NAVIGATING RACES IN A CHANGING Climate

SO MUCH CHANGE HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WHEN IT COMES TO TAKING ALL CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE ENTERING AN EVENT. WE’RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE POPULARITY OF OUR SPORT GROWING EITHER AND DEALING WITH BIG NUMBERS – WE’RE TALKING NATURAL ALTERATIONS IN CLIMATE AND THE HABITAT AROUND US. AS HILARY MCALLISTER DISCOVERS, THESE DAYS THERE’S MUCH TO ABSORB AND PREPARE FOR THAN JUST TAKING TIME OFF WORK AND ENSURING YOUR TRAINING IS UP TO PAR – IT CAN SOMETIMES BE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOUR A RACE HAS BEEN MODIFIED OR EVEN WORSE, CANCELLED BECAUSE OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS.

Just a few years ago, our key considerations before signing up for an event were, can I get the time off work, find time for training, keep that niggle at bay, afford the race fee and stomach another gel feast!?

Fast forward a few years and since 2020 that list has grown considerably. COVID aside, the increased frequency of severe weather events has meant that many races, both big and small, have had to postpone or cancel.

For the past two years, I’ve been sitting back, watching from behind the metaphorical bars of injury, empathising with my fellow trail-loving friends as they experience the frustration of postponed events and the subsequent mental and physical juggle of training, work, travel and logistics that goes with it.

I love trail running because it allows me to get out into nature, clear my head and over time, be able to explore further and faster.

I believe that trail running is inextricably intertwined with nature, and therefore to be able to continue to enjoy time on the trails, I need to give to these places. In 2020, I was one of the rag-tag trail runners that co-founded For Wild Places, a not-forprofit that strives to connect trail runners with ways to protect the wild places we love to explore.

In the aftermath of the Black Summer bushfires, it was a small way in which we could harness the go-get-‘em attitude of the trail community, and take action to curb the impacts of climate change on the places we love most.

Since this time, our continent has experienced more frequent and severe weather events, from flooding and high winds to unseasonable snow and catastrophic heat.

After several conversations with others in the trail running space, it’s clear I’m not alone in feeling concerned for the future of this sport.

What will become of trail and ultra running events on a continent that experiences the devastating effects of climate change on such an ‘unprecedented’ occurrence?

To try and make sense of this, I chatted to a couple individuals from both sides of the events space to understand their perspectives and experiences, and how they feel about the future of the industry in Australia.

Two runners I discussed the issue with are both people I look up to, as they identify as environmentalists first, and athletes second.

Tom Batrouney is from Sydney’s Northern Beaches, and spends his days either elbowdeep in rubbish, or getting excited about it as SeaBin’s Operations and Experience Lead.

Then there’s Naomi Brand, a South African veterinarian by day, van-lifer by night and can be found exploring trails of Aotearoa in between. Both of these sponsored athletes (Salomon and Patagonia respectively) set their sights on UTA100 in May 2022, putting in hours of training the mind, body and gut to traverse the beautiful yet brutal trails of Ultra Trail-Australia by UTMB.

Like the thousands of people who register for this event each year, Tom and Naomi had to navigate postponements and significant course changes before toeing the start line in October 2022. The decision to postpone from the usual May date was made in April after La Niña-induced rain events unleashed four times the monthly average rainfall in March alone.

Most trails throughout the Blue Mountains were closed and subsequently annihilated by severe storms in July 2022, resulting in the area being declared a Natural Disaster Area. Heavy rainfall then proceeded the

October date, resulting in course changes that weren’t communicated to runners until the day before the event started.

The changes made for a much flatter, runnable course with lots of fire trails, meaning a lot of Tom’s stair and technical training was unnecessary. After nursing injury in the months leading up to the new date, he decided it wasn’t his day out there and pulled the pin, heading home with a DNF and an intact body – but ready to focus on the next event.

Whilst it wasn’t going to be Tom’s day out there, it certainly was Naomi’s. Stoked to be racing internationally again, with a string of cancelled flights, missed races and wasted money behind her, UTA 100 allowed Naomi to fall in love with her ‘why’ again, and ‘even dare to dream about my ‘how’, and ‘when’, and ‘where’.”

The changing nature of trail and ultra running will challenge even the most committed, adaptable, and determined athlete.

Naomi recognises that ultra running is about controlling the controllables, and relying on experience, practice and grit to navigate what’s not controllable.

Tom has a similar attitude, understanding that “[when] I’m putting myself out in nature, and when I commit to doing that, it’s all about me, looking after me. Anything can happen out there.”

Indeed, in a changing climate, anything is possible and as competitors we need to understand that. Rolling with course changes, date changes, varied terrain, start times, extreme tides and diversions is the price we pay to spend quality, one-onone time in Mother Nature’s company. Flexibility is not often associated with an ultra runner on a regimented training plan, but as the climate changes we’ll be forced to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. Adaptability will be a superpower on the trails; range being key and having a ‘she’ll be right’ attitude will ensure you cross that finish line, eventually.

Keeping Entries Up

Another re-occurring conversation involved event pricing and rising entry fees. Along with navigating event management, safety and budgets, race directors need to create events that keep people coming back.

To get a better understanding of the backend, I caught up with Chris Ord – trail guru, head honcho at Tour de Trails, RD at various trail events and formerly editor of this very publication.

I spoke to Chris in the days preceding Hut 2 Hut when he probably had 400 better things to do than go down this rabbit hole with me. But like all good trail folk, Chris took the time for a yarn, and we opened several cans of race worms.

From the reliability of long-range forecasts to overgrown trails, an influx of last-minute registrations and the usual stresses of being responsible for sending hundreds of people out into the High Country for 48 hours, it’s no wonder Chris and his lean team at Tour de Trails are feeling the pinch.

After years of hot, dry summers, lockdowns, uncertainty and government handouts, race directors are doing what they can to finally turn a profit in the postCOVID running boom.

And who can blame them – it’s been a tough slog. But on the flip side, punters such as you and me are feeling the pinch too as the cost of accommodation, travel, food, gear and race fees continue to increase.

But as we all too often forget – this sport we love so much is a business.

Ironman and UTMB wouldn’t have joined forces back in 2021 and offered us stones in exchange for blood, sweat, cash and tears if it wasn’t a lucrative industry.

The smaller, more grassroots events are often overlooked for UTMB World Series as runners chase those stones with the hope of getting a ballot to race in Chamonix one day.

With resources comes a greater risk for appetite, leaving smaller race directors hamstrung by insurance costs and limited resources, causing them to postpone or cancel events with greater frequency.

After a flood or fire event, national parks (where a lot of events take place) are often under-resourced, meaning it can take months to get trails back on track and races back up and running. Race directors know a thing or two about controlling the controllables, but as the climate becomes more erratic and severe, the risks pile up and the safety of participants is always going to be the number one priority.

To navigate the tightrope of events, climate, economics and safety, some things are going to have to change. Through the process of writing this article, and the conversations I’ve had with numerous people, it’s clear we need a collaborative effort between participants and race directors to navigate this changing space.

SO WHAT CAN WE DO?

From a participant’s perspective, we need to roll with the punches of course changes, date changes and longer mandatory gear lists, understanding that it’s not only for our safety but the longevity of the country we tread on. We should understand our gear, know how to use it, and be able to provide basic first aid for ourselves and others.

When it comes to training, maybe chucking on the vest more often, or having a snake bandage and extra water on those warmer days. Abiding by ‘trail closed’ signs, rather than adopting the ‘it will be fine, it’s just me’ attitude, and instead understanding that such closed trails are for the health of the flora and fauna that call it home, as well as your safety.

Looking after your gear, cleaning it before and after use to avoid cross-contamination from mud and weeds when running in different places; buying quality or a second-hand kit, caring for it properly and favouring brands that prioritise sustainability and recycled materials; trying to carpool, not chucking your litter, respecting the culture of Traditional Owners and understanding that whilst out on the trails, we are part of an ecosystem so much bigger than ourselves.

By adopting just a few of these practices into our running routine, we can ensure that our trails stay open, healthy and thriving for future adventures.

As a collective, we can ensure longevity of the events we love. We all know volunteers are the key too – they bring the stoke, the lollies, the high-fives and the free labour. Without them though, sadly our industry is unviable so take the time to volunteer, to give back to the organisers. In most cases, you’ll get a discounted or free entry next time.

Support the little guys to ensure we don’t lose the grassroots events that have allowed trail running to grow into the sport it is today. Consider it a training run,