Kunanyi Mountain Run

28^th March 2026

A classic local trail ultramarathon

I’d signed up, not on a whim exactly, inspired by a couple formidable workmates who had mentioned it. I’d noted on the calendar it would be my last weekend in Hobart for a spell – a way to mark a chapter.

The stats alone are worth diving into here. 66km. 3700m elevation. This was a proper trail ultra. I took part in its 5th anniversary.

As ever, I’d not followed a strict training schedule but worked up to longer and hillier runs including parts of the course.

Alarms at 0515 and got up at 0535. I’d typically had an all too excited and nervous sleep. Weak percolator coffee and happily I munched on a forgotten half eaten bag of macadamias in my car’s cupholder. Perfect breakfast for the task.

Any notion of biking to the start was completely silenced by my usual hecticness.

On the day, and started in ‘wave two’ at 0645am

Wave one was off at 0630 as I did my final bag faff, headtorch on (god-willing it was charged), and activations.

Stage 1 Runhub to Pinnacle 12.2km | 1,350m ↑ | 190m

We were off with many headtorches bobbing along opposite the cascade brewery and into the trailhead of the cascade track.

Steeper and steeper bush trails led us to junction cabin; I made a couple of trail buddies early as they chatted behind me before taking off around hunters’ track.

I stopped briefly at junction cabin to doff the headtorch, first pee of the day.

A solid march continued up the hunters’ track and from what I gathered I must have been near the front of the wave 2 pack given the folks I met.

The views of the mountain as we ascended through the cascade and myrtle gully tack were spectacular. The mist engulfing the mountain top, and wisping over a bright night sky, before the dolerite hiding underneath the shroud were greeted with eastern sunbeams.

Before too long, as I expected, I was running over boulders and did a few sneaky overtakes given my preference for rocky, downhill or ‘technical’ sections.

The final steep climb to the chalet was long, but we got there and I broke into a run to take us onto the organ pipes track.

I shouted to a friend Charlotte who, for a birthday treat, was aiming to do 35 repetitions of a climbing route, ‘Slow Combustion’ (15) on the pipes.

The summit track is as expected slow going, and I start feeling that gentle breeze as we climbed higher. A cold and misty top dampened any hope that it may have cleared by the time we got there.

Stage 2 Pinnacle to Myrtle Forest | 12.0km | 320m ↑ | 1,030m ↓

First aid station and we are asked to wear our hi-viz jackets

I replenish water and electrolytes and eat a clif bar.

Down the pinnacle road and I go too fast with a new trail buddy, 4:51, way too fast.

We charge into the Collins cap/bonnet trails were the mist really engulfs us.

I’m slow on the ups and quick on the slippery rocky, unpleasant downs leapfrogging a couple other runners through the process and the legs feel heavy on the boardwalk. Unfit? Or have I just climbed 1300m?

My ambitions for a potential sub-10 hour time are dashed but if I really put a shift in, I felt I might try for a sub -12 hours

Stage 3 Myrtle Forest to Mountain River | 12.4km | 570m ↑ | 930m ↓

The descent to the previous aid station was huge and I passed many runners on the way down. They were on their way back up.

I get called ‘big fella’ a few times from a nice Irishman who turns out is running the relay.

He overtakes me on the next stage on the downhill.

The uphill past myrtle falls is relatively ‘short’ as I had been telt by one of the aid station folk – I said I trusted her.

There was a fair bit of ducking underneath massive fallen trees and bush.

On the downhill I met a workmate, Jess, and we ran most of the second leg of this stage together.

A cheer on the next aid station from the Hobart ED crew spurs me on, but I think Jess was hard done by as they recognised me first.

Stage 4 Mountain River to Cathedral | 10.9km | 910m ↑ | 840m ↓

This was the hardest uphill section of the entire course.

Big climb, some 30km in. scrambling over the Montague thumbs was not fast, and the euphoria of reaching Cathedral Rock as a milestone was short-lived on its muddy descent.

Stage 5 Cathedral to Fern Tree | 11.2km | 415m ↑ | 250m ↓

Further festivities with the Hobart ED crew whom were well stocked and supporting one of the department’s many relay running teams. Piggy-backing off others’ support crew was a smart tactic from me. Supprot crew, of which I had none except for a finish line meet with a bag of clothes.

The river cross and climb up to the lovely downhill pipeline track was relatively easy, and pleasant in the afternoon sun. A few updates sent to friends and we were away.

Stage 5b Fern Tree to Runhub | 7.3km | 205m ↑ | 530m ↓

A pleasant stage, after tanking down the familiar pipeline track, and a small demoralising uphill to get to the final aid station. Once again I was met with workmates who chatted to me, and I informed them of whole-body euphoria, 60kms on the watch and experiences some were apparently unable to relate to.

The final section of the course was in a hot and sunny evening, chimney pot hill was and effort despite its relative smallness, and up over down past the waterworks to then cross towards cascades. I’d made a point to myself not to take headphones, but in the final 12km I conceded to music. Trad, especially some quality Peat n Diesel getting me through the final kilometres.

Anxieties earlier about my performance and rest were soon quelled with a fast last couple kilometres, bursting past a couple of other runners and getting a good cheer from various workmates at the finish. A hi-five of one of the MCs and a few hugs exchanged before sitting down and drifting into a slump in the grass, with a cascades lager to complete the day.