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Glasshouse Trail Mailing List Mission Statement

The Glasshouse Trail ultramarathons, organised by Ian Javes and held in the Glasshouse Mountains area of Queensland, are Australia's nearest approach to the long trail ultras that are prevalent in other parts of the world, especially the USA.

The races are held in a mixture of natural bushland and pine plantations amid some remarkable natural monuments, the Glasshouse Mountains. Competitors race over a series of fire trails, bush tracks and logging roads that snake around the bases of a number of these monoliths.

This kind of race is, as said above, fairly rare in Australia and as a result the race is something of a "cult" event rather than attracting the larger crowds of some shorter Australian ultras, or overseas 100 Milers. In September 1999, I completed the 50 Mile event, and in April 2000, I finished the sister event, the Glasshouse 50K, also organised by Ian Javes and held in the same locale as the "big ones". Whether I would return that following October or not was never really in question, but Ian has had trouble with sections of the bureaucracy, as well as pouring a remarkable amount of energy into an event that is, on the whole, highly professional in its organisation.

In order to attract potential runners and lend a hand to those "committed" I decided to form an email discussion group (on 8th June 2000) - again, along the lines of a number of American 100 Milers. I've now established that group, GlasshouseTrail. It isn't a high volume forum, but competitors can discuss training and tactics, organise group longs runs or transport or whatever, as well as discussing other issues that arise concerning the race. After the events, competitors contribute stories and tales from their longest day. Runners intrigued by the event may also want to subscribe and make up their own minds.

I have no interest or involvement in the race, except that I will be running it (I live over a thousand kilometres away). Plenty of other runners have more experience of the race and the area than myself. The Glasshouse Trail mailing List isn't an official arm of the race, either - except that I mailed Ian Javes to notify him that I intended to establish the list, and did he have any objections. Those interested in the List can see for themselves at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/glasshousetrail

Sean Greenhill
Sydney, Australia

Sean has also written the following articles that are published on CoolRunning Australia :

[Dec 2004] Coast to Kosi 236km [Jun 2004] Poor Man's Comrades 96km [Sep 2003] Glasshouse 100 mile [Jun 2003] Western States 100 Miles [Jun 2003] Auburn Journal interview with Sean before WS100 [Jan 2003] Bogong to Hotham 60km [Sep 2002] Glasshouse 100 mile ( + photos) [Aug 2002] Katoomba to Mittagong 137km [Aug 2002] 12 Foot Track 93km [May 2002] Sydney Trailwalker 100km [May 2002] Thin Blue Line 88km [Mar 2002] Six Foot Track 46km [Feb 2002] Cradle Mountain Run [Sep 2001] Glasshouse 100 mile (DNF at 110km) [Aug 2001] 12 Foot Track 93km [Jun 2001] Wilson's Prom 100km ( + photos) [May 2001] Sydney Trailwalker 100km [May 2001] Lost In The Dark Run [Apr 2001] Brisbane Water Bush Bash 50km [Mar 2001] Six Foot Track 46km [Feb 2001] Cradle Mountain Run [Dec 2000] The Blue Labyrinth 50km option [Oct 2000] Glasshouse 100 mile (DNF at 100km) [Sep 2000] Royal National Park 50km [Aug 2000] Lost Worlds of Kuringai 56km [Aug 2000] Mt Wilson to Bilpin 35km [Jun 2000] Started the Glasshouse Trail Email-List [Jun 2000] Shoalhaven "King of the Mountain" 46km [Mar 2000] Six Foot Track 46km [Jan 2000] The Toughest Race in Australia - Bogong to Hotham [Sep 2000] Glasshouse 50mile/80km [Apr 2000] Glasshouse 50km [Dec 1999] The Blue Labyrinth - Original Route [Aug 1999] Cities Marathon [Aug 1999] Mt Wilson to Bilpin 35km [Jun 1999] Shoalhaven "King of the Mountain" 46km [May 1999] Sydney Morning Herald Half-Marathon [Apr 1999] Canberra Marathon and 50Km [Mar 1999] Six Foot Track 46km Feel free to E-mail him at bigmig@tig.com.au.

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