kunanyi Mountain Run, Wild Earth Training Camp. Standard Entries Close 31st March.
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Wow, what an experience! kunanyi Mountain Run (kMR) was an elevated trail running experience from the Indigenous welcome ceremonies from the community leaders, who bless each runner with a smoking ceremony and welcoming dances to the soaring height of the mountain itself with a sweeping view of Hobart and beyond. kunanyi AKK Mt Wellington is known for its incredibly technical, steep terrain and world-class rocky trails. kMR was race two on the Golden Trail National Series, powered by Salomon, and the best of the best flew in from across Australia to race with kunanyi, who grows in size the closer you get to her. This event is worth adding to your bucket list as a MUST-do event in your trail running calendar.
The standard of runners was high, with the GTNS event attracting runners from across the globe and Australia to participate in the four distances plus the relays and kids runs. The times were blistering quick, with the records falling in almost every event, and most notably, the standard of the GTNS 25km Mountain Run being so high that the first five males broke the 2023 record. The top three women broke the 2023 record. The race also attracted two race directors, Shona Stephenson, BTU RD, just managing to make it into the top 20, and BTU100Mi, BTU110 and race Director of the 3rd race on the GTNS, The Coastal Assent, Vlad Shatrov, finishing 18th.
kunanyi Mountain claimed many knees, with RD Shona taking a smash on a descent, 7th place Liam Mckenzie (BTU Coach) tumbling, and 2nd Place Female Melanie Daniels needing stitches, to name a few. It was easier for the medic post-event to count how many people didn’t have a crash than in the super-fast 25km. We loved watching 25km women’s records also fall; in the Mountain Run, male and female Ultra records were smashed by BTU podium winners Piotr Babis and Patricia McKibbin. It’s so good to see the standard Australian trail running accelerate to the next level as our top athletes race for one in 4 Golden Tickets that will be decided on at the BTU in June!
Here is how the BTU community went;
kMR Vertical Km
1st Ursula Adams, 2nd Simone Brick (Team Salomon Aus/NZ and Shokz Aus/NZ Headphones).
1st Iain Best (New record), 2nd David Bailey, 4th Liam Mckenzie (Hammer Nutrition Aus, Wild Earth Australia), 5th Luke Davidson and newly claimed BTU community after a drive down the mountain, a special mention to 9th place Bradley McClelland just because he shared a ride down the mountain with the BTU podiums!
kMR GTNS Mountain Run 25km
Female - 3rd Courtney Gilfillan (Hammer Nutrition Australia, Wild Earth Australia) 4th Elena Stephenson.
Male - 4th Brodie Nankervis (Salomon Aus/NZ), 7th Liam Mckenzie (Hammer Nutrition Australia, Wild Earth Australia) and 8th Jack Gill (Hammer Nutrition Australia, Wild Earth Australia).
kMR Ultra 66km
Female - 1st Patricia McKibbin (New Record), Claire O’Brien-Smith (Team Salomon, entered BTU2024), Ursula Adams 6th and Hanna McBrae 8th.
Male - Piotr Babis (Hammer Nutrition Aus) and (New Record)
kMR Foothills 9km
Female - 3rd Ursula Adams
Male - 2nd David Bailey, 4th Luke Davidson.
Then there were the “Immersions”, doing a race a day for three days. As you can see from above, Ursula Adams also made it onto the podium and was awarded a special prize for completing the Vkm, Ultra, and Foothills.
This is a race to remember, receiving fantastic support from the Tasmanian Government, Hobart Council, and local trail-running Communities. The series is powered by Salomon, who bought in a DJ and an eski full of beer and cider for us all to enjoy at the after-party! kMR is well worth the climb a trip to Van Demon Land!
Other special mentions from a weekend of epic racing are congratulations to the Ultra Trail Noosa Runners, especially to our previous BTU podium winners in the 100 km Andrew Day, 1st Place, Jacqui Bell, 4th, and in the 50km Victoria Beck, 3rd, and Montana McAvoy, 4th.
In Yandina 50, Shaun Pettit is 1st, Tom Brimelow is 2nd, Hayley Teale is 2nd female, 3rd Julia Farqhuar. In the 36km, Joshua Kersevani was coming in 4th in the 21km, 2nd place Quinton Gill.
Buffalo Stampede, Cecilia Mattas won the 100km female, in the 42km, Billy Curtis placed 1st, Mike Carroll 3rd, BTU20 signed up for the GTNS was 1st place, Max Taylor in the 10km, Matthew Dunn 3rd, Monika Lurdkis 1st in the 10km.
Our next Wild Earth BTU Training camp is just around the corner hosted by our amazing coaches including Liam McKenzie who just places 7th in the GTNS Mountain Run, 4th in the Vkm in Tassie, RD Shona Stephenson is back also from kMR. They will be joined by ultra running legends Susannah Harvey-Jaimeson and Jodie Oborne and Club - KT Community, Sydney Marathon Race Ambassador, PT and Running Coach Katie Dall.
Check out our coaches profiles here.
Our April Training Camp is split between two groups: a speedy group (Run/Walk/Power Hike climbs) and a cruisey group (Walk Climbs). Within the groups, you can choose between 30km and 40km, depending on where you are in your training program. The Maps are available on the Capra App, so please take the time to download the app and get organised for the camp.
If you haven’t already “SIGNED UP”, take the time to do it now. We still have a few spots available for you and your mates!
Here are some details below;
Route: Wild Earth BTU STWC March Training Camp 2023 | 42.8 km Running Route on Strava
This route is rather undulating, and the single tracks are absolutely amazing (some of my favourite countries through here). I would highly suggest you wear grippy shoes, and if you would like to practice running with your poles, this is the best time to bring them out. We will practice using poles, eating and timing your nutrition and hydration, plus offer great trail tips and more!
Water stops:
11.1km - McAfee's Lookout (water, Hammer Nutrition, Red Bull Energy) 30km/40km
19.2km - Gold Creek Reservoir (water, Hammer Nutrition, Red Bull Energy) 30km/40km
32.5km - Gap Creek Reserve (taps only) 40km
34.8km - Top of Kokoda Climb (Red Bull Energy) 40km
38.2km - Grey Gum picnic area (taps only) 40km
41.4km - Corra-Mulling Park (taps only) 40km
Back at the cars - light refreshments, water, snacks, Hammer Nutrition, Red Bull Energy
Toilets:
0km - Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre (400m from parking area)
19.2km - Gold Creek Reservoir - 30km/40km
32.5km - Gap Creek Reserve - 40km
38.2km - Grey Gum picnic area - 40km
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about the upcoming training camps, please email shona@brisbanetrailultra.earth.
We’d love to hear from you.
Stay dry, rest and recover!
team BTU!
