We protect what we love

FRIDAY 16.06.2023.

Good morning friends.

Our team have been out and about, exploring wild places all over the world.

Lara has been representing Australia in the World Trail Running Championships in Austria this week, placing 28th in the Vertical race (7.1kms with 1020m climb) placing 28th, and then three days later racing in the Up/Down classic (15kms with 780m climb) placing 27th. In her own words, “The past week was one of the best of my life… I experienced the full spectrum of emotions. From laughter so hard it hurt, to waves of pre-race nerves to tears of joy...Just in these two races alone, I remembered what it feels like to complete with the world's best - every race you get better, you learn lessons, you become a little wiser. I absolutely loved it.”

Image of the Chicago coastline by Lauren.

For this year’s Global Running Day Lauren found herself overseas for work in beautiful Chicago, USA. She's been fortunate to visit this amazing city a few times and highly recommends a visit if you ever get the chance. Despite the hustle and bustle of the city there are so many great places for a deep dish pizza fuelled run. Whether it’s the River Walk, lake front trail or Millennium Park to see Cloud Gate aka The Bean, you won’t fail to find some peace in this busy city.

And Paige is back at her stomping ground, exploring local trails in Dharawal country, and spamming her IG stories with videos and pics of Gus (in addition to the usual porridge shots).

This week's newsletter

In this week's newsletter, we're bringing you events galore, from our exciting new event, the East Gippsland Ultra to the latest from the Pilliga Ultra, which is coming to (near) Coonabarabran in September. We're also linking you to some incredible South-Australian-made sea glass jewellery and providing you with a summary of trail chat #14 with Jake Fedorowski.

Have a wonderful weekend folks, and happy trails ✌🏽

🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️

EAST GIPPSLAND ULTRA

A new event on the FWP calender 🙌🏽

The actual trail for the East Gippy Ultra,

passing over 5 Tier Falls

In November 2023, For Wild Places are excited to host the inaugural East Gippsland Ultra, a one-of-a-kind ultramarathon that will traverse the last remaining tract of unbroken, native forest connecting snowy alpine peaks to rugged coastlines on mainland Australia. This makes it an area of ecological and biological significance and represents how Victoria looked prior to European colonisation.

Starting from Goongerah in Errinundra National Park, the 100km route will take runners through Bidwal, Gunnaikurnai and Monero (Ngarigo) Country, as well as through a range of native vegetation types, from cool temperate, old-growth forests, to lush, fern tree gullies, tall eucalypt forests and scrubby coastal heathland. 

From the giant granite tors of Mount Ellery to the sweeping wild coastline of Cape Conran, this course will pass through a range of diverse ecosystems which are home to numerous rare, endangered and vulnerable native species. For example, Kurak Forest is home to delicate Slender Tree-Fern, the critically endangered East Gippsland Galaxias fish and Australia's largest gliding marsupial, the Greater Glider.

Join us at the finish line at Cape Conran Coastal Park

This will be a fundraising event to support The Wilderness Society, and local campaigns such as the Emerald Link, which will transform East Gippsland from an economy that focuses on native forest logging, to one that celebrates the ancient and diverse ecosystems through tourism and protection.

There will be solo 100km, 50km, 25km and 5km options, or you can recruit your trail mates and tackle the 100km in teams of two or three. The 100km, 50km and 25km events will be point-to-point, with transport provided from Cape Conran and Orbost to the start line.

Pre-Register Now

⛰️ 🌿 🌊 ⛰️

PILLIGA ULTRA

Register today!

The Pilliga Ultra is just over 12 weeks away, and we are gearing up to get the beautiful, rugged and potentially overgrown trails of the Pilliga ready for September 9th. If you've been thinking about signing up, we have a little favour to ask from you...

As you may appreciate, For Wild Places is a small not-for-profit, and we've got big dreams and limited resources. A lot of resources go into organising an inclusive, safe, sustainable and fun event. And whilst we have support from some incredible like-minded brands, that only goes so far.

This is where you come in. If you've been thinking about signing up - now is your time. We understand times are tough, and committing to something a few months out can be a stretch. But if you plan on joining us at Pilliga Pottery in September, quit beating around the bush and sign up today! It's more than just a race - it's an experience, shared with wonderful people in an inspiring place. Maybe it's your perfect training run for East Gippsland Ultra or Ultra Trail Kosciuszko 😉

If you're uncertain, here are some FAQs to hopefully put your mind at ease.

I’d love to sign up, but the fundraising aspect puts me off.

What if I don’t reach my target?

Whilst money is helpful in supporting the local communities fight against Santos, fundraising is the icing on the cake. The most important and powerful thing you can do is come out and experience the Pilliga yourself, and share your first-hand experience with friends and family to raise awareness of this campaign.

What are the accommodation options?

Our event HQ, Pilliga Pottery, has ample value-for-money accommodation options. The is a vast, creek-side campground that you can pitch your tent in or pull up a campervan or caravan for $10 per person, per night (doggos and kids welcome, too!). There are hot showers, a pool and toilet facilities available for campers. If you're not the camping type, there are bedrooms of 2-4 pax which you can book as a group or a single, and enjoy a comfy bed in an air-conditioned room. If you're with a group you can book out an entire cottage and make yourself at home (and roll out a swag or two, if need be)

The Pilliga is a little far for me to drive on my own, or I don't have a car.

Are there any car-pooling options?

Great question. And absolutely. There will be people travelling from Melbourne, Sydney and many other places in between, above and below. We encourage carpooling, and within the Facebook Group, you can either request or offer a lift. Alternatively, we’re always looking for volunteers, so maybe gather some friends together and make it a fun road trip weekend away.

Got another question? Maybe check out the FAQ's on the event page.

🏃🏽 ⛺️ 🐶 🏃🏽

TRAIL CHAT #14

With Jake Fedorowski

Given Pride Month, a hectic schedule of organising for the inclusion of non-binary athletes in running, a full-time job and much more, it was super generous of Jake Fedorowski to join us for our 14th Trail Chat. The chat was interesting, informative and fun!

We heard about their wonderful, recent experience at the Whistler Half Marathon. Jake and other athletes participated in the non-binary division and they explained the joy of feeling welcome with the ability to participate in a division that represented their identity and true selves.

A Global running day IG post "RUNNING: connection to my body, a community, and the land". 📷 Source.

There was a brief discussion on the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ people and athletes in the US currently, in the context of current attacks on trans and non-binary communities. Despite the hundreds of anti-trans bills currently active in state legislatures, it’s important to also note the organising and great work being done by communities to defend and advance the rights of LGBTQIA+ folks. The fact that major marathons such as the Boston Marathon are adding non-binary divisions is an example of this!

Jake gave us an overview of the problems faced by non-binary athletes in running and the importance of addressing and overcoming these problems. Their Guide to Non-Binary Inclusion in Running goes a way to addressing these problems but also starts the conversation to get creative about doing the work of inclusion in running. We then pondered other ways – aside from gender – that could be used when classifying runners in events, e.g. expected pace.

Jake gave some really practical advice for race directors and explained some ways to overcome key barriers to making change for the better.

We finished the chat with a brief musical performance from Jake – you’ll have to listen in to be inspired! You can watch the full Trail Chat here.

You can follow Jake’s work at nonbinaryrunning.com and on IG & TikTok @jakefedorowski.

🏳️‍⚧️ 🏃‍♂️ 🏳️‍⚧️

NEXT WEEK

In next week's newsletter, Will is providing an update on the campaign to keep the Pilliga wild. As always, thank you for taking the time for wild places.

Elanor (she/her) & the For Wild Places team

CHECK US OUT ON INSTAGRAM

UPCOMING EVENTS

17/06 TRACTION: Darebin Creek | RSVP

24/06 TRACTION: Plenty River | RSVP

25/06 TRACTION: Illawarra Escarpment | RSVP

09/09 Pilliga Ultra | Sign Up

05/11 East Gippsland Ultra | Pre-Register

We acknowledge the the First Nations people who have been custodians of land, waters and culture for tens of thousands of years. We pay respects to First Nations Elders past, present and emerging.

This email was written on Gadigal land of the Eora nation. To these people, we pay our respects.

Always was, always will be.