President’s Report: Simone Hayes for January 2024

Happy New Year to all our members and volunteers!

We trust you all had a safe and happy break over the festive season and of course managed to clock up some fun social kilometres with your tribe. It’s a great time of year to kick back, eat too much (aka carb load) and catch up with friends for that run that doesn’t include a hill rep.

But now the break is over for most, I’m sure our attention is back on the running calendar for 2024! If you have looked at the current list of AURA events that should be enough to get you salivating and planning your year, and we have more events being added each month so keep an eye on it. Remember that as a member, each AURA listed race you run earns you points towards the Annual Points Competition where you can be eligible for big cash prizes. Cash = new running shoes! 

Now that I mention that, a big congratulations to the top 10 in the points comp for 2023!

1.     Geoffrey Langhans – 113
2.     Phil Gore – 90
3.     Grant Brisbin – 58
4.     Jessica Smith – 51
5.     Joshua Duff – 49
6.     Michael Hooker – 47
7.     Harmony Waite – 47
8.     Matthew Griggs – 47
9.     Greg Wilson – 45
10.  Anna Pillinger - 45

This month we held selections for the team that will represent Australia in the upcoming 24 Hour Asian Oceania Championships and it gives me great pleasure to congratulate all the runners that have been selected. 

We have an amazing opportunity to host a championships in our own country so to be able to compete here as well is a true privilege and honour, and we wish them all the best in their preparations. We hope many of you will make the pilgrimage to Canberra that weekend wearing your green and gold to show your support for this amazing team. So save the date – 6-7 April at the AIS is where the action is at! 

And don’t forget that there will also be the Open race alongside of the champs which is also host to the 24 Hour Australian National Championships for 2024. 

This month we also held nominations and voting for the 2023 Performance of the Year Awards. This is a member voted award and highlights the most outstanding performance or milestone in 2023. Check your emails as we’ve sent the full list of those who have been nominated with details on why they have been nominated – Maree Connor, Grant Brisbin, John Yoon, Michael Hooker and Margie Hadley.

Next month we will start the process for the AURA annual awards. 

Our Coaches Corner is filling up with fantastic and informative articles from our AURA Endorsed Coaches, with new articles appearing each month and they are full of great advice to help you achieve your goals and improve your running. We can never learn too much so members, please enjoy these resources and I hope you find something there that inspires you or helps you on your running journey. Our coaches are there to help so make sure you reach out – they also offer an AURA discounts to members if you wish to pursue personal coaching. You can find the link to their information here.

Don’t forget to check out the Podcast Library on the new website to carry you along on your next run and also check out the Gear Reviews for your next shopping spree.

That’s all from me for January and I look forward to a positive and productive 2024 with you all. The Committee have so many plans for AURA to take us into the next decade and beyond and we welcome any feedback or suggestions you may have, just send to president@aura.asn.au.

Simone Hayes

AURA President

Images: Supplied