ABOUT
Running Wild Trail Association is a not-for-profit organisation. Our purpose is to organise fun, affordable, safe trail running events in the Blue Mountains, Australia.
How it all began
Founded by Trail Runners for Trail Runners.
Running Wild NSW began with three trail runners in the Blue Mountains — Sean Greenhill, Rod Cutler, and Phil Murphy — who wanted to offer a range of different trail runs in the lead up to the Six Foot Track Marathon.
Their creativity and skill got the organisation off the ground, managing everything from course design to post-race BBQs, and even the logo.
In the first year, additional runners joined the committee, bringing diverse skills that eased the workload and ensured long-term sustainability.
In honor of their efforts, race numbers 1, 2 and 3 are permanently reserved for them at all Running Wild NSW races.
Our Community
Explore and Enjoy the Blue Mountains with Running Wild.
Running Wild NSW aims to offer runners a range of trail running opportunities throughout the year in the Blue Mountains National Park. Although the Blue Mountains host popular events like the Six Foot Track and Ultra Trail Australia, there are countless other excellent trails out there waiting to be enjoyed, and we want them to be enjoyed by all runners – from elite athletes to those seeking a fun day out running with friends.
We work with partners like National Parks and Wildlife Services and Blue Mountains City Council to put on the best events we can, and your race entry fees support them in the upkeep of not only the trails we run on but all trails throughout the Blue Mountains.
After each race runners and volunteers can enjoy food and drinks while recovering and chatting. We hope to see you at the next Running Wild event! Check out our calendar to see our upcoming events!
The Committee, Running Wild.
Our Committee
| President | Melissa Stewart McSeveny |
| Vice PResident | Anthony Crick |
| Treasurer | Brad Smithers |
| Secretary | Helen Pretty |
| Committee | Mel Crick Gavin Clifton Matt Dunshea Dennis Clarke Graham Miller Michelle Page Julie Lyons |
Join The Committee
Help Shape Our Events: Join the Running Wild Committee!
We’re always looking for passionate volunteers to join our committee and help shape our events. Committee members help behind the scenes to organise events, order merch, coordinate event day volunteers, and have the opportunity to be a race director if they’re keen. Email us here to get involved!
Melissa Stewart McSeveny
Melissa Stewart McSeveny didn’t take up running until after having kids but is now a self-confessed running geek. She listens to all the podcasts, reads all the books and articles, will talk to anyone who’ll listen about any aspect of running, and in 2021 became an accredited coach.
Melissa holds the fastest known time running from Jenolan Caves to Nepean River and just loves getting out on the beautiful local trails of Dharug and Gundungurra country. Mel is on the Running Wild Committee to encourage others to get out and share those beautiful trails and get amongst the awesome Blue Mountains running community.
Anthony Crick
From Sydney’s Hills District, Anthony, also known as Red, has been regularly seen at Running Wild events since 2013, both competing & volunteering with his wife Mel and their children. Anthony has multiple completions of iconic events in the Blue Mountains, such as Six Foot Track Marathon, TNF/UTA100, Mt Solitary Ultra and Unreasonable East 100M, amongst countless Running Wild events.
Anthony became a Running Wild committee member in Season 10 and is often encouraging others to enjoy the Blue Mountains by volunteering or participating at our events – it’s the best way to appreciate and share the country we live on.
Brad Smithers
Brad, born and raised in Sydney, discovered trail running in 2010 on his 50th birthday with the Six Foot Track Marathon. Since then, he’s embraced bush trail running, participating in events like the Ultra Trail Australia, Great North Walk (GNW), and Great Ocean Road Ultra. He’s also paced and crewed for runners in events such as the GNW miler and Coast To Kosci Ultra Marathon.
On the trails, Brad values the fellowship with other runners and the connection with nature. A believer in “Pay it Forward,” he strives to repay kindness by helping others.
Brad has been a Running Wild member since its inception and became Treasurer in 2013.
Helen Pretty
I run trails. Lots of them. I’m not fast, but I love the peace, tranquility, and scenery, often running with a camera to capture the magic moments. With over 20 years of running both short and long distances, marathons and 50 km races are my favorites.
I’ve participated in events like the Six Foot Track Marathon, Woodford to Glenbrook, Wild Endurance, the Kepler Challenge in NZ, and various road races including the Gold Coast, Sydney, and Tokyo Marathons. Though I’m usually in the back half of the pack, I enjoy every moment.
I love being part of the Running Wild committee, volunteering at events and crewing. It’s rewarding to give back to the sport I love and help others achieve their goals.
Mel Crick
Meet Mel Crick, a dedicated runner and trail running community stalwart. Despite a permanent injury, Mel inspires fellow runners with her resilience and encouragement.
Balancing family life and numerous business and first aid commitments alongside her partner Red, Mel’s unwavering passion uplifts everyone around her.
Matt Dunshea
In the past three years, I’ve taken running seriously, focusing on training and entering mainly trail races. Before this, I ran to supplement training for other sports. Volunteering at events is as rewarding as racing for me.
I’ve been part of the Running Wild team since Season 7 and love being part of the broader Blue Mountains running community.
Dennis Clarke
After a youth in athletics and a period of inactivity, I found joy in road running, progressing from a 5k fun run to the Sydney Marathon in 2008.
Hearing about trail races like Six Foot Track and North Face 100 piqued my interest, leading me to try my first trail run at Running Wild’s Mt Portal event in 2010. Hooked on the supportive and inclusive trail running community, I’ve since completed many races, including Six Foot Track Marathon and UTA 100, and have cherished my involvement with Running Wild, both as a participant and committee member.
Graham Miller
Also known as Ziggy, Graham has been a dedicated member of the Running Wild committee since 2023. A passionate trail runner for the past four years, Graham found his love for the sport after moving to the Blue Mountains. He loves the camaraderie and inclusivity of the running community, always eager to support fellow runners.
You can often spot Graham traversing the trails of Blue Gum Swamp or doing loops with 440 Glenbrook.
Our Committee History
Season 1 - 2010/2011
| President | Sean Greenhill |
| Vice PResident | Rod Cutler |
| Treasurer | Mark Oh |
| Secretary | Luis Vazquez-Recio |
| Committee | Phil Murphy Ben Berriman Keith Hong |
Season 2 - 2011/2012
| President | Sean Greenhill |
| Vice PResident | Rod Cutler / Ben Berriman – Voted in Jan / Feb 2012 |
| Treasurer | Luke Doyle |
| Secretary | Luis Vazquez-Recio |
| Committee | Ian Sargent Helen Pretty Luke Doyle Keith Hong Phil Murphy Ben Berriman Melanie Parry Jo Nevin Garth McInerney Ewan Horsburgh |
Season 3 - 2012/2013
| President | Sean Greenhill – resigned . Ben Berriman – Acting |
| Vice PResident | Ben Berriman |
| Treasurer | Luke Doyle |
| Secretary | Luis Vazquez-Recio |
| Committee | Ian Sargent Luke Doyle Keith Hong Ewan Horsburgh Helen Pretty Melanie Parry – Resigned Jo Nevin – Resigned Garth McInerney Phil Murphy |
Season 4 - 2013/2014
| President | Luis Vazquez-Recio |
| Vice PResident | Ian Sargent |
| Treasurer | Brad Smithers |
| Secretary | Helen Pretty |
| Committee | Luke Doyle Annie Mackie Garth McInerney Marcus Cockshutt Ewan Horsburgh Martin Dugdale |
Season 5 - 2014/2015
| President | Luis Vazquez-Recio |
| Vice PResident | Ian Sargent |
| Treasurer | Brad Smithers |
| Secretary | Helen Pretty |
| Committee | Luke Doyle Annie Mackie Marcus Cockshutt Ewan Horsburgh Martin Dugdale Antony Bowesman |
Season 6 - 2015/2016
| President | Ian Sargent |
| Vice PResident | Luke Doyle |
| Treasurer | Brad Smithers |
| Secretary | Helen Pretty |
| Committee | Annie Mackie Ewan Horsburgh Martin Dugdale Paul Waddell Oliver Archer David Jagger Antony Bowesman |
Season 7 - 2016/2017
| President | Ian Sargent |
| Vice PResident | Brad Smithers |
| Treasurer | Carla Sawyer |
| Secretary | Helen Pretty |
| Committee | Annie Mackie Martin Dugdale Paul Waddell Oliver Archer David Jagger Shaun Whitehouse Brett Phelan |
Season 8 - 2017/2018
| President | Ian Sargent |
| Vice PResident | Brad Smithers |
| Treasurer | Carla Sawyer |
| Secretary | Helen Pretty |
| Committee | Annie Mackie Martin Dugdale Paul Waddell Oliver Archer David Jagger Shaun Whitehouse Matt Dunshea |
Season 9 - 2018/2019
| President | Ian Sargent |
| Vice PResident | Brad Smithers |
| Treasurer | Carla Sawyer |
| Secretary | Helen Pretty |
| Committee | Martin Dugdale Paul Waddell Oliver Archer David Jagger Mark Page Melaine Crick Kate Tuckey Matt Dunshea |
Season 10 - 2019/2020
| President | Matt Dunshea |
| Vice PResident | Paul Waddell |
| Treasurer | Brad Smithers |
| Secretary | Helen Pretty |
| Committee | Ian Sargent Mark Turnbull Nikki Connors Oliver Archer Mark Page Melaine Crick Kate Tuckey Melissa Stewart McSeveny Anthony Crick David Jagger |
Season 11 - 2020/2021
| President | Matt Dunshea |
| Vice PResident | Mark Turnbull |
| Treasurer | Brad Smithers |
| Secretary | Helen Pretty |
| Committee | Nikki Connors Oliver Archer Alice Penfold Melaine Crick Melissa Stewart McSeveny Anthony Crick Paul Wadell Kate Tuckey |
Season 12 - 2021/2022
| President | Matt Dunshea |
| Vice PResident | Mark Turnbull |
| Treasurer | Brad Smithers |
| Secretary | Helen Pretty |
| Committee | Melaine Crick Melissa Stewart McSeveny Nikki Connors Anthony Crick Alice Penfold Dennis Clarke |
Season 13 - 2022/2023
| President | Matt Dunshea |
| Vice PResident | Mark Turnbull |
| Treasurer | Brad Smithers |
| Secretary | Helen Pretty |
| Committee | Melaine Crick Melissa Stewart McSeveny Anthony Crick Anne Bennett Dennis Clarke |
Season 14 - 2023/2024
| President | Melissa Stewart McSeveny |
| Vice President | Anthony Crick |
| Treasurer | Brad Smithers |
| Secretary | Helen Pretty |
| Committee | Melaine Crick Mark Turnbull Matt Dunshea Dennis Clarke Graham Miller |
Volunteer
Do you want to see what the other side of an event is like? Join in as a volunteer!
We rely on volunteers for various race day tasks, such as registration assistance, manning aid stations, marshalling along the course and finish area, and course marking.
Volunteers receive a free race entry for their help: assist at a short course race to earn a free entry to the next short course race, or help at a long course event to earn a free entry to the next long course event.
Running Wild NSW is a not-for-profit run entirely by passionate volunteer runners who enjoy seeing others on the trails. We hold an annual AGM to elect committee members, and we welcome anyone interested in getting involved with our events and organisation.
To find out more, email us here.