TURRINI LOOPS THE NARRABEEN AND WINS

Kate Dzienis • January 29, 2018

Contributed by Luca Turrini, 2018 Winner of the Narrabeen All Nighter

THE NARRABEEN LAGOON IS A STUNNING NATURAL COASTAL LAGOON METERS FROM THE OCEAN. IT’S SURROUNDED BY NARRABEEN STATE PARK, A THRIVING BUSHLAND HOME TO A LARGE VARIETY OF BIRDS, RODENTS, BATS, FROGS, MARSUPIALS AND FISH. ALL AROUND IT, A MAN-MADE WALKING TRAIL IS A POPULAR TRAINING GROUND FOR RUNNERS AND CYCLISTS.

On the first weekend of January (January 6) the trail was home for one night to the ultra running community due to the Narrabeen All Nighter (it’s 10th edition). With a number of distances to choose from – marathon, 6hrs and 12hrs either in a team or done solo, the race was an out and back circuit on a 5.2kms loop.

This year was my first year taking part, and I used it as training for a 24hr race I have planned for in March, so there wasn’t any specific goal aside assessing where my physical and mental fitness levels were at. In a nutshell, I managed to run strong throughout and I ended up recording 25.5 loops, 134.4kms, taking home the win and setting a new course record.

It was a good and welcome omen for all things to come in 2018.

I run with my head
For me, running is often more about what goes on in my head than with my legs, and Narrabeen was another example of that. I had a good run because I channelled my mental energy to useful action and I didn’t accept shortcuts.

The last few months have been incredibly stressful; ever since I quit my IT career to follow my passion for running and fundraising, I second guessed myself and doubted my decisions, mainly from a financial stand-point. So

I got to the race day worn out and overloaded with emotions.

Although, I’m actually lucky I got to the race on time as I was disorganised leaving all the logistics to the last minute – quite not like me. On my scooter, riding like a maniac to Narrabeen, I felt full of negative emotions and was upset with myself – I was still stressing about work, the things to do and change, and the future, the children, and on and on and on.

I finally had enough, I shouted to myself “Stop it! That’s enough whinging for the day. Do something useful with all this tension, use it to forward motion.” Throughout the night, every time unnecessary thoughts came to mind, I just acknowledged them and parked them for later, choosing to use that mental energy for things more useful in that moment. Simple things like taking in the surroundings, reading the nametags of other runners, listening to my body and keeping fluids up. Not wasting any mental cycles in things irrelevant to the task ahead.

And while pushing back thoughts was initially hard, few hours into the run I felt relieved. Mentally and physically, it’s like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

Back to the race

The night was warm, about 25 to 27 degrees. I ran the first marathon with friend Andy Heyden, and we chatted the whole way.

He was unable to stay for the full 12 hours, so I was on my own from 3hrs 30 mins onwards, which I didn’t mind, honestly, as I needed some time alone to get it done. I ran every lap consistently, and at no point did I feel bored, or that I’d had enough, or I was pushing the pace.

Being an out and back course with different distance events sharing the trail, and starting at different times, there was always someone approaching in the other direction, or someone to overtake or overtaking me.

There was always a brief exchange of words, a chat or just a mutual nod or cheer to keep me entertained – best of all, most runners were smiling, which was a great booster.

I sat on a stable and comfortable effort and reached the 100kms mark in 8hs 50mins, just before my watch ran out of battery. I continued to run totally by effort, losing track of my actual distance or pace, which felt good for a change.

I didn’t have an official support crew for the night and I was lucky that a volunteer named Dave offered to help by keeping me fed and accommodating all my requests of different drinks at every lap.

It was so hot, I went through half a bottle per lap, or seven litres of liquids in 12 hours, and every lap I just felt like having something different…it was either more ice, electrolytes, coke, less water.

No shortcuts

Dave was setup at the finish line and, with about 70 minutes to go, he advised me that if I could keep my laps (5.26kms) under 30 minutes, I would most likely have enough time to attempt one last half lap before the 12 hours. I started my second last loop thinking I didn’t actually need to do another half lap. It was a training run, and I’d already reached a good distance.

Also, I’d thought to myself that if I did another half lap, it would I’d have to jog back from the other end of the course anyway, so one more lap it was.

I thought briefly that at the other end, there would be nobody to cheer when I finished, and if just kept the pace, I wouldn’t make it and nobody would know any different.

Then another thought came to mind.

“This sounds like taking a shortcut, and that’s cheating. What’s good about that?

I laughed to myself as these are the exact sorts of thoughts I have on my training runs.

So, I increased my pace just a little and surely, I got to the finish line two loops later with exactly 15 minutes left – enough to complete another half loop…only just! I had to bolt the last 200-meters to reach the timing mat a few seconds under the 12hs cut-off.

Pictured: Luca Turrini. Photograph – Supplied.

Ultramag contributor Luca Turrini is a world record holder endurance runner and keynote speaker with a passion for unusual running adventures and training the mind to achieve often seemingly impossible feats. Born in Italy, he is now an Aussie based in Sydney.

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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