Competitor Services and Logistics

Race registration

All runners must register in person:

  • WHEN: 11:00am – 3:00pm Friday 14 August 2026
  • LOCATION: The Mercure Alice Springs Resort (Event HQ)

At registration you will receive:

  • Number plate. Fix your personalised number plate to the front of your race shirt. Number plates cannot be trimmed or altered in any way and must remain on your outermost garment and be facing forward while racing
  • Printed event program
  • A wrist band for those who have booked the full package or added bus transports – this is your bus ticket!
  • Technical t-shirt – if you enter ALL stages for The Malbunka or The Namatjira
  • A woven Run Larapinta badge (to sew onto your vest pack or favourite running hat or garment).
  • Bag Tags – for clothing transport from start and finish lines
  • Sponsors information or products

Competitor briefing

  • Friday 14 August 2026 – 3:00pm – Mercure Alice Springs Resort (Event HQ)

All runners are strongly encouraged to attend the competitors’ briefing at the event hotel where final updates and information on the event will be given to all competitors.

2026 Welcome Pack for Competitors

Airport transfers

Rapid Ascent will arrange airport shuttle transfers to the official event hotels (The Mercure and Discovery Parks Alice Springs ONLY) on 13th August and 14th August and departures on Tuesday 18th August. These airport shuttles are INCLUDED in ‘The Package’ entry option and will be coordinated by Rapid Ascent. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS>>

Start / finish race transfers

Rapid Ascent provides transport for competitors to and from the Start and Finish of each stage, each day. We will pick up and drop off from the two official event hotels only – The Mercure and Discovery Parks Alice Springs. These race transfers are INCLUDED in ‘The Package’ entry option or can be purchased separately for $279 per person for all stages or individually from $30-$90. Approx 90% of participants catch the bus to / from the start / finish as it is a convenient (and very social) aspect of the event CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS>>

 

Water points and course marshals

Water points will be established along the courses for all stages but may still be 20km apart so runners will definitely need to carry water with you whilst on the trail. These water points will be manned and will double as emergency access points with marshals with radios and / or satellite phones.

Water points will have drums of water as well as Skratch Labs Sport Hyrdation Drink Mix powder for you to mix up in your own bladders / bottles. Water points will also be stocked with fruit cake, snakes, bananas, chips, shapes and some fruit. If you have your own preferred race nutrition then you should carry that with you for the duration of each stage.

Competitor services

Being runners ourselves and regularly participating in trail running events we know what helps make this a great event. The following competitor services will be provided to all runners:

Clothing transport

As all stages start and finish in different locations, we will transport your clothing from one to the other while you’re racing. Just drop your clothing off to us at the race info marquee at the start line and then collect it at the finish… !

On site medical team

We will have a specialist emergency doctor and qualified nurse with us for the duration of the event, both of whom are athletes and/or have worked at the event before and understand the needs of competitors. They will generally be based at the finish line but will have the ability to backtrack to assist runners on the course if needed. You are welcome to discuss any particular concerns or scenarios with them at the competitor briefing on Friday.

The event medical team will be at The Mercure on Saturday and Sunday between 5:30pm and 6:30pm to provide post race care (eg. blister care, taping and advice). Please find them in the shade shelter next to the grass.

Social functions and entertainment

A range of social functions will be held around the event schedule to allow you to get to know one another away from the trails. With a nightly presentation ceremony to recognise the day’s winners, a welcome dinner, and a massive presentation dinner on the final stage’s evening outside in the Mercure gardens – you’ll have plenty of opportunity to have a bit of fun and get to know one another.

Further details on the event functions can be found on the Spectator Info page

FREE Professional photos during the event

We are delighted to have a local professional photographer James Tudor from Forktail to shoot photos during the event. James will walk into different sections of the course each day to capture you in action, then upload his photos to a shared drop box each night – FOR YOU TO DOWNLOAD AND SHARE!!

Photos will be available from here
CLICK HERE to access all photos via seperate drop box folders, OR
www.forktail.com.au where you can search for photos of a specific race number

Support crews

You do not need a support crew to participate in the Run Larapinta Stage Race. Support crews are not permitted to provide any assistance to any runners on the course at any time.

That is not to say that support crews, spectators, families and friends are not welcome – oh no, you are very welcome to come and be involved with the event and sheer on the runners. Spectators bring a very friendly atmosphere to events and we openly encourage anyone who is thinking of coming to the race ‘to watch’ to book a flight now and come up and join the fun. In fact the best way to be involbed with the event if you are not a runner is to volunteer…

Volunteers are awesome!

Events like this can only operate with the assistance of a number of volunteers to help us get things organised and under way so you as competitors have the best possible event. Volunteering is also a great way to be involved with and enjoy the spirit of the event without having to actually run or raise (much of) a sweat! Please suggest to any of your family members, partners or friends who are accompanying you during the event that we’d greatly appreciate any time they could spare to give us a hand be it for 2 hrs or 2 days…

This could vary from helping at registration, recording times at a finish line for a few hours or maybe manning a remote water point for half a day… either way, we’d be grateful for any assistance for any length of time. We’ll fix them up with lunch on the day, and a few other goodies.

Please contact John Jacoby at Rapid Ascent if you or your colleagues are interested, via [email protected] or 03 5261 5511.