TRAIL runners across Cabonne are gearing up to take on one of Australia’s most challenging endurance events.
Set for late September, the Lonely Mountain Ultra makes its return, welcoming athletes of all skill levels to compete in events spanning from a two-kilometre children’s run to a grueling 100-mile ultra-marathon.
The 100-mile event kicks off at 4am, with participants starting outside Cudal Showground to begin their opening 55.5km leg heading toward Gaanha-bula Mount Canobolas.
Leaving Cudal, the route initially traverses flat rural roads before steadily ascending into the surrounding hills.
Having completed more than a full marathon distance just to reach the primary event hub, runners must then tackle an additional three loops along the Mount Canobolas trail network.
In total, the 100-mile course spans roughly 161 kilometres, with athletes allowed a maximum of 36 hours to cross the finish line.
Winding through fire trails, forested areas, open pastures, and single-track paths around Mount Canobolas, the tracks reach elevations near 1400 metres, presenting panoramas over the Central West.
Participants face significant elevation challenges across all long-distance courses: the 32km option features roughly 1300 metres of climbing, the 50km event has about 1900 metres, and the 104km distance entails three loops accumulating around 4000 metres of total elevation gain.
To ensure accessibility for all experience levels, the festival also features multiple shorter options, including 11km, 22km, 32km, 50km, 50 miles, and 104km, alongside 2km and 4km races designed specifically for junior runners and families.
According to Sam Collins, a registered nurse and the event’s inaugural president, local runners had been talking about launching a major trail-running festival at Mount Canobolas for years.
“We always knew it would be a really good spot for a great running festival,” he said.
The concept originated during the COVID pandemic, a period marked by cancelled trail-running competitions and restricted race travel.
In response, Collins partnered with fellow trail runner Gerald McFerguson to stage an informal group run on the mountain, designing local routes and bringing together community runners.
Scott Hazelton was among the participants, whose family property ultimately became the central hub for the event.
Following the run, the athletes met for a barbecue on the property, where Hazelton outlined his broader vision for developing a full-scale event.
To bring the plan to fruition, an organising committee was established, appointing Collins as inaugural president and Hazelton as race director.
In roughly 12 months, the organisers successfully transformed their initial concept into an established competition.
Those initial social run tracks formed the core routes for the Lonely Mountain Ultra, an event that now draws nearly 1000 entrants.
For Collins, the allure of trail running extends far beyond testing personal endurance.
“It’s a lot more enjoyable style of running,” he said. “You’re in nature, you’re away from traffic and noise.”
Trail running offers distinct advantages over road running, as the continuously shifting terrain and pace require runners to navigate varying surfaces, ascents, and descents.
Collins said the variability in surface helps lessen the repetitive bodily impact typically associated with running on pavement.
However, he considers the positive impact on mental health to be among its greatest rewards.
“I’m a better person when I’m running,” he said.
According to Collins, working toward a clear goal motivated him to adopt healthier habits overall, such as improving his diet, prioritizing rest, and fitting in regular exercise.
Although a 100-mile ultra-marathon may seem daunting, race directors designed accessible routes for newcomers to the sport.
Recognising that the initial 22km shortest route could intimidate novice runners, organisers subsequently introduced an 11km event specifically for beginners.
“It’s been really encouraging to see just how many people have used that as a way to get started in trail running,” Collins said.
Aid stations along the trails offer participants opportunities to rest, refuel, adjust gear, and regroup during the longer races. Competitors are not expected to run continuously, as they can walk parts of the route and stop at aid stations.
Generous cut-off times are provided to ensure accessibility for athletes of all skill levels.
Even in the standard distances, the event accommodates beginners.
To support novice runners who might find a 22km course daunting, organisers introduced an 11km distance.
“You could literally hike most of these courses and finish in the cut-off,” Collins said.
Prior experience with comparable distances is required for entry into the 100-mile race, as participant safety remains a key priority.
While dedicated medical personnel and safety teams support the entire event, organisers emphasise the importance of thorough preparation for those tackling the longest distances.
The success of the event depends significantly on broad community involvement.
A workforce of over 150 volunteers assists throughout the weekend, with local schools, community groups, and the Rural Fire Service helping run aid stations and manage course logistics.
Several community groups oversee specific aid stations in exchange for financial donations.
Other volunteers contribute purely out of a desire to support the event.
“We need over 150 volunteers for the event to happen,” Collins said.
“People who don’t even know the first thing about running are still willing to come and volunteer and give up their time just because they want to give back.”
Organisers actively encourage volunteer participation by offering perks such as event discounts and merchandise.
Remarkably, volunteers can even complete one of the shorter races before reporting for duty.
For anyone interested in experiencing trail running prior to signing up for a distance, the Lonely Mountain Ultra hosts a dedicated training group that regularly explores local trails.
Open to runners of all experience levels, the group allows participants to build familiarity with the course terrain in a supportive environment alongside committee members and fellow runners.
Over time, the gathering has transformed into a premier regional festival, drawing competitors, families, volunteers, and spectators together to celebrate the striking natural setting of Mount Canobolas.
“People come out from out of town and see the trails that we’ve got on offer,” Collins said.
“They regularly say how beautiful it is and how lucky we are.”
The Lonely Mountain Ultra returns from 26 to 27 September, featuring its main events on Saturday.
The flagship 100-mile race sets off from Cudal at 4am, with the central event hub situated at Lidster, about 35 kilometres from Molong.
“People come out from out of town and see the trails that we’ve got on offer,” Collins said. “They regularly say how beautiful it is and how lucky we are.”
Caps on entry numbers are enforced due to national park regulations, and several race categories are approaching full capacity.
Lonely Mountain Ultra hits the trails on Saturday 26 September and for details on registration or volunteer opportunities, visit lonelymountainultra.com.au.