Hundreds take part in final edition of Duncan’s Run

ATHLETICS

DUNCAN’S RUN

By BARRY HIGGINS

THERE was mixed emotions following the final running of Duncan’s Run the previous Saturday.

Many waited long hours to see the last of the 100 kilometre field finish their ultra-distance

challenge.

It was the final “signing off” of the event after eight occasions across 10 years.

Following Duncan’s death in a road accident in early 2013, the inaugural event was held in

December that year.

The 2015 running was cancelled in the aftermath of the bushfires and in 2020,

coronavirus intervened.

For the family and friends of Duncan Orr, as race organisers and volunteers, or as participants

in one of the trail events, it was an emotional occasion – the final farewell to an iconic event.

A total of 320 trail runners tackled, for the final time, one of the 6, 21, 50 or 100 kilometre events, held across the day and into the small hours of the morning along the trails of the Tarra-Bulga National Park.

As an indication of the magnitude of the event, 80 volunteers carried out various tasks at the

Balook start and finish area and around the 50km circuit that was navigated twice by the

100km field.

After seeing off the 100km participants at 6am, Race Director Owen Townsend, in an interview with ABC radio, said, “the weather is cool, misting rain and foggy”.

For the later starters the early hilltop weather cleared to welcome a warm sunny morning.

Following staggered starts the runners in the shorter events began to finish mid-morning and

early afternoon. Daniel Furmston and Tracy Feiner were first home in the 50km run, as the

100km runners continued on to do a second lap of the Tarra-Bulga National Park.

Danny Gamble was the first 100km finisher with Katherine Macmillan the first woman in

outright third place.

But ultra-distance events are all about finishing, and Stephen Renehan, Glenn Crawford and Glen Smith were thrilled to complete their first 100km trail run ultras.

“We were so thankful to have Duncan’s parents wait until after midnight to see us finish. It was a fitting way to farewell the event. Thank you and the DR team for making this event a reality,” Maffra resident Crawford said.

Ian Twite, a friend and training partner of Duncan, said, “in 2013, because of injury, I volunteered and did the manual timekeeping. Here I witnessed the true spirit of Duncan Orr in Darrel Cross’s efforts to complete the 100km that he never planned, or trained, to run. When Darrel realised no Traralgon Harriers were running the 100km event he said he had to do it. Duncan would have done it and it would have been a shame if no Harrier attempted the 100km. It was a very courageous effort”.

Traralgon Harriers president Phillip Mayer said: “Ray and Helen Orr (Duncan’s parents)

should be justifiably proud of the work they did to bring this event to fruition. The work that so many people have put in over the years, to build the event into what it was on the weekend, is epic. It is a year of planning, permits, meetings, organising volunteers, logistics and fundraising, so it is understandable why this Duncan’s Run was ‘One last time’. But the feeling, the spirit and the emotion made the event a fitting tribute to Duncan”.

It is anticipated and hoped that a similar series of trail run events will be conducted next year.