This August, our mate Mick Marshall will take on the challenge of a lifetime — the UTMB World Series Finals in Chamonix, France.
Mick has been officially invited by UTMB to join the UTMB World Adaptive Team, competing in the MCC, a gruelling 40 km mountain race through the stunning Swiss and French Alps. He will be the only Australian adaptive athlete in the field and is proudly making history as:
- The first Australian adaptive athlete in ALTRA Run Crew to represent ALTRA Running.
- The first Endu1 Adaptive Ultra Athlete to compete on the world stage.
This is more than an athletic milestone. It’s a powerful recognition of Mick’s resilience, grit, and the impact he has made on the trail running community.
More Than Just a Race
For Mick, this journey is about more than crossing a finish line. It’s a mission — to prove that the sky is the limit, no matter what life throws at you. Through his presence on the international stage, Mick hopes to inspire others to believe in what’s possible.
Because just like ultra running, life is about taking one step at a time. You might not always know exactly when you’ll get there — but if you keep moving forward, step by step, you will.
A Career of Defying Limits
- Holds two official World Records.
- Completed Hyrox Melbourne, placing 2nd in the adaptive category on his first attempt.
- Led the first adaptive team to attempt the world-class GPT100, anchoring the final 33 km leg — the only adaptive athlete to complete a full leg.
- Became the first adaptive athlete to finish the brutal Oscars Hut 2 Hut Archie 50 km, making all able-bodied cut-offs on crutches.
- Debuted at Ultra-Trail Australia 50 km, again making every able-bodied cut-off on crutches.
- Finished both the Melbourne Marathon and Ballarat Marathon, earning his world records.
- Featured as an honoured guest on The Cowbell Podcast, sharing his extraordinary journey.
The Team Behind the Athlete
To take on the MCC, Mick will travel to Chamonix with a small but dedicated crew:
- Assist runner: Will accompany Mick every step, carrying his medical backpack and responding to his needs in real time.
- Linda, his partner and nurse: Will act as medical crew, monitoring Mick’s condition before, during, and after the race — a role that’s even more vital in an overseas environment.
This team is essential for Mick to compete safely, and it comes with significant travel and accommodation costs.
How You Can Help
A fundraising campaign has been launched to help cover travel and accommodation expenses for Mick and his support team, allowing him to proudly represent Australia’s adaptive athletes and the trail running community on the world stage.
This event will also be the final chapter of a documentary capturing Mick’s incredible journey — from being completely broken to becoming one of the world’s most inspiring adaptive endurance athletes. It’s a powerful reminder that giving up is never the answer.
As a token of gratitude, all donors will be credited in the film under “Crowd Funding Supporters” when it is released in 2026.
Let’s Get Mick to the Start Line
Whether it’s $5, $50, or $500, every bit counts. And if you’re unable to donate, sharing the fundraiser with your network is just as valuable.
If you want, I can now create a shorter, punchy Instagram and Facebook post based on this blog so you can launch both at the same time. That way you’ll get the long-form for the site and the high-impact social content to drive people to his fundraiser.
