Equipment and Safety

Hanny Allston and FIND YOUR FEET – our official training and retail partners.

We are very happy to partner with Find Your Feet as our official retailer for the 2025 Run Larapinta Stage Race who have offered all competitors 20% off all items in their store (in Hobart) and online.

Once you have entered you will receive your discount code in your confirmation email

Find Your Feet is an independent, Tasmanian company owned and operated by Hanny Allston and Graham Hammond. They are devoted to providing an exceptional retail experience and quality education to empower our community to find their feet. They love and respect the outdoors, and are constantly striving towards assisting others to find their wildest selves.  Their services include:

Hobart retail store   /   Online retail store   /   Find Your Feet Running Tours

EQUIPMENT

Mandatory Gear for all runners at all times, irrespective of category for The Malbunka and The Namatjira:

Please note: All the listed MANDATORY GEAR items must be brought to race registration for witnessing prior to starting. Runners will not be able to start if any item is not deemed appropriate or is not presented.

  • Race Number Plate x 2 (supplied in Registration Pack): This must be worn on your front (large) and back/backpack (small), attached to the outermost garment at all times.
  • First Aid Kit (minimum contents: 2 x crepe bandages, 6 x wound closure strips, 1 x triangular bandage, 2 x non-stick wound dressing pads and a pair of surgical gloves) . These can be purchased from Race Registration or online when you enter.
  • Space blanket (available at Race Registration or online when you enter.)
  • A whistle (available at Race Registration or online when you enter.)
  • Mobile phone (Telstra recommended best coverage)
  • 1 long sleeve thermal top (polypropylene, wool or similar). The garment must be of a size and style to fit you. Note: cotton, lycra or any ‘compressions’ garments do not qualify.
  • Water containers
    • All Namatjira and Malbunka runners must have the ability to carry 3lt of water / hydration at specific stages during the event.
  • Maps on your phone – All competitors must have the course routes (for the stages you are racing) saved to your phone in an app that works when not in phone reception.
  • A beanie to keep your head warm – a Headsock or ‘Buff’ is sufficient
  • Matches or cigarette lighter
  • 1 x windproof jacket.
  • Torch / Headtorch. Must be bright enough to illuminate the track at least 50m ahead of you (we recommend a minimum of 150 lumens) with sufficient battery power to last you to the finish. STRONGLY RECOMMENDED for all stages.

Recommended Gear list, additional to the items listed above:

  • Headtorch or small, emergency torch
  • A second pair of running shoes incase you get a blow out or blisters in your first pair
  • A means of carrying additional water (bigger bladder, soft flasks or bottles)
  • Additional clothing to match the conditions expected on the day. BE SENSIBLE.
  • Hat and sunglasses and sunscreen
  • Polypro gloves and arm warmers for the cool morning starts
  • Water proof bag or snap lock for your mobile phone
  • Food and additional water / hydration
  • Vaseline, Body Glide or other body lubricant – including some in a small tube you can carry with you
  • Sports injury tape (like Elastoplast)
  • Headtorch or small, emergency torch
  • Water purification tablets
  • Foam roller and massage ball (and yoga mat?) to loosen up your legs after each stage
  • Thongs / sandals for after racing
  • External power source for your phone on the course if using the maps App and taking a lot of photos
  • travel insurance for activities in remote areas; or enquire with your ambulance membership or with your personal accident insurance.

Tarkine shoes – official footwear of the event

Tarkine takes responsibility for the life-cycle of running footwear by being 100% Eco Friendly and 50% more durable. Tested on elite runners, suitable for anyone who cares about the planet, comfort and style.

The Trail Devil is a fantastic shoe that is very appropriate for the terrain in the MacDonnell Ranges. They have a tough upper, a hard wearing sole and comfortable midsole that swallows up the rocks!.

Tarkine also pledge to take responsibility for the products they manufacture, and in doing so, hope that other brands will follow. Vital to this process, are the following:

  • Working towards a carbon neutral business model
  • Using ethical and sustainable manufacturing processes
  • Using ethical, sustainable and eco-friendly materials
  • Working towards a worldwide recycled program.

We can always improve the way we do things by minimalizing our creation of microplastics and using better and better recycling practices. The running shoe industry has an awful environmental record. It’s Tarkine’s goal to ignore the way things are usually done, to set their own path.

#runthefuture www.Tarkine.com

SAFETY

Rapid Ascent provides a certain amount of ‘duty of care’ over all competitors, volunteers and stakeholders in the Run Larapinta Stage Race. We will ensure that the race is run as it is described, with water where it is described, support where it is described and assistance where it is described in the event program.

Where conditions are beyond ‘normal’ (e.g. hotter than 30 deg) we will extend our duty of care over participants to help you handle the conditions. We have risk management plans, emergency plans and procedures to follow if an incident happens and are in continual correspondence with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and other land managers and stakeholders to ensure that the course environment is as described.

It is also the responsibility of the participants – including runners, spectators, volunteers, stakeholders… – to use common sense and take care of yourselves and each other whilst at the event. Event participants also have a duty of care over themselves to ensure, for example, they have enough water with them to get to the next checkpoint, to dress appropriately for the conditions, to handle yourselves correctly if you are hot, to care for your feet and ankles so they can handle the terrain…. etc.

Rapid Ascent will provide support and assistance (and evacuation) where needed. It is also the participants’ responsibility to ensure you prepare yourself and can handle the conditions of the event.

If you wish to discuss the safety of the event and our plans and procedures, then please contact us at any time via [email protected] or 03 5261 5511.

EMERGENCY ACCESS AND EVACUATION

All runners should be aware that the trail passes through some very inaccessible and remote country that does not often allow for any outside access. In fact, on most stages there is not even a 4WD track that comes close to the trail at any point – meaning that if you have an accident you are a long way from help.

Runners need to be self-sufficient and be able to handle yourself in a remote landscape. If an accident occurs (such as a badly rolled ankle for example), you must be able to look after yourself and each other, and work independently to make your own way to the next checkpoint / water point.

There is minimal mobile phone reception along the trail. If you do need emergency assistance then we encourage you to follow these basic steps:

  • Alert other runners / walkers that you need help. Take specific note of your location and the name of the injured.
  • Ask someone to remain with you whilst others continue on for help. If remaining in place, ensure you have sufficient clothing, food and water to remain outside for up to 24hrs.
  • The travelling party should make their way to either the nearest water point / checkpoint (this may be back along the way you came), or to the nearest patch of phone reception, which is often on a very high point or ridgeline.
  • Call the Race Director Sam Maffett 0400 001 786 or John Jacoby 0408 035 261 for assistance. (These phone numbers are on the back of your number plate). Advise them of the name (or race number) of the injured person, the exact location and their condition.
  • Instructions will be given as to what to do – but may include calling a helicopter for an emergency rescue (at the patients’ expense), if any forward progression is not possible e.g. broken leg

We will have a sweep runner with a 2 way radio going along behind the last runner on all stages to assist if required.

We do not wish to scare you and we hope no major accidents occur, but we want you to be aware of the risks and to be prepared in case something does happen.