Ultraman Australia, May 2024

• Ultraman Australia, 11th-13th May, 2024 (Mothers Day Weekend)
• 3 Days, 4 stages.  Noosa Heads / Noosa Hinterland / Sunshine Coast QLD
• 10km swim | 420km bike | 84km run​​

Training Fundraising Events/Challenges

• Training Camp(s).  Example Christmas/New Year Jindabyne or Canberra; Easter Training Camp, Port Macquarie
• Swim Challenge. 10th March: 100 x 100s, or 10kms.  Done solo or as a Team.
• Cycle Challenge. Point to Point Destination Ride: Sydney - Newcastle - Port Macquarie (500+kms, over 2 days).  Experienced riders. Invitation. 
• Run Challenge.  Run the distance of Sydney to Noosa (via Pacific Highway & Port Macquarie).  1070kms in 200 days between September - March  
• Strava Club to assist with fundraising challenges

• ​Application / Invitation - Bec and Mel 
• Fundraising: We encourage $2000+ per athlete & their support team of 2-4 persons
• Our goal is to have a Ultraman Team of 10 athletes supporting the project. ​​
• Sub-Campaign Fundraising Goal: $25K+
• Ironman in Port Macquarie + Ultraman Australia, May 2024 = $50K.   Celebrate Mel's 50th Birthday! ​
• Support Leaders: Bec Hoschke | Mel Cockshutt

The Course

An 'epic' ultra endurance adventure with its hub based at Noosa Heads and course embracing Gubbi Gubbi Country - the coastal & hinterland areas of Noosa, Sunshine Coast and Gympie, Queensland's Wide Bay-Burnett Region.

Ultraman Australia website: ultramanoz.com.au
Key Points

• Ultraman Australia is held in May each year (commonly the second weekend of the month)
  
• The race (ultra challenge) is divided into four (4) stages over three (3) days, each day has a 12 hour cut-off 
  
• Day 1: Stage 1: 10km swim Noosa Heads ; Stage 2: 140km ride
  
• Day 2: Stage 3: 280km ride
  
• Day 3: Stage 4: 84km run (or run/walk) 
  
• Self supported.  Compulsory support crew: 2-4 adult members  
  
• Swim - Wetsuit optional (irrespective of water temperature) 
  
• Swim - Mandatory each athlete be accompanied by a paddler.  Local Surf Club members available to assist where  help requested.  
  
• Bike & Run: Open course (ie not closed to traffic).  Traffic rules to be obeyed at all times.  Each athlete must be accompanied by  1 x support crew vehicle for all land based sections of the course (leap frog method for safety).  No vehicle may travel beside an athlete, other than to pass. 
  
• Bike - Non-drafting rules apply as specified by Triathlon Australia (12 metre non-drafting rule) 
  
• Run - Pacing allowed (1 run pacer at a time), pacer can assist with nutrition & hydration.  No interference with normal hearing (ie no ipod/music devices allowed). ​
  

Qualification

• Iron Distance or longer race completed during the previous 18 months.  It is required that your finishing time be under 14 hours 30 minutes for the Iron Distance.   Therefore, to qualify for Ultraman 2024, athletes need to complete an Ironman event (or similar) by June 30, 2023.  
  
• Exceptions to the above for athletes with ultra endurance experience, please contact the race organiser for further advice and information.  
  
• Oceania IM events include Ironman WA (Busselton) December 2022; Ironman New Zealand (Taupo), March 2023; Ironman Australia (Port Macquarie NSW) May 2023; Ironman Cairns June 2023.  
  
• Ultraman Veterans - Ultraman distance event within the last 2 years of application
  

Travel / Accommodation

• Sub-Teams (athlete and support crew) to self manage
  
• To assist in keeping costs down, the HOC Team will look at group bookings  / share accommodation, where possible and suited.  ​
  

Ultraman Australia Formal Registration & Invitation Process

• Applications open from May - June 30th, 2023 
  
• July: Application Review Committee selection process begins.  The current number of invited athletes is 50, with waitlist for any withdrawals.
  
• Bec Hoschke has emailed and phoned Event Organisers to see whether more than 50 athletes (including the HOC Ultraman Team) can be accommodated.  TBA. 
  
• July 31st: Invitations emailed and entry paid.  As a guide on cost, entry fee for Ultraman Australia 2021 & 2022 was $2100 (deposit of $1050 followed by $1050 at a later date). 
  
• Please be familiar with the withdrawal policy and dates, when released by event. 
  
• Triathlon Australia Membership (or affiliate) required. ​
  

Plan B - 3-Day Virtual Ultraman May 2024

• Should circumstances arise Ultraman Australia is unable to proceed or team registration challenges arise, a Plan B - Virtual Ultraman would be supported and coordinated for respective team members, in preferred location(s) /state(s).  
  
• Heart of Courage will support formal participation with Ultraman Australia 2024 AND 2025, should the event organisers be unable to accommodate all HOC Team Members within their 50 athlete cap (we are unsure if this is a licenced caped event, further information to come).  ​
  

​Disclaimer

• You are entirely responsible for your own race preparation, training, nutrition and execution during the event.  Whilst your Heart of Courage leaders and team mates will provide you with motivation, support and advice, you enter this event entirely at your own risk. Participation in ultra endurance sports can result in serious illness, accident, hospitalisation, permanent disability and death.  Heart of Courage is not liable for any property loss or damage, personal injury, illness or death that occurs as a result of training for or racing in Ultraman or Ironman. I understand and hereby accept any and all risks inherent in my participation in the event and its related activities.
  
• You have your own insurance and are a member of Triathlon Australia with Standard or Premium cover for training/racing.
  

Fundraising

• HOC Ultraman Sub-Team = Athlete plus mandatory 2-4 person support crew
• Register Sub-Team Name with Tour de Cure/Heart of Courage Fundraising Page  
• We encourage each Ultraman Sub-Team to fundraise $2000+ between the athlete and support crew. We hope this will be a manageable and a FUN fundraising project in addition to costs and preparation commitments of the multiday ultra endurance event.  
• Note - The figure '515' is based on the total distance covered by the event  (10 + 140 + 280 + 84 = 515km)
• Invitation only / Athlete Applications to Mel Cockshutt / Bec Hoschke (screening process to ensure athletes are the right fit for the project and characteristics of event) 
• Team Communications: Internal Facebook Page / Internal WhatsAPP Group
• Internal Google site page - Newsletters. mentorship.  support.  Allied professional health/sports workshops.  
• Professional coaching support - as preferred by athlete.  ​