Two events, two completely different worlds of running, all in one weekend: the Lonely Mountain Ultra 2026 trail run at Mount Canobolas near Orange, and the Three Bridges Run 2026 along the Parramatta River in Western Sydney.
Lonely Mountain Ultra 2026 — Trail Race Photos, Orange NSW
Friday took me out to Mount Canobolas, just outside Orange, for an early Saturday morning start of the Lonely Mountain Ultra. Around a thousand competitors spent the day grinding up and down the mountain on dry, dusty tracks, under warm sun. From the 2K kids run all the way up to the 100-miler, runners headed out in every direction, so it wasn’t long before they were well strung out across the mountain. High on the climbs, the whole Central West opened out below. A cracking day to be behind the lens.
Three Bridges Run 2026 — River Race Photos, Parramatta NSW
Sunday could hardly be more different at the Three Bridges Run in Parramatta — Maximum Adventure’s fast, flat riverside course, and this one’s all urban, with a 10km fun run, a half marathon, and a full marathon, all starting from the Western Sydney University Parramatta campus. Around fifteen hundred runners tracing the Parramatta River across its boardwalks, bridges and parks, just thirty minutes west of the Sydney CBD. The weather’s flipped too: cool, overcast with showers, a soft grey light off the water, a world away from Saturday’s dust and heat.
For the 10km runners, the day starts at the university campus and heads west, staying on the north side of the river. The route passes the Alfred Street Bridge and the Parramatta weir before pushing out towards Parramatta Park, with marshalled aid stations along the way, including one in Rangihou Reserve. This is where I found myself set up for the day, as the 10 km came running by first, later followed by the 42km runners. When the showers came, I donned my wet-weather gear and tucked myself under my umbrella.
Event Details and FAQs
When and where was the Lonely Mountain Ultra 2026?
The Lonely Mountain Ultra 2026 was held on Saturday 26 September 2026 on Mount Canobolas (Gaanha-bula), just outside Orange, NSW, with event headquarters at Lidster, about 15km west of Orange.
What distances are at the Lonely Mountain Ultra?
The event offers 11km, 22km and 32km trail runs, 50km, 50-mile and 104km ultras, and a 100-mile race, plus 2km and 4km kids’ runs.
When and where was the Three Bridges Run 2026?
The Three Bridges Run 2026 was held on Sunday 27 September 2026 along the Parramatta River in Western Sydney, starting from the Western Sydney University Parramatta campus. It is organised by Maximum Adventure.
What distances are at the Three Bridges Run?
The Three Bridges Run has a 10km fun run, a 21km half marathon and a 42km marathon on a fast, flat course.
Where can I find my race photos?
Selected photos from both events are in the galleries on this page, and all the images from both races are available on the Outerimage website.
Two days, two completely different worlds of running — wild mountain trail one morning, flat city river the next. As always, all the images from both races are available over on our Outerimage website.
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