TRACK ULTRA, BUNBURY RECAP BY FIRST FEMALE BRESSER

Kate Dzienis • August 31, 2021

Contributed by Kerriann Bresser, 1st Female 24hr Track Ultra

24h Track Ultra, 14-15 August 2021, Bunbury WA

This was my first 24-hour track ultra! My longest ever event prior to this was the Race to the Stones in 2019, taking me 16hrs in a fog of jetlag to complete 100kms of the Ridgeway to the stone circle at Avebury UK. So I am totally thrilled to be able to reach 150 kms in this race!

My training for the track ultra was mostly intuitive with many, many hours of brisk walking, at least 1 hour a day. I aimed for a weekly running milage of 50 kms/week, building up to 80 kms at the end of a cycle of three weeks, at 6:40 min/km with little to no speed work but a weekly 6-8 km tempo run (mostly because the slow pace was becoming very tedious).

The race day strategy of 30 minutes run (6:40 min/Km) and 10-minute walk (10 min/Km) worked well for the first half but eventually dwindled to 15 minute shuffles and the walk breaks were getting longer and longer….. and this is where I realised I had neglected my quad muscles in the weekly strength training sessions.

The best part of the experience by far was the comradery from my fellow runners with their endless encouragement and inspiration, as they appeared to orbit and align up with me momentarily, like some strange solar system. Also, worth a mention was being able to watch the sun rise after a long, tough night and that magical coffee from Gabi! Very grateful for all the volunteers who made it happen. Thank you so much!

Looking forward to returning next year to get that 100-mile milestone! Hope to see you there!

A MESSAGE FROM MYRA KEEP, 2ND PLACE FEMALE

Myra Keep – One of the great things about a track ultra is that no matter how far ahead they are, the winners and elite athletes are always right there with you. It means you can be chatting on and off during the race, be there cheering when Dave Kennedy crossed for his 200th kilometre, and it means you can watch in awe as Kerriann Bresser plugged away during the night, for a fabulous win.

Kerriann was one of a group of us “mature” runners, all in our 50s and 60s, who had turned up alone and unsupported, happy to look after ourselves. Our long-suffering spouses had all politely declined to come and sit beside the track for 24 hours (once is probably enough). In addition to Kerriann, Charlotte Rumney, Ian Dougan and I had come across each other before in previous races, and Pamela Williams was a delightful addition to the “seniors strip”, where we all set up our little stations next to each other. The camaraderie was superb, and we ended up supporting each other for the duration of the race. Our little group of “Masters athletes” kept each other going. Well, they certainly kept me going, I hope I returned the favour!

Of note is that the winners of the women’s race have a combined age of 177! At ages 53, 55 and 69, the Masters led the way, establishing our dominance in the “doggedly determined” category. Also of note were some of the rich experiences that fuelled conversation – among our group were World Champion triathletes, competitive powerlifters, and a range of really interesting races (the Berlin Wall 100 miler anyone?). And all this despite various injuries and sometimes life-threatening health conditions.

So I just wanted to acknowledge the tremendous achievements of my fellow Masters athletes on so many levels, and for their wonderful support and camaraderie. Thank you all for being there, for sharing your stories, and for competing despite injuries and illnesses. You made the experience so much richer and worthwhile. It would not have been the same without you.

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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