MENTORING THE YOUTH OF TODAY TO BE THE RUNNERS OF TOMORROW

Kate Dzienis • October 28, 2020

By Kate Dzienis

The next generation of ultra runners starts with us. Just like each one of you has found inspiration in a fellow or former long distance athlete, the youth of today is watching. Whether you see it or not, they are watching and listening, and learning of the sport that may provide them with a positive impact later in life.

This impact has already started with one particular boy from Queensland. Fourteen-year-old Mathis Marten, who attends year 8 at Samford Steiner School, contacted AURA Vice President Matthew Eckford earlier this year in February when he chose his topic for a school project, How To Train For And Run A Half Marathon.

Mathis explained he had read a YA book called Just Breathe by Andrew Daddo and had grown up in Berlin, Germany where he witnessed the Berlin Marathon on many occasions, thus giving him the idea of the topic for his school project.

“The project is something you work on for the whole year, you keep a journal, and write essays about it, and then give a speech at the end of the year,” he said.

“My mum’s colleague was Matt’s wife’s midwife, and my mum happened to mention to them about my project – her colleague knew Matt, and so everyone worked together to get me in touch with him.”

Mathis connected with Eckford and together they formed a training plan suitable for a young teenager to achieve his first ever half marathon. Mathis had played soccer in previous years, and felt he couldn’t run more than 2kms so thoroughly looked forward to building up his distance and having fun at the same time.

“Matt is an amazing guy, I could not have imagined a better mentor to do this with,” Mathis said.

“We went on lots of runs together, he was really nice; the first time we met it was at a café where he gave me so much advice on running and we wrote a training plan which was a four-day-a-week plan, adding up to about 40km a week.

“I’ve been following that strictly up until two months in the lead up to the River Run 100 half marathon because of either my Sever’s (calcaneal apophysitis, or inflammation in the heel) that I have or things in life have made me cut short a run, etc.”

Mathis hoped his speech at the end of the year would inspire some children his age to consider taking up running.

“Most people my age play footy or soccer, there aren’t a lot who would think about going for a run because so many of them consider it boring,” he explained.

“But in my perspective, it gave me commitment and a routine in life; you can do it anywhere and anytime, and the best part is that it really costs nothing.”

He also said that going for a run before school helped him mentally prepare for the day as it cleared his mind.

On 11 October, 2020 Mathis ran his first half marathon with Eckford alongside him at the River Run 100 event in Auchenflower, Qld where he finished in a time of 1:46:30.

Eckford said he thoroughly enjoyed the journey with his young student.

“I’ve made a great new friend in Mathis,” he said.

“Working around school, growing pains and injuries and various race cancellations due to COVID-19, we eventually got to race his first official half marathon at the River Run 100.

“He was a very happy young man who I hope I can drag to the dark side of the 42.2km+ ultra running world one day.”

Mathis said there was definitely more running in his future.

“I will absolutely run more half marathons in the future, no doubt about it,” he said.

“At the moment, I’m unable to run 100% because of my Sever’s, and after I ran the River Run 100 half marathon it flared up again but I’ve been swimming and bike riding and keeping fit.

“It’s something I will grow out of eventually and it’s all about managing it.”

Mathis’ goal is to complete the Gold Coast half marathon next year, saying he would love to do the marathon but legally is unable to sign up for it until he is 18.

“In the future, I also want to do the Berlin Marathon,” he said.

Keep an eye out for Mathis’ name in years to come, he will certainly be one to look out for.

Pictured: AURA Vice President Matthew Eckford in the green AURA shirt with Mathis Marten (R) in the grey shirt. Photograph – Supplied.

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Australian Mountain and Trail Running Championships 2027

By Jin Kato • July 8, 2026

The world-class trails of Kunanyi/Mt Wellington will play centre-stage for one of the country’s fastest-growing sports, after the Kunanyi Mountain Run (KMR) was awarded the hosting rights for the first-ever combined Australian Mountain and Trail Running Championships (AMTRC). KMR was awarded the National Championships after a competitive bid process, overseen by the Australian Ultra and Trail Running Association (AUTRA) and Australian Athletics (AA). AUTRA President, John Claridge, said that KMR “offered everything we were looking for”. “World-class trails, proven event management and a passionate community. It provides the perfect stage for Australia's first combined National Trail Championships," he said. It’s expected that Australia’s elite mountain and trail running athletes, and support crew, will travel to Hobart, as they vie for a spot in the Australian team that competes at the 2027 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. "This is a landmark moment for trail running in Australia,” Mr Claridge said. "We're excited about what this championship represents; not just next year, but for the future of trail running in Australia... helping grow the sport and inspire the next generation of trail runners." The 2027 AMTRC at KMR will be the first time that all championship distances have been held together, at the one festival. “It aligns us more closely with the way World Championships are presented, creating a stronger pathway for athletes and raising the profile of the sport,” Mr Claridge said. KMR, a 3-day trail running festival which has been held annually since 2022, expects to draw more than 1500 runners and hikers from across Tasmania, Australia and internationally next year. The AMTRC will be embedded within KMR’s existing event program, allowing elite athletes to compete for the national titles, while sharing the same spectacular trails and event-experience as recreational runners. “We’re honoured to have been selected as host,” KMR’s founder and director, Lincoln Quilliam said. “KMR continues to welcome runners, and hikers, of all abilities. From the elites who want to represent Australia on the world stage, the group of mates or work colleagues who run the team relay together, the mums returning to running after having a baby, as well as those who are trying trail running for the very first time,” Mr Quilliam said. Tasmanian runner, Jessica Collins, who has represented Australia, said it was exciting news for KMR, Tasmania and the sport. “This is such a great opportunity for Australian athletes. I’ve run many of the KMR events and know the courses and the terrain are on par with what we see at the World Champs,” she said. The City of Hobart has supported Kunanyi Mountain Run since its inception, and Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said she was “thrilled” with the news. “Events like this not only showcase the natural beauty of our region but also reinforce Hobart’s reputation as a vibrant destination for world-class outdoor experiences.” The 2026 edition of KMR brought in $4 million to the Tasmanian economy, generating more than 8000 bed nights across the state, which Alex Heroys, Chief Executive of Destination Southern Tasmania, said was a “significant return for the visitor economy”. “Kunanyi / Mount Wellington is one of Tasmania’s great natural assets, and the Kunanyi Mountain Run shows exactly how powerful events can be in driving regional tourism,” he said. “We have an epic mountain right on Hobart’s doorstep, an airport less than 30 minutes away, and a city that is well set up to welcome thousands of visiting athletes, support crews and spectators.” “This event also reinforces Tasmania’s growing reputation as a world-class trail running destination. With steep, technical trails and real mountain terrain, Kunanyi offers conditions that are genuinely comparable to what athletes will experience at the World Championships, making it an ideal place to compete, train and visit.” For more information: Kunanyi Mountain Run Dates: 19-21 March 2027 Pic credit: David Nolan & Ryan Slater