Big Red Run

15/02/2019

If you want to be inspired by some incredible people including Pat Farmer get along the the National Geographic Award Winners Roadshow in Sydney next week 20th February.
Details and bookings here:-

Be inspired by Australia’s most incredible adventurers and dreamers. Ever wanted to hear firsthand stories from a world record holding kayaker, a daring wingsuit flier or an Antarctic exploring climate activist? Australian Geographic is proud to present our Awards Roadshow – where we bring some ...

08/11/2018

THANKYOU!
A huge thanks to everyone for your overwhelming response to our announcement.
Your genuine and and heartfelt comments are truly appreciated, and really mean a lot to us at this time.

It’s been a hugely emotional decision for us to make, to lose something so special thats been a significant part of our lives since we started work on the event in 2012.

We don’t see this as a failure in any way, rather its been a huge success over the last 6 years of which we are so proud. Although the over riding reasons behind the decision are financial as we explained, money is by no means an appropriate measure for success.
The real measures of success are the special shared experiences created for everyone involved, the relationships built and the Big Red Run family created, the unlikely creation of a well organised world class event in this stunning location, the lives changed and improved, and the funds raised towards finding a cure for Type 1 which as many know is very close to our hearts.

Those in the Big Red Run family should wear your Big Red Run shirts with pride, they are now well earned collectors items!
So thank you so much again for your understanding and support at this time.

We are not going out with a whimper, over the next few weeks we will share special stories, images and thank a whole range of people who have been involved over time. Please feel free to share some of your stories and images with us on these posts.

To start off with, here is where it all began with a few memories from 2013!

07/11/2018

BIG RED RUN TO FINISH
It is with very heavy hearts that we are announcing that the Big Red Run will not be going ahead in 2019, and that 2018 was the last run.

In 2017 we did allude that the ongoing future of the run was uncertain, and sadly and regrettably the time has now come for us to make this difficult decision.

We are of course very disappointed that we are no longer able to continue staging this iconic and inspiring event, the only event of it's kind in Australia. We know that each and every runner who has participated has been well looked after and left Birdsville and the Simpson Desert with an amazing and often life changing experience.

We are however very proud that since 2013, 6 editions of the run have provided around 400 runners with amazing experiences, and enabled them to connect with others from all around Australia and develop long term connections and friendships.

We are also very proud that the event has raised over $1.1m for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation making an important contribution to ongoing research for Type 1 Diabetes. Not only that, but the Big Red Run is what gave birth to one of the most iconic and amazing music festivals in Australia, the Birdsville Big Red Bash, which in 2018 drew over 9,000 people to the outback, and generated over $11m in much needed tourism spending and economic activity to the many small towns throughout the outback.

We would like to say a huge thanks to all of the amazing runners who have taken on the challenge and supported the event over the past 6 years, helping to raise funds for JDRF, as well as the many many volunteers who have generously given up their time and travelled to Birdsville to help us stage the event. Without these volunteers the run would have never been possible in the first place. The event is one of the most logistically challenging running events in Australia to deliver given its remote location, duration, harsh terrain and extensive off track running - all of which has only been made possible due to our highly skilled and experienced event team, so we extend a huge thank you to this team, many of whom have been involved since the inception of the event in 2013.

To help you understand our reasons behind this difficult decision, a short explanation is outlined below:-

The Big Red Run requires a team of around 80 crew and volunteers. Looking forward to 2019, and reviewing the overall costs of running the event it has become clear that at the current entry fee level, the event requires close to 90 participants for it to remain financially viable. Having operated the event over the last 6 years, we have had a maximum of just over 80 runners back in 2015, and over the past 2 years that number has reduced to just over 50 each year.

We have been happy to continue to provide significant financial support to the event given the funds it raises for JDRF and Type 1 Diabetes research, hoping that it would grow to become sustainable.

Although we’ve given it our best efforts and support, that hasn’t occurred and we feel is unlikely to occur, given it hasn't reached that level over the last 6 years. We are unable to cut costs to address this issue, as the event is logistically and operationally challenging to deliver, and cutting corners in such a remote environment would compromise both the quality of the event and the safety of the participants, neither of which we are willing to compromise on.

So unfortunately there comes a time for us to face reality that an event of this format and cost structure in this stunning outback location is not going to be financially viable over the long term.

Since the Big Red Run started in 2013 the Ultra running scene has exploded, and so too have the number of events on offer in Australia and overseas, which we believe is one of the many reasons which makes it challenging for a niche event such as Big Red Run to attract the numbers needed to become viable.

So in a nutshell that’s an open and honest explanation of the reasons behind this very difficult decision.

Again a huge thanks to everyone involved over the years. Not only has the Big Red Run raised a significant amount for Type 1 Diabetes research since 2013, it has created so many special moments and memories that will last a lifetime!

04/07/2018

The BRR shoey!
What better place than outside the iconic Birdsville Hotel.
Like the winners pink tutu, could this become another BRR tradition?
Thoughts?

03/07/2018

Here are the final results of 2018 Big Red Run.
It's been another amazing year with an awesome bunch of people, both runners, crew and vols and so many new friendships made.
The worst part is that we need to wait another year before we can do it all again!
We look forward to welcoming a whole new lot of runners in 2019, and again many past Big Red Runners.

A misty and cool morning outside of the Birdsville Hotel as runners gather, nerves high in anticipation of what's to come. We're pleased to report that 51 runners who started also finished the whole 42km of Day 1. Looks like we're in for a week of competitive running with some top notch runners who'...

02/07/2018

Incredibly momentous day as 52 Big Red Runners ran the last 8km into Birdsville today. Every single person has changed, grown and learnt things about themselves over the course of the past 6 days. A group of individuals united in the desert and formed friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. And the best part.... this group has raised $140,000 and counting, for JDRF Australia to help fund research to find a cure for type 1 diabetes. And that wraps up 2018 Big Red Run! Runners and volunteers will enjoy a celebratory dinner and awards presentation this evening, before beginning the return to normal life tomorrow!

02/07/2018

Iconic front bar at Birdsville Hotel is rockin tonight as 2018 Big Red Runners and crew wash down the dust after 6 days in the Simpson Desert.
Some of the most well deserved drinks they will ever have! 🥂 🍻 🍷

02/07/2018

Runners on their way, should be here soon!
This is one of the best race finish lines a runner will ever experience outside the iconic Birdsville Hotel!
Well earned medals, cold 🍺 and hot showers await!

01/07/2018

The morning after, around the campfire.
Big blue sky day for the last untimed 8km to Birdsville Hotel!

01/07/2018

Last runners in at 11.55 pm.
Big day, and we're off to bed. Full results in the morning!