100 Mile/100km/60km Individual / Team / Relay Challenge
The Alpine Challenge Ultra Marathon, incorporating the 100 mile (160km) Alpine Skyrun, the 100km individual and team Alpine Challenge and the 60km Alpine Experience is set to be run over 28 – 29 November, 2015 in the Alpine National Park. With over 7,000 metres of climb and 7,000 metres of descent, this event is the toughest 100 mile mountain trail run in Australia; testing runners to the limit.
Set in the spectacular Alpine National Park in north eastern Victoria the event takes in some of the best, hardest and most exposed high country in Australia including Mt Feathertop, Mt Hotham, The Fainters, Spione Kopje, Mt Nelse and Victoria’s highest mountain, Mt Bogong.
It has already developed a reputation for challenging runners both physically and mentally.
In 2006, in the inaugural event, four experienced runners attempted to run the course but were stopped by unseasonal snow. Running in pairs, two runners pulled out at Mt Nelse after taking 17.5 hours to complete 60km and two other runners turned back at 3am in calf deep snow and white out conditions on the approach to Mt Bogong. In 2007 the run was cancelled due to bushfires and it was only in 2008, that the course was completed with three out of five runners completing the distance in 42 hours in perfect conditions.
Records tumbled in 2009 with a new men’s record of 32.45 hours and a new record of 36 hours for the first female to finish the event. In 2010 there were 62 starters including 3 large corporate teams. A new course record of 27 hours was set for the men’s 100 mile and 34.47 hours for the women’s event. 2011 saw a reduction in team entries but solid support from the ultra community with a quality field of 31 starters and 21 finishers – a dropout rate of 34%, indicating the toughness of the course and the toll that runners take from injury, exhaustion and dehydration.
Records tumbled in 2012 in perfect but cold and windy running conditions – sub zero at night to 25.19 hours, but at a cost; 45% of the 100 mile solo field DNF’d in their chosen event. 2013 saw a record field of 86 runners start but strong winds (80 – 100km gusts) forced the cancellation of the event 20 hours into the race, after many runners had already summited Mount Bogong for the 3rd time, on a bushfire affected course.
Support the runners in their chosen distance by raising much needed funds for Alpine Search And Rescue – volunteers who put their lives on the line so you friends and family members can run in safety and come back to tell you of their physical, mental and spiritual journey on the Alpine Challenge!