Split Between Two Worlds
The Brisbane Trail Ultra Team is split between two worlds that couldn’t feel further apart. An unprecedented Super Storm Cell hit Queensland, now moving south through New South Wales, may even reach Tasmania. Cora is in Brisbane which has suffered one of the worst floods South East Queensland (SEQ) has faced in living memory and Shona is in the Canary Islands. Shona left as the heavy rains started to tear through, just as the destructive floods were impacting the region. Having to navigate around floodwaters to make it to the airport, she luckily left her partner behind to look after the house. Every household in the SEQ is impacted in some way and we are thinking of all of you.
Shona now sits by a pool in the stunning sunshine in the Canary Islands. The Canary Islands are stunning; a Spanish archipelago off the coast of north-western Africa, known for the mild weather and rugged volcanic mountain formations. They also have iconic black and white sandy beaches, as well as sand dunes. Gran Canaria is the Island Chain’s third biggest island and the second-most populous of the island group with a population of 851,321 thousand people. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the Islands' capital, is Spain’s 9th most populous city. Mapalomas is where the expo and the Finish Line is of Transgrancanaria, the oldest ultramarathon in the world.
Mariano Alvarez, Patagonia Run, Aconcagua Ultra Trail, Shane Ohly, Skyline Scotland, Shona Stephenson, Brisbane Trail Ultra, Patrick Fjallmaraton, David, ULTRA PIRINEU, Fernando, Transgrancanaria.
The Spartan Trail World Championship consists of some of the most iconic events across the globe with an amazing amount of history. Transgrancanaria was one of the first trail running events ever established, now celebrating 20 years of racing, FJÄLLMARATON has been running for fifteen years, Salamon Ultra Pirineu for thirteen Years, Patagonia Run is now in its twelfth year, Skyline Scotland twelve years. Brisbane Trail Ultra is definitely the up-and-coming event in the group which we are really proud of.
STWC Trail Podium, Martin Norway 2nd, 1st Antonio Martínez Spain, Snezana Serbia 3rd , Elisa Desco Italy 1st , Ida Sweden 2nd.
Shona was invited to STOP One, Transgrancanaria, Season Two, and also the Spartan Trail World Championship 2021 Season One Awards Ceremony and is delighted to have the opportunity to meet the Spartan Trail World Championship podium winners and hopefully convince them to come and race at the Brisbane Trail Ultra 2022. The podium winners Spain, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Serbia (YES! Snezana is vaccinated and would like to come to Australia 😂), and Argentina. Everyone was blown away that Shona made the effort to come to the event. Shona has been interviewed by the European Press and is promoting Brisbane Trail Ultra 2022 to everyone. Our unique Australian Wildlife, kangaroos, Koalas , Echidnas, Snakes, Goannas, are an absolute winner for the Europeans. We are selling Brisbane Trail Ultra as the race that you can see baby Kangaroos! Explaining a Pademelon to them was a bit complicated! The field is amazing, extremely diverse European lineup with over fifty countries being represented at the iconic event. The people in Spain are amazing, fun, happy energetic. They are also as covid safe as the Australian’s if not more cautious. Massive Thumbs up.
We are excited that Both Azara Garcia 1st Female in the Ultra (who is recovering from surgery) and Ben Kimtai 3rd Male in the Ultra, are keen to come down under to the Brisbane Trail Ultra 2022 July. Watch this space to see who we can attract to the Brisbane Trail Ultra 2022.
Lastly, we can’t ignore the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Russia. I am sure we are all watching the news in disbelief of what is happening. We hope and pray this war doesn’t esculate any further. We have changed the Brisbane Trail Ultra logo as a sign of our solidarity with the courageous Ukrainian people. Our thoughts and prayers are with them in this horrific time.
As we are expecting more storm activity over the weekend. We've already had an exceptionally wet and destructive week around South East Queensland with much of Brisbane has been affected by flooding. Record rainfall has made its way up the D'Aguilar National Park. Mt Glorious had received its average annual rainfall amount in ust a few days. Seqwater is keeping us updated with flood releases, dam spills and outflows at all SEQ Water locations as all their sites remain closed over the weekend.
For more information on area closures and safety alerts in SEQ, please visit the below sites:
https://ewa.brisbane.qld.gov.au/
https://www.seqwater.com.au/
https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/park-alerts
Stay safe and run safe over this weekend, we are thinking of you.
Shona and Cora.