Rapid Ascent

17 hours ago

How do you experience the highs, lows and leg-aching-beauty of the Margaret River Ultra WITHOUT running 80km?

You run the 42km course!

Lame riddles aside…

There’s no denying that the 42km event at Margaret River Ultra packs a heck-of-a-lot of punch for its relatively small (but "brutal") package.

In fact, if an ultra is "life in one day", this could be dubbed "life in one morning"!

But today, you runners made the soft sand, brutal undulation and rocky terrain look EASY.

Thanks to the 400 legends who tackled sand, sun and eye-watering views. Standing at the finishing line, and witnessing you stumble over the finish line, high-five, and hug-out the IOMS (Instant Onset Muscle Soreness 😂) was inspiring to say the least.

A huge congratulations to all competitors – the course was indeed TOUGH.

Special congratulation to the pointy end of the field:

Male:
1 Ben LEESON (#4196) 03:28:35.42
2 Matthew DUNCAN (#4099) 03:53:50.61
3 Jake NOWICKI (#4438) 03:54:36.81

Female:
1 Meluka BANCROFT (#4013) 04:10:19.97
2 Martha MELLOR (#4252) 04:28:01.49
3 Alessia FLOYD (#4109) 04:33:51.71

And a bow down in awe for all our incredible GRAND SLAMMERS!!

GRAND SLAM RESULTS (80km yesterday & 42km today!)

Female:
1 Shontelle CURTIS 20 - 39yrs 15:28:47
2 Debra LENNARD 40 - 49yrs 16:15:00
3 Renee ROWE 20 - 39yrs 19:23:32

Male:
1 Willem RICHARDS 40 - 49yrs 14:11:17
2 Christian LEACH 40 - 49yrs 14:23:53
3 Adam LUEHMAN 20 - 39yrs 14:34:22

FULL RESULTS HERE:
bluechipresults.com.au/results.aspx?CId=11&RId=1845&EId=5&dt=0

Please enjoy this little taster of PHOTOS (many thanks to Daniela Tommasi Photograph). As always, there'll be many more to come in the following days.

Now...

Give yourself a pat on the back, get the pizza-shop on speed dial, and line up those Howard Park wines...

It’s time to bathe in the post race high

Can't wait to do it all again next year!

The (humbled) Rapid Ascent Team ... See MoreSee Less

Rapid Ascent

1 day ago

The party continues at Margaret River Ultra!

As we speak, ~400 solo runners are intoxicated on views and endorphins as they tackle a 42km trail marathon that is as tough as it is spectacular. (Winners just ~10 minutes from finishing!).

The kids race has just been run around Howard Park Wintery in crisp sunshine.

And, fittingly, "Celebrate Good Times" is blasting over the loud speaker at the event expo.

Stay tuned to the socials for updates.

Results & tracking here:
margaretriver.rapidascent.com.au/2025-results

We're celebratin' good times here in WA today.

Shots thanks to Photos4sale 🙌 ... See MoreSee Less

Rapid Ascent

2 days ago

Now THAT was an ultra!

As the sand settles on the 8th annual Margaret River Ultra, we’re filled with equal parts elation (that it happened) and sadness (that it’s over).

We’ve always said that ultra running is more than simply putting one leg in front of the other for an insane amount of time…

It’s a celebration of life…

Of being a living, breathing animal, and choosing to experience the entire range of human emotions in a single day – from the deepest despair to the most-euphoric of highs.

And by that token…

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲.

You all showed up with grit, grace, kindness and an unshakable zest for life that honestly makes us stop in our tracks and think: how lucky are we to be part of this?

To every runner who toed the line, every supporter who cheered on the sidelines, every volunteer who gave up their time to make this day possible — you are the reason this event feels like magic every year.

Your humility. Your determination. Your willingness to go deep into the pain cave and still smile at your fellow runners (and lend a helping hand when they needed it most). That’s what makes this more than just a race.

So THANK YOU. From all of us at Rapid Ascent. You make all the early mornings, the heavy lifting, the spreadsheets and the sweat, 100% worth it.

Please enjoy these highlight photos thanks to Daniel Tommasi Photography (and keep an eye out for a personal selection of shots in your email from Photos4Sale).

Tomorrow is the 42km & Kid's Race...

If you’re running – we’ll see you on the start line.

If you’re not – come down and cheer.

As tired as we are, we're still looking forward to seeing you all for round 2!

The (“drunk on scenery”) Rapid Ascent Team

#MargaretRiverUltra #UltraRunning #LifeInOneDay
#MRUM #margaretriverultramarathon Howard Park Wines @skratchlabsaustralia Tourism Council Western Australia @tribetrailshop @tarkineathletics ... See MoreSee Less

Rapid Ascent

2 days ago

80km in the legs before Happy Hour?!

The time is only ~6pm, yet ~1,500, Margaret River Ultra Marathon runners had managed to squeeze in more kilometres and more goosebump-raising views than the “average Australian” experiences in an entire year.

What’s more…

The winners have already stormed the finishing chute, snatched the tape, composed themselves for a post-race interview and polished off their @Cheeky Monkey Brewing Co beer! (Incredible considering many more “normal” people are probably still in their pjs, nursing hangovers from Friday night “knock offs”!)

Here are the (provisional) 2025, 80km SOLO place-getters:

FEMALE:
1 Holly RANSON (#330) 07:23:01.76
2 Kate BAKER (#44) 07:30:29.93
3 Petra JEREJIAN (#203) 07:55:15.67

MALE:
1 Carl HARRISON (#181) 07:12:28.58
2 Jack DONOVAN (#133) 07:20:50.20
3 Jack VALENTINE (#449) 07:27:44.95

Full live results here:
bluechipresults.com.au/results.aspx?CId=11&RId=1845&EId=1&dt=2&top=10

Thanks to Daniela Tommasi Photography and Photos4sale for the cracking shots.

If you’re in Margs, the live music and food trucks are pumping at Howard Park.

So, get down here, cheer on the runners and soak up the post-race PART-AY!

It's a spectacle in its own right! ... See MoreSee Less