Race Day Information

Your race day adventure starts here

Before you take on the trails of the Lonely Mountain Ultra for the first time, or you’re a seasoned LMU’er, here’s what you need to know to arrive ready, confident and excited for race day.

This page breaks down the essentials so you can focus on the challenge ahead. If you haven’t found the answers you’re after, check out the frequently asked questions. Our detailed event guide will be published three weeks prior to the event

Lonely Mountain Ultra is an AURA-listed event, a qualifying race for the Six Foot Track Marathon, and registered with ITRA.

Race Day Information

Schedule

Bib Pickup	Bib pickup is strongly recommended on Friday 25 September 2026. Race day collection is available at the event from 5am for all distances except the 100Miler, and closes 30 minutes before your race start. Identification must be shown at bib pickup by all participants.
Event Site Opens	5am 26 September 2026
Races start	Saturday 26 September 2026 4am: 100Miler (Cudal) 6:15am 104K 6:45am 50Miler 7:15am 50K 8:00am 32K 8:30am 22K 9:00am 11K 2pm Kids 2K 3pm Kids 4K
Awards ceremonies	26 September 2026 10am 11K 12 noon 22K 12 noon 32K 1pm 50K 2:30pm 2K 3:30pm 4K 4pm 50Miler 7pm 104K TBC 100Miler
Event closure	The event closes by 4PM Sunday 27 September 2026

If you’re looking for progressive course closures for the 50M, 104k & 100M please see the respective event page, or the race guide.

Event Site Location and Facilities

The event site is located at Mitchells Way in Lidster, NSW, approximately 15km west of Orange. To access the site, turn left (south) off Cargo Road on to Mitchells Way and then, after approx. 250m, turn right into the event site.

Please note that the event site is on private property. The event village must be accessed via Mitchells Way only.

The event site features the festival area, the start/finish hub and onsite parking.

The event site will open at 5am on Saturday and close at 4PM on Sunday. Note not all services will be open overnight. First aid and basic support will be available throughout.

Campsites for tents will be available at the event site for $20 (2 tents per site). Bookings are required and we encourage you to book early to avoid being disappointed. Campsites can be booked when registering for the event here. For more information, please see our FAQs.

Camping Expectations and Rules

Campers will be self-sufficient and provide their own food and water.
Campers will be mindful of neighbouring campers by being respectful in regard to noise and privacy.
Campers will arrive after 4pm on Friday and leave by 4pm on Sunday.
Two tents per site will be permitted. Only one person is required to register for each site.
No open campfires will be permitted however self-contained cookers and BBQs are permitted.
Vehicles are not to enter the campsite and will be parked in the adjacent event car park.
Campervans, camper trailers, and caravans are permitted.
Campers will have access to portaloos and enclosed showers.
Power and water will not be available.
Campers are to be aware there will be low level noise during the night as we celebrate all athletes finishing.
Campers will follow the directions of the Lonely Mountain Ultra Committee and its volunteers.

Checkpoints, Aid Stations and Nutrition

Checkpoints

Course checkpoints are positioned across all distances and manned by our motivational volunteers; you’ll find the exact locations on the event page and the course map for your race.

Aid Stations

Provisions at aid stations will include water, electrolyte drink, hot water for tea, coffee or soup, fruit, lollies, and crisps.

Exceptions:

11K has a single water only aid station
2 & 4k aid station is in the event village

Please note: the exact provisions may vary and we recommend that all participants carry their own nutrition as required, and in line with mandatory gear requirements.

Toilets and ‘leave no trace’

Portaloos will be available at the race village and may be provided at selected aid stations, pending final approvals. Participants who know they need frequent relief stops should pack a small kit including biodegradable toilet paper or wipes, a trowel for catholes, hand sanitiser, and a sealable bag for used items or waste if required to respect the “leave no trace” guidelines. Your running vest is to be left on the side of the track to alert the course sweeper.

Race Day Nutrition

We are thrilled to have both a sports electrolyte and gel nutrition option on race day, as well as fresh fruit.

Skratch Labs Sport Hydration Drink Mix will be available at all of our aid stations in 2025. This will not only assist to replenish your fluid needs but also provide much needed electrolytes and calories. The mix will be available in a variety of flavours, mixed light on flavour with ~22g of carb per 500ml.

See skratchlabs.com.au for more info.

PURE Sports Nutrition is the official energy gel partner for the 2025 Lonely Mountain Ultra. PURE Fluid Energy Gels will be available on aid stations. They are a premium natural energy gel designed to provide fast fuel during exercise in a no-fuss easy-to-use way, using real ingredients, carbohydrates and electrolytes. They are

Fluid in consistency
Not overly sweet or over flavoured
24-30g carbohydrates per serve
Gut-friendly formulation

See puresportsnutrition.com for more info.

LMU aid stations will also be stocked with fresh fruit which will be generously provided by Country Fruit Distributors Orange.

Spectators & Crew

Friends, family and support crews are critical to any race success. Spectators are welcome at the event village throughout the weekend.

The only location on course where support crew and spectators are permitted is the Tea House Aid Station in the 50K, 50Miler, 104K, and 100Miler races; each of these races pass through this aid station once only (approx.. 35km into the 50K loop).

Spectators and crew are NOT permitted anywhere else on the course due to limited road access and trail protection.

Spectators and crew are not permitted to interact with or support participants at points outside the event village and Tea House aid station.

In three of the races (50Miler, 104K, and 100Miler), participants will pass through the event village – Transition Aid Station partway through their race. Crew are permitted in the Transition tent. Spectators are encouraged to support by lining the finishing chute.

There will be plentiful parking at the event site for friends and family.

Friends and family get involved!

Not everyone’s a runner, we get it! However, if you’re there, you understand it! We’d love your support as a volunteer if you can spare an hour or more details are on our Volunteer Page.

Mandatory Gear

At Lonely Mountain Ultra, we are committed to every athlete’s safety and while we hope that nothing goes wrong for you on race day, it’s important that every runner is well prepared for the unexpected. The following mandatory gear is exactly that, mandatory. Please note that mandatory gear requirements may change as race date approaches, depending on the weather.

All runners in distances 22K and up are required to have access to course maps at all times. This must be a digital map of the GPX file downloaded and accessible through Avenza, Garmin or a similar app. Phone signal on the mountain can be patchy so please ensure the file is available offline. Failure to demonstrate access to a map may result in a runner being held until they can, or withdrawing from the event.

Athletes will be checked at the conclusion of their race. Any runner without a required item will incur a 30min time penalty and may be withdrawn from the race.

KEY:

✅ Required

☑️ TBC via email 3 days prior

❌ Not required

💡Recommended

ITEM	100M	104km	50M	50km	32km	22km	11km
Vessel to carry min 2 liters of water or electrolyte Note: LMU11km – no minimum literage	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅ No min literage
Mobile phone (fully charged)	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Race bib	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Headlamp	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌
Spare Headlamp	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
Emergency whistle	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Course map GPX downloaded	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Nutrition: 3 portions (food or gels) min	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Compression bandage	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Ziplock bag for rubbish	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Space blanket	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌
Waterproof jacket and pants	☑️	☑️	☑️	☑️	☑️	☑️	❌
Thermal top	✅	✅	✅	☑️	☑️	☑️	❌
High-vis vest Can be removed in finishing chute	✅ 4am to 5am Sat 26/9 & 6pm Sat to 5am Sun 27/9	✅ 6pm Sat 26/9 to 5am Sun 27/9	✅ 6pm Sat 26/9 to 5am Sun 27/9	✅ 6pm Sat 26/9 to 5am Sun 27/9	❌	❌	❌
Flashing (not steady) red light	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
Collapsible cup	💡	💡	💡	💡	💡	💡	💡
Sunscreen	💡	💡	💡	💡	💡	💡	💡
Running cap or sunglasses	💡	💡	💡	💡	💡	💡	💡
Portable toilet kit or wag bag	💡	💡	💡	💡	💡	💡	❌

Mandatory gear checks can be made at any time during the race. Any missing mandatory gear will incur a 30 minute time penalty.

Pacers

Pacers are allowed for the 104K and 100M only. Pacers for the 104K will be able to join their runner for the last loop, the 22K course. Paces for the 100M will be able to join their runner for the last two loops, the 32k and the 22k course. Pacers must register and follow all rules for all other runners on the course. Full details are on our FAQs page.

Mandatory Gear

At Lonely Mountain Ultra, we are committed to every athlete’s safety and while we hope that nothing goes wrong for you on race day, it’s important that every runner is well prepared for the unexpected. The following mandatory gear is exactly that, mandatory. Please note that mandatory gear requirements may change as race date approaches, depending on the weather.

All runners in distances 22K and up are required to have access to course maps at all times. This must be a digital map of the GPX file downloaded and accessible through Avenza, Garmin or a similar app. Phone signal on the mountain can be patchy so please ensure the file is available offline. Failure to demonstrate access to a map may result in a runner being held until they can, or withdrawing from the event.

Athletes will be checked at the conclusion of their race. Any runner without a required item will incur a 30min time penalty and may be withdrawn from the race.

Mandatory gear checks can be made at any time during the race. Any missing mandatory gear will incur a 30 minute time penalty.

Pacers

Pacers are allowed for the 104K and 100M only. Pacers for the 104K will be able to join their runner for the last loop, the 22K course. Paces for the 100M will be able to join their runner for the last two loops, the 32k and the 22k course. Pacers must register and follow the same rules as their runner on course, including carrying the mandatory gear. Full details are on our FAQs page.

Training for the Lonely Mountain Ultra with Running Matters Coaching

If you are interested in a personalised running program for LMU, whether you are doing the 11km or the Miler, Matt North from Running Matters Coaching (RMC) will design you a personalised 10-week program.
Preparing for a race like the Lonely Mountain Ultra is completely different to the type of plan you would follow. With rocky terrain, fire trails, single trails, pine forest and steep hill incline and declines, you need to incorporate a whole range of different running techniques and specific exercises to ensure you have a great race.
The 10 week race specific training plan will be personally designed for you to prepare for this challenging event.

What to expect from your program

An initial phone consultation with your Coach to discuss your goal event and your current fitness level and training.
A weekly program to progressively improve your endurance and aerobic capacity regardless of your current fitness level.
Access to your program on an App that will keep you on track and reduce the risk of injury.
A unique strength workout each week, to improve your core strength, leg strength and stability. This will help to prevent injuries and prepare your body for the challenging workouts included in your race specific training phase.
Expert information on trail running technique and how to incorporate “B”races into your training.
Nutrition advice on how to fuel your body during training and on race day.
When you arrive at the start line you will feel confident knowing you have trained smart all the way to race day.

The cost is $29pw, please contact Matt to schedule a time for a consult call.

Matt North

Running Matters Coaching – Founder & Head Coach
Athletics NSW -Coach Educator
Accredited Level 3 High Performance Coach (Middle & Long Distance, Trail & Ultra Marathons)

0438 533 132 | northmatt@hotmail.com | runningmatterscoaching.com