Seeing the IAU calling for national teams to a "Trail World Challenge" in the US set me thinking. An event like this means a national body, in this case AURA since its a 50-miler, selects a national team. All good for those who make the trip, but it started me thinking about what type of sanctioned events are best suited to develop the trails scene.

Trails running is a bit different, less distinct than Mountain Running which is shorter and steeper, attracting more elite runners. Ultra running of course is longer, attracting a dedicated core of very fit runners, and also has a somewhat split personality between its road and trail sides. Adventure racing is having a real boom in participation, and gets lots of sponsorship because it sells lots of gear, but is more expensive. Treks and challenges are similarly booming, but are typically only one-per-year because of the organisation required.

Trail running provides a bit of all these, but also has the potential to deliver more entry level ie shorter events which encourage participation and extend the fun runner's horizons. The best model for competitive trail events I can see is the US Sportiva series - basically any substantial trail race can take part, so its about building participation through a cumulative points series. I think this is the way to go here too; would be interested in other's comments.

greg i completely agree that shorter trail runs is the way to get people interested.
lots more will be interested in 10-30km off road events than will front up for their first trail run as an ultra.
never met a person who turned up for their first trail run and didnt enjoy it!!
this is even when they have been rained on, fallen and gotten lost.
the key thing is to get these people to turn up in the first place - i guess by advertising via clubs, at major events (eg gcm...) and via CR of course!
not sure about a points series myself - probably more a yank thing.

had crows eat their food or even if they dropped their favourite headband in poo.

Speaking for myself, I would love to do more trail runs. But, for the time being, I have neither the fitness, nor the desire to do ultra distances. So, shorter distance races (10 - 30km) would suit me down to the ground.

I believe that given all the aggro of organising road races eg road closures and the like that trail running will have a strong future, as long as "sympathetic authorities" alllow the trails to be run in the first place.

Absolutely, I think that shorter races are the way to go to encourage more people. However my only caution is that trail running is about being out in the countryside and being on crowded trails with sweaty runners isn't always very harmonious.

perhaps trail races outside of summer heat would be helpfull.

My feel is that there is a tendency to organize trail ultras here in the hotest conditions of the year, while nature friendly winter is ignored.

I am not sure how much it is because there is a panick from a single snowflake, but the 40+ degrees and burning sun with no drinking water is considered safe and healthy

Great topic Greg and I am sure all of us could write a friggin thesis on this! Totally agree about the shorter races and they don't all have to be 'serious' events - I love looking at Trail Runner Magazine's event directory where runs often piggyback with food tours, music events, games etc. I know you've got some good ideas yourself! Running is so diverse (which is great) but ultimately we are all doing the same thing and I hope more events will equal increase participation - particularly for trail running. On that note, it's really sad when National Parks seem to be a huge barrier (here in Queensland anyway).

Regarding Adventure Racing... obviously it's now huge worldwide, and it's interesting to note that there seems to be a trend toward focusing on stage events where trail running features prominently. I have a number of friends who you could classify as full-time pro AR racers! Here in Australia, top trail runners get absolutely zip. So your post Greg brings up two issues for me. One is to increase participation in trail running - the other is to increase the profile of trail running as a sport . I am grateful that AURA is getting behind the World Champs and despite my 'attacks' a while back, I understand it's very difficult situation for them. Understandably, they are really forced to use road events for qualification.

I know a lot of people (myself included) would hate to see Trail Running become some kind of elitist, ultra-hyped 'extreme' sport, but there is obviously some need to help runners achieve goals and be able to follow their running dreams. For most trail runners, that means the ability to compete at events like the World Champs. I think trail running will always remain a relaxed, friendly sport because people ultimately do it to frolic in the bush and meet like-minded people - not because they want to "be the best" or "break records". But Australia has sooo much potential to do well at the 'big races' in Europe and the US. Look at people like Martin Fryer and David Eadie at WS100.

At the moment it's clear that our top road runners are simply much better athletes (would be very interesting to see someone like Dave Criniti run the trail Worlds). But in the future, we need some way of having 50 mile trail events become qualifiers for the Worlds and I am sure AURA is onto it. No matter what anyone says, running for your country must be an amazing experience. Traveling to events in Australia is very expensive and it's rare that a trail event boasts a truly top field at the competitive end. More races, like the series put forward by Greg would make this easier. Top trail runners would only get IAU grants if they do well at big road races and cannot expect any support (yet) from shoe companies etc. Increased profile and events will make this possible.

Better get back to work huh. Hey Rudolf - good comments re: ultras. I'd love to see some more winter runs but remember that winter runs can sometimes be a lot more 'dangerous' than summer. I still wore a thermal at GH100 at night.

Definitely shorter events to get people interested. Very intimidating if your first trail event is going to be 50km/50 mile, but 10km or 21km is an achievable goal for most runners. This distance then falls out of the AURA organisation, so who puts it together???? Most running clubs are focused on road events, AMRA is different again, so it is left in a bit of a black hole.

I see the biggest problem is when the event becomes 'official'. Lots of red tape to get through with NPWS to make an event work. A special events contact at NPWS to cover all parks would definitely make any official events much easier to organise.

I was trying to get this concept going around Sydney, 'fatass' style, but it lost a bit of steam. TRAQ seems to have the right idea up north and I am sure a similar concept/group in Sydney/NSW would have a lot of interest.


Rod

I was one of the beginners who was attracted to the short event (12km) at the last Glasshouse Trail Run. I had been running for about 2-3 months before the event so I wouldn't have felt ready for anything bigger than 12km but it's definitely something I've wanted to do ever since I heard about it.

In some ways, this question is the wrong way round when you look at the participation numbers. Just for the event I participated in: http://www.runtrails.org/GH/PDF/GH%20200709%20final.pdf as far as I can tell the total number of ultra participants was less than was in the 30km group, and the 12km group was the biggest by far - almost as big as all the other groups put together. I imagine too that the shorter events require a bit less planning and event coordination. I'd like to see even more short events if at all possible, even if including an ultra would be too onerous.

Don't get me wrong - I think the ultra events and their runners are awesome, and I definitely hope to join them some day!

Similar to the situation with rogaining (see http://www.nswrogaining.org/AboutRogaining...Novice_Pack.pdf for the uninitiated), where the "gold standard" is the 24 hour event, but there are usually more 6 hour events because they are both more popular (ie., more people attend) and probably a little easier to organise.

Before I sign off, I have to say that my wife and I both loved the glasshouse trail run, which was our first trail run ever , and really appreciate the great job and all the effort that went into organising it and making it so much fun!

Trail running in Western Australia has certianly taken off in the last few years, well on the Ultra scene anyway. There are now trail runs ranging from 45km - 100 mile. There are not many shorter trail races that I know of except the king of the mountain (16km). I think we really do need to incorporate some shorter distance options into the bigger races to attract more people to trail running. I mean, once you've done a trail run, there's just no turning back!

I would absolutely agree that the lack of shorter trail runs are standing in the way of wider participation in the sport - I think trail running and ultra running are associated in many peoples minds.

With some of the fatass events the fear of getting lost may put people off - for the uninitiated heading out into the middle of the Blue Mountains with a photocopied map is a bit daunting. Thats why I think organised events or better trail marking may be the way to go.
Perhaps some shorter suburban trails would be a good way to introduce it to people - less chance of getting lost on right on our doorsteps.

In NSW we seem to have some really good shorter trail runs, that I've done a few of this year. There's Woodford to Glenbrook, Mt Wilson to Bilpin a few fat ass events and the really good mountain running series that Kembla Joggers put on over summer. Distances ranging from 5k to 32k (I think). I think the 5k is 5k straight up a cliff face so it's not easy but that's part of the fun.

Check this link for a list of offroad races going around.

Even 12k's might be a bit long for mass participation, unless maybe a walk option or generous cut-off time is known to possible entrants. I am thinking, if I wanted my non-running friends to come along to a trail run to try it out, I think they would be scared off from doing 12km.

You wouldn't want to drive 100km's to do a 5k walk, but you might want to do that if another friend or family member was doing a longer run and you wanted to participate as well.

Jess, I have been organising the Glasshouse Trail runs since 1990 and there is always a short option of 8-12 km where walkers are welcome, some take well over 2hrs to complete these short 'runs'. What has been commented on in this thread I have been doing since 1990. I have a group of ladies who have been attending the Glasshouse runs for the last ten years and the eldest of these turned 80 this year. Any Glasshouse event has at least three options and as many as five. Some may think of Glasshouse only in terms of the 100 mile event but I have had as many as 100+ in the short events but a maximum of 26 in the 100 mile. Southern states should take note that we have formed a Trail Running Association in Queensland that has had a very successful year financially and we are now pushing to change the negative attitude of the National Parks people to allowing mass participation events on Parks land even if it is only once or twice a year. If Trail Running is to advance as a sport the main thing that is needed is people who are prepared to become involved in organising such events. I have a list of procedures to follow in organising such an event if any person is interested. Email ijaves@caloundra.net.

Competing in the Fitzroy Falls Fire Trail Marathon yesterday got me thinking again about this topic. To my mind the FFFTM is a pretty good formula for a trail event: a longer event to appeal to marathoners and ultra-runners, as well as shorter events 10km and 5km. The 5km run/walk opens up the event to families and with some clever planning the overhead in terms of aid stations and course marking can be minimised.

A common feature of some of the best Australian trail races is involvement of the rural fire service (e.g. in NSW: Willy to Billy, FFFTM, 6 Foot). They have the people and vehicles to man aid stations - I just hope the funds raised justify the huge contribution they make. I imagine involvement of (and fundraising for) the RFS make negotiating with the authorities somewhat easier and may in time lead to new races organised in a similar way. Having said that I have no trouble finding an off-road race every three weeks or so all year round - some low-key and some more major, but there is no great shortage around Sydney.

I think the future is bright and whether you call it mountain running, trail running or whatever (the lines are blurred) more and more runners are taking part. With rising numbers come other challenges (littering, parking, crowded trails etc.) but better to have those problems rather than no race at all.

I would agree that trail running is addictive but once addicted there are trails all around Sydney so getting a weekly dose is quite easy. as far as organised events are concerned, I have attempted to get to most of the fatass runs and as Rod points out these can be planned and coordinated by anyone. So whats next? I am out of town for the next two weeks but should resume my acquaintance with Quarry Rd on Nov 4th

happy trails