Trail runners are tackling our lonely mountain tracks

More than 500 competitors are preparing to tackle the forest trails on the slopes of Mount Canobolas as part of Orange’s inaugural Lonely Mountain Ultra trail running event on Saturday and Sunday, October 15-16.

Launched in May, the Lonely Mountain Ultra, includes gruelling distances from ultra-marathons of 100km, 50 miles, and 50km, to the more accessible 30km, 22km, 11km and children’s events.

Event marketing coordinator, Sue Klose, said they are thrilled with the response to their inaugural event.

“We have well over 500 entries and it's been picking up day by day as we get down to the deadline,” Sue said.

“Every time we do Facebook posts or outreach emails, we can see in the comments from people saying, ‘Oh, I've got to get signed up!’. So they know about us… I'm optimistic that we'll hit 600 or more.”

The start and finish will be located just off the Cargo Road at Mitchell’s Way, Lidster, with the first race departing at 6.20am on Saturday, October 15.

“Which is basically sunrise,” Sue said, explaining that the longest races will start first as they, obviously, will need the most time.

“Then the races are at half-hour increments after that,” she said. “So all the way through to 8.30am in the morning, we'll have races kicking off and then we’ll have them coming back to the finish line anywhere from 9.30–10am onwards, all throughout the day.”

There has been a recent growth in running events in general across Australia, Sue said, but she believes the popularity of trail running, in particular, is due to the appeal of the great outdoors.

“Trail running, hiking, bush-walking – all of that is growing in popularity and it was growing before COVID, but COVID seemed to bring out even more people,” Sue said.

“It is a great way to get out and do something different. The scenery is amazing —  and that's not just our event, but that's trail runs everywhere all around Australia.”

With about half the competitors coming from locations across NSW, the event should bring a welcome economic boost for the region; this year and, hopefully, for many more to come, Sue said.

“It should be a busy weekend and perfectly timed in the middle of the Wine Festival. We know that we've got people coming from out of town and staying a couple of nights and making a weekend of it!”

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