work and back to interval training to get faster. Mix it up and enjoy the variety running has on offer. What if travel and events in 2021 also got cancelled? It’s not in our control, and it wouldn’t be the end either. This is the time to re-encounter the joy of running for running’s sake. Events are just the icing on the cake! No virus can take away our love for crazy long runs.”

Barbara Fieberg, WA

“The crisis became real when all those races were cancelled and all that planning went out of the window! Of course the first reaction was disappointment although the reason behind it all most understandable. Then I reminded myself that it’s only a first world problem – luckily no reason for me to lose my job (nurses are now more needed than ever).

I had just entered the peak of my training for the Sri Chinmoy 100km race in Christchurch and was feeling great and without injuries, everything went according to plan. I drastically reduced my training volume and intensity and I have to admit that on some days I didn’t even feel like running! Skipping a session made me feel even more miserable and it could have ended up in a negative cycle.

My coach Andy DuBois and I agreed to keep the training plan flexible so I won’t lose my current fitness even if I only do the bare minimum. I reckon that was the turning point for me: I learned to appreciate my fitness, looked at the hours spent running as valuable ‘me time’ and enjoyed the movement of running even more.

I reminded myself why I love running in the first place! So with no races in sight and nothing planned, I’m still happily running and grateful I’m able to do so.”

David Von Senden, Qld

“From what was going to be a very exciting year with the Comrades down run in South Africa the main event, 2020 came to a disappointing standstill. No races, no club or group runs, motivation increasingly difficult to maintain. So, how am I maintaining some motivation? Virtual races (which I think are a fantastic concept) unfortunately don’t appeal to me.

I’m lucky (and sometimes not so) that my partner is a more than avid (slightly obsessive) runner, I’m also lucky to live in the FNQ rainforest in these uncertain times. Training has gone from straight roadwork for Comrades back to a mix of road and trail which really helps with the head space. The weekly longer run isn’t an issue as running in the nearby national forests with my partner doesn’t require much motivation to be out there (as long as you don’t mind regularly being smacked in the face by guinea grass).

It was the smaller 15-20km weekly runs that were becoming a struggle, it was my partner’s idea to chase segments using the Strava app, I thought this was a bit lame at first but after a couple of solid hit outs which included 4-5km at max chickens (with intervals up to 2.7km) in a 15-17km run, I had changed my mind. Pushing for a PR, cup or crown or pacing my partner to achieve her plan is both challenging and rewarding and there is no shortage of segments on any route you care to choose.

This now forms part of our weekly running regime. Here’s hoping everyone’s events during the second half stay on track, for us it’s Larapinta, Yurebilla and Feral Pig and I hope to see some familiar faces. I won’t have race legs, but it’ll be great to be racing. Best wishes to all.”

Luca Turrini, NSW

“Today’s COVID-19 isn’t great, but it is also a blessing in disguise for our running community. It has given those with enough perspective to appreciate how lucky we are (compared to other countries), a unique opportunity to press pause, and re-discover our own goals. Because truth to be told, our addiction to running is not always healthy.

Our “passion for running” can rapidly and silently escalate in an endless chase of results, performance, and races to do. It is a journey without end, there is always another peak to reach. What’s the new exciting race in the calendar? What’s longer? How can I go faster? What’s more extreme?

Our ‘joy of just running’ can transform into constant training for something, anything. In other words, we forget WHY we started running in the first place. We become conditioned by the perceived goals and expectations our social environment put on us. Peer pressure and FOMO are certainly first world running problems.

Maybe it’s just me, but COVID took a heavy weight off my shoulders. During a year where pretty much all races have been cancelled, I can just run for the sake of it. For the pleasure it provides me, and for as much or as little I want. And funny enough, I have been the most consistent I have been in a long time.

I’m on my 8th week of a running streak and I never felt as happy and as strong in ages. I don’t have to go out training, I go out running because I am better for it. Last week I joined a friend running 21 half marathons in 21 days to support a mental health awareness campaign. Because, why not? This is what I truly love to do. And I am certainly not the only one feeling this positive wave of change. Many friends have come up with their own races, challenges, experiments, some go longer, some go faster, some go with their kids, some don’t go at all and dedicate their time to other things they love and have neglected in the past. Am I missing racing? Not a bit. Will I go on a sign-up rampage when races are back on the calendar? Nope.

I am back to running just because.”

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AUTRA News Report 19-02-2025

By Kate Dzienis • February 19, 2025

The latest in race results, covering Cradle Mountain Run, City Run, Oscars 100 Hut 2 Hut and Yaberoo Trail Ultra.

Final 2024 Points Competition Results

By Alexis Oosterhoff • January 30, 2025

Results for the 2024 AUTRA Points Competition have been finalised, and are available on our Points Competition page. Full details of the top 10 (as shared on Facebook during January) are detailed below, and results for all participating AUTRA members can be found in the documents at the above link. It was a real battle throughout the year between our top two finishers, Phil Gore & Kevin "BK" Matthews, with both giving it their it their all at events, and through contributions to the community - volunteering at multiple events, and submitting articles to our monthly newsletter, Ultramag. They finished within 2km of total distance for the year (Phil on 1203.087km, and Kevin on 1205.510km), and it was only Phil's final volunteering effort on 6 Inch Trail Marathon in December that gave him the that very narrow victory. As you'd be aware from previous communications, this marks the end of the Points Competition. With trail running (of all distances) now incorporated into AU T RA's constitution, and after careful consideration of the costs of the competition payouts in it's current form, the committee felt it was time for it's retirement. This marks my seventh and final year of delivering the points competition to membership (2018-2024), after taking on the role from Cheryl Symons. It has brought me great joy in doing so, and I feel like I've had an opportunity to get to know so many of our members through seeing their race (and volunteering) performances over the years! I'm continuing in my role as the AUS/NZL statistician for DUV (from whom we shared the data for the points comp), and you can expect to continue to find your ultra-race result on their site. 1st Place - Phil Gore (WA) - 86 points Phil's achievements this year have included a massive 265.653km (and 2nd place) at the IAU 24h Asia & Oceania Championships, wins at the Red Dirt Backyard Ultra (33 laps), the Australian leg of Big Dog's Backyard World Team Championship (96 laps), and the Soochow/Taipei 24h Ultramarathon (270.826km). He also knocked out an easy (!) 72km at the Light Horse Ultra 24h in between supporting his amazing wife Gemma. Those two 24h wins netted Phil new Oceania 24h Open Male records, IAU Level 1 qualifiers, and pushed him to the top of Australia's 24h trophy board (with only the great Yiannis Kouros having run further). Phil topped-up his points by contributing one article to Ultramag, worked as an Event Director at Herdy's Frontyard Ultra, and volunteered at a further five events through the year. He finished on 86 points. 2nd Place - Kevin Matthews (WA) - 84 points Finishing in 2nd place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is WA's Kevin Matthews. He monstered his way through the year with finishes at Australia Day Ultra 100km, Delirious WEST 200mi, 24 laps at Herdy's Frontyard Ultra, 190km at Light Horse Ultra 24h, 23 laps at Birdy's Backyard Ultra, and also completed Feral Pig 100 miler, Sandman 50km and Six Inch 47km. And to top things off, he contributed five articles to Ultramag, and volunteered at five events. BK ran 1205km in Ultramarathon races this year, all of them AUTRA-listed, and surpassed 100 marathon finishes (including 51 Ultramarathons!) Kevin finished the year on 84 points, a massive 34 points ahead of our 3rd place finisher Sue Robertson. 3rd Place - Sue Robertson (WA) - 50 points Finishing in 3rd place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is WA's Sue Robertson. Sue completed the Ultra Series 100 miler trilogy of Delirious WEST, Irrational SOUTH and Unreasonable EAST, and rounded out her year with the Sandman 50km and Six Inch 47km races. She received 30 points from the racing at AUTRA-listed events, and was awarded a further 20 points by volunteering across eight events and contributing two articles to Ultramag, for a total of 50 points for the year. Thank you Sue! 4th Place - Margie Hadley (WA) - 47 points Finishing in 4th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is WA's Margie Hadley . She was the top-female finisher at both the No Time to Die Frontyard Ultra & Wild Dog Backyard Ultra, 2nd at Birdy's Backyard Ultra, ran 182km at the Australian 24h Track Invitational and placed 3rd at Coast to Kosci. Margie received 47 points in the competition 5th Place - Melissa Robertson (NSW) - 44 points Finishing in 5th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is NSW's Melissa Robertson. Melissa took out 1st place at Irrational SOUTH 200 miler, 2nd place at Lakes Trail Festival 100km, 1st place at Hume & Hovell 100 miler, 3rd place at Rumble in the Jungle and 6th place at Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko 100 miler! She also volunteered at the GNW 50km event, receiving 44 points in the competition! 6th Place - Aaron Young (WA) - 42 points Finishing in 6th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is WA's Aaron Young . Aaron finished in 1st place at each of the Ultra Series "Triple Crown" of 200 milers (Delirious WEST, Irrational SOUTH and Unreasonable EAST), 55 laps at Big Dog's Backyard World Team Championship, and rounded his year out with Feral Pig 100 miler. Aaron receives 42 points, just nudging ahead of Maree Connor (who also finished on 42 points) on a count-back 7th Place - Maree Connor (NSW) - 42 points Finishing in 7th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is NSW's Maree Connor. Maree had an outstanding year, achieving 2nd place with 221km (and an IAU Level 1 qualifier) at the IAU 24th Asian and Oceania Championships, 1st place at the Lakes Trail Festival 100km, 1st place with 67km at the Southern Sydney 6h race, and 1st place with 116km at the Narrabeen Allnighter 12h. Maree also competed at Spartathlon race this year (for which she contributed an article to the September Ultramag on her experience), receiving 42 points in the competition. 8th Place - Darren Linney (SA) - 41 points Finishing in 8th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is SA's Darren Linney . Darren completed 34 laps at No Time to Die BYU, 199km at the Adelaide 24h race, and 814km at the Australian 6 Day race, for a total of 1241km raced and 41 points . 9th Place - Tristan Cameron (WA) - 40 points Finishing in 9th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is WA's Tristan Cameron. Tristan completed the Ultra Series Triple Crown of 200 mile races (Delirious WEST, Irrational SOUTH and Unreasonable EAST), along with Feral Pig 100 miler, for a total of 1154km raced and 40 points. 10th Place - Jen Millum (WA) - 39 points Finishing in 10th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is WA's Jen Millum . Jen finished 1st at all three of the Ultra Series Trilogy of 100 milers (Delirious WEST, Irrational SOUTH and Unreasonable EAST), and was 2nd female with 35 laps at the Wild Dog Backyard Ultra. With a volunteer stint at the Yaberoo Trail Ultra, Jen finished the year with 39 points in the competition. To view the complete list of members who secured points in 2024 click here and then follow through to Points Summary under the 2024 tab. All winners have already been contacted, with cash prizes distributed for 1st - 7th places, and AUTRA Store vouchers sent for 8th, 9th & 10th.