Total Distance: 128kms (80 miles)

Elevation: ~ 4300m

Major Peaks: 3

Difficulty: High (75% Finish Rate)

Best suited to: Ultra runners with multiple 50km - 100km finishes under their belt.

128km of challenging, rocky, technical terrain interlaced with sensational sections of flowing undulating hard-packed single track. A morning road trip of approximately 100 km out of Alice Springs to the stunning Ellery Creek Waterhole ‘the locals’ swimming hole, and a spectacular backdrop to the start line. From here, a big section of 30km across the very exposed but runnable Alice Valley awaits until you reach Hugh Gorge. This is a section where on fresh legs you will feel like you want to run, but keep in mind the overall distance you’re undertaking as the morning warms up. There is also water at Rocky Gully halfway along this section.

128km Ellery Monster

Reaching Hugh Gorge (30kms) signifies a major milestone in that for the next 65km the trail gets visually spectacular, ridiculously technical and dangerously remote. Section 5 (15kms) is brutal and includes the famous ‘wade or climb’ water crossing approx. 3kms into non-stop creek work in Hugh Gorge. A sharp right hand turn at the 4km mark offers some relief before the Razorback Ridge (approx. 1100m) ascent commences. With a few false peaks – Razorback Ridge will test your patience…your only reward being that eventually you can start descending into and through the labyrinth of Spencer Gorge for 3kms. For most people relief is the dominant emotion when they reach the 4/5 Junction aid station.

From here 4km of flat runnable trail awaits prior to the Brinkleys Bluff (1139m) ascent which consists of two parts. The first being runnable on strong legs and noticeably easier than the second. The second without a doubt one of the most memorable and arduous climbs on the trail (second only to the High Route ascent on Section 3 which is still to come). The Brinkleys descent is technical but mostly runnable for the next 10kms into Standley Chasm (63kms), the first major aid station with a 21.5 hour cut-off, that will feel like the first sign of civilisation since leaving Ellery Creek. Drop bags available and pacers can start from here also.

Out of Standley Chasm it is only 13kms to Jay Creek, however the steepness of the terrain (in particular the Standley steps and cycad-laden High Route ascent) and creek work will mean that it will take most people 2.5 – 3.5 hours to complete. Beyond Standley Chasm you will go into the most amazing back canyon, with rocky technical sections and views up and down rugged ancient valleys full of Ghost Gums, Cycads Palms, Mulga Trees and spinifex. Cramp risk is high through this entire area. Tired legs don’t move fast through this terrain, though the High Route descent and trail heading towards Fish Hole does give some opportunity for efficient progress. If on the High Route at night you will see the lights of Alice 50kms to the East. Make sure that 5kms from Standley Chasm you take the High Route option to your left when you see the Millers Flat Junction.

Making to Jay Creek (76km) is another significant milestone as all the major climbing is now done and 52kms of largely runnable terrain awaits. Mulga Camp (9kms from Jay Creek) is remote but lively and after this it is 16kms of winding single track that always seems to take longer than it should. Of course by now your perception of time, effort and pace in general is somewhat warped by fatigue so just keep moving patiently, relentlessly forward.

Simpsons Gap, the 123km mark, only 25km from the finish that will take anything from 4 - 6 hours to reach for mot people, is a unique experience for everyone who makes it that far. We hope you’re one of the lucky ones who finds a second wind and ‘coasts’ into Wallaby Gap. Euro Ridge provides a genuine sting in the tail and is followed by a frustrating 6km of surprisingly undulating and uneven terrain. The last 5kms after you reach the Charles Creek Bridge is much easier going and also is the perfect time to start processing what it is you have just done and are about to get done. We promise that when you reach that finish line, you will be met by others who will be able to hug you and look you in the eye, knowing full well what you have been through to get there. You will be reunited with friends, family and onlookers who have bore witness to this journey you just ‘had to do’. Finally – you will be able to stop. Every memory, every challenge overcome, every emotion….yours….for the rest of your life!

Elevation:

Elevation Gain 3,690m

Elevation Loss 3,770m

Event Profile:

Entry Fee Inclusions for 231 km Sonder Monster (Not applicable to pacers / buddy runners):

• Hard Copy Course Maps and GPX Files
• Spot Tracker Device
• Race Bibs (front and Rear)
• Aid Stations and supplies
• Professional on-course Medical support
• Event medals and trophies or equivalent
• Camping/access fees at Larapinta Trail access fees for entrants and pacers, including Standley Chasm.
• The trail running experience of a lifetime!
• 5 ITRA Points

What the Entry Fee Doesn’t Cover:

• Transport to Race Start lines (WMM will provide an option at a small additional cost)
• Park entry fees to see the actual Standley Chasm ($15)
• Any meals before or after the event
• Accommodation
• Parks pass and camping fees for any immediate crew or supporters for the National Park or Standley Chasm.

Online Registrations Open: October 1st, 7PM CST 2025

Earlybird Registration Closes: Midnight October 31st, 2025

Online Registrations for personalised bib close: April 20th, 2026

Registrations available via transferred entry up until 5PM Friday 9th May 2026 providing pre-qualifications are met. Some conditions apply. There is no waitlist. In the unlikely event that more entries are made available after a distance has sold out this will be advertised on our socials and this website (be aware of scammers).

Registration Costs:

**If this is a consecutive year of entering the same race distance (or longer), you are entitled to a 10% discount. Email us if you would like to access this offer. Please note, only one discount code can be applied to your entry.**

Individual Early Bird (before midnight, October 31st) – $659

Individual Normal Entry (Nov 1st, 2021 – May 9th) – $779

Bus to the start line – $45 (optional during registration)

Pre-requisites & Registration Conditions

Due to the physically challenging nature of the event and associated risks, the following entry criteria will apply for all individual 128 km race entrants.

• Evidence of successfully completing within the past 18 months from the event weekend:

• • a 55km (not 50km, not 54km) or longer trail race in an official event (not a training run); or

• • Run Larapinta: All 4 stages of the Namatjira Short Course; or

• • ASRWC Red Centre Wringer Backyard Ultra: Completing 24 full yards (24 hours) in the event (no other backyard ultras anywhere in the world can be used as qualifiers); or

• • Larapinta Trail Sections 1, 2, 3: completed as a pre-qualification run in your own time. It must be verified by another person:  running East to West which is Alice Springs Telegraph Station to Standley Chasm in under 14.5 hours. Completing the qualifying run in the wrong direction will result in you being asked to do it again; or

• • for Darwin residents, the following course as a pre-qualification run in your own time. Two full loops of the TableTop Track (one loop in each direction) at Litchfield National Park. It must be verified by another person and a link to your Garmin / Strava.

• You must upload a link to your race result into your Event Plus registration portal, and it can be added after you have registered. This does not mean screenshots, Strava or Garmin files as examples.
• Pre-requisite race results must be submitted by linking us to your race results by midnight April 30th, 2025. If you enter after this date, you must upload your pre-qualifying race results link at the time of entry.
• Other training runs in any other part of the world will not be considered, so please don't ask as refusal might offend.

And

• Being at least 18 years of age at the date of the event starting

The 2026 Edition of WMM will be held from Friday 15th - Sunday 17th May.

Transferred registrations must be completed by 5pm Sunday 9th May.

Buddy runners are subject to some rules contained in the general event rules. They are eligible to run in the 128 km Ellery Monster from the Standley Chasm Checkpoint (~63 km). All buddy runners must attend the Compulsory Briefing and comply with the Race Rules, including carrying the same mandatory equipment as the runner they are pacing. Buddy runners can only start and stop legs at the publicly accessible Aid Stations.

Drop bags can be left at the time of registration for 2 major Aid Stations and the Finish Line;

• Standley Chasm ~63 km
• Simpsons Gap ~103 km
• Finish Line ~128km

Our preference is for the insulated zip top shopping bags for consistency. Check point labels will be available to be filled out at registration to attach to your bags for clear identification. We encourage you to identify your bags with your own coloured ribbon, name or bib no. to allow you to find them quickly at an aid station.

All drop bags will be taken to the Finish Line for collection. Our team will do what we can to ensure drop bags don't go missing but can't guarantee the security of items in drop bags. Any drop bags not collected by 2pm Monday the day after the event concludes will be donated to the local trail running community or thrown out.

Cut-off times are in place as follows and represent the time that the runner must LEAVE the aid station by except for the finish line cut-off which is the time the runner has to ARRIVE at the finish line.

Refer to the Race Rules for further details.

Completion of this race is worth 5 ITRA Points and counts towards your UTMB index.

In May, the average daytime temperature is 23 degrees, with overnight lows around 7 degrees. There is approximately 11 hours of daylight and a low chance of rainfall. Generally, people find that due to the low humidity of the dry desert air, they need to drink more fluids than usual.

• Mandatory Gear List
• Race Rules
• Cancellation Policy
• Larapinta Trail Information
• Alice Springs Tourist Information