THE UPHILL CLIMB WITH 7 PEAKS IN 7 DAYS

Kate Dzienis • April 30, 2021

By Kate Dzienis

Because pushing himself beyond the limits isn’t enough, AURA’s Dion Finocchiaro earlier this month participated in the 7 Peaks in 7 Days challenge, hoping to raise awareness and funds for SANDS Australia with a group of other runners in the state of Victoria.

SANDS Australia is a volunteer-based organisation providing individualised care from one bereaved parent to another following the death of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or newborn death.

Finocchiaro’s colleague Jay Bosanquet and his wife Naomi lost their baby daughter 5 months into their pregnancy back in 2020, whilst Finocchiaro’s twin brother lost his girl soon after birth.

On a personal level, this has hit Finocchiaro hard and when Bosanquet came to him last year with the idea of running to raise funds and awareness, he was all in.

So together with mate Eric Groulier, the three of them decided to challenge themselves and complete 7 Peaks in 7 Days over the 2021 Easter period.

So what was the concept?

7 Peaks in 7 Days is originally a cycling challenge through Victoria’s High Country that takes cyclists up winding mountain roads, around steep turns and past spectacular views right to the top of seven Victorian Alpine Resorts.

Finocchiaro, Bosanquet and Groulier decided to do without the aid of bikes, and instead use their running shoes.

Here’s a look at the daily mileage and elevation.

Day 1 (April 3)
Up Mt Baw Baw, a total of 6.71km with a moving time of 1h 01m, elevation of 750m.
Day 2 (April 4)
Lake Mountain Road Climb, a total of 21.05km in 2h 09m, elevation of 982m.
Day 3 (April 5)
Mt Buller Tourists Road Climb, a total of 15.23km in 1h 42m, elevation of 933m.
Day 4 (April 6)
Mt Buffalo Road Climb, a total of 20.62km in 2h 2m, elevation of 1069m.
Day 5 (April 7)
Mt Hotham, a total of 30.36km in 3h 33m, elevation of 1471m.
Day 6 (April 8)
Falls Creek (Bogong High Plains Road Climb), a total of 29.01km in 2h 57m, elevation of 1297m
Day 7 (April 9)
Dinner Plain (Great Alpine Road Climb), a total of 42.79km in 4h 11m, elevation of 1442m.

Finocchiaro explained that although it was the three of them for the entire challenge, multiple runners joined them along the way, with Bosanquet’s wife Naomi heading up to the top of the each mountain to do the same distance but without the elevation.

“There were no marked paths, no bike lanes, just ‘country’ roads where some parts were not that safe but not terribly busy either,” he recaps.

“All 7 peaks were beautiful to run on with nice weather, great company, and brilliant views; some of the areas we were running through were fire effected, whilst others had a lot of recovery happening.

“Logistically doing the 7 peaks in 7 days was a bit challenging because there was a lot of driving every day to and from the start or finish lines, plus going back home or changing accommodation.”

When it came to the elevation, Finocchiaro said running uphill was a much better choice than heading downhill.

“I was expecting to be quite bad when it came to soreness and recovery from going uphill,” he said.

“But it was actually okay because the impact was not really there; it was more so that we were tired and had to walk a bit so when the walking came into play we were tired in the glutes and hips, but impact-wise we were able to keep going day after day.

“Look it was never easy, but because we all knew why we were doing it, all of us with reasons to keep us going, and the fact we were doing it together, it kept us motivated that way; the physical strain on the muscles is so much better when you’re going up.”

Finocchiaro actually did a 13km recovery run the day after 7 Peaks in 7 Days finished, but he said he was a write-off afterwards for 8 days.

“When we started, I wasn’t sore at all but that day I couldn’t head out for a run for just over a week,” he recalls.

“Despite that, we always made sure we were recovering well after each peak whether it was ensuring nutrition was on track, getting enough sleep, and stretching the muscles.”

Approximately $12,000 was raised between the 3 runners, with Finocchiaro shaving off his well-known beard off on April 12 once he reached $5000.

Finocchiaro is getting back into the swing of things with his running following his trip to the US for the Hoka Project Carbon X2 last year, and is yet to set his sights on an A Race.

Pictured: Eric Groulier, Jay Bosanquet and Dion Finochiaro on Day 2 of 7 Peaks in 7 Days. 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