Takanya Ultra 2026 – Running for the Rainforest

By Caleb Rock

I’m based in sunny Queensland now, but we grew up in Tassie in the late 1980s and early 1990s, hiking and camping in the Jerusalem Walls and Cradle Mountain National Parks.

At that time, the legendary Battle for the Franklin River was still on the political scene. I knew the stories of multinational mining companies and government foresters that destroyed the landscape on an almost unimaginable scale.

I’ve seen logging trucks hauling very large trees on the highways past Launceston and Hobart on their way to turn them into pulp, send them across the ocean and back as paper. It also witnessed community protests trying to stop the destruction.

Knowing the stories of Tacania’s ancient rainforests with giant trees, I was keen to experience it for myself. I also wanted to do something to help protect the places that sparked my love of nature, and having the opportunity to do this epic work was the perfect opportunity.

The Takanya Ultra has been on my radar ever since I supported my twin brother, Zak, to his run (and commendable fourth place) in 2022. Unfortunately, I was injured at the time and was stuck at race headquarters in the Waratahs, watching racers come up with giant smiles on their faces for a hug with my mum’s hero, Bob Brown.

I spent two full years planning my return, and had reached a point where I felt ready to tackle a challenging 62km and over 2,500m of elevation gain.

It did not disappoint.

Anyone in the running community knows how great people are – Takanya has put together some of the best. Pre-race emotions were high, and the bus ride to the start line was a reminder of how diverse the coalition is to save this wild place – runners from across the states and territories, trades, teachers, trade unionists, professionals, and even an elected member of Parliament.

Before we started, race director Magel asked for a moment of silence to listen to the sounds of the forest and see how many birds we could hear — not your average starting chorus.

The first 7km was a fast downhill on gravel roads, at the bottom of the hill (and one of only two aid stations) – we turned sharply into the forest and the real racing began…

The next seven hours included some of the most stunning forests and steepest hills I have ever had the privilege of encountering. At various points a flock of black macaws flocked, scrambling high above the branches of the great mountain elms. Multiple river crossings, including the knee-deep Hoskins River at 21 km, served as water refill points. At times, I ran long distances alone in the shade of the canopy, and at other points I shared the track with runners from the 62, 37, and 22 kilometer races. Gnarled singletrack, well-made 4×4 tracks, muddy rainforest sections, grassy plains and hiking trails lead us from south to north through Tacania.

I started with the male and female leaders for 62km, then ran with the winner for 37km and had the 62km runner behind me catch up to check my navigation and share a few moments before the second aid stop.

Even in the rainforest, I’m a competitive person. I wanted to finish strong. The last 12 kilometers were a steady climb from the Magnet Mine through the northern edge of Takanya, along the inevitable ankle-deep stream and out to the finish line in the Waratahs. I locked in hard and pushed the last few kilometers on very tired legs. The last 150m is a downhill alongside the closed road to the Waratahs, ending after 7 hours and 50 minutes with a well-earned hug from Bob for third place overall – one place better than what my brother did in 2022. Easily the hardest thing I’ve done on two legs.

That evening, we learned that as a result of tireless campaigning, the single biggest threat to Takanya – a mining waste dam proposed by Chinese mining company MMG – had quietly applied to build a toxic waste dam in a strategic location. New websitethe lesser of two evils, outside of the pristine Tarkin Rainforest. A historic win and a complete return to where it all began for me, with the folklore of the Franklin Dam campaign victory.

This year, the event raised nearly $380,000. This support will go to the Bob Brown Foundation to ensure one of our last wild places stays that way – no matter the challenge.