Get yourself up to the Blue Mountains to see elite runners compete at the largest trail running festival in the Southern Hemisphere: HOKA Ultra-Trail Australia.

 

Living in Sydney, it’s sometimes easy to forget that a World Heritage-listed location is basically on the doorstep. The trails of the Blue Mountains call to hikers and trail runners alike, but from the 15th to 18th of May this year they’ll become the centre of trail running in Australia, and the world.

Ultra Trail Australia is the second largest event of its kind and has been running (sorry) for 17 years, but this year things have levelled up. The event has been given ‘Major’ status, joining three other UTMB World Series Majors in Asia, Europe, and North America.

With more chances for pro runners to get a place at the UTMB (Ultra-Trail Mont Blanc) World Series Finals in Chamonix, France, the races are sure to draw more famous runners than ever.

 

You Can Check Out A World-Class 100 Mile Trail Race Near Sydney This Weekend, blue mountains, three sisters, photo by rachel dimond, nsw,

The author running part of the HOKA Ultra-Trail Australia course | @wanderer_rachel

Huge HOKA Prize Purse

HOKA have shown their trail cred and returned as the title partner of UTA this year, bringing with them a $120,000 prize purse for the top five women and men in the 100 mile, 100 kilometre, and 50 kilometre race categories.

HOKA’s VP of Global Marketing Erika Gabrielli said that ‘The addition of this new UTMB World Series Major creates new opportunities to help bring trail running to more people, connect with runners around the world, and support the continued growth of the sport.’ Bang on Erika.

UTA now has five events, starting with kids races, then ramping up UTA11, UTA22, UTA50, UTA100, and the new 100 mile race: UTAMiler.

 

You Can Check Out A World-Class 100 Mile Trail Race Near Sydney This Weekend, hoka mafate x, photo by jack brookes, trail running

HOKA have returned to pro trail running in a big way | @jackjbrookes

New 100 Mile Race

The 160km race, known as the ‘miler’ is new this year thanks to the race’s new Major status. The gruelling course climbs 7290m over its length and takes in the best of the Blue Mountain’s views. Runners will begin on Friday morning at 5am, with the first finisher expected around 11pm on Friday night. How quick is that!

Even if you can’t make it up or don’t live close by, HOKA Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB will be live streaming for three days, allowing anyone to get in on the action. Trail running is seriously having a glow up.

Look out for the HOKA Mafate X

HOKA’s new maximal trail shoe, the Mafate X, launches in Australia on Thursday 15th of May at HOKA’s FlyLab in the Scenic World Car Park. With 49mm of high-performance foam, a carbon fibre plate, and incredible stability for a big, soft trail shoe, it’s sure to make waves in the trail running scene. Keep your eyes peeled for it on the weekend and look out for our first look at the shoe next week.

Mafate X Mens

Mafate X Womens

Nab a ticket for next year?

Want to be one of the 7,000 runners toeing the start line at one of the world’s bucket list trail races? Keep your eyes peeled for race entries after this weekend, they never last. 

As Australian pro trail runner (and previous winner of the 100k) Lucy Bartholomew says, ‘For the fast runners it’s exciting to see an increase in prize purse across all distances but for every runner it is exciting to bring the community together and share a weekend in the iconic Blue Mountains and do something special. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in May.

 

Feature photo by @wanderer_rachel

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