Trail Run Magazine #49 by Adventure Entertainment

BUMPER EDITION: OUR 2024 EVENT GUIDE

EDITION 49 // 2023 // AU/NZ

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ED49 // 2023 // AU/NZ SUMMER AUSTRALIAN MADE. AUSTRALIAN PRINTED. AUSTRALIAN OWNED.

COVER: Wanaka resident Simone Maier is out in her natural environment amongst the Otago mountains in autumn as she practices her rock-running for the Coast to Coast race in February 2024. IMAGE: Ben Wallbank THIS SHOT: Participants of the 2023 Backyard Masters in regional Queensland set off on another loop in the event’s last one standing format. IMAGE: Nancy Jayde Photography VISIT US ONLINE trailrunmag.com facebook.com/trailrunmag twitter.com/trailrunmag instagram.com/trailrunmag EDITOR: Kate Dzienis SUBEDITOR: Kathleen Southway DESIGNER: Marine Raynard LEGENDARY WRITERS: Kerryn Bell, Aaron Collins, Ash Daniels, Brad Dixon, Joseph Dorph, Kate Dzienis, Lisa Ellery, Sophie Geraghty, David Grant, Chris Hitchcock, Dr Vicki Lim, Hilary McAllister, Giles Penfold, Paige Penrose, Dr Inia Raumati, Samantha Turnbull, Gaby Villa, Astrid Volzke, Ben Wilkinson, Adele Worner EPIC PHOTOGRAPHERS: Brian Sharp Creates, Cano Fotosports, Aaron Collins, FinisherPix, Boen Ferguson, Andre Gie, Michael Heim, Chris Hitchcock, Dr Vicki Lim, Jarrod Lucacs, Jakub Maculewicz/Shutterstock, Maridav, Glenn Marvin, Malcolm McRae, Nancy Jayde Photography, OTSPhoto, Giles Penfold, Photos4sale, Jack Prebble, Race Atlas, Rapid Ascent, Real Sports Photos, Roast Media Kreuzjoch, Vincent Scherer, Charlie Spagalli, Sportograf, Kamil Sustiak, Gaby Villa, Astrid Volzke, Ben Wallbank, Ben Wilkinson, Matt Wiseman/Le Bent TRAIL RUN IS PUBLISHED QUARTERLY ADVERTISING Zac Merrion Email: zac@adventureentertainment.com Phone: +61 499 661 101 SUBSCRIPTIONS & ENQUIRIES Email: magazines@adventureentertainment.com Phone: (02) 8227 6486 PO Box 161, Hornsby, NSW 1630 trailrunmag.com/subs EDITORIAL Trail Run Mag Email: kate@trailrunmag.com PUBLISHER Adventure Entertainment ABN 79 612 294 569 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY Trail Running acknowledges and shows respect for the Traditional Custodians of Australia and Aotearoa, and their Elders, past, present and emerging. DISCLAIMER Trail running and other activities described in this magazine can carry significant risk of injury or Death, especially if you are unfit. Undertake any trail running or other outdoors activity only with proper instruction, supervision, equipment and training. The publisher and its servants and agents have taken all reasonable care to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication and the expertise of its writers. Any reader attempting any of the activities described in this publication does so at their own risk. Neither the publisher nor any of its servants or agents will be held liable for any loss or injury or damage resulting from any attempt to perform any of the activities described in this publication, nor be responsible for any person/s becoming lost when following any of the guides or maps contained herewith. All descriptive and visual directions are a general guide only and not to be used as a sole source of information for navigation. Happy trails.

CONTENTS EDITION 49 // 2023 // AU/NZ 104. OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

108. THE LA SPORTIVA JACKAL II BOA

TRAIL MIX 14. EDITOR’S WORD 18. COACH’S AID STATION 20. PEAK PERFORMANCE 22. DREAM RUN: SOUTHERN LAKES ULTRA 24: NEW! TREADING LIGHTLY 96. RACE REPORT: SKEDADDLE 104. OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: BREATHTAKING RUNS 110. TRAIL CREW: KALGOORLIE RUNNERS 111. EAT, SLEEP, RUN: THE BEST AI SMOOTHIE 114. TRAIL THERAPY

REVIEWS 16. ALL THE GOOD GEAR: PRODUCT REVIEWS 108. SHOE REVIEW: JACKAL II BOA 112. BOOK CLUB: RUN HEALTHY

51.

28. AN AUSSIE AND A KIWI BREAK A WORLD RECORD

OUR 2024 AU / NZ EVENT GUIDE IS HERE! 26.

FEATURES 28. BREAKING 101: SMASHING THE WORLD RECORD 34. EPIC ESSAY: LEARNING TO WAIT IT OUT 42. Q&A: MEET NEW ZEALAND’S WESTON HILL 48. DARE TO DREAM: MOVING FORWARD FOR BABY CHARLIE 84. CONTRIBUTION: MOVE IT OR LOSE IT 90. CONTRIBUTION: A TALE OF MATES, MOUNTAINS & MUD 100. FEATURE: RUNNING WITH DOGS

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ED’S WORD

FROM ME TO YOU AND EVERYONE

Inbetwee n O

ur second ever Event Guide is here! I know the digital world has taken over much of our planning when it comes to what races we’d like to target in the new year, but sometimes isn’t it just great to have a hardcopy right in front of you, and a pen in your hand to circle what you want to register for? All the while sipping on your post-run coffee or tea at your favourite café with your trail crew, or on your veranda watching the world go by?

We’ve worked hard with race directors and organisers from across the Tasman to showcase what’s happening in 2024 so that everything is in one place. We’ve got race previews plus all the dates, locations and rego info you need to sign up! TRM49 is also a celebratory one for me. It’s my eighth edition, and although that might not sound like much, it does signify two full years of working together with Adventure Entertainment as Editor of Trail Run Mag (given we’re a quarterly publication) and being part of a massive collective to share stories and photographs that best represent our beloved sport.

Previous to the role, I’d always been a part of the trail running community and combined my passion for it with writing and submitting stories to various publications, both online or print, but becoming a part of the TRM team secured everything in a much more meaningful way. Here was a consistent opportunity to continue what I was doing, plus expand my connections, and thrive on pushing the sport’s popularity to get more people across Australia and New Zealand active. Today, I look at the stories we’ve covered over the past two years, and sometimes it’s hard to believe that this is what I do for a living. Today, I go over heartfelt emails from avid readers who write ‘thank you’ for raising awareness of specific issues that they didn’t think affected others. Today, I thank every single writer and photographer, every race director and runner, and every contributor to the magazine. And today, I am grateful for the readership that looks forward to getting their next copy of TRM because without the readers, there’s no magazine.

This is also about the hard working team behind TRM that helps put it altogether, from our incredible designer Marine who has helped shape it what it is today, to our marketing and sales teams who are always one step ahead of the game. One of my favourite days of the process is getting that delivery of the next edition. The other, is when readers share their posts on the socials with a copy in their hands, and I absolutely love getting those Insta tags! So as we come to a close for 2023 and get ready to ring in the new year, it’s been an exciting and thrilling 12 months for TRM, and I’m absolutely tood-a-lootly looking forward to what 2024 will bring. From all of us, we wish you happy trails and a year of PBs, new adventures, and all the running shoes you could ever dream of!

KATE DZIENIS, TRM EDITOR

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ALL THE GOOD GEAR

LSKD REVIEW BY KATE DZIENIS HOLY. SMOKES. Have I found the most comfortable and form fitting running pants, like, ever?! Australian activewear LSKD, based in Qld, claims to ‘hug you in all the right places’…and yes. Yes it does. Yes it does hug me in all the right places. The LSKD Women’s Fusion Full Length Legging has one of my favourite features in a running pants leg – a high rise fold over waistband with pockets. There’s no seam in the front, so the chance of a ‘camel toe’ is pretty much not on the table, and the material is, in the words of Sean Paul, ‘…smooth, just like-a silk’ made out of 70% polyester and 30% elastane. Out on the trails in the Fusion Full Length Leggings, comfort was supreme. No falling down at the crotch, length was perfect for those colder mornings, and my keys and phone were held firmly in place. I also had a chance to review LSKD’s Fusion MidLength Bike Shorts in the Auburn colour, which is fast becoming one of the brand’s best sellers in the lead up to summer. Again, comfort reigns supreme in these (70% polyester, 30% elastane) with 4-way stretch fabric, soft matte finish, and a fold over waistband. These are so versatile, they’ll become

your new fave go-to pair for everything – trail runs, gym, cycling, and even everyday wear, with absolutely no worries about sweat marks. You can also get ones to suit your personality with a range of colours (Auburn, Blush Leopard, Black, Navy, Spark Pink and Flamingo). Essentially, LSKD are true to size once you measure yourself according to their online size chart and for a guide, I’d say their worded sizes translate to the following numerals: S(8), M(10), L(12), XL(14), 2XL(16) and 3XL(18). The fabric on both the Women’s Fusion Full Length Legging and Fusion Mid-Length Bike Shorts is top notch quality, whilst the entire LSKD brand is inspired by a streetwear aesthetic. And you know when sometimes you put on a pair of running tights and they just don’t quite look right? LSKD are flattering on all size legs and pocket life is real. The bottom line? The most comfy, hug-me-tighter run pants I’ve ever trailed in. VITALS RRP Fusion Full Length Leggings $73 AUD RRP Fusion Mid-Length Bike Short $67 AUD LSKDAUSTRALIA.COM

TAILWIND ENDURANCE FUEL REVIEW BY GILES PENFOLD

TAILWIND. A WIND OF CHANGE IN THE WORLD OF TRAIL RUNNING. But what kind of change, you may be asking? Preventing nutrition ‘gut bombs’ from complete and utter sabotage. The longer answer is a little more nuanced, so I’ve been testing their Endurance Fuel to really understand how it affects my body. First thing’s first (and please skip to the next paragraph if you’re squeamish). Tailwind was born out of one person’s necessity to quite literally not regurgitate their nutrition during an ultra. Let that sink in for a second. If you’ve ever had stomach issues when running, you know. If

you haven’t, do your best to imagine. I’ve been there a number of times, specifically during runs exceeding the three hour mark. I generally avoid gels and powders, and instead religiously stick to less practical options like fruit and muesli bars.

My energy is maintained and my stomach remains in operation. Over 13 hours of racing, I never get sick of the drink mix, and for someone that’s used to chowing down on wholefoods, the ease of drinking calories is genuinely brilliant!

When the team at Tailwind sends me their product, instinctively, my stomach growls, and my psyche is equally suspicious (gut-brain axis anyone?). Long story short, my body not only reacts surprisingly well to their endurance powder, but actually thrives off of it. Let me elaborate.

Somehow, I cross the finish line in 2nd Place, and can safely attest to the fact that my nutrition strategy plays a crucial role, spearheaded by Tailwind’s Endurance Fuel.

I test their mandarin flavour on about half a dozen long runs (20km+) and have zero issues with digestibility. Zilch. This purportedly boils down to Tailwind’s main ingredient dextrose being a form of clean glucose that is rapidly assimilated by your system, bypassing the stomach pile up that complex sugars and protein can cause. Happy stomach, happy days. The training tick of approval is there, and although initially hesitant, I go all in, choosing to fuel my 110km race at Brisbane Ultra Trail with their endurance fuel. My nutrition strategy is simple – eat intuitively at aid stations and consume two scoops of Tailwind per hour, giving me 50g of carbs and 200cal.

Flavour wise, Tailwind prides itself on being clean and light. I can confidently back this up, and find the mandarin flavour to be quite mild, making it easy to consume over extended bouts of movement. Let’s be honest, there’s nothing worse than sickly sweet drinks on long runs. As a heavy sweater, I’m also a big fan of Tailwind’s electrolyte profile. At 606mg of sodium per 200cal, this dose considerably outsmarts other drink mixes when it comes to hydration. Bottom line – go try it yourself! VITALS RRP $65 AUD / 30 Serve Bag TAILWINDNUTRITION.COM.AU

ISSUE 49 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM

NEBO MYCRO 500+ HEADLAMP & CAP LIGHT REVIEW BY KATE DZIENIS STILL LOOKING FOR THE IDEAL HEADLAMP BUT STRUGGLING TO FIND SOMETHING WORTH THE MONEY? This particular brand, NEBO, specialises – and I mean specialises – in products of the illumination variety. I’m talking headlamps, flashlights, work lights, lanterns and pocket lights. For trail runners though, hands-free is what’s we’re after and NEBO’s Mycro 500+ is what you want when it comes to delivering 500 lumens of brightness that puts the light right where you need it. All my headlamps in previous years have had batteries required, but this little beauty is a rechargeable wonder with up to 3 hours of run time. And when I say small, I mean it’s the perfect size without compromising the power that comes

from it (2.85” long and 1.2” high), with two modes to choose from – spot and flood light, each with its own set of detailed usage; in spotlight mode, you can go from Turbo (500 lumens, 30sec intervals, 90m) and High (200 lumens, 1hr, 60m) to Medium (100 lumens, 2hrs, 42m) and Low (30 lumens, 3hrs, 23m), whilst in floodlight mode you’ve provided High (200 lumens, 25min, 24m), Low (50 lumens, 1hr, 11m) and Red (25 lumens, 35min, 8m). Raining? Not a problem-o. It’s water and impact resistant. What I do love about the NEBO Mycro 500+ is that it comes with a cap clip so instead of sliding the headlamp through the strap and using it that way, it’s now easier to wear if you like having a hat – simply slide it off the strap and clip it onto the very

front of your visor/bill. The integrated tilt makes this even easier whereby it’s just a case of adjusting the light up or down to suit your preference. Whilst out on my winter early morning runs, the Mycro 500+ didn’t feel like it was pushing or digging into my forehead when I used it in its strap configuration, but to be honest I absolutely love the cap clip as I’m a hat user. Definitely a go-to product for illuminating the trails and making early morning, late evening or night runs feel a lot safer.

VITALS RRP $79.95 AUD NEBOTOOLS.COM.AU

CELL SQUARED REVIEW BY KATE DZIENIS IF YOU’RE KEEN TO ACTIVATE THE BEST VERSION OF YOURSELF, CELL SQUARED SHOULD BE YOUR GO TO. They provide the very best in delivering ‘back to basics’ ingredients in their health and wellbeing products with superior sourcing, superior quality, and conscious agriculture in Australia. I had the opportunity to test out two of their showstopping products – Organic Grass-Fed Beef Liver Capsules and their ACO Certified Organic Grass-Fed Beef Liver Powder. Hear me out, seriously. I understand. You hear the word ‘liver’ and yes, it’s an acquired and unique taste in our western world, but Cell Squared has created these capsules and powder that can give you all the nutrients of beef liver in its best supplement form possible. Historically, ancient cultures have praised the health benefits of eating organs, with liver widely known as one of the most nutrient dense of them all – but in Australia, our modern way of life has lost its connection with the ‘nose-to-tail’ way of eating, and we tend to avoid organ meats simply because we’re not accustomed to it, favouring muscle meats for their flavour. Beef liver is a rich source of Vitamin B12, Vitamin

A, Folate, Heme Iron and B Vitamins (plus so much more) offering healthy immune function, energy, endurance, recovery, muscle growth, healthy hair and skin, good vision, improved mental function, gut and digestive system health, and overall wellbeing. Cell Squared’s beef liver is organically sourced from ancient remote grasslands across Australia with the capsules themselves easy to swallow; alternatively you can also break them open and sprinkle on top of food. Simply take 4 to 6 per day with a meal or snack, and you’re done. The powder, on the other hand, is a creative way to get liver into your diet, and Cell Squared’s website has a range of recipes you can whip up to sprinkle a teaspoon of it on. Essentially, a teaspoon of Beef Liver goodness goes beautifully on top of meals like beef stew, lamb shanks and meatballs, and also smoothies, soups and stir fries. This is a brilliant way to add nutrients into recipes (or sneak into the family’s meals whilst they’re not looking, but keep that on the down low; don’t get me into trouble), and technically the only difference between the capsules and the powder is that one version is encapsulated within a high quality bovine gelatin capsule.

Exemplify the shift you wish to see in the natural health movement, and give Cell Squared a go! VITALS RRP Organic Grass-Fed Beef Liver Capsules $49.95 AUD RRP ACO Certified Organic Grass-Fed Beef Liver $59.95 AUD CELLSQUARED.COM.AU

THE COACH’S AID STATION | COLUMN WORDS: ASH DANIELS IMAGE: ANDRE GIE

START THE NEW YEAR RIGHT BY PLANNING AHEAD

ollowing a couple years of disruption to the racing calendar, we’re now in a position where all races are back on their original dates. With this increased certainty we can now plan out our racing year, confident training won’t be wasted due to cancellations. With an abundance of great races included in this edition (our Event Guide, hint hint!), there’s a wide variety of trail events to pick from. So what’s the best approach to planning out your racing year, through understanding why you race, categorising your races, and then implementing a long-term training plan? Why Do I Race?

Long-Term Planning

Before we get into how to plan out your racing year, there are a couple key questions you need to ask yourself – why do you race and which races mean the most to you? These questions will have so many different answers, are individual to each of us, and are important to driving our training for the coming year. With such a variety of events from distance, terrain, elevation, and support provided, there’s certainly an event out there for you. With most of our time spent training compared to racing, we want to make sure training is an enjoyable process and can mimic some form of the events you have chosen.

With your A Race locked in, the hard work starts with the beginning of a process. This is where you start your planning from the end – in other words, from the date of your A Race and working your way backwards. Technically called the macrocycle, it covers from now to race day.

Categorising Your Chosen Races

The next step is breaking your races down into three categories – A, B and C. Your A Race is typically the most important race of the year and the one where training is most focused. Whilst there aren’t any hard and fast rules on how many A Races we can run, you should consider how much time you can commit to training. This will influence the distance, what terrain, and elevation you have access to, and the time between races because you need to recover fully. Most people focus on two to three A Races per year. B Races are generally shorter in distance than your A Race and can be more frequent. We use B Races for trialling and testing aspects of our A Race; this can include pacing, nutrition, equipment (think new trail shoes) and potentially logistics. We may also incorporate a mini taper into our B Races. The key rule is that we don’t want our B Race to overly affect the ongoing training for our A Race (think recovery). Lastly, C Races are completed as part of training with no specific preparation or taper, and the result having minimal importance. This could be just a local run that we’re interested in completing or supporting a friend.

Your plan at this stage is general and focuses on groups of weeks broken down into 3 to 6-week blocks with a potentially easier week at the end of each block. Next, write down, understand, and clarify your running abilities and those needed to complete your A Race. Are you a stronger runner on flat terrains yet struggle on the hills and stairs? Is nutrition an area you need to work on, do you need to practice and use poles, and how do these relate to your chosen event (vert, distance and terrain)? With this information, we can now set a training theme for and schedule each block in the calendar. Using the following principles: Training blocks nearest the A Race should focus on things most specific to that event, and those blocks furthest away should work on the things least specific to your event. Think of a mountainous trail race, with lots of steep elevation. Incorporate all the different types of runs into your plan. Your training should involve all types of runs throughout the entire training period (macrocycle). Focus on your strengths nearer the event and weaknesses furthest away. By understanding our strengths and weaknesses, captured earlier and the specific requirements of the event, we can focus and develop these in a timely fashion. Finally, regardless of the race and when it is scheduled, my key piece of advice is to start your planning and training now – it’s never too soon.

INSIDER KNOWLEDGE: Ash Daniels is a Level-3 Athletics Australia Performance Development coach at Journey2Ultra coaching, where he specialises in trail and ultra running. He coaches runners of all abilities and distances, believing everyone is a runner; just that some of us need a bit more help in getting going. Ash can be found at journey2ultra.com.au

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PEAK PERFORMANCE | COLUMN WORDS: BRAD DIXON

LEARNING FROM THE LEGEND O n 1 December 2022, Steve Moneghetti became the fastest

60-year-old in history over 5km.

His time of 15:52:09 is incredible. I was very excited to have the opportunity to spend time with the Australian running legend in 2013 as part of a NZ athletics camp.

The camp started with Steve talking about his background and personal tips to help young athletes towards their athletic goals. He said that Australia’s running had influence from the great Arthur Lydiard, and how he valued the friendships and experiences he’d made. As a society, everyone is after a quick fix, a short cut to an end goal, or a silver bullet to glory. Steve’s secret? There is no secret. It’s all about consistent hard work. This is especially true in the endurance sport world. The aerobic hours of training must be done to build that foundation that’s required to complete the quality anaerobic work that will gradually shift your speed endurance envelope higher towards your limit. If you shortcut this process, you’ll get injured, burn out, and ultimately end in disappointment. Endurance is all about the long game plan, not short term success. Research shows this, and the most successful legends of the sport preach it. It took Steve 15 years to reach the penthouse of his sport; that’s 15 years of building an aerobic foundation with miles unheard of to most athletes – on average up to 8000km per year or up to 200km per week. Ultimately this saw Steve win Bronze in the 1986 Commonwealth Games marathon (2:11:18), a Silver in the 1990 Commonwealth marathon (2:10:34), Gold in the 1994 Commonwealth marathon (2:11:49), and Third in the 1997 World Marathon Championships (2:14:16). He also won Berlin in 1990 and Tokyo in 1994. Steve held three of the world’s best times for the half marathon and was partly responsible for the resurgence of that distance. His record at the Sydney City to Surf still stands (1991, 40:02:46), a phenomenal effort for someone who, as a kid starting out, was told by his junior athletics coach that he would never be any good at athletics and not to bother coming back. Up to the age of 16, Steve was a good runner but didn’t stand out. But as he built his running, his talent improved, and he ended up winning the Australian 19/u X-Country title in 1982. The cross country format suited Steve and he’d said at the time, “This is where I am meant to be.” Incidentally, the cross country arena has proven to be a fantastic launching pad for many athletes, and Steve commented on how this should not be underestimated when considering the development of young athletes. His relationship with coach Chris Wardlaw (twotime Olympian) started when Steve switched coaches at age 21. The mutual respect from the coach-athlete relationship helped propel Steve towards his first world cross country selection in 1985. But this was almost not the case. On 13 June 1984 Steve fractured his neck attempting a pole vault drill that ended up with a pile drive manoeuvre into a trampoline. The two weeks in hospital and three months recovering helped fuel Steve’s competitive nature to new

heights. When he was able to return to running, he was so focused, he carried around a black book recording the names of runners who beat him with a goal of crossing each one out as he came back. The renewed focus after being so close to never running again (you don’t really appreciate something until you come close to losing it) helped him reach his first World Championships. Steve’s consistency and level headiness are a great trait for a distance runner. His legendary training weeks consisted of a large quantity of miles layered with specific quality, and he’s still a great supporter of Sunday double runs. His recovery runs were better labelled as ‘absorption’ runs (to absorb the previous day’s training and make the miles count) and the ‘secret’ was training so he was tired, then complete the quality interval sessions on top. One fartlek session that become famous was the 2x 90sec, 4x 60sec, 4x 30sec, 4x 15sec hard with floats in between; this meant he was able to move his heart rate over the anaerobic threshold (AT) during efforts and instead of jogging he would reduce the speed – float – in between allowing the HR to dip below AT for recovery before shooting over AT again. This resulted in a great session for moving his speed envelope upwards and becoming a faster runner. These days athletes and coaches have no shortages of tools to help recover data. GPS and heartrate watches, physiological testing, and cadence pods are the norm. All this bling just helps reinforce information we already know. Steve is a big advocate for learning how you feel internally when you run and then run how you feel. Basically, having all the toys doesn’t make you a better runner. Distance running is a slow burn – gradually increasing training volume over years to allow your body to adapt, getting used to training to a level that makes you tired and laying quality sessions on top of steady quantity. You just can’t get away from a consistent work ethic – it’s the most important quality of an endurance runner and it’s one you can’t test and re-measure with physiological testing. In a world where aging is often seen as a hindrance, Steve has proved time and time again that age is just a number. With his unwavering work ethic and dedication to his craft, he has shown us all what it truly means to be a champion. His legacy is not just one of athletic prowess, but of perseverance, determination and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence. He’s inspired countless individuals to push their own limits and strive for greatness, and for that, we can all be grateful. As he continues to shatter records and defy expectations, one thing is certain: Steve Moneghetti will always be remembered as a true legend of the running world.

INSIDER KNOWLEDGE: Brad Dixon is a sports physio, coach and wellness evangelist at EVERFIT Physio & Coaching. He’s written a book titled Holistic Human, and believes the power is in our daily habits. Find him at everfit.co.nz or through his socials @everfitcoach.

DREAM RUN WORDS: KERRYN BELL IMAGES: GLENN MARVIN

ISSUE 49 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM

YOUR DREAM RUN IN NZ Take yourself to one of the world’s most scenic locations – Queenstown, NZ – for the multi-stage event Southern Lakes Ultra, where adventure awaits you!

Competitors in the Southern Lakes Ultra complete six stages over seven days where they get to camp along the lakes, mountains and rivers all whilst running from camp to camp each day to complete a stage – so it’s like going on a camping holiday with a different destination every night! And without having to lug a trailer or campervan, but still enjoy an exciting hub filled with tents, hot water, music and laughter. Feel like sitting around after your run and reminiscing the day? Or perhaps just want some shuteye? The choice is yours. Stages vary in distance from 25km to 75km, and in 2024 the total elevation is about 8,000m. Athletes have the option of competing Supported or Unsupported, whatever floats your boat, and new to next year is a Teams Option! Yee-haw! Grab a mate or two and split the stages up amongst yourselves. This is the perfect opportunity for those stepping up to multi-stage events and who want to experience it all firsthand. Host: Southern Lakes Ultra Date: 18-24 February 2024 Info: southernlakesultra.com

TREADING LIGHTLY | COLUMN WORDS: HILARY MCALLISTER IMAGE: JAKUB MACULEWICZ

GETTING OUT INTO WILD PLACES

elcome to the newly introduced Treading Lightly column! I’m stoked to be here as your in-house nature lover and trail explorer.

In each edition, I will bring you the latest from the world of sustainable gear, enviro initiatives, and anything remotely related to the most pressing issue of our time: the climate and biodiversity crisis. As trail runners we run for many reasons, but I’m sure exploring and appreciating nature are high on your list of ‘why’. Through this column, I hope you’ll be reminded what an integral part we each play in helping conserve and celebrate the wild places we love exploring. Wild places. What does that mean? I used to take pride in these words, soaking up the romantic notion of vast, sweeping valleys, vibrant, moss-covered forests, and rhythmic, perfectly rippled sand. I love these two words so much, that I even cofounded an organisation with them in the title. The term wild is associated with untouched, the sense that nature has been left to thrive in the absence of humans. During my primary school years, I learned that Burke and Wills (the intrepid English explorers) were the first to travel across this vast continent. What primary school history didn’t teach me were the stories of the oldest living culture that thrived on this continent for tens of thousands of years, living in nature and alongside it. Many of the places we consider to be wild have been cared for by the Traditional Owners since time immemorial. The button grass plains of lutriwita (Tasmania) were burnt to flush out tasty marsupials for eating and to encourage growth so all species could find sufficient food during the long, bitterly cold winter. Branches of trees were shaped to create rings, serving as landmarks for transitory tribes. On the volcanic plains of western Victoria, elaborate eel traps were constructed along creeks, allowing the Gunditjmara to stockpile eel in ‘natural fridges’ (ponds), which were eventually dried, smoked and traded along the east coast. These are just some of the stories of custodianship I have encountered while on the trails. Each story adds another layer of understanding and appreciation of how our backyard is unique and how much we must learn about treating it with respect so future generations can play as we do. I actively seek out these stories to increase my understanding and appreciation of my surroundings and, in turn, enhance my experience of exploring our trails. The more I learn, the more I

question what meaning First Nations drew from certain natural phenomena we may overlook. For example, when you’re out camping, surrounded by nothing but trees and spooky night sounds; when you look up at a clear night sky, filled with millions of stars and a multi-clouded Milky Way. In our busy lives, it can be easy to overlook the array of constellations. Adding a layer of understanding of my surroundings and the embedded stories within continues to improve every experience I have in our great outdoors. Not only can I appreciate the sculptural wildflowers, a curious wallaby, and the seasonal changes of my home trails, but my imagination can keep me entertained for kilometres at a time, wondering what life was like for the traditional custodians and what stories they told, and continue to tell, about my surroundings and the creatures I encounter. I, for one, am grateful to be part of this seismic shift in how we respect First Nations People as the dialogue in Australia changes from shame to pride. I look to our friends across the ditch in Aotearoa, hoping that one day Australia can celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait culture as you do Māori. So, as I kick off my first column, I wanted to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands across this vast continent that we are so lucky to call home. I recognise that we can all play a vital part in keeping the lore of Aboriginal, Torres Strait and Māori people alive so that their connection to our landscape can continue to pass down and be celebrated.

INSIDER KNOWLEDGE: Hilary McAllister is an experienced yet accident-prone outdoors woman, often unmotivated ultra runner, serial nomad, political wannabe and environmental advocate. She combines her passion for exploration and environmental activism through her work at For Wild Places, a charity she co-founded that combines trail running and sports activism.

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GNARLY TALES Sam Harvey and Phil Gore pushed each other to their limits at the 2023 Australian Backyard Masters. Image – Nancy Jayde Photography.

ISSUE 49 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM

BREAKING 1 01 EARLIER THIS YEAR, AN AUSSIE AND A KIWI SMASHED THE WORLD RECORD IN THE BACKYARD RACING FORMAT. WEST AUSTRALIAN PHIL GORE AND NEW ZEALANDER SAM HARVEY TOOK TO THE AUSTRALIAN BACKYARD MASTERS START LINE IN COUNTRY QUEENSLAND LAST JUNE AND BEFORE THEY KNEW IT, THEIR NAMES WERE SET IN STONE AS THEY EQUALLED THE RECORD OF 101 LAPS (YARDS) WITH PHIL THEN COMPLETING ONE MORE LAP TO CLAIM THE TITLE OF A NEW WORLD RECORD. KATE DZIENIS GOT A CHANCE TO CATCH UP WITH BOTH ENDURANCE ATHLETES, AS WELL AS RACE DIRECTOR TIMOTHY WALSH, TO GET THE LOWDOWN ON THE DAY IT ALL HAPPENED. WORDS: KATE DZIENIS IMAGES: NANCY JAYDE PHOTOGRAPHY, CHARLIE SPAGALLI

t’s the hottest part of the day in regional Queensland. The clock strikes noon, and with it, the sun beats down endlessly with no reprieve in sight. A cow bell sounds, its vibration trilling across the wide expanse of a cattle farm, signalling the start of something magical about to happen.

Wednesday. June 21, 2023. One hour earlier, at 11am, an Aussie and a Kiwi broke the world record in backyard racing at Dead Cow Gully at the inaugural Australian Backyard Masters, and the running community went off its nuts. Everyone called it Breaking 101. From live streamers and crew members on site, to anyone keeping updated via social platforms, Perth’s Phil Gore and New Zealand’s Sam Harvey completed 101 laps that morning – breaking the record set by Belgian runners Merijn Geerts and Ivo Steyaert at the Backyard Ultra World Team Championships in October 2022. At 12pm on Wednesday, June 21 both Phil and Sam stood at the start line ready to take

it even further, their bodies taking their spirits to a new level of euphoria; and their spirits taking their bodies to a new level of pain. High noon and they’d matched the record, but now they needed to secure a new one for all the world to witness. Both men took off from the start line to tackle lap 102, the furthest any backyard entrant on the planet has done. Testing their bodies to the absolutely maximum, Sam made the decision to turn back around, leaving Phil to complete those last 6.706km on his own and by 2pm, as he took those last steps towards his wife and lead crew, Gemma, Phil set the new world record of 102 laps with Sam graciously granted the title of Assist. Going into the Masters, breaking records was never something Phil had set his sights on. He went into the race simply wanting to do ‘his thing’ and follow his plan – it was all about focusing on what he was doing at that exact moment. “I was never hanging out to get to the world record, and I thought we’d (Sam and I) be 29

GNARLY TALES BREAKING 101

done around lap 98,” he explains. “In my head, I thought yeah, this is still such a great title. I wasn’t bummed or anything that we weren’t going to get to the record. But then we both lined up for lap 99, and I thought right, we’re doing this. Only three more laps. I never really thought at that point that we could get to it. “Suddenly, we started 101 and I was like, wow, we’re going to get the world record and in my head I thought right, this is what we’re doing. We’re doing it.” Phil never has a set goal in mind when he enters last one standing events; his main ambition being to simply stay in the race for as long as he possibly can. It doesn’t mean strolling up to the start line and just going willy nilly – he does have contingencies in place, as many serious runners do, in the form of a spreadsheet with plans for each potential lap. Each lap consists of information he and his crew follow, from nutrition and shoe changes, to naps and showers – not just what pace to take. And those laps don’t stop at a specific number so in the event of going beyond what he may have thought possible, the plan is still right there in front of him. 30

“I go into an event like Masters with the mindset that I could potentially be there for four or five days, but I don’t set anything as a particular goal because you just never know what’s going to happen, especially with a backyard,” he says. “My spreadsheet has everything broken down into every single hour; it tells me what pace I’m going to go at, what I’m going to eat during the break, if I’m going to sleep or not, when to re-apply sunscreen…it helps both myself and my crew know ahead of time what we’re going to do during the break between laps so no one has to think about anything.” Phil works with three pace ranges – a slow recovery lap (50 minutes) which enables him a 10 minute break before the next lap for a quick rest and to settle his stomach, an easy pace 45 minute lap which allows him to have something to eat within his 15 minute start window, and a 40 minute lap if he’s planning a shower or a nap. He reiterates it doesn’t necessarily dictate exactly how fast to go, but offers him a guide to what he should aim for to get a break. Going into the Masters event, Phil knew the big names that he’d be facing, including Sam as well as Ryan Crawford and America’s Harvey Lewis so despite never going in with a set goal in mind, he

did know that if it was a good race, he’d be there for the long haul. When asked how it feels to essentially be the person to beat in the world of backyards, Phil says it’s one of the most surreal emotions he’s ever gone through. “For me, I’ve simply been in the right place, at the right race, with the right circumstances and where the right people have helped me get there,” he affirms. “A lot of it depends on who can push you to those limits, but many runners can seriously surprise you – Sam, for instance, his PB was 46 laps in New Zealand, but at Masters he got all the way to 101. That’s an incredible jump, and such a great effort.” Back in New Zealand, Sam started running as a means of staying fit and used it as training for other sports like rugby. After moving to Nashville, Tennessee in the US to play and coach rugby, his fitness peaked and life revolved around rugby, boxing and running. It was there he ran his first official 5km race where he came fourth. From Tennessee to Ireland, more races were put on the table and Sam found himself on the podium for each one. When he returned to New Zealand, he did all the events he could get his hands on – boxing

ISSUE 49 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM

matches, triathlons, mountain bike races. Until eventually in 2018 he did his first 50km at Krayzie Kaypers in Orton Bradley Park near Christchurch, and running became a central part of his life. Sam reveals the Masters this year were a semi-A race for him and his goal was to break the world record and win the World Championships. Having been raced at the Dead Cow Gully course, he went into the Masters knowing it was the only venue flat enough to break records so went into it with an emphasis on that. “I knew who Phil was, and of course who Harvey Lewis was, so looking at the Masters, I figured we were probably the ones that were going to go the distance in the end,” he reveals. “I wasn’t wrong. “The first 48 hours would have honestly been the hardest. It’s those early hours of the race where my mind wanders and I get bored, the bulk of the work is still to come, and it’s in those moments where you figure your time could be better spent elsewhere. After the 48 hour mark in this one though, it was party time. That’s when I truly felt like we were racing and I remembered why I was there.

“I think the only time I was truly a bit mentally weak was when I let supporters and event staff talk me into pulling out of the race. I take full ownership of that though. If it hadn’t have been for me showing how crook the pneumonia had made me (I was a little bit sick leading into the race and I became a big bit sick by the end of it), I wouldn’t have been a candidate for them wanting to pull me from the race. “It feels pretty damn good (to be a real contender in the backyard format). I’ve been working a long time as a sportsman to finally find my place where I can succeed and dominate. I’m excited to see where I can go from here.” There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes to organise an event like the Masters. Race directors in general have a lot to contend with, and it wasn’t any different for Timothy Walsh, who says the Dead Cow Gully location is a different type of beast. “Particularly in winter,” he explains. “Most Australians don’t actually realise how cold country Queensland can get; we had tops LEFT: The very moment Sam made the decision not to continue for lap 102, which saw Phil break the world record. Image – Charlie Spagalli. MIDDLE: IMAGe - Nancy Jayde Photography. RIGHT: IMAGE Charlie Spagalli

THE BACKYARD ULTRA Unfamiliar with backyard ultras? They’re also called Last One Standing events, and test your body differently than a continuous race because no matter what condition you’re in, you are forced to stop every 6.706km and take a break until the start of the next hour. Whether you’ve completed the distance in 35 minutes or 55 minutes, whatever time is left before the hour strikes, that’s all you have – for recovery, food, sleep, hydration, change of clothes or shoes, reapplication of creams, game plan review. There are a number of ways to finish your race at a backyard, which is called a DNF.

• Receive an automatic disqualification for coming in after the 60-minute mark

• Choose not to stand at the start line when the hour is about to start

• Start a lap but turn around to return • Be the last one to complete a lap and be declared the winner

Check our 2024 Event Guide for the next backyard ultra near you to give it a red hot crack!

GNARLY TALES BREAKING 101

of 22 to 23 degrees, but lows of -2 and -3. These wild temperature swings were incredibly hard on runners, with many of them saying the Masters was the coldest event they’d ever attended. “Another issue, pre-event, was figuring out how to attract participants to the Masters, and sell the idea of it. We gave free entries to runners who had run more than 35 yards at any previous backyarder, so the first step was securing the top Aussie backyard runners and assuring them I could snag a big international for the event.” And when it came to seeing all the action unfold during the Masters, that was a whole different kettle of fish according to Tim. “The event just kept going and going,” he recalls. “The records started to fall, which was so satisfying – this meant the Masters concept was a winner. I never really thought about the world record until we hit 96 laps (so four days of running), but anything can happen so it’s important to temper your expectations. “The world record almost didn’t happen when I discovered Sam was having breathing difficulties. He was dangerously close to a medical withdrawal, so we took it loop-by-loop with a medical tail following him. If I wasn’t satisfied with Sam’s condition, I was ready to withdraw him from the course. Luckily, Phil stuck with Sam and got him through the last four or five laps. “It truly was a fairytale finish at the end.” LEFT TOP: Phil does one more lap to make it to 102. Image – Nancy Jayde Photography. LEFT BOTTOM: Phil and his wife Gemma embrace at the end of the Masters, with Sam giving his seal of approval. Image – Nancy Jayde Photography. THIS PAGE: IMAGE – Charlie Spagalli

EPIC ESSAY

WAIT-A-WHILE WORDS & IMAGES: ASTRID VOLZKE

here’s something magical about the way sunlight penetrates a rainforest canopy.

There’s a glow to it that illuminates the leaves, fungi and moss growing on twisted roots and Jurassic-looking ferns. It’s also an incredibly dramatic setting to photograph trail runners deep into a 200 mile race in Far North Queensland. At this stage of the Unreasonable East 200 and 100 Miler event in August 2023, runners are dotted far along the course. Some sections are hard to access by vehicle with no phone reception making it difficult to follow the spot trackers, but I was determined to get onto one of the toughest sections of the course, a dense rainforest trail near Mt Edith and Varch Creek.

I succeeded, and 2km along the trail I chose my position (a washed-out creek crossing) and waited, listening for any signs of a runner’s approach. Footfalls, a swaying bush, voices. One of the challenges of photographing a 200 miler is deciding where and when to intercept runners. Working solo to cover a 200 mile course takes a lot of planning and making last minute decisions. Each day I aimed to position myself in a great location for sunrise. Sometimes I was lucky and a runner would come along quickly, other times I needed to wait-a-while. This can be tedious or it can be a moment of respite and creativity. Did you know that one of the plants that snagged runners was a spiky vine called Wait-A-While? How apt!

Becoming fully immersed in a race is key to taking emotive images. Always hunting for raw moments and being in the right position to capture them. Keeping an eye on what’s going on in the background of your images because this has great storytelling potential. This quote by David Alan Harvey perfectly sums up documentary photography: ‘Don’t shoot what it looks like, shoot what it feels like.’ These images from the 2023 Unreasonable East were taken with two Canon 5Dmark IV cameras using 70-200mm, 24-105mm and 16-35mm lenses, Fuji XT2 with prime lenses for low light and a DJI Mavic 2 drone.

ISSUE 49 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM

EPIC ESSAY WAIT-A-WHILE

ISSUE 49 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM

EPIC ESSAY WAIT-A-WHILE

ISSUE 49 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM

EPIC ESSAY WAIT-A-WHILE

INSIDER KNOWLEDGE: ‘Don’t shoot what it looks like, shoot what it feels like’ is Astrid Volzke’s favourite quote and it helps create the right mindset for capturing ultras. Astrid is a photojournalist who captures atmosphere and real emotion in a visual narrative. Her documentary-style of photography was shaped by working as a full-time press photographer at The West Australian newspaper.

WHERE DOES YOUR NEXT TRAIL LEAD? FIND OUT AT MOUNTAINDESIGNS.COM

E S T. 1 9 7 5

B O R N O F T H E M O U N TA I N S

Q&A On the descent at the SkyRace des Matheysins. Image – Brian Sharp Creates.

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FOR ALL THE SNACKS: MEET WESTON HILL WESTON HILL HAILS FROM NEW ZEALAND, AND IN RECENT YEARS HAS BEEN SHOWING THE TRAIL RUNNING WORLD THE QUALITY OF RUNNER THAT AOTEAROA IS PRODUCING. WITH A FARM TO RUN BACK HOME AND A BACKGROUND IN MOUNTAIN BIKING, IT’S INTIMIDATING TO THINK ABOUT WHERE HE FINDS THE TIME TO TRAIN FOR EUROPEAN SKY RACES AND ASIAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. COMING BACK TO RUNNING AT THE WHIM OF WANTING TO IMPRESS A WOMAN, WESTON’S IMPRESSIVE RACE RESULTS MAKE HIM ‘ONE TO WATCH’ WITHOUT A DOUBT. SOPHIE GERAGHTY GOT TALKING WITH WESTON, WHO REVEALED WHAT SHE ALREADY ASSUMED – THAT HE’S LAID BACK, HUMBLE, AND GENUINELY LOVES SEEKING OUT ADVENTURES. OH, AND THAT HE LIKES TO EAT ALL THE SNACKS. WORDS: SOPHIE GERAGHTY IMAGES: PHOTOS4SALE, CANO FOTOSPORTS, FINISHERPIX, BRIAN SHARP CREATES, ROAST MEDIA KREUZJOCH

TRM: Give us the non-PG version of your journey into trail running. Tell us about the times you really struggled and what made you want to keep going. Any embarrassing moments along the way?

WH: My earliest memory of running was lapping the block at primary school. The days of letting a flock of kids foot it around the block for some driveway roulette are gone, but the feeling of freedom and fun are memorable. A couple of us thought we were fast back then but by high school, affectionately a ‘runt’, and presence of other actual talent left me well and truly dusted on any school runs. I cleverly shifted my efforts from legs to wheels and raced bikes. I was spoilt to try all sorts of sports, instruments and hobbies at school. I had an early impression that people either had inherent talent, or in my case, ran out of it quickly. I remember telling a faster mate that “practicing after school is cheating”. Naively I reasoned that if hard work was a ‘ladder’, and talent a

‘person’s height’, with identical ladders, a taller person would always reach higher. Ironically this wasn’t applied to other pursuits as I wouldn’t have learnt anything at all! It took me some time to realise talent was not the be all and end all and to focus on building a taller ‘ladder’, not to search for a sport I was ‘tall’ at to begin with. At some point I started to sprout and although there were only a few-successes mountain biking, achieving something physically was an incredibly rewarding experience. We were so fortunate to have parents and in particular a teacher willing to load a van with 12 screaming kids and road trip, submersing us in outdoor adventure and races. The racing bug was culturing. The family farm was the main outlet for running during this time, where my uncanny collie impression was impressive to the ewes and perhaps less to the dog. There were a few sporadic adventures, tramps and runs but nothing consistent.

Skipping to the years of stressed engineering tomfoolery, a cute girl asked if I ran. “Sure,” I said “…blocks and ewes are my specialty.” Surprisingly, I immediately started running again and what began flippantly became a crucial escape from uni. There were many adventures but a memorable dare with a mate led us to leave home with just a pair of shoes and not stop until we reached the sea. This period restarted an affection for running I may never lose. TRM: What is the change you made (training, mindset, nutritional) that has had the biggest impact on your performance, whether that’s on race day or in a training block?

WH: I wish I could say something fun like soil juice extract or high intensity rolling, however focusing on building a taller ‘ladder’ with consistency has always created the biggest impact for me. Nothing has seemed to add rungs like frequent quality runs, not so much just quantity. Building stronger ladder rungs with trick 43

Q&A FOR ALL THE SNACKS: MEET WESTON HILL

shoes, better sleep, nutritious food, harder workouts and more effective recovery allows consist quality which is always something to strive for because it’s damn hard to achieve! TRM: When times get tough, what’s your why? Tell us the things you draw on to keep you moving and keep you pushing?

WH: I have a constant ‘itch’ about wasting time; I like to feel that I’ve achieved something each day. The oxymoron in this case, or maybe just the moron, is me running in circles appears not to achieve very much. In contrast to the rat race that is the rest of life where work, family, and education have tangible long-term benefits for those around us, running and racing in particular is self-centred. It can result in fitness, and perhaps podiums, it can lead to new adventures and for those of us fortunate enough racing around the world. But these are mostly transient. This endless dirt-bagging chase to try and achieve race results so that one day I have the support necessary to achieve more is a personal pursuit and a touch insane. It scratches my itch non-trivially because somehow experiences trump the tangible. What we all have in common is that 44

running is hard; it’s inconsistently fun and it loves creating injury. Despite these disclaimers there are times when it feels like running is the purpose for us as bipedal apes. You ascend that trail of adrenaline where you’re brimming with endorphins and it feels like flying; nothing tangible matters, the itch is scratched. Above all else, these fleeting experiences are the ‘why’. TRM: Tell us about your recent at the NZ 3 Peaks Mountain Race. Did you go out with the goal of smashing the course record?

WH: I needed to do the National Championships to have a good chance to be selected for Worlds, but I was apprehensive about both. I’ve been drinking from bacteria laden streams, licking covid hand rails and playing Jenga with my malnourished tibias for the past few years so it’s great I can still get results I’m proud of. TRM: You’ve been fortunate to run all over the world, from the CCC to UTMB and across Europe, China, Thailand as well as across NZ. Do you have a favourite place to run? Is there somewhere you haven’t run that you would like to?

WH: My favourite places have trails, almost any and all kinds of hilly single track

ticks the box, not just the western ones. Whether it be steep and loose, rock and roots or loam and leaf, if it can’t be run in road shoes, it’s a goodie. When you get somewhere new, throwing on a pair of shoes and exploring trails, often to a high point with headphones in, is the best. To nail down a couple of spots, Tiki Trail and up the ridge to Ben Lomond in Queenstown is top notch or just running farm trails with my dog Bill in the Land of Dreams (aka Upper Hutt) is great. TRM: How do your mountains at home compare to the altitude and peaks internationally? What additional allowances do you make to your training to prepare for overseas events?

WH: I think this is one of the areas I’ve sometimes struggled with when trying to prepare for races high in the alps where the altitude and terrain is so different to home. Our local hills are steep and varied, however coming from sea level it can still be a shock. Local events are also held predominantly Top: At the 2022 Garmin Epic Trail 42km in Pyrenees, Weston ranked 13th Male in a time of 4:51:35. Image – Cano Fotosports. Right: Weston won the 2023 Motatapu 51km in 6:04:05. Image – FinisherPix.

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Q&A FOR ALL THE SNACKS: MEET WESTON HILL

on groomed trails or mixes with fourwheel drive, compared to the technical single track and mountainous off trail terrain of many Euro races. As trail running evolves in New Zealand I hope to see more skyrunning style races, where technicality and challenging terrain is embraced, despite the health and safety challenges. TRM: What do your training blocks look like and how do you incorporate cross training, strength and recovery into your days/ weeks?

WH: I’ve been lucky to work with some wonderful people in the past, but following a long period trying to heal bi-tibial stress fractures as a result of REDS a year ago I’ve largely been focusing on consistency and staying healthy. I typically have two workouts, two strength sessions, one long run, one day off, and the rest of the week filled with easy runs fitted around work. TRM: If you were talking to someone new to trail running who was really nervous about signing up to their first race, what would you say to them to encourage them to click that ‘Submit’ button?

WH: Just do not take this whole trail running malarkey too seriously. The key is getting out on fun trails with a bunch of good folks and having adventures. Forget all the fancy frills; some solid shoes, a bag of lollies, some watery juice with a sprinkle of salt and bob’s actually your uncle. TRM: Is there ever a focus on mindset in your training? Do you have any 46

psychological tips or tricks you use when you’re in the pain cave or when you’re lacking in motivation to lace up and get out the door?

WH: I actually like to zone out racing, the best races flash by. When it’s tough and things aren’t going right it’s about trying to work out what I can control: when did I last eat, am I hydrated, should I button off. The purpose and process is my most important motivator; I’m here because running this route is epic and fun, this workout’s going to make me stronger/ faster/more consistent, I like eating snacks and this will let me eat all of them.

TRM: What’s your biggest goal? The one that is almost too scary to say out loud?

WH: As it’s always been, to scratch the itch and feel like I’m using my time wisely. Races come and go, but I’ve been fortunate to have had some incredible experiences along the way. Top left: Competing at the 2023 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships (Long Trail) in Innsbruck-Stubai. Image – Roast Media Kreuzjoch. TOP Right: Weston took 1st Male in the 2020 Crater Rim Ultra 53km with a time of 4:38:31. Image – Photos4sale. Bottom: Taking on some hard hitting technical trail at the 2022 Hochkoenigman 31km Skyrace in Austria, Weston finished 15th out of a field of 116. Image – Sportshot.

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DARE TO DREAM

MOVING FORWARD FOR

Baby Charlie

THERE ARE NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE OR EXPLAIN WHAT IT’S LIKE TO LOSE A CHILD. THE PAIN CAN BE OVERWHELMING; GRIEF DOES NOT HAVE A TIMELINE, AND PEOPLE LEARN TO LIVE WITH SUCH LOSS IN ALL DIFFERENT WAYS, WITH EVERYONE EXPERIENCING DIFFERENT COPING MECHANISMS. NEW ZEALAND DAD SCOTT WILSON LOST HIS LITTLE BABY BOY CHARLIE EIGHT YEARS AGO, AND THE PAIN IS STILL AS RAW AS EVER. IN THIS TOUCHING REMINDER ABOUT EVERYONE’S ‘WHY’, SCOTT OPENS UP AND LET’S HIS VULNERABILITY SHOW AS HE REVEALS TO SAMANTHA TURNBULL HOW HE USED TRAIL RUNNING AS PART OF THE GRIEVING PROCESS. WORDS: SAMANTHA TURNBULL IMAGES: GLENN MARVIN, SCOTT WILSON CW // Mental Health, Depression TRM would like to advise that this article focuses on Scott Wilson’s lived experience, and therefore discusses mental health, grief and child loss. We understand that this discussion may be difficult for those in our community who also suffer from these experiences, and have included support services at the end of the article.

f the ability to push through pain is part of the criteria that makes an ultra runner, Scott Wilson can tick at least one box.

The self-described under-trained novice pushes through one of life’s greatest pains every day – the loss of a child. Scott’s son Charlie passed away at the tender young age of 10 weeks after two open heart surgeries in 2015. He revealed that he tried, to the best of his ability, to deal with everything.

“I coped by being the strong one and dealing with the day-to-day stuff, the formalities, arrangements and of course Charlie’s mum (Lesley) who was beyond devastated,” he says. “I never dealt with the grief. I don’t talk about things. I’d say ‘I’m fine’ and I’d change the subject. Anything to bury my head in the sand.” Scott now regrets his lack of self-care and is raising money for the Mental Health

Foundation of New Zealand by running in the 2024 Southern Lakes Ultra 250km multi-day event in Central Otago. “I want people to seek help as soon as they think there may be an issue and work to improve their mental health,” he explains. “I want people to learn from my mistakes. Don’t be like Scott.” The Scottish-born New Zealander remembers being drawn to mountains as a kid, but he hadn’t considered returning to

ISSUE 49 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM

their peaks until Lesley entered him in the Alps 2 Ocean (A2O) multi-day ultra in 2020. Lesley completed the event the previous year and entered him to try and pull him out of his deteriorating mental health. “It was a shock,” he reveals. “I was stunned and elated at the same time. I was already thinking, how the heck can I manage to do this? I had never run one ultra before, never mind multiple ultras back-to-back.”

Scott’s lack of dedication to training didn’t help, frustrating his ultra running friends with his absent discipline. “These are big challenges and if I train I’m just making the challenge easier right?” he says he questioned. “Really, that was a joking way of hiding the fact that I struggle to motivate myself and procrastinate too much and dream up ways of not training. I find it hard.” But Scott did toe the A2O start line and

Top: Three women who helped Scott complete Southern Lakes Ultra became known as ‘Charlie’s Angels’. Their silhouetted picture became a symbol of the spirit of the multi-day event. Image – Glenn Marvin. CIRCLE: Baby Charlie passed away at 10 weeks old. His dad runs in his memory and to also help deal with the ongoing grief. Image – Scott Wilson.

DARE TO DREAM MOVING FORWARD FOR BABY CHARLIE

quickly felt at ease as the other runners welcomed him as one of their own. “I very quickly realised these events are very supportive and inclusive,” he says. “The elite and the back-of-the-pack all merged into one and I got into it.” He made it through Stage One of the event, completing his first ultra-length distance, but after the second stage he developed tendonitis in his feet and ankles. The heat also took its toll, and Scott was in danger of missing the cut-offs. “There was vomiting and hallucinations,” he remembers. “My poles were more like crutches.” Scott’s friend Kerryn Bell walked with him at the back while helping him spot the meerkats, horses and elephants he was supposedly seeing along the way. They made the cut-off, but 18 hours into the next stage Scott was withdrawn by the medical team due to extreme dehydration. He pulled his beanie down over his face and cried. “I had failed, halfway through the week and I was going home,” he says. “It troubled me for way longer than it should have. I thought about it most days. Upon reflection, of course it was for my own good and I am so thankful to the A2O team.” When the A2O event ceased after three years, Kerryn – who had helped him at the back of the pack – started Southern Lakes Ultra. Scott entered, a little more prepared than he was for A2O, but 222km into the 250km event, he feared failure again. He sought shade under a bush as he wondered how he was going to make it up the next mountain, aptly referred to as ‘Big Hill’. And after what seemed like an eternity mustering up energy, three women appeared and sat with him. They shared snacks, water and conversation. “They had decided to pool their energies and stay together to finish the stage,” Scott recalls. “I was to join that bus.” Scott still isn’t sure how they managed to make it over Big Hill, but when they did he 50

knew he would finish the race. He dubbed the ladies ‘Charlie’s Angels’ and a silhouetted photo of them helping Scott has become an iconic image used by Southern Lakes Ultra to illustrate the spirit of the event. “I’m not sure where the strength comes from and we have no idea how we will cope until we are in the situation that tests us,” he says. “Whether it was Charlie and his struggles or a multi-day ultra, there is something that is awoken inside. If there is strength and determination lurking inside it comes out.” Despite struggling physically in his first two major events, Scott says his mental resilience didn’t falter. “In these challenges I am not physically fit but I’m definitely mentally fit,” he explains. “I never once think about giving up. It’s always ‘how am I going to get to the end?’” As Scott prepares for the 2024 Southern Lakes Ultra, he’s thankful to his employer Topflite pet foods for supporting his fundraising and also his commitment to taking better care of his own mental health. But he’s also mindful of the aftermath.

“The big challenge is trying to utilise the mental toughness in these ultra events and other challenges into everyday life,” he says. “You have to lean in to the challenge in front of you, push towards the objective, suffer the tough parts. There is no place to hide. No way you can stick your head in the sand. “I need to find a way to transfer these skills to improve my mental health in my every day challenges. Work in progress. Never too late they say. Onwards and upwards.” TRM is hopeful that by amplifying Paul’s message, we’re helping raise awareness about mental health and depression postrace. If this story resonates with you or anyone you know, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (AU) or 0800 543 354 (NZ). Donations can be made at fundraise. mentalhealth.org.nz/charliespage. Southern Lakes Ultra begins in Queenstown February 18, 2024. It’s a 7-day, 6-stage event across 250km. Top: Scott is running in the 2024 Southern Lakes Ultra to raise money for the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. Image – Glenn Marvin.

EVENT GUIDE 2024 SPECIAL RACE PREVIEWS

GET READY FOR YOUR

Best Year

EVER!

WHY GETTIN' DOWN & DIRTY IS GOOD FOR YOU

ALL THE DATES AND REGO INFO YOU NEED TO SIGN UP FOR YOUR FAVE TRAIL RACE!

GET DOWN ‘N’ DIRTY IN 2024 TOGETHER WITH RACE DIRECTORS AND COURSE ORGANISERS ACROSS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND, TRAIL RUN MAG BRINGS YOU ALL THE VERY BEST FOR 2024! FROM TECHNICAL TERRAIN THAT HAS YOU SLIPPIN’ AND SLIDIN’ TO MOUNTAIN BIKE TRACKS THAT HAVE YOU GUESSING WHAT’S AROUND THE CORNER, 2024 IS GOING TO BE A BIG YEAR IN TRAIL RUNNING AND NOW IS THE TIME TO PLAN FOR IT ALL! SO WHAT BETTER WAY TO PREPARE FOR YOUR NEXT LOT OF RACES THAN BY GOING THROUGH OUR EVENT GUIDE AND GETTING TO ‘CHOOSE YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE’?!

COVER IMAGE: Jason Stafford finished 6th at the 2023 Buffalo Stampede Festival Bright Ultra 100km. In this beautiful moment at the finish line, he is seen here embracing his daughter. Image – Calumn Hockey.

TRAIL RUN MAG - EVENT GUIDE 2024

3 RIDICULOUSLY GOOD REASONS WHY TRAIL RUNNING IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL If you’re reading TRM, then it’s highly likely you’re already feeling the benefits of being outside amongst nature’s escapism. But if you’re new to the sport, and keen to learn of all the benefits, we’ve got you covered – so now there are no excuses as to why you shouldn’t lace up your favourite pair of runners, grab your hydration, and hit the trails!

REASON #1 BODY TRANSFORMATION TO THE MAX Want to pick up your children easier? Have a sedentary job that needs more balance with physicality? Trails are your answer! Because trails are uneven and full of obstacles – think tree roots, pebbles, sand, puddles – your body increases its level of bodily awareness thanks to constant shifting of body weight. Trail running doesn’t allow you to run in a straight line…even if the track is quite direct, you could go right, left, skip over something; it’s essentially an endless adventure where you don’t know what will happen. This means your body is going to go through some major changes to adapt to the sport – cardiovascular stamina will boost your endurance, muscle strength will grow, balance and agility will come in leaps and bounds, and you may even experience some weight loss because of calorie burn.

REASON #2 GOOD FOR BRAIN POWER Ask any experienced trail runner, and they’ll tell you that heading off the beaten track and spending some quality run time in green spaces makes them happy! It can also help push you past limits you never thought you’d be capable of, resulting in some serious mental toughness. Learning to push past barriers of challenging trail conditions like bad weather will help elevate self-esteem and teach you some damn good persistence. You’ll also figure out what ‘runner’s high’ is all about – the rise in endorphins is probably one of the best feelings in the world.

REASON #3 FIND YOUR TRIBE, FIND YOUR PEOPLE Keen to surround yourself with a group of kick-arse people who just give a different vibe to life? Yeah, those people be trail runners. Now, here at Trail Run Mag we’re a bit biased, but trail runners are some of the nicest, kindest, most motivating and inspiring souls on the planet. When you find your tribe, you’ll do everything together and discover that the friendships and bonds you create from your love of adventure are akin to being in a playground – laughter, running around, snacks, and maybe some hydration of the different variety once you’re done racing.

Like a Transformer, you’ll learn to be the master of your own physical ability. 51

TRAIL RUN MAG - EVENT GUIDE 2024

JANUARY 2024 AUSTRALIA

NSW

7 January WALLYGRUNTA Location: Walyunga National Park Distances: 4.6k, 10.1k, 14.4k Web: perthtrailseries.com.au

21 January KOWEN TRAIL RUN Location: Wamboin Distances: 12k, 21.1k Web: kowen-trail-run.com QLD 6 January HARES AND HOUNDS TRAIL RUN Location: Beerburrum Distances: 10k, 25k, 50k, Relay Web: aaaracing.com.au 28 January TAMBORINE MOUNTAIN RELAYS Location: Tamborine Mountain Distances: 42k Web: tmrelay.com SA 14 January ATR SUMMER SERIES Location: Belair National Park Distances: Up to 22k Web: adelaidetrailrunners.com.au

21 January SLY FOX Location: Jarrahdale Distances: 5.3k, 9.9k, 15.1k Web: perthtrailseries.com.au NEW ZEALAND 13 January AOTEAROA ULTRA Location: Christchurch Distances: 15k, 53k, 101k Web: raceroster.com 13 January IAN PRIEST MEMORIAL HUTT Location: Hutt Valley Distances: 10k, 21.1k, 42.2k, 60k Web: sporty.co.nz

VIC

18 January REVENANT ULTRA RUN Location: Southland/Otago Distances: 200k Web: revenant.co.nz

6 January PORTSEA TWILIGHT Location: Portsea Distances: 5.5k, 9.5k Web: solemotive.com

20 January FIRST LIGHT MARATHON Location: Tairāwhiti Gisborne Distances: 21.1k, 42.2k Web: first-light-marathon.com

14 January TWO BAYS TRAIL RUN Location: Melbourne Distances: 28k, 56k Web: twobaystrailrun.com

20 January GLENHAM TRAINWRECK TRAIL Location: Glenham, Southland Distances: 10k, 15k, 21k Web: glenhamtrainwreck.wixsite.com

19 January PORTSEA BAY TO SURF RUN Location: Point Nepean NP to Portsea Distances: 4.5k, 9k Web: portseasurf.com.au

20 January HOMESTEAD & STAMPEDE Location: Hanmer Springs Distances: 21k, 50k Web: stjamesmountainsports.co.nz 20 January PRESSIO MT FESTIVAL HALF Location: Pilot Bay, Mt Maunganui Distances: 5k, 10k, 21k Web: mountafestival.kiwi

20 January THE GOAT ADVENTURE RUN Location: Tongariro National Park Distances: 20k Web: thegoat.co.nz 27 January MAVORA EXPLORER Location: Mavora Lakes, Te Anau Basin Distances: 6k, 12k, 21k Web: Facebook 27 January JUMBO-HOLDSWORTH TRAIL RACE Location: Masterton Distances: 12k, 24k Web: jumbo-holdsworth.co.nz 28 January VINE RUN Location: North Canterbury Distances: 6k, 10k, Half Web: vinerun.co.nz FEBRUARY 2024 AUSTRALIA NSW 4 February WENWORTH FALLS TRAIL RUN Location: Leura Distances: 11k, 16k Web: runningwildnsw.com 24 February TRAIL RUN AUSTRALIA SNOWY MOUNTAINS Location: Crackenback Distances: 5k, 11k, Half, Marathon, 30k, 50k Web: trailrunaustralia.com.au 25 February MT PORTAL TRAIL RUN Location: Glenbrook Distances: 11k, 17.5k Web: runningwildnsw.com QLD 3 February BEERWAH AT NIGHT Location: Sunshine Coast Distances: 42.2k Web: runqld.com.au

TRAIL RUN MAG - EVENT GUIDE 2024

4 February THE GO FIGURE Location: D’Aguilar National Park Distances: 15k, 26, 43k, 86k Web: aaaracing.com.au

25 February CASTLE HILL TRAIL RUN Location: Castle Hill Distances: 3k, 7k, 10k Web: outerlimitsadventure.com.au

4 February BUNYAVILLE REGIONAL PARK Location: Bunya Distances: 8.6k, 15.7k Web: seqtrailrunningseries.com.au

3 February CRADLE MOUNTAIN RUN Location: Cradle Mountain Distances: 80k Web: cradlemtnrun.asn.au

10 February ROBE RUN Location: Robe Distances: 5k, 14k, Half, Marathon Web: roberun.com.au

18 February KUNANYI SUNRISE & RICHEA RIDGE Location: kunanyi/Mt Wellington Distances: 7.5k, 13.5k Web: kunanyitrailseries.com.au

25 February ATR SUMMER SERIES Location: Clarendon Distances: Up to 22k Web: adelaidetrailrunners.com.au

VIC

18 February HINZE DAM Location: Advancetown Lake Distances: 11k, 17.2k Web: seqtrailrunningseries.com.au 24 February WILDHORSE AT NIGHT Location: Wildhorse Mountain Distances: 10k, 16.5k, 25k, 50k Web: aaaracing.com.au

TAS

2 February MARIBYRNONG VALLEY PARK BACKYARD Location: Maribyrnong Valley Distances: Last One Standing Web: trailsplus.com.au

3 PEAKS MOUNTAIN RACE BECAUSE ONE IS NEVER ENOUGH

A COLLABORATION BETWEEN TERRY (THIS COUNTRY IS SO AWESOME IT COULD KILL US) DAVIS AND ROGER (DON'T WORRY, I'LL LOOK AFTER YOU) LESLIE.

24 February—3 March 2024

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Visit cavalcade.co.nz for more info

AEROBICEDGE

17 March 2024

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WWW.3PEAKSMOUNTAINRACE.COM 53

TRAIL RUN MAG - EVENT GUIDE 2024

4 February KILCUNDA HALF MARATHON Location: Kilcunda Distances: 5k, 10k, 17, 21k Web: runningwild.net.au

24 February SANDMAN 50 Location: Dunsborough Distances: 50k Web: fixedstars.com.au

24 February OLD GHOST ULTRA Location: West Coast Distances: 85k Web: oldghostultra.com

16 February OSCARS100 HUT 2 HUT Location: Mt Buller Alpine Village Distances: 100k Web: hut2hut.oscars100.com.au

25 February SWISSMURDIE Location: Mundy Regional Park Distances: 6.1k, 9.1k, 15.1k Web: perthtrailseries.com.au

24 February CARGO PLUS COASTAL CHALLENGE Location: Auckland Distances: 6k, 11k, 17k, 22k, 33k Web: coastalchallenge.co.nz

17 February THE ARCHIE 50 Location: Mt Buller Alpine Village Distances: 50k Web: hut2hut.oscars100.com.au

NEW ZEALAND

23 February – 2 March GOLDFIELDS CAVALCADE Location: Waikaia Options: Wagons, Horse Riders, Walkers Web: cavalcade.co.nz

18 February THE BELLA 10 Location: Mount Buller Alpine Village Distances: 10k Web: hut2hut.oscars100.com.au 18 February UPPER BEACONSFIELD TOWER RUN Location: Upper Beaconsfield Distances: 6.5k, 13k Web: ubvillagefest.org.au 24 February THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND TRAVERSE Location: Falls Creek to Mt Hotham Distances: 30k Web: peakadventure.com.au/agt

3 February TUSSOCK TRAVERSE Location: Tongariro National Park Distances: 6k, 12k, 21k, 32k Web: tussocktraverse.co.nz 9 February COAST TO COAST MOUNTAIN RUN Location: Aickens, Canterbury Distances: 30.5k Web: coasttocoast.co.nz 10 February MLT MOONSHINE TRAIL Location: Dolamore Park, Gore Distances: 2k, 5k, 15k Web: moonshinetrail.co.nz

10 February PIGS BACKYARD ULTRA Location: Dunedin Distances: Last One Standing Web: pigsbackyardultra.com

7 February DELIRIOUS WEST Location: South West WA Distances: 100mi, 200mi Web: deliriouswest200miler.com.au

17 February TARAWERA ULTRA Location: Rotorua Distances: 21.1k, 50k, 102k, 100mi Web: taraweraultra.co.nz

11 February JOHN FORREST TRAIL RUN Location: Hovea Distances: 5k, 13k Web: wamc.org.au

17 February SHOTOVER MOONLIGHT MOUNTAIN Location: Queenstown Distances: 10k, 21.1k, 30k, 42.2k, 56k Web: shotovermoonlight.co.nz

11 February QI GONG Location: Wungong Regional Park Distances: 5.2k, 10.5k, 13.7k Web: perthtrailseries.com.au

18-24 February SOUTHERN LAKES ULTRA Location: Queenstown Distances: 260k, 8000m elevation (approx) Web: southernlakesultra.com

24 February XTERRA WELLINGTON FESTIVAL Location: Paekakariki Distances: 6k, 14k, 21.1k Web: xterrawellingtonfestival.co.nz MARCH 2024 AUSTRALIA NSW 1-3 March OXFAM TRAILWALKER Location: Melbourne Distances: 33k, 55k, 200k Web: trailwalker.oxfam.org.au 9 March SIX FOOT TRACK MARATHON Location: Katoomba Distances: 45k Web: sixfoot.com 15 March AUSTRALIAN ALPINE ASCENT Location: Kosciuszko National Park Distances: 25k, 59k, 80k Web: australianalpineascent.au 24 March WASHPOOL WORLD HERITAGE TRAIL Location: Gibraltar Range National Park Distances: 9k, 25k, 50k Web: coffstrailrunners.com

Rediscover the thrill of running at Mt Hotham. Navigate breathtaking mountain paths, challenge your limits, and connect with other adventurers. Whether you’re a seasoned trail runner or a newcomer, events at Mt Hotham are an unforgettable experience.

24 FEBRUARY THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND TRAVERSE Falls Creek to Mt Hotham 30km with 1400m elevation

16 MARCH

16 NOVEMBER

RAZORBACK RUN

GREAT SOUTHERN ENDURANCE RUN

85 — 64 — 40 — 22 km

100 — 50 Mile

56 — 28 km

Find out more at gserultra.com.au

Use code RZMH23 to get 10% off your entry fee!

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runningwild.net.au/ alpine-runs/razorback-run

EVENT PREVIEW

MOTATAPU SOUTHERN LAKES REGION, NEW ZEALAND A TRAIL RUNNING GEM IN NEW ZEALAND’S SOUTHERN LAKES REGION The Motatapu event is nothing short of iconic, and it’s easy to see why it’s a must for any trail running enthusiast’s bucket list. With various race options, it offers an unforgettable experience in one of the world’s most captivating settings. The 42km Trail Marathon provides exclusive access to the Motatapu, Soho and Glencoe Stations between Wānaka and Arrowtown. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to traverse the stunning high country terrain that defines this region. With numerous river crossings, challenging hills and personal triumphs, this course delivers on adventure. The views of the southern high country are simply spectacular and worth every step. For the most dedicated runners seeking an ultimate challenge, the 52km Ultra Run is a gruelling but rewarding choice. This course navigates the rugged ridges of the Harris Mountain Range between Wānaka and Arrowtown. With 52km of exposed, physically demanding back-country terrain, it’s an adventure not for the faint-hearted. If you’re new to trail running and seeking an introduction, the UDC Finance 15km Miners Trail is perfect. This picturesque loop begins in historic Arrowtown, ascending the historic Tobin’s Track onto the Crown Terrace before immersing you in the splendour of Glencoe Station. The Motatapu is renowned for its camaraderie and laid-back southern vibe, drawing adventure enthusiasts from near and far. For those who prefer exploring the area on two wheels, the event also offers two Mountain Bike options. Whether you’re a seasoned runner seeking an epic challenge or a newcomer eager to explore the beauty of New Zealand’s Southern Lakes, Motatapu offers something for everyone. Get your entry in today, as this event has a tendency to sell out quickly. EVENT Motatapu WHEN 2 March 2024 DISTANCE 52k, 42k, 15k, 4k Junior EXTRAS 47k, 56k Mountain Bike Options WHERE Wānaka, Arrowtown, Southern Lakes Region, NZ MORE motatapu.com REGISTRATIONS CLOSE 23 FEBRUARY (UNLESS SOLD OUT PRIOR)

MOTATAPU

TRAIL RUN MAG - EVENT GUIDE 2024

QLD 3 March EWEN MADDOCK DAM Location: Sunshine Coast Distances: 8.2k, 14.6k Web: seqtrailrunningseries.com.au 10 March WALKABOUT CREEK TRAILS RACE Location: The Gap Distances: 9.5k Web: traq.org.au

23 March NOOSA ULTRA-TRAIL Location: Cooroy Distances: 15k, 25k, 30k, 50k, 80k, 100k Web: noosaultratrail.com.au 23 March YANDINA FIVE ‘O’ TRAIL RUN Location: Yandina Distances: 12k, 21k, 36k, 50k Web: runqld.com.au

17 March DAISY HILL Location: Priestdale Distances: 14.2k, 19.9k Web: seqtrailrunningseries.com.au

24 March TOP OF THE RANGE ADVENTURE TRAIL RUN Location: Toowoomba Distances: Kids 2k, 5k, 10k, 15k Web: ontheedgeevents.com.au

17 March COOMBABAH TRAIL RUN Location: Gold Coast Distances: 5k, 12k Web: coombabahtrailrun.com

24 March GO WEST Location: Purga Distances: 5k, 10k, Half, 30k, Marathon Web: aaaracing.com.au

30 March WILD HORSE CRITERIUM Location: Glasshouse Mountains Distances: Up to 53.5k Web: aaaracing.com.au SA 2 March BELAIR MARATHON Location: Belair National Park Distances: Up to 50k Web: belairmarathon.com.au 17 March ATR SUMMER SERIES Location: Cleland Conservation Park Distances: Up to 22k Web: adelaidetrailrunners.com.au 24 March CONQUER THE SUMMIT Location: Mt Barker Distances: 5k, 10k, 20k Web: conquerthesummit.org.au

EVENT PREVIEW

BUFFALO STAMPEDE FESTIVAL BRIGHT, MOUNT BUFFALO, VIC, AUSTRALIA Ten years, 10 races and thousands of enduring stories from trail runners all over. The draw of the Victorian High Country, the home of Australian trail running – Bright, situated at the foothills of Mount Buffalo, is a town equally famous for its hills and amazing landscapes as it is for its bars, restaurants, vibrant community and trail culture. The new year of 2024 will birth a new era in the Buffalo Stampede Festival. The event trailhead and heart will be situated at The Pavillion, a new venue to accommodate the sharp growth in the Stampede community; a venue and space you could risk thinking is purpose-built for the Buffalo Stampede for infinity and beyond. The event’s courses will have all the same elements of the previous two years, with slight perfections put in place to suit the new venue and enhance a runner’s experience. The Bright Ultra, the crown jewel of 100km trail running in the country, will see runners summit the highest peak of Mount Buffalo, The Horn, at 1723m. Then returning to Bright via a different route on constantly changing terrain that demands a complete skillset and gives the ultimate reward. The SkyMarathon is the ultimate puzzle to crack with 10km of gorgeous rolling single track on the Mount Buffalo plateau followed by a 10km downhill on the Big Walk. The second half has two climbs, with the first being gradual over the winding dirt track through the luscious bush of Keatings Ridge. Then up the relentless Dingo Ridge to Clearspot where you can finally say ‘It's all downhill from here!’. Some will fly, some will stumble their way to back to the Finish. Can you crack the code and complete this epic mountain marathon? The Bright Ultra Team Relay redefines teams sports. Relay with your friends to conquer this epic journey split into four legs. The HARDEST – Bright to Eurobin: the most climbing and also the furthest. The UPHILL – Eurobin to Cresta Outbound: The Big Walk, the biggest climb on course. The TECHNICAL – Cresta to Eurobin: a downhill leg that also summits the Horn at 1723m+. And the LATE SHIFT – Eurobin to the Finish: the runner likely needs good experience in the dark and a stern resolve. Truly something for everyone, so find your epic and run with nature at the Buffalo Stampede 2024.

EVENT Buffalo Stampede Festival WHEN 22-24 March 2024 DISTANCE 100km, 42km, 20km, 10km EVEN MORE Grand Slam 152km, Grand Slam 72km TEAM WORK Relay 100km, Family 5km, Junior 2km WHERE Bright, Mount Buffalo, Victoria, Australia MORE buffalo stampede.com.au

BUFFALO STAMPEDE FESTIVAL

TRAIL RUN MAG - EVENT GUIDE 2024

TAS

2 March GONE NUTS 101 ADVENTURE Location: The Nut, Stanley Distances: 25k, 50k, 75k, 101k Web: gonenuts.com.au

2 March LARK HILL PARTY ULTRA Location: Port Kennedy Distances: 10k, 25k, 50k, 100k Web: wtfultra.com

22 March KUNANYI MOUNTAIN RUN Location: Hobart Distances: 9k, 25k, 67k Web: kunanyimountain.run

15 March HERDY’S FRONTYARD ULTRA Location: Herdsman Distances: Last One Standing Web: herdysfrontyard.com.au

VIC

22 March COLLIE TRAIL RUN FEST Location: Collie Distances: Up to 42.2k Web: perthtrailseries.com.au

2 March BAW BAW SNOW GUM RUN Location: Mt Baw Baw Resort Distances: Up to 44k Web: runningwild.net.au

NEW ZEALAND

9 March MIRRIM WURNIT BACK PADDOCK Location: Romsey Distances: Backyard Ultra Silver Ticket/LOS Web: Facebook

2 March MOTATAPU Location: Southern Lakes Region Distances: 4k Junior, 15k, 42k, 52k Web: motatapu.com

9 March WARBURTON TRAIL RUN FESTIVAL Location: Warburton Distances: Up to 50k Web: warburtontrailfest.com

3 March ROTORUA OFF ROAD TRAIL RUN Location: Rotorua Distances: 5k, 10k, 21.1k Web: eventpromotions.co.nz

16 March KANGAROOBIE KLASSIC Location: Princetown Distances: Kids 2.5k, 7k Web: kangaroobieklassic.com.au 16 March RAZORBACK RUN Location: Alpine National Park Distances: 22k, 40k, 64k, 85k Web: runningwild.net.au 22-24 March BUFFALO STAMPEDE FESTIVAL Location: Bright Distances: 10k, 20k, 42k, 100k, 72k Stage, 152k Stage Web: buffalostampede.com.au 24 March AKD SOFTWOODS OTWAY TRAIL RUN Location: Barongarook to Gellibrand Distances: 7k, 16k Web: otwaytrailrun.wixsite.com

3 March FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND Location: Foxton Distances: 5k, 10k, Half Web: foxtonlions.co.nz 9 March TARARUA MOUNTAIN RACE Location: Tararua Ranges Distances: 34.5k Web: tmr.org.nz 10 March KAIAPOI FUN RUN & WALK Location: Canterbury Distances: 5k, 10k Web: Facebook 16 March BOMBAY FARM RUN Location: Auckland Distances: 5k, 10k Web: bombaycomgroup.wixsite.com

16 March PAUANUI HALF MARATHON Location: Coromandel Distances: 4.5k, 10k, Half Web: pauanuihalfmarathon.co.nz 16 March NORTHPOWER WILD KIWI TRAIL RUN Location: Whangarei Distances: 3k, 8k, 15k, 21.1k Web: thewildkiwi.co.nz 17 March 3 PEAKS MOUNTAIN RACE Location: Dunedin Distances: 11k, 26k, 55k Web: 3peaksmountainrace.com 23 March ALPINE LODGE LOOP THE LAKE Location: Nelson Lakes Distances: 25k Web: nelsonevents.co.nz 23-24 March OXFAM TRAILWALKER Location: Plymouth Distances: Various Web: oxfamtrailwalker.org.nz 23 March FOUNDATION CLINIC MAUAO HALF Location: Mount Maunganui Distances: Half Web: mauaohalfmarathon.co.nz 23-24 March NORTHBURN 100 Location: Central Otago Distances: Up to 100mi Web: northburn100.co.nz 23 March MIDDLE-EARTH HALFLING MARATHON Location: Matamata Distances: 11.1k, 21.1k Web: hobbitontours.com 23 March RIVERHEAD BACKYARD RELAPS ULTRA Location: Auckland Distances: Last One Standing Web: lacticturkey.co.nz 29 March GREAT NORTHERN GALLOP Location: Far North Distances: 25k per day (100k total) Web: borntorunadventureracing.org

TRAIL RUN MAG - EVENT GUIDE 2024

APRIL 2024 AUSTRALIA NSW 5 April LITHGOW RIDGY-DIDGE TRAIL RUN Location: Lithgow Distances: Up to 50k Web: bluemountainsfitness.com.au 6 April JABULANI CHALLENGE Location: North Sydney Distances: 12k, 22, 45k Web: jabulanichallenge.com.au 7 April MT SOLITARY ULTRA Location: Wentworth Falls Distances: 45k Web: runningwildnsw.com

28 April BOTTLEBUTT BASH TRAIL RUN Location: Herons Creek Distances: 10k, Half, Marathon Web: bottlebuttbashtrailrun.com.au QLD 14 April ELLIOT’S REVENGE RUN Location: Alligator Creek, Townsville Distances: 6k, 12k, Half Web: outerlimitsadventure.com.au 22 April THE KOKODA CHALLENGE Location: Sunshine Coast Distances: 18k, 30k, 48k Web: kokodachallenge.com 28 April (TBC) BRISBANE TRAIL MARATHON Location: The Gap Distances: 25.8k, Marathon Web: traq.org.au

SA 6 April SANDY RUNNING FESTIVAL Location: Largs Bay Distances: 5k, 10k, 35k, 68k Web: sandyrunningfestival.com.au 21 April PUNKT ZU PUNKT Location: Barossa Valley Distances: 9k, 19k, 33k Web: punktzupunkt.com.au VIC 26 April DOWN UNDER 135 Location: Bacchus Marsh Distances: 220k Web: downunder135.com

TRAIL RUN MAG - EVENT GUIDE 2024

26 April THE GREAT AUSSIE HIKE Location: Blackwood to Daylesford Distances: 30k, 50k, 80k, 100k Web: greataussiehike.com.au 27 April RUN THE ROCK Location: Hanging Rock Distances: Kids 2k, 5k, 13.5k, 22k Web: solemotive.com WA 7 April RUNNINGWORKS 3 VALLEYS ALTRA Location: Orange Grove Distances: 10k, 25k, 50k Web: squashworks.com.au 27 April LIGHT HORSE ULTRA Location: Woodvale Distances: 1hr, 3hr, 6hr, 12hr, 24hr Web: lighthorseultra.com.au

NEW ZEALAND 6 April MT OXFORD ODYSSEY Location: Canterbury Distances: 15k, Half, 32k, 50k Web: mtoxfordodyssey.co.nz 6 April THE DUAL Location: Auckland Distances: 6k, 11k, 21, 42k Web: thedual.co.nz 6 April XTERRA ROTORUA FESTIVAL Location: Rotorua Distances: 5.5k, 11k, Half Web: xterra.co.nz 7 April PORIRUA GRAND TRAVERSE Location: Porirua Distances: 9k, 18k Web: poriruagrandtraverse.co.nz

14 April WAITARERE FOREST RUN Location: Waitarere Distances: 2k, 5k, 10k, 21.1k Web: waitarereforestrun.co.nz 20 April FAULTLINE ULTRA Location: Wellington Distances: 5k, 10k, 24k, 50k, 100k, 100mi Web: faultlineultra.co.nz 20 April ROUTEBURN CLASSIC Location: Soutland/Otago Distances: 32k Web: routeburnclassic.co.nz 26 April OLD FOREST HANMER 100 Location: Hanmer Distances: Up to 100mi Web: stjamesmountainsports.co.nz

TRAIL RUN MAG - EVENT GUIDE 2024

26 April TAUPO TRAIL FESTIVAL Location: Taupo Distances: 5k, 12k, 21.1k Web: taupotrailfestival.co.nz

16 May ULTRA-TRAIL AUSTRALIA Location: Katoomba Distances: 11k, 22k, 50k, 100k Web: ultratrailaustralia.com.au

5 May SCENIC RIM TRAIL SERIES: RACE 1 Location: Kooralbyn Valley Distances: Kids 2k, 5k, 9k, 14k Web: ontheedgeevents.com.au

27 April SKEDADDLE TRAIL RUN Location: North Canterbury Distances: Kids 4k, 15k, 30k, 42k Web: skedaddle.co.nz

5 May HAMILTON ISLAND HILLY HALF Location: Hamilton Island Distances: Half Web: hamiltonisland.com.au

MAY 2024

17 May WEST MACS MONSTER Location: Larapinta Trail Distances: Up to 231k Web: westmacsmonster.com.au

AUSTRALIA

QLD

NSW

4 May DEAD COW GULLY BACKYARD ULTRA Location: Runnymede Distances: LOS Web: deadcowgully.com.au

4 May BYRON COAST CHARITY WALK Location: Byron Bay Distances: 12k, 24k, 36k Web: events.rescuehelicopter.com.au

4 May THE D’AGUILAR 2 UPS Location: D’Aguilar National Park Distances: 13k, Half, Marathon Web: aaaracing.com.au 5 May TRR MURPHYS CREEK CHALLENGE Location: Murphys Creek Distances: 7k, 14k, Half, Marathon Web: trr.org.au

TRAIL RUN MAG - EVENT GUIDE 2024

5 May YARRABILBA TRAIL FEST Location: Yarrabilba Distances: 5.1k, 11.4k, 18.2k Web: yarrabilbatrailfest.com.au 12 May SPRINGSURE MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE Location: Central Highlands Distances: 17k, 27k Web: Facebook 18 May MOJO ADVENTURE RUN Location: Pechey Distances: Kids 3k, 5k, 10k, 21k Web: Facebook 19 May THE GLASSHOUSE 50 Location: Beerburrum Distances: 10k, 30k, 50k, 50mi Web: aaaracing.com.au 25 May THE TWO BAYS TRAIL RUN Location: Magnetic Island, Townsville Distances: 6k, 12k, 21k Web: outerlimitsadventure.com.au 25 May WARWICK PENTATH-RUN Location: Warwick Distances: Up to 21k Web: pentathrun.com 26 May SCENIC RIM TRAIL SERIES: RACE 2 Location: Wyaralong Distances: Kids 2k, 5k, 9k, 14k Web: ontheedgeevents.com.au

SA 5 May FIVE PEAKS TRAIL RUNNING FESTIVAL Location: Athelstone to Belair NP Distances: 10k, 16k, 26k, 42k, 58k Web: trailrunningsa.com 8 May IRRATIONAL SOUTH Location: Flinders Ranges Distances: 100mi, 200mi Web: irrationalsouth200miler.com.au 10 May ATR LOSER Location: Moana Beach Distances: Up to 100mi and LOS Web: adelaidetrailrunners.com.au 17 May NO TIME TO DIE FRONTYARD ULTRA Location: Adelaide Eastside Distances: LOS Web: nttdfrontyard.com.au 25 May MELROSE RUNNING FESTIVAL Location: Melrose Distances: 15k, 32k, 50k Web: adelaidetrailrunners.com.au TAS 5 May ORGAN PIPES CLASSIC Location: kunanyi/Mt Wellington Distances: 5k, 13k Web: kunanyitrailseries.com.au VIC

26 May PINNACLES CLASSIC Location: Brookfield Distances: 18k Web: traq.org.au

5 May WILSONS PROM 100 Location: Wilson’s Promontory NP Distances: 27k, 47k, 66k, 80, 100k Web: runningwild.net.au

26 May THE DOUGLAS DASH Location: Port Douglas Distances: 5k Web: dynamicrunning.com.au

5 May DARBY RIVER HALF MARATHON Location: Wilson’s Promontory NP Distances: Kids 2k, 5k, 10k, Half Web: runningwild.net.au

11 May KANGAROOBIE BASE CAMP ULTRA RELAY Location: Princetown Distances: 216k Team Relay Web: kangaroobiebasecamp.com 12 May MANSFIELD MARATHON Location: Mansfield Distances: Kids 2k, 5k, 10k, Half, Marathon Web: mansfieldmarathon.com.au 18 May MT BEAUTY RUNNING FESTIVAL Location: Mt Beauty Distances: 3k, 10k, 14k Web: hoppet.com.au 18 May GREAT OCEAN ROAD RUNNING FESTIVAL Location: Apollo Bay Distances: Up to 60k Web: greatoceanroadrunfest.com.au 24 May COASTREK MORNINGTON PENINSULA Location: Cape Schanck to Point Nepean Distances: 20k, 30k, 50k Web: coastrek.com.au 26 May RUN THE GAP Location: Grampians Distances: 6k, 12k, Half Web: runthegap.com.au WA 11 May MARGARET RIVER ULTRA MARATHON Location: Hamelin Bay to Wilyabrup Distances: 80k Web: margaretriver.rapidascent.com.au 26 May SNAKES N LADDERS Location: Serpentine National Park Distances: 5.8k, 12k, 15.1k Web: perthtrailseries.com.au NEW ZEALAND 3 May ROTORUA MARATHON Location: Rotorua Distances: 5.5k, 10k, 21.1k, 42.2k Web: rotoruamarathon.co.nz

TRAIL RUN MAG - EVENT GUIDE 2024

4 May T42 CENTRAL PLATEAU TRAIL RUN Location: North Island Distances: 6k, 11k, 24k, 42.2k Web: t42.co.nz

25 May THE BAY TRAIL RUN Location: Nelson Distances: 10k, 24k, 34k, 55k Web: Facebook

15 June GLOW WORM TUNNEL MARATHON Location: Newnes Distances: 6k, 30k, Half, 43k Web: glowwormtrail.com

11 May SAINT CLAIR VINEYARD HALF Location: Marlborough Distances: 12k, Half Web: vineyardhalf.com

26 May RUN AUCKLAND Location: Ambury Regional Park Distances: Kids 2.5k, 5k, 10k Web: runauckland.co.nz

16 June COFFS BACKYARD ULTRA Location: Coffs Harbour Distances: Last One Standing Web: coffstrailrunners.com

11 May SOUTH ISLAND ULTRA MARATHON Location: Greymouth to Hokitika Distances: 24k, 54k, 100k Web: Facebook

JUNE 2024

16 June KOWEN WINTER TRAILS Location: Wamboin Distances: 12k, Half, Marathon Web: kowen-trail-run.com

19 May MACPAC XTERRA AUCKLAND Location: Totara Park Distances: 6.7k, 10.5k, 16.8, 20.7k Web: trailrun.co.nz

AUSTRALIA NSW 9 June WHARF TO WHARF CHALLENGE Location: Merimbula Distances: 28k Web: sapphirecoastguidingco.com.au

29 June KING OF THE MOUNTAIN Location: West Wallsend Distances: 25k Web: newcastlecrosscountry.org.au

TRAIL RUN MAG - EVENT GUIDE 2024

QLD 3 June THE KOKODA CHALLENGE Location: Brisbane Distances: 18k, 30k, 48k Web: thekokodachallenge.com 9 June IN THE RAW TRAIL RUN Location: Gold Coast Distances: 15k, 25k Web: intherawtrailrun.com.au 9 June SUREFOOT TRAIL RACE Location: Mt Coot-tha Distances: 21k Web: runvault.com.au 16 June GREAT WHITEHAVEN BEACH RUN Location: Whitsunday Island Distances: Up to Half Web: hamiltonisland.com.au 21 June BVRT 100S Location: Brassall Distances: Up to 200mi Web: aaaracing.com.au 22-23 June WONDAI COUNTRY RUNNING FESTIVAL Location: Wondai Distances: 1k, 2k, 10k, 11.1k, Half, Marathon Web: wondaicountryfestival.com.au 22 June UNTAMED BORDER RUN Location: Killarney Distances: 10k, 21k, 50k Web: untamedborderrun.com 23 June ROCK ‘N REEF BOWEN TRAIL RUN Location: Bowen, Whitsundays Distances: 6k, 10k, 18k Web: outerlimitsadventure.com 27-30 June TRAIL & SAIL GETAWAY Location: Airlie Beach & Whitsunday Islands Distances: Various Web: outerlimitsadventure.com

28-30 June BRISBANE TRAIL ULTRA Location: Brisbane Distances: 10k, 20k, 31.1k, 60k, 110k, 100mi Web: brisbanetrailultra.earth 28-30 June 3 MARATHONS IN 3 DAYS Location: Kuranda Distances: Daily Marathon Web: 3marathonsin3days.com SA 2 June ON THE TRAILS SERIES RACE 1 Location: Kuitpo Forest Distances: TBC Web: trailrunningsa.com 23 June MYPONGA LOOP Location: Myponga Distances: Kids Dash, 7k, 19k Web: mypongaloop.com.au 30 June ATR WINTER RUN Location: Norton Summit Distances: Up to 27k Web: adelaidetrailrunners.com.au WA 9 June EAGLE AND CHILD TRAIL RUN Location: John Forrest NP Distances: 5.5k, 13.3k, 20.6k Web: perthtrailseries.com.au 16 June KUNUNURRA HALF MARATHON Location: Kununurra Distances: 21.1k Web: knxrun.com.au 22 June TRANSCEND ULTRA Location: Walyunga National Park Distances: Kids Dash, 6k, 40k, 65k Web: transcendtrails.com 23 June KING OF THE MOUNTAIN Location: Helena Valley Distances: 16.1k Web: wamc.org.au

30 June JOLLY JUMBUCK TRAIL RUN Location: Bells Rapids Distances: 6.2k, 14.2k, 20.5k Web: perthtrailseries.com.au NEW ZEALAND 2 June (TBC) HABIT HEALTH KAITERITERI GOLD Location: Kaiteriteri Distances: 3k, 8k, 16k Web: kaiteriterigold.org 8 June MOUNT DIFFICULTY ASCENT Location: Bannockburn, near Cromwell Distances: 25k, 44k Web: highlandevents.co.nz 8 June RUSTIC RUN AND WALK Location: Bannockburn, near Cromwell Distances: 21.1k, 42.2k Web: highlandevents.co.nz 9 June MACPAC XTERRA AUCKLAND Location: Hunua Ranges Distances: 6.3k, 13.5k, 19.4k, 24.2k Web: trailrun.co.nz 16 June RUN AUCKLAND Location: Onepoto Domain Distances: Kids 2.5k, 5, 10k Web: runauckland.co.nz 23 June MACPAC XTERRA AUCKLAND Location: Waitawa Regional Park Distances: 7.4k, 11.7k, 17.3, 21.5k Web: trailrun.co.nz JULY 2024 AUSTRALIA NSW 6 July LAKES TRAIL FESTIVAL Location: Hawks Nest Distances: Kids 1k, 12k, 30k, 50k, 70k, 100k Web: lakes100.com.au

TRAVEL WITH US

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FEBRUARY 2024

JUNE 9, 2024

MAY 2024

SEPTEMBER 2024 AUGUST 4, 2024

DECEMBER 2024 PLUS... HAMILTON ISLAND (MAY) & GOLD COAST (AUGUST)

AUGUST 31, 2024

GREAT RACES. AMAZING PLACES.

www.trailtrips.com.au

TRAIL RUN MAG - EVENT GUIDE 2024

13 July RAFFERTYS COASTAL RUN Location: Lake Macquarie Distances: Kids 1k, 12k, 22k, 36k Web: raffertyscoastalrun.com.au

13 July THE KOKODA CHALLENGE Location: Gold Coast Distances: 30k, 48k, 96k Web: thekokodachallenge.com

27 July FLINDERS TOUR Location: Beerburrum Distances: 12k, 25k, 52k Web: aaaracing.com.au

19 July ELEPHANT TRAIL RACE Location: Port Macquarie Distances: Up to 100mi Web: elephanttrailrace.com.au

14 July SCENIC RIM TRAIL SERIES: RACE 3 Location: Peak Crossing Distances: Kids 2k, 5k, 8k, 15k Web: ontheedgeevents.com.au

28 July BEACHRUNS@MISSION Location: South Mission Beach Distances: Kids 1k, 5k, 10k, 21.1k, 20k Relay Web: ccmclub.org.au

28 July MAD MAX MARATHON Location: Broken Hill Distances: Up to Marathon Web: madmaxmarathon.com.au

14 July BILLY IN MOGGILL TRAIL RACE Location: Moggill Conservation Park Distances: 12k Web: runvault.com.au

28 July KING OF THE MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL Location: Pomona Distances: 5.5k Web: kingofthemountain.com.au

QLD

20 July THE GUZZLER & THE GLASS HALF FULL Location: Brisbane Distances: 10k, 21k, 52k, 105k Web: theguzzlerultra.com.au

28 July PRINCE & PRINCESS OF THE MONTAIN Location: Pomona Distances: Kids 2.8k Web: kingofthemountain.com.au

7 July FOOTMOTION NOOSA FUN RUN Location: Noosa Distances: 5k, 10k Web: cooroymountainrun.blog

Where suffering is the prize, and everyone's winner!

23-24 March 2024

100 Mile, 100KM, 50KM, Marathon, 21 KM, 10KM & 5KM night races and kids race www.northburn100.co.nz

IN WONDAI QUEENSLAND 22-23 JUNE 2024 OFFERS A RANGE OF RUNNING EVENTS: SPRINT 5KM, 10KM HALF AND FULL MARATHON AND TWO TRAIL EVENTS (11 AND 21 KMS) IN MCEUEN FOREST www.wondaicountryfestival.com.au

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EVENT PREVIEW

MT OXFORD ODYSSEY OXFORD, NEW ZEALAND The Mt Oxford Odyssey is one of New Zealand’s most iconic mountain running events, based only an hour from Christchurch in the Mt Oxford Conservation Area. The event is renowned as being challenging, set amongst the foothills of the Southern Alps in the South Island. What sets this event apart is the atmosphere. The Mt Oxford Odyssey has a reputation as being supportive and fun – where everyone is welcome to challenge themselves against the mountain, and where the team will be waiting for you with open arms and an epic medal! The event has a new race distance in 2024 with the introduction of the 50km Ultramarathon. The course takes runners on a journey over two mountains, and includes some incredible single track running amongst Canterbury’s native beech forest. With around 2250m elevation gain in the 50km course, the ultra is challenging but achievable for those wanting to do a mountain ultra this autumn. The 33km race takes runners over Mt Oxford, allowing incredible views across the Canterbury plains all the way to the South Pacific Ocean. Runners will then drop down into the backcountry and explore the single tracks, creek crossings and native bush on their way back to the finish line. The classic Half Marathon distance is open to runners and trampers and is a loop course up and over Mt Oxford. The descent sees competitors head through the iconic ‘goblin forest’ before taking the undulating tracks along the base of the mountain back to the finish. The 15km run or tramp is situated on the trails at the base of Mt Oxford. Competitors enjoy technical trails through stunning native beech forest, with a few creek crossings thrown in for the fun-factor. It’s ideal for those not wanting to head up the mountain, but who still wants to enjoy trail running in this epic location. The Mt Oxford Odyssey is the perfect mix of trail running and mountain fun. With safety at the forefront, competitors can enjoy their time on the trails knowing they are in the safe hands of mountain experts while out achieving their goals. EVENT Mt Oxford Odyssey WHEN 6 April 2024 DISTANCE 50km, 33km, 21km, 15km WHERE Oxford, New Zealand MORE mtoxfordodyssey.co.nz

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TRAIL RUN MAG - EVENT GUIDE 2024

28 July RAINBOW BEACH TRAIL RUNNING FESTIVAL Location: Rainbow Beach Distances: 11k, 21.1k, 42.2k Web: runqld.com.au SA 6 July ULTRA ADELAIDE Location: Adelaide Distances: 10k, 21k, 34k, 50k, 100k Web: ultraadelaide.com.au 7 July ON THE TRAILS SERIES RACE 2 Location: Mt Misery Distances: TBC Web: trailrunningsa.com 27 July CLARE VALLEY TRAIL RUN Location: Clare Distances: 19k, 37k, 50k Web: adelaidetrailrunners.com.au WA 14 July BROOME MARATHON Location: Cable Beach Distances: 10.k, Half, Marathon Web: broomemarathon.com.au 14 July GOLDFIELDS PIPELINE MARATHON Location: Kalgoorlie Distances: 10k, 21.1k, 42.2k, 50k Web: goldfieldspipelinemarathon.com 20 July YABEROO TRAIL RUN Location: Joondalup Distances: 5k, 10k, 15k, 25k, 50k Web: yaberootrailultra.com.au 28 July TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES TRAIL RUN Location: Serpentine Falls Distances: 4.9k, 10.1k, 24.6k, 50k Web: perthtrailseries.com.au

NEW ZEALAND 7 July RUN AUCKLAND Location: Te Atatu Peninsula Distances: Kids 2.5k, 5k, 10k Web: runauckland.co.nz 13 July WUU2K MARATHON & ULTRA Location: Khandallah Park, Wellington Distances: 21k, 43k, 62k Web: wuu2k.co.nz 21 July MACPAC XTERRA AUCKLAND Location: Waiuku Forest Distances: 8k, 12k, 19k, 22.6k Web: trailrun.co.nz 28 July RUN AUCKLAND Location: Western Springs Distances: Kids 2.5k, 5, 10k Web: runauckland.co.nz AUGUST 2024 AUSTRALIA NSW 3 August RED’S BACKYARD ULTRA Location: Kembla Grange Distances: LOS Web: backyardultra.com/races/redsbackyard-ultra/ 4 August RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE TRAIL RUN Location: Ulong Distances: Kids 1k, 8k, 21k, 30k, 50k Web: coffstrailrunners.com QLD 3 August THE GREAT PYRAMID RACE Location: Gordonvale Distances: 12k Web: pyramidrace.com.au

4 August BORDER BOLT RUN FESTIVAL Location: Gold Coast Distances: 6.6k, 13.5k, 22k, 31k Web: borderboltrunfest.com.au 9 August THE CLINT EASTWOOD Location: Rocklea Distances: LOS Web: aaaracing.com.au 18 August LAKE MANCHESTER TRAILS Location: Lake Manchester Distances: Kids 1k, 5k, 10k, 23k Web: traq.org.au 20 August UNREASONABLE EAST Location: Cairns Distances: 100mi, 200mi Web: unreasonableeast200miler.com.au 25 August SCENIC RIM TRAIL SERIES: RACE 4 Location: Wyaralong Distances: Kids 2k, 5k, 9k, 16k Web: ontheedgeevents.com.au 25 August HIGHTAIL TRAIL SERIES Location: Mount Coo-tha Distances: 12k Web: runvault.com.au 31 August WILD EARTH COASTAL HIGH Location: Gold Coast Distances: 28k, 50k Web: coastalhigh.com.au SA 4 August ON THE TRAILS SERIES RACE 3 Location: Mt Crawford Distances: TBC Web: trailrunningsa.com TAS 4 August TOLOSA HALF & TOLOSA QUARTER Location: kunanyi/Mt Wellington Distances: 5k, 10k, 21k Web: kunanyitrailseries.com.au

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TRAIL RUN MAG - EVENT GUIDE 2024

VIC 10 August PEAKS & TRAILS RUN Location: Dunkeld Distances: 6.4k, 13.5k, 20k, 50k Web: peaksandtrails.com.au 10 August BERRY LONG RUN Location: Blackwood Distances: 70k Web: berrylongrun.com 24-25 August WONDERLAND RUN Location: Blackwood Distances: 2k, 8k, 20k, 36k, 65k Web: wonderlandrun.com.au 25 August BRIGHT RUNNING FESTIVAL Location: Bright Distances: Up to 50k Web: brightrunfest.com.au WA 2 August BIRDY’S BACKYARD Location: Lake Towerrinning Distances: LOS Web: birdysbackyardultra.com.au 18 August SALT LAKES CITY TRAIL RACE Location: Lake Walyungup, Rockingham Distances: Kids 2k, 6k, 12k, 24k Web: srr.tidyhq.com NEW ZEALAND 10 August RUN THE FOREST Location: Rotorua Distances: 7k, 10k, 21k Web: runtheforest.co.nz 11 August MACPAC XTERRA AUCKLAND Location: Riverhead Forest Distances: 7.5k, 14k, 17.5k, 20k Web: trailrun.co.nz 25 August FOREST RUN FEST Location: Christchurch Distances: 2k, 5.5k, 10k, 21.1k Web: forestrunfest.co.nz

28 August GREAT NASEBY WATER RACE ULTRA Location: Central Otago Distances: Up to 200mile Web: greatnasebywaterrace.co.nz

29 September GREAT SOUTHERN HALF MARATHON Location: Aldinga Beach Distances: Kids 1.5k, 5k, 10k, Half Web: greatsouthernhalfmarathon.com.au

SEPTEMBER 2024

VIC

AUSTRALIA

15 September YOU YANGS OFF ROAD TRAILBLAZER Location: You Yangs Regional Park Distances: 7k, 10k Web: pbevents.com.au

NSW 7 September COASTAL CLASSIC Location: Otford to Bundeena Distances: 30k Web: coastalclassic.com.au 8 September COFFS HARBOUR RUNNING FESTIVAL Location: Coffs Harbour Distances: Up to 36.1k Web: coffsrunfestival.com 20-22 September HOUNSLOW CLASSIC Location: Blackheath Distances: 16k, 42k, Double Up Web: hounslowclassic.com.au QLD 1 September CAPE PALLARENDA TRAIL RUN Location: Cape Pallarenda Distances: 5k, 12k, 21k, 42k Web: outerlimitsadventure.com.au 7 September GLASSHOUSE 100 Location: Beerburrum Distances: Up to 100mi Web: aaaracing.com.au 14 September TRAIL RUN EPIC Location: Grandchester Distances: 4.2k, 11.5k, 25k Web: hiddenvaleadenturepark.com.au SA 8 September ON THE TRAILS SERIES RACE 4 Location: Sturt Gorge Distances: TBC Web: trailrunningsa.com

21 September SURF COAST CENTURY Location: Anglesea Distances: 50k, 100k Web: surfcoastentury.rapidascent.com.au NEW ZEALAND 1 September MACPAC XTERRA AUCKLAND Location: Shakespeare Regional Park Distances: 5.5k, 10k, 15k, 20k Web: trailrun.co.nz 7 September KINLOCH OFFROAD CHALLENGE Location: Taupo Distances: 5k, 10k, Half, Marathon Web: kinlochoffroadchallenge.co.nz 8 September TRAIL TRILOGY FUN RUNS Location: Waikino to Waihi Distances: 9k, 21.1k, 42.2k, 55k, 100k Web: trailtrilogy.com 8 September RUN AUCKLAND Location: Silversale, Auckland Distances: Kids 2.5k, 5k, 10.5k, 21k Web: runauckland.co.nz 21 September RACE TEKAPO Location: Lake Tekapo Distances: Up to 50k Web: racetekapo.com

The Outer Limits Trail Run Series offers 6 events, each with 3-4 distances to choose from. Explore North Queensland's best trail running destinations. Each location is unique, ranging from coastal trails all the way to dense tropical rainforest trails. Visit our website to find out more: outerlimitsadventure.com.au

The ultimate 4-day Trail Run Adventure

Run - Sail - Eat - Sleep - Repeat Join us on an unforgettable sailing and trail running journey along Whitsundays' greatest trails. The ones that are hard to access and the ones that will take your breath away.

27.-30. June 2024 Whitsundays, QLD

More Info

TRAIL RUN MAG - EVENT GUIDE 2024

OCTOBER 2024

NEW ZEALAND

AUSTRALIA

6 October 4 PAWS MARATHON Location: Christchurch Distances: Up to Marathon Web: 4pawsmarathon.co.nz

NT 12 October ALICE SPRINGS MASTERS GAMES Locations: Alice Springs Distances: Various Web: alicespringsmastersgames.com.au QLD 14 October THE KOKODA CHALLENGE Location: Lake Macquarie Distances: 18k, 30k, 48k Web: thekokodachallenge.com 26 October PALUMA ULTRA Location: Paluma Distances: 52k Web: outerlimitsadventure.com.au 27 October PALUMA VILLAGE TRAIL RUN Location: Paluma Distances: 5k, 10k, 20k Web: outerlimitsadventure.com.au SA 13 October (TBC) ON THE TRAILS SERIES RACE 5 Location: Mount Bold Distances: TBC Web: trailrunningsa.com TAS 19 October KNOCKERS & KNOCKERS SPORT Location: West Hobart Distances: 5.5k, 11k Web: kunanyitrailseries.com.au VIC October/November TBC GRAMPIANS PEAKS TRAIL (GPT100) Location: Halls Gap Distances: 50k, 100mi (solo, team, stage race) Web: gpt100.com.au

GREAT SOUTHERN ENDURANCE RUN Location: Harrietville, Mt Hotham Distances: 28k, 56k, 50mi, 100mi Web: gserultra.com.au NEW ZEALAND

12 October TAUPO ULTRA MARATHON Location: Taupo Distances: 70k, 100k Web: taupoultra.co.nz

9 November THE TANIWHA Location: Waikato River Trails Distances: 7k, 16k, 22k, 44k Web: thetaniwha.co.nz

26 October KAIKOURA MOUNTAINS TO SEA Location: Kaikoura Distances: 5k, 10k, Half, Marathon Web: kaikouramountainstosea.com

16 November HUNUA HILLBILLY Location: Auckland Distances: 60k Web: hunuahillbilly.co.nz

NOVEMBER 2024

23 November (TBC) THE HILLARY Location: Waitakere Ranges Distances: 16k, 34k, 80k Web: lacticturkey.co.nz

AUSTRALIA NSW

DECEMBER 2024

9 November BOUDDI COASTAL RUN Location: Bouddi National Park Distances: 14k, Half Web: bouddicoastalrun.com.au

AUSTRALIA

23 November BLUE GOAT’S BACKYARD MARATHON Location: Mount Victoria Distances: Various & LOS Web: bluemountainsfitness.com.au

December (TBC) ULTRA-TRAIL KOSCIUSZKO Location: Kosciuszko National Park Distances: 100mi, 100k, 50k, 27k Web: ultratrailkosciuszko.com.au

NEW ZEALAND

2 November CAVE RUN Location: Naracoorte Distances: 5k, 15k, 23k, 33k Web: caverun.com.au

7 December PORONUI PASSAGE Location: Poronui Station Distances: Half, Marathon Web: poronuipassage.co.nz

November-March SUMMER SERIES Location: Adelaide Distances: 5k, 10k, 14k, 21k Web: adelaidetrailrunners.com.au

7 December VALLEY ULTRA NZ Location: Mt Cheeseman Distances: 10k, 24k, 54k Web: ultranz.com

VIC

13 December CRUSH THE CARGILL Location: Dunedin Distances: 100mi, 24hr Web: crushthecargill.wordpress.com

9 November KING VALLEY CHALLENGE Location: Lake William Hovell Distances: 3k, 6k, 15k Web: kingvalleychallenge.com 16 November

NSW

14 December THE WILD EPIC MOUNTAIN RUNS Location: Otago Distances: 9k, 11k, 30k, 64k, 86k Web: thewild100.org

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EVENT PREVIEW

WONDERLAND RUN GRAMPIANS NATIONAL PARK, VIC, AUSTRALIA Wonderland Run! The mere mention of it sparks a world of imagination. It couldn’t be named any more appropriately. Held in late August at Grampians National Park in Western Victoria, Wonderland Run has it all. Traditionally known as Gariwerd, this region is home to the largest number of significant and ancient Aboriginal rock art paintings and shelters in southern Australia. Add to this mix, globally renowned hiking trails, majestic waterfalls, dazzling flora and fauna, plus the most awe-inspiring mountain panoramas you will ever see. There is truly nothing quite like it. It’s an event that will blow your mind. Wonderland Run has everything to challenge the most experienced trail runner and fun for the whole family. The weekend kicks off with a 2km kids race and an 8km flat race on the Saturday afternoon. On Sunday, runners can choose between a 20km, 36km or a 50km ultra marathon through the most incredible trails you will find anywhere. All races start and finish in the stunning township of Halls Gap, conveniently located only three hours from Melbourne and five hours from Adelaide. In fact, Sunday runners will finish by crossing straight through the middle of town, where they’ll be greeted by live music being played in front of the local brewery. What a memorable way to finish! But don’t be deceived by the stunning views, this event is not for the faint hearted, nor those with minimal trail running experience. Regarded as one of the toughest, demanding races on the Australian trail running calendar, it will be sure to test every ounce of your physical and mental resilience. Perhaps the incredible vistas will mask some of the hurt. Maybe. The only way to find out is to come and experience it for yourself. EVENT Wonderland Run WHEN 24-25 August 2024 DISTANCE 52km, 36km, 20km, 8km, 2km WHERE Grampians NP, Halls Gap, Victoria, Australia MORE wonderlandrun.com.au

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EVENT PREVIEW

RACE TEKAPO LAKE TEKAPO, NEW ZEALAND Fancy a spot of trail running in one of New Zealand’s most scenic locations? Then Race Tekapo is perfect for you. Nestled in the Mackenzie Region, Lake Tekapo is the picturesque home of this incredible new trail run. Only a 3-hour drive from the International Airports of Christchurch and Queenstown, and you are in the peaceful alpine village of Lake Tekapo. Race Tekapo prides itself on being a ‘destination race’, where competitors and their friends and families can indulge in stunning lake and mountain views, relax and soak in the local hot pools, play up the snowy mountains, and be blown away by the serenity of the international dark sky zone. With the inaugural race in 2022, Race Tekapo sees over 1000 runners and walkers descend on Lake Tekapo to take on one of the seven race distances. Each course has been designed to maximize on the ‘wow’ factor with competitors treated to breath-taking vistas at every turn. The 50km race takes runners on a journey around the iconic landmarks of Lake Tekapo, including high country stations, three different lakes, and Mt John – which allows 360 degree views across the lake and surrounding mountains. The 32km and 21km events offer equally amazing scenery, each of the courses allowing competitors slightly different scenery; the 32km run heads out on the high country stations, and the 21km takes runners and walkers into the forest trails of the Regional Park. The shorter distances of Race Tekapo are all packed with jaw-dropping views – choose from the more flat 16km run and walk, or the trek over Mt John in the 12km run or walk. The 5km race is a fast and flat course overlooking Lake Tekapo, with the Kids Dash allowing the little ones some fun (plus a medal!) so everyone is included. With fun surprises on the course each year, Race Tekapo promises to ensure everyone gets a memorable experience on race day. The Race Village is right on the edge of Lake Tekapo and the village centre, allowing your supporters ‘front row seats’ while you achieve your goals. Come and experience Race Tekapo for yourself and see why this is a must-do on the running calendar! EVENT Race Tekapo WHEN 21 September 2024 DISTANCE 50km, 32km, 21km, 16km, 12km, 5km, Kids Dash WHERE Lake Tekapo, New Zealand MORE racetekapo.com

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CONTRIBUTION

IMAGE - Boen Ferguson

ISSUE 49 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM

Lose it

MOVE IT OR

AS KIDS, WE LEARN THAT ‘MOVEMENT’ IS ASSOCIATED WITH ONE OF TWO THINGS – COMPETITION OR EXERCISE, AND WE NEVER REALLY GOOD A FULL UNDERSTANDING ABOUT HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO INCORPORATE DAILY INCIDENTAL MOVEMENT INTO OUR LIVES. THE NORTH FACE ATHLETE PAIGE PENROSE, A TRAIL RUNNER CURRENTLY STUDYING AND RACING IN CROSS COUNTRY AND TRACK & FIELD, PROVIDES A DETAILED CONTRIBUTION ON THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING PEOPLE INCLUDED IN EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES BECAUSE AS SHE WRITES…‘UNLESS YOU’RE FORTUNATE TO LAND IN A FAMILY THAT INCORPORATES MOVEMENT WITHOUT THOUGHT INTO DAILY LIFE, IT QUICKLY BECOMES DEPENDENT ON PARTICIPATION IN SPECIALISED PROGRAMS THAT DIRECT YOU INTO DEVELOPMENT PATHWAYS AND COMPETITION STRUCTURE.’ WORDS: PAIGE PENROSE IMAGES: KAMIL SUSTIAK, MATT WISEMAN/LÉ BENT, BOEN FERGUSON

CONTRIBUTION MOVE IT OR LOSE IT

“Sport? Why would I play sport? That’s something kids do.” hose words have played on my mind ever since my mother uttered them when reflecting on a patient’s response to her suggestion of incorporating daily movement into their lifestyles. At

school abruptly disappeared in place of small huddles of cross legged conversation. While the school didn’t have space for big fields, we had a basketball court and our back gate opened onto a sizable public reserve. Still, 1200 girls remained seated, enthralled in the often inconsequential topic of the day, or month if it was a particularly salty season of life.

the time, I didn’t think I liked sport; or more to the point, I didn’t think I was good at it. I never considered myself to be one of the ‘sporty kids’. In hindsight, I

We had sport once a fortnight. When you reached Year 11, things got serious. Perhaps when we needed it most, the designated sports period of our timetables

movement came to serve one of two purposes. Competition or exercise. We heard about keeping an active lifestyle and maintaining our wellbeing as school and life became more and more stressful. But how do you do that? What is wellbeing? What does my body say? What do I feed it? How do I move it? The only informative session I remember about long term health and understanding our bodies was when a pelvic floor physio gave a presentation and the takeaway was that if you don’t start doing pelvic floor

IMAGE - Kamil Sustiak

also went to a very small primary school where at least one kid from each year group was competing at a national level in something. Perhaps not a fair relative baseline from which to assess my abilities. I didn’t know what to do with those words and despite not allowing myself the label of being a ‘sporty kid’, I remember thinking ‘Well, thank goodness I’m still a kid’. When I started high school, the incidental movement and games that occupied every morning tea and lunch break in primary 86

was replaced by class or free periods for study. We were to fully dedicate ourselves to the HSC, which I haven’t thought about since the day I finished it. So much for the grandeurs it was depicted to carry, that my entire schooling was to lead to. We had sports teams. You could play soccer, netball, hockey, touch football, athletics among others, but were you at a state representative level already to warrant a place on the team? No? Too bad. Very, very quickly almost all forms of

exercises now and stop weeing in the shower, when you’re an old lady, you won’t be able to walk near a fountain without wetting your pants. About 1,200 girls and we still felt the need to sneak a pad into our blazer pocket or a tampon up our sleeves between our lockers and the bathrooms. Those things should have been laid out left, right and centre. We see huge dropout rates in youth sport during adolescent years and those figures are disproportionately high for girls. There’s

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CONTRIBUTION MOVE IT OR LOSE IT

a lot going on at this time. Our bodies change in so many ways, we question who we are and where we’re going, the adults around us often start introducing new pressures and responsibilities, we sometimes don’t like the direction others are pushing us and we don’t know what body you’re going to wake up in the next. Sport becomes more competitive, our friends might drift away and all of a sudden it’s just an uncomfortable experience with ample opportunity for scrutiny. After hating running for almost all of my childhood, at age 18 I figured out I could keep up with the boys in my Air Force recruits course. At 19, I moved back home to start university and started racing. At 21, I won the National Skyrunning Championships and landed a spot on The North Face team. At 22 I moved to the US to finish my degree and compete in NCAA Track & Field and Cross Country. But most of all, I finally found a space where my mind and body felt together.

IMAGE - Boen ferguson

Movement has become attached to the notion of exercise and the baggage of guilt, earning food or downtime, willpower and the social expectations of what we deem ‘health’. We are marketed to in ways that make food and downtime something to be earned and there is a clear delineation between exercise time and the rest of life. Humans have always moved. We moved before we decided what a calorie was, before we created heart rate intensity zones, before we tracked and recorded every step. Movement is allowed to be fun. It’s allowed to have no purpose. It doesn’t have to be planned, and it doesn’t have to be tied to self-worth or the expectations of society. Unless you’re fortunate to land in a family that incorporates movement without thought into daily life, it quickly becomes dependent on participation in specialised programs that direct you into development pathways and competition structure. We have much to learn from the competition environment and commitment to the process of competitive sport, but that’s not all movement can be.

IMAGE - Boen ferguson

We often tout trail running to be one of the most accessible sports. It absolutely can be – it requires less gear than other sports (but still some…I mean really, why do socks cost so much?), it’s unique in that all participants face the same course at the

same time as those at the pointy end of the field and it can be as difficult as we choose to make it. Yet there are some significant barriers that remain unnoticed by many. What about those who don’t feel comfortable in their own skin walking down the street, let alone donning strange clothes we justify in the name of performance and bouncing up and down, gradually becoming more and more dishevelled and the footsteps tick by. We create the notion that everything we do is being assessed and compared by others – at school, at work, on holiday. But you can move for you. You can be at a standing desk, and then sit down, and then kneel, and then lie on the floor to get that assignment done. You can sprint the last 20m of your walk if you want to. You can hang from that tree branch. You can eat cross legged on the floor. You don’t have to do it every time and you don’t have to do the same thing or more the next day. You can move without it being for exercise and without keeping track of it. You can play. I didn’t find running until after school when I had just about reached the end of my adolescent years. The prior decade likely would have been a lot better if I’d found it earlier. It created space for getting to know my body, searching my own mind and moving through the world at a speed that was directly proportional to the physical output and feedback I gave it. It required intense conversation with my being and the natural world. It constantly reframed my position, offered perspective and realised the trivial nature of human existence and the fuss we make. There were 1,200 missed opportunities in that high school. 1,200 opportunities to instil an understanding of what our bodies really need. Not a 1,500 calorie diet that an Instagram personal trainer prescribes. Not a 27.5 minute glute focused workout that hits all intensity zones. Not a portion of your day that is required to be seated…or stood for the matter. An acceptance and respect for what our bodies do for us and how they work, how to nourish it with space for fun, and how to move in a way that adds to our days rather than being a point of dread and a box to check. The youth sports we have are great, but there’s a conversation missing about what

le limmon e &

on & m e l e lim

IMAGE - Matt Wiseman/Le Bent

movement can look like. Incorporation of unstructured activity that leads to happy bodies and minds starts with an attitudinal shift regarding ‘acceptable’ movement that is ‘enough’. For some, that might become a gateway to competitive athletic pursuit if you find your niche. For many, it adds life to your day, creates variety and builds connection with ourselves, with other humans and with our environment.

& mon me

Sport is an immensely valuable part of society. It provides the grounds for social movement and cultural change. It teaches us some of life’s hardest lessons before life itself throws them at us. It unites huge numbers of people. It allows us to evolve as humans and develop a set of values to stand by. It also happens to be really fun. We hold athletes on a pedestal and that doesn’t need to change. However, if we can expand what we define as an athlete, a great deal more humans would come to know this fun. Sometimes it can be about the things you saw, the photos you took, the grazes on your knee and the people you met instead of the kilometres covered, the time spent in zone, the kudos received, the Apple rings filled, or the vertical metres climbed.

INSIDER KNOWLEDGE: Paige Penrose is a trail runner with The North Face and Lé Bent, part of the Protect Our Winters Australia athlete alliance, and is currently studying and competing in cross country as well as track & field at the University of Nevada, Reno, USA. She’s set on keeping the planet alive and loves doing stuff outside and meeting people – so long as there are snacks involved.

CONTRIBUTION

ISSUE 49 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM

A TALE OF MATES, MOUNTAINS & MUD WANT TO HIT A SPECTACULAR AND CHALLENGING TREK THAT WILL TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY AND ALLOW YOU TO PUSH YOURSELF IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT’S STURDY, HARDENED AND VIGOROUS? TASMANIA’S GOT THE WESTERN ARTHURS RANGE, WHICH ENCAPSULATES QUARTZITE PEAKS, HANGING VALLEYS AND GLACIER-CARVED LAKES WITH PLENTY OF ROCKY CLIMBS, MUD AND RAIN. TASMANIAN BEN WILKINSON, TOGETHER WITH MATES JON MINNEBO AND FRANCOIS FOURIE, TACKLED THE INSPIRING TREK EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND HE RECAPS THE ADVENTURE WHICH WILL WAS FULL EXCITEMENT, GRANDEUR, INCLEMENT WEATHER, AND SAVOURY SNACKS (BUT ONLY AT THE END!).

WORDS & IMAGES: BEN WILKINSON (@WILKORUNS)

t 7am on 15 April 2023, the GC Running Team which consists of Jon Minnebo, Francois Fourie and myself, set on an adventure into the wild Southwest of Tasmania that would see us start at

Scott’s Peak carpark, traverse the Western Arthurs Range from Moraine A-K and finish back at the carpark. All up it should be 60km which we thought would take about 18hrs. To most people this sounds either dumb, crazy or both. To us, this was the best fun we could have on two legs. Spirits were high, and with loads of laughs and a dose of nervous tension, we were soon on the trail. A mix of thoughts filled my mind: Am I capable of this? Maybe I’m biting off more than I can chew. This will be awesome, of course I can…round and round the merry go went. Not long after we started, so did the mud. Tasmania’s Southwest is renowned for muddy trails and the Western Arthurs were in force, a week’s worth of consistent rain making things wet and slushy. Kind of like running through mac and cheese all day. However, this just added to the entertainment and there was more slipping and sliding than a day at Wet N Wild.

After passing through Junction Creek campground the range comes into view and there’s an overwhelming sense of the challenge ahead. We arrived at the base of Moraine A, which is the main access to the range, and with 700-800m elevation over 2.4km it’s a juicy little number. The views across Lake Pedder are breathtaking, just like the strong slap in the face from the southerly winds coming straight off the Southern Ocean when you arrive at the top. The jog past Lake Fortuna through to Lake Cygnus is beautiful, and the landscape changes dramatically. Everything is massive and looks like a scene out of The Lord of the Rings. Glacier lakes, slabs of quartz, and views out to Bathurst Harbor are on the menu for the rest of the day. It’s a real feast for the senses. After Lake Cygnus there was some upand-downing before the section between Mt Sirius and Mt Orion came into view. This is one of my favourite ridgelines in Tasmania. It sticks out like crazy and can be seen for miles. After a nice bit of huffing and puffing, and the stunning Square Lake, we crested a ridge to behold one of the most spectacular landscapes I have ever witnessed, Lake Oberon – the crown in the Western Arthurs and Tasmania’s

Southwest. It was the perfect spot for a quick bite to eat and the only rest we had that day, apart from taking pics. A mention goes out to Jon here who, with a completely straight face, pulled out his ‘curried egg’ in white bread sandwich. I won’t go into this but for those of you who know what exercising on empty stomachs can do to your digestion, curried egg is an interesting choice. Well played, Jon. Well played. The rain started during lunch and was now coming down in sideways sheets but we kept moving. The descent into Oberon was a nice little scramble and by now the rain had soaked everything. The section from Oberon to High Moor took a long time. Even though the distance travelled is only +/- 4km it took 3-4hrs (with a heavy pack on this is a full 8-9hr walk). From Pegasus to Capricorn we navigated down white quartzite rock and through dense shrubs filled with mountain pepper berry, pandani and scoparia. Even though the scoparia tears your skin off, their thick limbs are handy to cling to as you lower yourself down the steep descents. We slowly lowered down to Mt Capricorn. Left: Jon and Francois heading down to Lake Cygnus.

CONTRIBUTION A TALE OF MATES, MOUNTAINS & MUD

The trail in this section can get a bit tricky to follow; there were a number of side trips and the path forked multiple times. We had to backtrack and it was very lucky that Jon had the map loaded onto his Garmin. Without this, we would’ve ended up spending the night in our emergency bivvys. The weather started to get nasty, the wind picking up and the rain getting heavier. Lucky for us we were fairly sheltered from the wind in most sections, but with everything soaked and slippery it made the going slower. We finally hit High Moor, where the wind was brutal. The three of us kept moving onto the infamous Beggary Bumps, a line of precipitous peaks with plunging slopes 92

and damp chasms. Lots of up, down, up, down and at a very slow pace which was made slower in the wet but damn it was cool!

and slow going, but we descended the eastern shoulder of Mt Taurus and the tricky little manoeuvre before the last short section onto Haven Lake.

Finally, we arrived at the Tilted Chasm. To make it through this section you slip, slide and shimmy between two massive, slanted slabs of damp moss covered granite. I’d been looking forward to this because I’d heard it was a wicked experience. The crew loved it but it was over way too quick.

Haven Lake was our last chance to fill our water bottles, eat, and swallow a couple of painkillers before heading off in search of the descent down Kapa Moraine. Eventually we made it to Kappa Moraine and were on the way down – literally down, down, down for about 3km until the track opened. There were no more magical views to distract us from sore joints but we did talk at length about how nice the pumpkin soup we had waiting at the carpark would taste. It’s amazing how motivational food can be when you’re closing in on the finish of a big mission.

Darkness finally arrived and it was pitch black, but luckily the Fenix head torches we had were the absolute bomb. We made it to Mt Taurus, and simply looked ahead into the dark, agreeing to just ‘Let’s go that way.’ It was bloody wet

ISSUE 49 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM

We hit the flats of McKay’s Track and were off the range. This is where things got tricky. We know that in any mission there can be moments where things have the potential to go wrong. The decisions made are crucial to your safety and ultimately it can come down to experience, how tired you are and a little bit of luck, good or bad. We were all wearing decent GPS watches and Jon had the route loaded onto his watch. The problem was, on the way back to Junction Creek, we had to navigate through a number of small forests. In the dark, these were spooky, and the canopy cover caused the GPS to do weird things. What we later found out was that we got turned around and went back the way we had come, resulting in an extra 7km. There was a moment when we arrived

at a spot that felt familiar and I asked the question if we had been there before because it felt very familiar. Note – this wasn’t Jon’s fault, he probably feels responsible but the fact of the matter is he navigated us through the whole trip which was a huge responsibility. Francois and I relied on him to get us home, and he did just that. Neither Francois nor I questioned him at any time because we didn’t even have the maps loaded on our watches. What it did demonstrate was making sure you’re always with people you trust and realising that shit can go wrong. The next challenge was my head torch running out of battery. Yep, lesson learnt. Normally I have a spare, but due to recent races I changed my emergency pack and

hadn’t repacked properly. The other guys had good battery left so we dimmed down their lights, put me in the middle and I turned off my head torch until we got to Junction Creek. It meant a lot of slipping, sliding, slowing down and with the additional 7km, you can imagine what it did for my patience. We kept calm though and motored on. That’s what I got for leaving the spare battery at home, won’t do that again, will I? CLOCKWISE: Jon and Francois look back over the range; Jon and Francois at the start of the Western Arthurs Trail, South West TasmaniA; Jon’s a bit of a poser, showing off in front of Mount Orion and Mt Sirius in the background; Jon takes on the climb up towards Mt Pegasus on slippery rock.

CONTRIBUTION A TALE OF MATES, MOUNTAINS & MUD

Next the rain and wind picked up ferocity, and we started shivering. This could have become quite dangerous if we weren’t so fit and aware of what was happening; I put my emergency thermal top, beanie and neck warmer on making sure that my temperature wouldn’t drop. Jon’s watch hit 7 percent battery. It felt like things were trying their best to go wrong, but what I appreciated about the group was that we kept focused on the task at hand. I must admit that I started thinking about the solution if our head torches ran out and Jon’s GPS died. In the cold dark of night in SW Tasmania, that would’ve been an interesting challenge. Finally, we arrived at Junction Creek. It was quite a relief, and we all knew it was only 10km of knee-deep mud in the dark to get back to the car. It was at this point Francois pulled out the secret Mars and Snickers bars he had hidden in his backpack; Jon and I were in disbelief and joy, I can’t explain how good those bad boys tasted as we stood there in the dark savouring every moment of pleasure the chocolate provided. I was impressed by his forethought and must forgive him for the massive fart he did in my face as I climbed up a ridge close behind him earlier that day. Well played Mr Fourie. Well played. Those last 10km were tough and I won’t sugar coat it. The mud was relentless, knee high, thick and deep. My quads had given up, which meant I kept slipping, and faceplanted a few times. It’s probably the only time throughout the experience I got upset with the situation, but knowing the finish line was close kept us all going. The moment to finish arrived, we hit the foot washing station and burst out into the carpark with TFFT! We signed out of the logbook and the first thing on my mind was pumpkin soup, but when Francois advised us that it was 4:45am those plans went out the window. My wife is very supportive of what I do and always does everything she can to help me take on these crazy missions so I needed to let her know I was safe. There were the cravings to deal with and the first thing I did after opening the car was rip open a box of Arnott’s cheese and bacon shapes. I’d been thinking about those all day and didn’t waste time. I stuffed them in my face with a sigh of relief and handed them round the team. 94

Jon mentioned afterwards that he will never look at a box of them the same again. I’m sure that in many years to come I’ll see a packet and be transported back to that moment. This adventure was an amazing experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I feel very fortunate to live in a country where not only I can access these sorts of areas, but I’m privileged enough to lead a life that allows me to train, eat, sleep and live a lifestyle that supports it. Big thanks to Jon and Francois for being dead set legends. Having good mates that you can not only go on adventures with but also trust to get you home is a blessing. I’m also privileged and blessed to have a wife and family who support my crazy adventures. Overall my Garmin tells me that we travelled 69.49km over 21:24:26 with 4,290m of elevation gain. My avg HR was 134bpm, I burned around 8500 calories and the highest elevation/peak was 1,105m. A big day… TOP To BOTTOM: Ben with Lake Fortuna in the background; Jon’s a bit of a poser, showing off in front of Mount Orion and Mt Sirius in the background; The GC Running Team consisting of Jon ‘Mountain Man’ Minnebo, Francois ‘The Champ’ Fourie and Ben ‘1500mg Wilkinson; The climb up and out of Lake Oberon is as exciting as the step climb down, with Jon all smiles.

INSIDER KNOWLEDGE Ben Wilkinson is the kind of bloke who’s always got 50 million things going on. Trail running helps him find time to focus and slow down. Apart from being with his family, getting out into Tasmania’s wild places is one of his favourite things to do and his TRM contribution will explain why! Visit his site wilkography.com/trailrunning for more about him, and in the meantime, he wants to do a shoutout to the boys for going on this adventure and to his wife for her support. We will allow it.

ISSUE 49 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM

The challenges of the walk are not to be underestimated and should be completed only by walkers with significant experience in remote, alpine conditions. To traverse the rugged Western Arthur Range is considered a major bushwalking challenge and has been undertaken regularly by experienced bushwalkers since the 1960s. Located in Southwest National Park, and part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA), the 69 kilometre Western Arthur Range Traverse covers extensive, rugged topography and funnels walkers through narrow corridors throughout much of the range. The landscape that contributes to the area's World Heritage values is made up of steep slopes, alpine moorlands and glacial lakes. The ranges are a geological delight, composed almost exclusively of deformed Precambrian quartzite and quartz schist. Walkers will mainly journey through alpine heath and alpine scrub vegetation. Elsewhere, button grass heath is widespread and scrub, wet forest and patches of rainforest occur on the lower slopes. The Western Arthur Range Traverse can be experienced through a range of walk lengths. Those wanting to traverse the entire range will need between 10 to 12 days to complete the circuit. Others may decide to traverse from Alpha Moraine to Kappa Moraine in 5 to 7 days. Those only wishing to walk into Lake Oberon and back will need to set aside 3 to 4 days. — Tasmanian Parks & Wildlife

LET’S TALK RACING SKEDADDLE

ISSUE 49| TRAILRUNMAG.COM

RUN IT, WALK IT…BUT ALWAYS SKEDADDLE IT This year, a new race popped up on the NZ calendar, and our favourite Kiwi doctor was there front and centre taking in everything it had to offer. The Skedaddle was held in late April 2023, and next year’s event is already scheduled for 27 April at Island Hills Station, North Canterbury. So if you’re still umm-ing and ahh-ing about whether or not to sign up, take a read of Dr Inia Raumati’s race and see if it floats your boat (we are sure you’ll put your hands up to do it!).

WORDS: INIA RAUMATI (@ULTRAMAORIDOCTOR) IMAGES: MALCOLM MCRAE, JACK PREBBLE

29 APRIL 2023 – NORTH CANTERBURY, NEW ZEALAND: Rolling into the last aid station, one of the support crew yelled out, “Looking good, guys!”, to which Henry responded with cat-like reflexes, “Damn straight, bet you haven’t seen three better looking fellas run past here all day!” His response leaves the aid station volunteers in hysterics, and even manages to elicit a few muffled chuckles from the young farmhands leaning on the back of a ute. This pretty much sums up the goodnatured vibe of Aotearoa’s newest trail event, Skedaddle – a trail run for nature.

Henry was a young guy I teamed up with at the Bush Hut aid station for the last 10km of the 42.2km Two Tunner event. Having both decided we weren’t going to break any land-speed records, we decided to at least enjoy the scenery a bit more. I had been running just in front of Henry for a few aid stations prior and had even tried to lead him and another runner astray when stopping for a photo of the scenic high country. It turned out both Henry and I had been stitched up by our respective partners into running the Two Tunner. Henry had been entered by his partner (42km for his 42nd birthday), and my partner won two free entries in an

Instagram contest when I was away running the Ice Ultra in Sweden. My partner Vicki (not a runner) had to do the 15km after all my running mates were unavailable to join me. She tried her hardest to try and sneak into the 4km kids Weaning Muster event rather than run the 15km Dozer Line, but luckily race director Richard Negus was on to her antics. Plus her excessive height and fourlegged Huntaway pacer would have given her away. The day had started out early. 0400 early, as we had decided to stay at dog- friendly accommodation in Hanmer Springs, just over an hour away, rather than camp overnight on site. Our

LET’S TALK RACING SKEDADDLE

decision not to tent it appeared to be a wise one as we were greeted by a load of fairly coldlooking competitors creeping out of their abodes on arrival; and I would have missed giving the rental ute a river crossing test in the darkness.

from a suppressed rifle outside the woolshed (recommendations for next year bro, would be to get the shotty out). The front runners took off at a skedaddle, with the rest of us at more of a mosey for a rather gentle start across farmland.

As the sun slowly came up we were treated to our first views of Island Hills Station, a working high country station about one and half hours north of Christchurch. Home to the Mandamus Preservation Reserve, the farm with its highest point Mt Skedaddle is aiming to be a sanctuary for native flora and fauna. All proceeds from the Skedaddle race is reinvested in the reserve with the aim to reintroduce kiwi back to the area.

A short stint through a field of cabbages was a perfect opportunity to let out the remaining effects of the aforementioned souvlaki, before the start of one of the many climbs to the race’s highest point at 778m. It was then down to the first aid station 10km in at Plantation Block, where a less than enthusiastic runner was voicing his opinions on our sanity and how much this sucks, after being forced to accompany his partner on the run.

After my second visit to the porta-loo, courtesy of bad life decisions and a dodgy souvlaki in Christchurch the day before, the race started with a bang. Well...more of a pew-pew really,

At this stage I felt awesome. Having taken it easy on the uphill I then had a gentle gravel road downhill to stretch out on, followed by another small ridge

before descending onto the Island Hills Walking Track proper and some nice single track alongside the Mandamus river. Out of nowhere I started to feel the effects of all the ultras I’d been running recently, with my quads cramping up something awful. I reached for my headphones for a bit of relief, only to discover that I hadn’t downloaded any music after changing cellular providers, and of course there was no reception. This turned out to be a good thing as I would have missed out on the surprisingly large symphony of bird song; a testament to the great conservation mahi being achieved at the station. As the event carried on, it became evident that I really should have been running one of the shorter distances rather than the marathon. Despite attempting to take it easy and stopping to fill up my water bottles, I couldn’t lift my performance. By the time I hit the open high country, I

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was struggling. Despite my rugged effort the volunteers were still enthusiastic, claiming glorious things like, “You’re more than halfway” and “It’s all downhill from here” (to the aid station it turns out). The problem with downhill is that it’s almost worse than uphill if your legs are shot, a fact many of the runners were now coming to grips with. There was very little flat running in the Skedaddle course. At the 24km Valley Camp Hut aid station, with still a long way to go, it was clear that I would have to fall back on the tried and tested strategy of an ultra runner – stubbornness. While walking up yet another undulation, I laughed as one runner (who will remain anonymous) hilariously quipped, “The volunteers are great, the views are awesome, the course sucks!”. I must admit that despite the epic views, I had resigned myself to a long day at the office focusing on just clicking off one km after another with much of the next 8km being a bit of a blur.

At Bush Hut with only 10km to go I made the wise decision to team up with some of the other runners. Henry helped me out with some cramp-fix spray which was a lifesaver. Combined with a cooling dip in the Mandamus River, I was starting to feel human again. We were then joined by Geoff and actually ran fairly well for the final leg, even briefly ‘grandpaing’ past a few younger guys and having enough energy to joke with some of the supporters. Coming across the finish line swinging Henry’s daughter between us highlighted the very casual and family-feeling nature of the event; with a bonus of the missus already finishing her first ever 15km trail run, so I didn’t have to get Doug the dog out on a search and rescue mission for her. Skedaddle is an event that supports a worthy cause and one that I would definitely do again. For a first-time event it was extremely well run and had a special atmosphere. Don’t be fooled by smiling faces in the pictures though. The course is

tough enough to keep you honest with more than 2000m of elevation, yet solid enough under foot to be very runnable; with the top four athletes coming in under five hours and the mid-packers around six. Combine this with well-stocked aid stations, and you can afford to race light without excessive amounts of gear. If you’re unsure of your ability to complete the course there is the opportunity to check out the trail by booking in a self-guided walk on Island Hills Station, knowing that you will be helping with their conservation goals as well. Or, as I will hopefully get the chance to do, by helping them keep the local tia (deer) numbers under control. Event: Skedaddle Location: Island Hills Station, North Canterbury, NZ Distances: 42km, 30km, 15km, 4km When: 27 April, 2024 Info: skedaddle.co.nz

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FOR THE LOVE OF

Paws

THINKING OF GETTING YOURSELF A FURRY RUNNING PARTNER? OR PERHAPS YOU ALREADY HAVE ONE AND ARE KEEN TO GET YOUR BESTIE WITH FOUR PAWS OUT ON THE TRAILS WITH YOU. NZ VETERINARIAN DR VICKI LIM GIVES TRM READERS THE LOWDOWN ON HOW TO PICK A NEW RUNNING BUDDY AND THE BEST WAYS TO GET THEM STARTED IN HITTING THE GREAT OUTDOORS WITH YOU. WORDS: DR VICKI LIM IMAGES: VICKI LIM, VINCENT SCHERER, OTSPHOTO, MICHAEL HEIM

o you’ve seen all the Instagram posts of runners with their dogs living the dream.

And now you’re thinking of getting a canine yourself too, or perhaps starting to take the family dog on runs – and why wouldn’t you? Muddy shoes, tongues out (both humans and dogs), and miles and miles of trails with your best mate. Our canine besties are the best motivators to get outdoors, and a good running buddy will never say no to a run. As a vet in urban Auckland, I see way too many dog owners living in town with frustrated hunting dogs like German Shorthaired Pointers (GSPs) and Viszlas. They’re beautiful dogs and have stamina for days, but without the right routine and exercise, can be horrible pets. They’re bred to work and are highly attached to their owners, so can suffer from separation anxiety and be destructive if you’re a weekend warrior that usually works long

hours. Similarly, if you’re an ultrarunner and love the look of a squishy Pug or French Bulldog, just know they won’t hold up to long runs or heat. You’re much better off picking a dog that fits your lifestyle first, and running style second. As much as we would like to be doing fun stuff all the time, most of us have other commitments and still work boring day jobs where it can be hard to provide for a highly-strung dog, so pick the dog that suits your family first. Options For A New Buddy

On the topic of rescue dogs, many people can go into this with the best of intentions but end up with a dog that is too big, too small, too hairy, too fearful, too lazy, too active...what I’m getting at, is that you never truly know what you’re going to get when you play breed roulette. It’s fantastic when people want to #adoptdontshop, but sometimes the benefit of getting a specific breed is that you know what 101

CONTRIBUTION FOR THE LOVE OF PAWS

you’re (likely) to get. Another option is fostering dogs, especially retired working dogs (full disclosure, my Huntaway, Doug, is one of the many RWDs I have fostered in my time, and the only one I kept). Quite often these dogs are in their teens or adults, so you get a better idea of their personality type. Many ‘failed’ working dogs aren’t malformed or injured – they simply don’t have an interest in stock, which is a real bonus when you’re out trail running. Learning To Run

Ah the age-old question, if you have a puppy – when do you start running with them? Let’s be clear: the ‘five minutes per month of life rule’ you might encounter has no scientific basis. The more important question is, what type of exercise is appropriate for your puppy? A metaphor I like to use is that you wouldn’t run a marathon with your toddler, but you’d let them potter around for as long as they’d like – with supervision. A trap that many pup parents get into is

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getting a high-energy or working breed dog, and overdoing exercise too young with jumping, running or playing fetch with one of those ball throwers because they feel the need to stimulate them. We see way too many puppies with bone chips or fractures from inappropriate exercise, and after an injury like that you can guarantee your dog will have arthritis to contend with. Focus on low impact exercise like walking and swimming with your puppy to build muscle mass, and also work on the key aspects like leash walking, recall and a ‘leave it’ command. Building the foundations of training and bone growth will set your canine companion up for success in the future.

balm. If your dog frequently picks up grass seeds (nasty little buggers), or cuts between the toes, consider some shoes. Don’t expect your dog to get up and go once you put shoes on though. Many dogs will often freeze and look personally wounded by the fact that you’ve *dared* to put some crazy contraption on their paws, so bootie training can take time. Make sure your dog shoes are well-fitted so they don’t slip or rub, or you might end up with more problems than when you first started – think of the process for yourself in finding the right pair of trail running shoes. The same applies here for your canine companion.

Does your dog have soft or hard paw pads? Do you struggle more with paw pads cracking, or getting lacerations between the toes?

We were lucky to be gifted a set of boots for Doug, who took so well to them that he promptly busted a nail-sized hole in both his front boots once he realised they gave him much more traction. More traction + more skids = dog boots that were destroyed after one run. Cheers Doug; this is why we can’t have nice things!

Keep it simple – if paws are dry and cracking, soften them with a moisturising

Generally speaking, dogs’ feet do better in the cold than in the heat. Thanks to a very

Caring For Those Paws

This is a dog-specific answer.

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efficient and amazing counter-current heat exchange system, dogs can continue to sweat through their feet without freezing in the cold. In summer though, dogs burn their feet on hot sand, which owners only realise once their dogs are no longer hooning on the beach and are instead hiding in the shade licking their sore burned paws. Remember, if it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for them.

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The last thing you want is to bring some unwanted hitchhikers home. In NZ we are lucky to be free of scary tick-borne diseases, but our Aussie mates have paralysis tick and heartworm to contend with, and fleas are itchy and gross. Make sure your dog has parasite control.

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Depending on the trail you’re running you might not always have access to a watering hole. Having a collapsible water bowl ensures you’re able to share your own water.

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Hope for the best, but always prepare for the worst with pet insurance. Injuries can range from lacerations in the bush to catastrophic fractures. Cranial cruciate ligament tears (that’s the ACL for you bipods) are by far the most common orthopaedic injury in dogs. After a significant injury like that, your canine athlete will need x-rays, surgery (the gold standard is >$7,000), plus physio and hydrotherapy if you want to get them run-fit again.

All The Good Dog Gear

What’s the difference between a running man and a running dog? The man wears shorts, while the dog pants (not a dad joke, I swear).

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A collar with your dog’s name and your contact details just in case your recall isn’t as solid as you thought and your dog likes rabbits.

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If using a harness, make sure it doesn’t restrict movement, especially of the forelimbs. Look for harnesses that look more like a ‘Y’, as opposed to a ‘T’ with a horizontal strap across the chest which can impede stride length. This is extra important if you’re looking to do canicross or any type of running that involves pulling you, or some weight.

Alright now you’re set. Get you and your dog’s shoes on, and hit the trails! See you out there.

INSIDER KNOWLEDGE: Dr Vicki Lim is a companion animal veterinarian in a busy practice in Central Auckland. She’s a rubbish runner, but enjoys crewing for her partner Inia Raumati (@ultramaoridoctor) and their dog Doug (@dougdogjaspercat). Outside of her work, she started Huntaway Run Co. (@huntawayrunco), making hardworking trail gear for humans and dogs. Vicki does the mahi (work), so Doug can get the treats. What a life, Doug, what a life.

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OFF THE BEATEN

Track

THE BEST PICS FROM THE BEST PHOTOGRAPHERS CAPTURED THE MOST SCHMICK TRAIL, LANDSCAPE OR VIEW WHILE OUT FOR A RUN? TAG OUR SOCIALS HANDLE @TRAILRUNMAG ON INSTA.

SUPER LUSH Jesse Donnison carefully steps his way through the Grand Canyon in the 2023 Hounslow Classic Marathon. All races plunge into the depths of the canyon, where abundant native plants, waterfalls and jagged sandstone walls await. The marathon runners are challenged to one of the hardest courses in the country, with 2400m of climbing over a mix of brutal and spectacular trails. Image: Race Atlas

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OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

EPIC RIDGELINES Samantha Weatherald enjoys a section of flowing single track amongst the stunning Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park on the recent Run Larapinta Stage Race by Rapid Ascent. This section of trail leads runners over epic ridgelines and rocky creek beds, finishing in the jaw dropping location of Standley Chasm. Image: Aaron Collins

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FRIENDS DON’T LET FRIENDS RUN ALONE Two mates take time out for a bit of fun during Leg 3 (19.5km Contos Campground to Riflebutts Reserve, Gnarabup) at the Margaret River Ultra Marathon, having returned from the hinterland to the spectacular coast at Cape Freycinet for some incredible rock hopping on the ancient granite domes that make this headland so significant. Image: Rapid Ascent

GOLDEN TRAILS Emily Brink competes in the Change of Season Trail Run held at the Muratie Wine Estate near Stellenbosch in the Western Cape of South Africa in May 2023. This was Race 3 of a 6-race series which takes runners across the mountainous vineyards around Stellenbosch, highlighting the cultivars of each farm. Image: Chris Hitchcock

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REVIEW

TRAIL SHOES // LA SPORTIVA JACKAL II BOA

WORDS & IMAGE: GILES PENFOLD

THE JACK(AL) OF ALL TRADES Remember when Marty from Back To The Future II was stoked as his self-tying shoes wrapped about his feet (“Power laces, alright!”)? I felt the same when I first unboxed a pair of the Jackall II BOA’s, twisting my fingers to tighten the dials on their new lacing system. The La Sportiva Jackal II BOA is a new addition to the range, adding panache(!) and exciting new features as compared to its predecessor, the Jackal I. I’ve owned a 108

pair of this original model and thrashed them around for a while now, so I was eager to find out how the latest changes faired on my feet. The new model is high-performance designed specifically for sky races and off-road technical terrain spanning medium to long distances. Born from the collaboration between La Sportiva and BOA Technologies, the shoe embodies a fusion of stability, precision and a secure yet comfortable fit.

For context, I mainly tested these shoes on long trail runs (2hrs+) as well as throwing in a few faster hill sessions into the mix. The majority of the terrain was quite rocky and technical, and I was pleasantly surprised as to how they held up. Zero foot issues and slippage combined with relatively dry feet proved themselves early on. Weighing in at 300g, this is about the standard for a solid trail shoe, and goes without saying that the BOA lacing system

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adds a little extra weight: a compromise which is well worth it in the scheme of things. Needless to say, if this were a track shoe (captain obvious to the rescue), or even a fast short distance trail shoe, its heft would be concerning. Good thing it’s the opposite – a work horse shoe designed to attack rugged landscapes. The BOA lacing system looks cutting edge, and I eventually found myself questioning how it would perform on the trails. I put 250km into this particular pair and can honestly say the lacing system is more than mere eye candy. Their simplicity and ease of use is impressive, and serves as quite the paradox compared to its high tech futuristic appearance. Some direction for users: to tighten the shoes, you simply push the dials and twist them in a clockwise direction. Seeing as La Sportivas usually run quite snug (Helios model excepted), I opted to keep the laces loose most of the time. When approaching a downhill, I’d quickly tighten them in a fraction of a second and go bombs away with confidence, in place of toe carnage. In terms of drop, the shoe’s 7mm remains the same as previous models, with a moderate stack height of 29-22mm. This gives it enough protection to take on technical terrain but also doesn’t numb things to the point where your feet have no idea what’s beneath them. Its 3.5mm diamond shaped lugs feel tough and are convincingly cut out for dry, rocky conditions. I’ve been flogging these through seriously arid, rugged terrain and

few other shoes I’ve used would better suit this landscape. The outsole also features La Sportiva’s signature FriXion XF 2.0 rubber, which is their stickiest and grippiest compound. The trade-off is presumed to be lower durability but so far, the sole on my pair has shown only trace amounts of wear and tear. As long as the upper holds up, expect these to last anywhere between 800km and 1000km. Solid. The midsole is a combination of EVA and Infinitoo PU inserts, giving it that long distance cushion and trail stability. I found it quite firm, which inherently means it isn’t as pliable and responsive as other models – makes a lot of sense for a long distance technical cleat though. Compared to its original version, the Jackal II BOA has a more flexible and breathable upper that uses recycled fabrics. Big thumbs up there. The built-in gaiter also does a great job at keeping out debris, offering subtle support to the ankle. I initially saw this as an unnecessary feature but the more I used them, the more I enjoyed this feature. Overall, La Sportiva have nailed the updated features on the Jackal II BOA. Its traction and fit are of the highest calibre, and alongside its long distance cushion, the shoe is an excellent option for the most technical of trails.

THE LOW DOWN GREAT FOR: Technical terrain, medium to long distances NOT SO GREAT FOR: Short distances, speed work TEST CONDITIONS: Rocky, dry, technical terrain TESTER: Giles Penfold TESTER MECHANICS: Neutral VITALS RRP: $319.95 WEBSITE: lasportiva.com/au CONDITIONS: Shoes provided for testing by La Sportiva

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TRAIL CREW ANSWERED BY: LISA ELLERY IMAGES: JARROD LUCAS

KALGOORLIE RUNNERS

Where does your group run mostly? What started as a few hardy souls being trained We generally run in the bush around Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Kalgoorlie-Boulder is at the edge of the Great Western Woodlands, a global biodiversity hotspot with stunning granite outcrops, waterholes and ancient trees and shrubs, though not a lot of shade. Early mornings are best! What is your favourite local trail and why? There aren’t too many official trails around here, so we make up our own. We pool our knowledge – if someone goes for an explore and finds something cool, they’ll invite the rest of the group along to check out the new run. Our favourite trails always include some hills – Mount Charlotte, Nanny Goat Hill, Mount Hunt, Purple Hill and Lake Douglas are some of the places we can regularly be found. Because the trails aren’t official, we do occasionally have some adventures. Such as the time a bunch of ladies (me included) got lost cutting through the bush from the bottom end of Piccadilly Street to Karlkurla Park, and wound up on an active mine site. The shift boss was panicking because there were half a dozen ladies jogging along a major haul road and he had to try to work out how to persuade us to get in his car before we got run over and he got sacked. The one good thing was that we were oblivious to what might have been said about us on the radio. Someone probably had to file an incident report.

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What single piece of advice would you give a newbie joining your group?

No one has the energy for too much talking anyway!

I always say: Don’t try to get fit so you can join the group. Just come along and get fit with us!

Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s is a very itinerant population so our membership changes constantly. Runners visiting town for work sign up, hang out with us over a few runs and then head back home with some happy memories. Fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) workers keep an eye on the page and turn up when they can. Mine workers have been known to turn up after a twelve-hour night shift which I always think is quite hard core.

Your group can choose any three people on Earth, living or dead, to come join one of your runs. Who are they and why them? We do follow the greats and share \heir achievements to our page for everyone to marvel at. Our biggest hero at the moment is Phil Gore who recently became the Backyard Ultra world record holder. He came 5th in the 2016 Kalgoorlie Pipeline Marathon and we’d love to see him back. Also Michael Hooker or Margie Hadley. How have you seen participation in your group change people and lives? Kalgoorlie-Boulder is often said to be the gold-mining capital of the world, a place where people converge from every continent of the world to work, sometimes without bringing any family at all. It’s not unusual to turn up to a run and find that of half-a-dozen runners, you’re the only one born in Australia. If you have a passion for running, that seems to transcend every other difference. The way Kalgoorlie Runners works is we post a run and then see who shows up. People have different rosters and are often out of town for one reason or another, so you don’t run with the same people every time you run; in fact you can easily wind up running with someone different every time you run. It just all depends how it pans out on the day. Someone who was an acquaintance at the start of a run, becomes a friend by the end of it. Even if they don’t really speak much English.

We support and encourage each other, and we celebrate PBs and achievements of physical and mental endurance. We also lead each other astray and talk each other into training for distances and courses that might otherwise seem unimaginable. This applies especially to newbies, who generally announce “I can only run 5km” at the get go but they go on to learn that they had no idea what they were actually capable of. NAME: Kalgoorlie Runners BIRTHDAY: May 2009 REGION: Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Western Australia MEMBERS: 283 AVERAGE RUNNERS AT EACH HOOK UP: 20 AVERAGE HOOK UPS EACH YEAR: 150 (we meet Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and for a long run on Sundays SHOES OWNED IN TOTAL: Hard to say UNOFFICIAL CLUBHOUSE: The only place we can regularly be found is on Facebook; otherwise we meet wherever we’re planning to start running

EAT, SLEEP, RUN

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WORDS AND IMAGES: GABY VILLA

REST DAY ANTI-INFLAMMATORY SMOOTHIE KEEP CALM AND DRINK A SMOOTHIE Feeling like your body is a bit inflamed after your long run? Take out the blender and put together this high anti-inflammatory smoothie filled with all the goodness your body needs. Share with us on Insta by tagging us at @trailrunmag! Have you ever noticed how after a long and intense run, your muscles feel all inflamed and sore? Well, it turns out that’s actually a good thing! This is a natural defence mechanism that plays a vital role in muscle recovery and growth where during the process, immune cells work to remove damaged tissue and initiate muscle repair and rebuilding. Including foods high in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and polyphenols in your diet can enhance the complex process of inflammation induced by exercise and improve recovery and overall health. Nutrients like turmeric, ginger and berries have been shown to have potent anti-inflammatory effects, further supporting the body’s natural healing mechanisms. By combining exercise-induced adaptation and a nutritionally rich diet, you can effectively tackle inflammation and promote overall physical performance and health in a holistic way. This smoothie is a perfect example of how you can incorporate these antiinflammatory foods into your diet, especially on those recovery days after long and intense runs. You can add it as part of your breakfast or use it as a snack in the middle of the day.

PREPARATION TIME: 10 minutes TOTAL TIME: 10 minutes SERVINGS: 2 INGREDIENTS: • 2 cups milk • 1 large carrot • 6 strawberries • 1 red apple • 6 pitted dates • 1 tsp turmeric powder • 1 small piece fresh ginger, peeled • ½ tsp cinnamon powder • 1 tsp chia seeds, optional

DIRECTIONS • Chop the carrot • In a high-powered blender, combine all the ingredients and blend until smooth • Serve and enjoy! NOTES • Leftovers: refrigerate in an airtight container for up to three days • Dairy free and vegan alternatives include coconut milk or vegetable milk • For different flavours, swap the type of fruit for your preferred one like pineapple, mango or blueberries NUTRITION PER SERVING • Calories: 323 • Carbohydrates: 53g • Fibre: 8g • Sugar: 42g • Protein: 10g • Fat: 9g

INSIDER KNOWLEDGE: Gaby Villa is a sports nutritionist, dietitian and founder of IntensEATfit. She specialises in optimising performance for triathletes and ultra-distance runners by making food their best ally in sport and life. Over the past 9 years, Gaby has supported hundreds of athletes, including state sports teams, to overcome lack of energy and gut upset so they can fuel their bodies with confidence and race to their full potential. She strives to contribute to a world that enables and promotes a healthy and active lifestyle for everybody.Find her online at intenseatfit.com for more info.

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BOOK CLUB REVIEW REVIEWER: KATE DZIENIS

RUN HEALTHY BY EMMI AGUILLARD, JONATHAN CANE & ALLISON GOLDSTEIN Part I: The Runner’s Body Here, there’s an in-depth exploration of how the musculoskeletal system functions and responds to training, and goes through the geography of the body – muscle composition, muscle contraction, triplanar movements, tendons, ligaments and connective tissue.

If you’ve ever found yourself in pain while running, or if you’ve missed workouts because of an injury, then this is the book for you. Run Healthy: The Runner’s Guide to Injury Prevention and Treatment is the game changing publication you need to read to run injury free for the better part of your career. And seriously, you don’t need to be a beginner to reap the benefits of having a good read through; an open mind to gaining as much modern day information as possible is just as beneficial to the elites, because without continuous learning, we become stale. What I personally liked was that right off the bat, in Chapter 1, Run Healthy explores the body and its healing process. Most books simply talk about the types of injuries and how to prevent them or recover from them, but not Run Healthy. 112

The book is a great insight into the biology of how our bodies work when being put through the stresses of running. This is where you can ask yourself the question, ‘When do I get help?’. It’s all good and well when we know what we’ve done to our bodies and take a trip through YouTube or the world of Google to self-diagnose and treat, but let’s face it – it’s always best to see a specialist who knows injuries better than you, and Run Healthy provides insight into which professionals are the best for the injury you have – from chiropractors and massage therapists, to physical therapists and medical doctors. Run Healthy does have a textbook feel, which is fabulous, and if you’re into gaining knowledge then this is the publication to keep handy. Part II: Body Regions Get ready for some clear cut exercises in here too, like toe yoga (yes, it does exist!) and self-massage with chapters starting from the foot and moving their way up to the lower back. Sometimes the info might seem like a lot to absorb, but photographic images help alleviate all the text and you can clearly see how to make the exercises work for you. Part III: Common Conditions Probably what I foresee to be a very popular part of the book, here the

authors cover plantar fasciitis, achilles tendinitis, shin splits, hamstring tendinitis and tendinopathy, and IT band syndrome. Again the photographs are clear cut on what exercises to do, and the chapters here start to engage with runner on how the techniques in Run Healthy helped them overcome their injuries. Part IV: Healthy Training With the previous chapters dedicated to rehabilitating, treating and minimising the effects of running-related injuries, the only thing better than bouncing back quickly from an injury is not getting injured in the first place. Whilst some injuries are unavoidable, prudent training practices can minimise the incidence of injury – and one element of judicious training, in addition to strength and conditioning and mobility work, is a well-thought-out training plan. This last part of the book helps you find a balance between risk and reward. What I mean is, an overly conservative training plan is relatively safe but unlikely to have enough stimulus to elicit the improvements in cardiovascular fitness, running economy, and speed and endurance you’re looking for. In the opposite way, a program that features a lot of hard days, little recovery and an incessant pattern of increasing mileage will likely get results for a while but eventually lead to overtraining and injury. So while there’s no one-size-fits-all prescription for optimal training, Run Healthy by Emmi Aguillard, Jonathan Cane and Allison Goldstein will help guide you for that perfect balance, especially if you don’t have a coach.

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THE RUNNING CLUB BY ALI LOWE

A gripping new novel filled with twists, scandals and secrets. You pay a premium to live in this town… but someone’s paid with their life. The rules of the running are the same as they have always been: keep your breath steady, keep your mind sharp, record your laps! Only now there’s a new one: don’t get killed. The wealthy community of Esperance is picture-perfect. Big houses, stunning

views, beautiful people. A brand new running track for the local club to jog around in the evenings. From the outside, it looks like paradise. But the women of the town know the truth: you can hide anything – from wrinkles to secrets from your past – if you have enough money. You could even hide a murder. The Running Club is the gripping, twisty page-turner from the author of The Trivia Night, full of secrets, lies and reveals you won’t see coming.

ZERO NEGATIVITY

BY ANT MIDDLETON

There are times when life feels like it has you cornered: financial difficulties, relationship issues, work problems, all of the above.

Letting you into areas of his life he’s never talked about before, Ant Middleton will show you how to embrace failure and use it to your advantage.

Every one of us, at one time or another, will have to face up to the challenges that come our way.

Zero Negativity will not tell you who to be, where you should live, or what job you should do. That’s up to you. What this book is for is to give you the tools you need to become the best possible version of yourself, to own who and what you are, and to live your life with zero negativity.

And there are two ways of meeting them: negatively, where blame is the answer; or positively, where you own the situation, and learn and grow from it.

WE SHARE THE SUN BY SARAH GEARHART

An enlightening biography that takes us behind-the-scenes into the lives of some of the world’s most elite runners in Kenya and their coach, Patrick Sang. Sarah Gearhart takes us inside the highoctane world of elites. We’re immersed in Sang’s story from his college days in the US to winning an Olympic medal in the steeplechase, and his journey to become a man who redefines what coaching means. Sang’s holistic philosophy is like no other approach in the world, rooted in

developing athletes who can navigate the pressures of elite competition—and life itself. We Share the Sun brings forth the remarkable lives and stories of East African runners, whose stories are seldom shared. Through the author’s vivid prose, we experience the richness that exists in Kenya as we come as close as we possibly can to running alongside a current and future generation of elites—and the man who molds them into champions. 113

TRAIL THERAPY WORDS & IMAGE: ASTRID VOLZKE

TO THE LIMIT “This run left me stripped of any ego, in my most vulnerable state and proud to embrace it.” These were Steve Sharpes’ words (35, Perth WA) after he completed 24 laps – or 162km – at the 2023 Birdy’s Backyard Ultra. There were emotional scenes at the start of the 25th lap as he’d pushed his mind and body to the limit. Steve and three of his mates ran for Men’s Talk AU, a mental health organisation mainstreaming conversation around wellness and masculinity. Pictured: Steve Sharpe is comforted after finishing at the start line of the 25th lap, Lake Towerrinning, August 2023.

Camera Specs: Canon 5D MarkIV, (70-200mm).

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SPIN PLANET

LONG DISTANCE, LOW IMPACT.

SPIN PLANET introduces a new sustainability concept into the Trail Running footwear category. Perfect for long distance runs, with protective cushioning and instant comfort.

To locate your nearest stockist T: 1300 784 266 I www.outdooragencies.au

www.mountainrunning.com.au www.mountainrunning.com.au

DISCOVER THE JACKAL II DISCOVER BOA THE JACKAL II BOA