What are the Untamed Run and Ride Categories?
Untamed is a category added in 2026 to add some technical challenge for those of you who find normal gravel just too smooth and easy!
The Untamed Half Marathon and Untamed 11km Run are held entirely on fire trail. Expect a mix of sand (which could be very soft), rocky and sometimes overgrown (often with native spiky plants) trails that are not particularly easy going. They are deliberately difficult! This is not for beginners!
The Untamed 95km Ride is a course very similar to the 100km gravel ride course, except for a 7km “short cut” across a fire trail that connects Red Gum Pass and Stirling Range Drive. As with the Untamed Runs, this part is sandy, rocky and in places overgrown with (sometimes spiky) foliage. It is rideable on a gravel bike (just!) with 40mm+ tyres, however, if you were only riding this section you’d almost certainly choose a mountain bike – so it’s up to you to decide which bike to bring! A special note about this category – due to the need to manage dieback in the area, if there is any rain in the area within 72 hours preceding the event, the category cannot be run, hence any entrants will be transferred into the 100km category.
Support for these events is harder to provide, and we expect you to be prepared! We require participants to carry their own water, sufficient food and adequately protective shoes and clothing. If you are wondering if you are taking on too much by entering these categories, you probably are! You have been warned!
