RACE DIRECTORS’ REPORT – GREAT SOUTHERN ENDURANCE RUN 2021

RACE DIRECTORS’ REPORT – GREAT SOUTHERN ENDURANCE RUN 2021

Kate Dzienis • Dec 20, 2021

Contributed by Megan and Matt, Great Southern Endurance Run race directors

The Great Southern Endurance Run (GSER) has changed from its traditional beginnings of a point-to-point Victorian High-Country endurance run – Mt Buller to Bright (2017) and Bright to Mt Buller (2019) – although changed course out and back from Harrietville. 

Under new ownership in 2021, we revised the event to allow a central Race HQ in Harrietville, which in return allowed the event to support the local community and provided support crews and pacers easier access to their runners. Another revision to the run’s traditional format, by using trails closer to the township of Harrietville before runners venture out along the Australian Alps Walking Track. Adding a 28 km event (which is a perfect introduction to sky running) to our 50 and 100 mile events. This allowed runners to support each other whilst on the trail through comradery and showed the true spirit of ultra runners. These changes provided an element of difference to the event with a greater connection to the Harrietville and surrounding community, Mt Hotham Resort and the Alpine National Park.

We also introduced a new profile series called ‘Women of GSER’ which was all about raising the profile of amazing women in the trail community, providing inspiration to other women and encouraging women to participate and get out of their comfort zone to give trail running a go. The addition of the 28km run to the schedule of events, we wanted women to use this as a stepping-stone into the world of ultra running. To our delight, the event gained traction especially with female entrants and we ended up with more females than males in the 28km. 

The lead up to this event was filled with anxiety and stress due to the unknown nature of the pandemic, lockdowns and border closures across the country. There were many sleepless nights thinking about all possible scenarios, do we have a plan B, C, D, depending on which borders may still be closed and whether even in Victoria if metro Melbourne would be allowed to enter regional Victoria by the event date.

Planning was well underway and we pushed ahead as if the event would run on the planned day. A month out from the event there was a glimmer of hope that we may get runners to the start line, vaccination rates were rising and state governments were hopeful that this would allow borders to open. Two weeks from our runners taking the start line, the Victorian Government gave the okay for metro Melbourne to enter regional areas and a week later NSW and ACT governments also allowed travel across the border to Victoria.

As race directors we were ecstatic, our hard work leading up was not going to be for nothing, we could put on our event. We were feeling disappointed that our runners from WA, NT, Qld, Tas and SA could not make the event as their borders were not going to be open in time (we look forward to welcoming them in 2022). As the realisation hit, we had less than 2 weeks to get everything in place ready for the excited trail community. Events were back on!

In the week of the event, the weather started to take a turn for the worst. We had many phone calls back and forth with our Endurance Medical Services, deliberating on what the safest option was for our runners. The event was only 2 days away, so we made the hard decision that we needed to change the course as the conditions were not safe enough to have runners out across exposed ridgelines in the remote high country. The run changed from an out and back to a loop course, 26km loop with 1500m vert. The course had to minus the summiting of Mt Feathertop and therefore the 28km turned into a 26km loop, with the 50 mile 3 loops and 100 mile 6 loops.

Logistics were flipped on their head and we scrambled to change our plans accordingly. We knew loops were a mental battle for many runners and it might not have suited everyone but there were so many positives that came from it. Runner comradery was high, having every runner on the same loop meant that 28km, 50 mile and 100 mile runners encouraged and supported each other throughout their whole run. The runners’ support crews could stay in one place and be ready to help their runner as they re-entered the HQ aid station and Harrietville was a hive of activity, providing a positive and enthusiastic atmosphere that helped encourage runners to go out for another loop even if they were struggling as they came in from each one.

The conditions on Friday as the 100 mile runners started were not the best but this was predicted. Rain, wind and overnight temperatures dropped. The wind chill was high especially between M.U.M.C Hut and Federation Hut, where runners were required to put every piece of mandatory gear on to ensure they did not succumb to the cold. Our medical team had a crew based at Federation Hut where they checked on every runner’s welfare before sending down Bungalow Spur to Race HQ.


As the 100 milers ran into Saturday morning the weather started to improve and our 28km and 50 mile runners took off from the start line.


The weather in Harrietville was warm with very little wind, deceiving for what they would find at the top of North West Spur. The 28km runners enjoyed the best conditions of the weekend and the race for top 3 was hotly contested, with only 1 minute 35 seconds between 1st and 2nd males. 


Our winners for each event were:


100 mile female – 1st Liz Woodgate

100 mile male – 1st Thomas Dade, 2nd Joel Read , 3rd Ross McPhee


50 mile female – 1st Gill Fowler, 2nd Claire Healy, 3rd Leeah Cooper / Leah Alexander

50 mile male – 1st Justin Hiatt, 2nd George Morton-Ramwell, 3rd Marcus Brownlie


28km female – 1st Kellie Emmerson, 2nd Shivonne Sieber, 3rd Monika Holmwood

28km male – 1st Blake Hose, 2nd Charlie Hamilton, 3rd Viv Johnson


Our run is not all about the top 3 but the strength and determination of every runner. The memories and stories of all our runners have inspired many, especially that of Vince Villarosa who completed the 100 mile in 49:55:42 seconds (50 hour cut off). Vince was going to pull out after 3 laps, then 4 laps, and then on the 5th lap but the support and encouragement of everyone around him made him get back out there and keep going. His mental toughness to complete a loop course and in the weather conditions with the extreme vert on each lap should have deserved more than a medal and the 100 mile finishers blanket.


The winner of the ‘Women of GSER Spirit’ Award, Belle Campbell deservedly won this award by showing strength, determination, support of others and having fun while completing the challenging GSER course. She received a gift voucher for Espire Clothing to design her very own locally made, organic cotton garment. Espire Clothing, a Bright family business that uses 100% organic cotton in their garments made right here in Victoria.


A big thank you to every person involved this year to make the event happen, our volunteers went over and above in the conditions and to the Harrietville community for allowing us to run the event.


GSER would not be possible without the generosity and support of our sponsors: Alpine Shire Council, Hammer Nutrition, Foot Pro, T8 Running, Espire Clothing, Parks Victoria, Mt Hotham Resort Management, Harrietville and Surrounds. 


We have our sights set on getting runners across the mountain ridges from Mt Feathertop to Mt Murray and The Viking next year, 11-13 November 2022.


Photograph – Supplied.

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