Trail Run #44

INCORPORATING TRAIL RUNNER NEW ZEALAND & AUSTRALIA

EDITION 44 // 2022 // AU/NZ

BLITZING THE

d r a y k c Ba HOW TO CONQUER ONE MORE LOOP

MEET AUSTRALIA’S MALE ULTRA RUNNER OF THE YEAR LIFE AFTER BABY: RETURNING TO THE TRAILS

RUN WITH THE HERD: THE BUFFALO STAMPEDE IT'S ALL IN THE FAMILY: A MOTHER-SON DUO

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9 771839 749200

(INC (INC GST)GST) RRP AU$15/NZ$15 RRP AU$15/NZ$15

THE FOREST GOAT: HARD RECOVERY

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SHOE REVIEWS // EVENT PREVIEWS GEAR // TRAIL CREW

Vistas are meant to be earned.

DETAILS DETAILS

ED44 // 2022 // AU/NZ / SPRING AUSTRALIAN MADE. AUSTRALIAN PRINTED. AUSTRALIAN OWNED.

COVER: 34-year-old endurance runner Michelle Hooper from Perth, Western Australia traverses the Larapinta Trail, coming into Ormiston Gorge Trailhead in the NT of Australia. She completed the trail (west to east) in 76 hours from 3-6 May 2021, totalling approximately 250km with the help of her crew Chris Ord, Kat Naude, Nicole Bunyon and Marco Noé.

IMAGE: noéko THIS SHOT: Josh Godden, 20 from Mount Eliza in Victoria descends Mount Buffalo during the 42km Sky Marathon at the 2022 Buffalo Stampede Trail Festival.

IMAGE: Jim Skouras VISIT US ONLINE www.trailrunmag.com www.facebook.com/trailrunmag www.twitter.com/trailrunmag www.instagram.com/trailrunmag EDITOR: Kate Dzienis DESIGN: Marine Raynard CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Vera Alves, Aaron Collins, Daniellá A. Colombo-Dougovito, Matt Crehan, Brad Dixon, Jackie Goudy, Kate Dzienis, Abdul-Raouf Mohamed-Isa, Isobel Ross, Emma Secomb, Dan Slater and Harmony Waite PHOTOGRAPHERS: Tim Bardsley-Smith, Sean Beale, Patrick Boere, Aaron Collins, Daniellá A. Colombo-Dougovito, Kate Dzienis, Mitchell Ford, Connor Hancock, James Harcombe, Simon James, Daniel Kolasa, Steven Koury, Jack Lemon, Simon Lutkin, Sean Marshall, Kurt Matthews, Brian Metzler, noéko, Photos4sale, Suzanne Poli, Greg Rosenke, Jim Skouras, Sportograf, Maureen Stachowicz, The Eventurers, Astrid Volzke, Mark Watson, Harald Wisthaler and Ji Yoon TRAIL RUN IS PUBLISHED QUARTERLY ADVERTISING Paul Robinson Toby Ryston-Pratt Email: paul@adventureentertainment.com Email: toby@adventureentertainment.com Phone: +61 (0) 408 162 246 Phone: +61 413 183 804 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 Phone: +61 (0) 413 432 800 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.

DETAILS

EDITION 44 // 2022 // AU/NZ

88. TRAIL PORN

94. SHOE REVIEWs

TRAIL MIX 10.

18.

24.

26.

28.

88.

98.

EDITOR’S COLUMN EVENT PREVIEWS: FROM DOWN UNDER AND NZ PEAK PERFORMANCE: SHORTEN YOUR WINDOWS DREAM RUN: THE GRAND CANYON TRAIL CREW: MUMS ON THE RUN TRAIL PORN: BREATHTAKING LOCATIONS WISE WORDS: VLAD IXEL

REVIEWS 12. NOW’S A GOOD TIME TO BUY: ALL THE GOOD GEAR 80. BOOK CLUB: WOMEN’S BREAKTHROUGH RUNNING 94. SHOE REVIEW: ALTRA MONT BLANC / LA SPORTIVA AKASHA 2

32. THEY CALL HIM THE BACKYARD KING

FEATURES 32. AN EXCLUSIVE WITH PHIL GORE, THE BACKYARD KING

38. FINDING PASSION THROUGH PURPOSE

44. MEET AUSTRALIA’S MALE ULTRA RUNNER OF THE YEAR

50. FROM PODIUM TO PARENTHOOD 56. A FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT OF THE BUFFALO STAMPEDE

62. NZ’S MOTHER-SON DUO 68. 655 FOR TAKAYNA 74. KUNANYI MOUNTAIN RACE

30.

SUBSCRIBE OR RENEW THIS QUARTER AND GET A FREE MOUNTAIN DESIGNS PRIZE PACK 8

ED’S WORD KATE DZIENIS, EDITOR IMAGE: GREG ROSENKE

Y

ou know that saying, 'It takes a village to raise a child...'? I've heard it a lot over the years, but these days I don't particularly believe it only relates to raising kids.

It’s true running is synonymous with the idea that one works solo to achieve their results; we don’t rely on a team like we do in softball, footy or rugby to encourage us at training sessions, nor do we have a responsibility to any teammates when we’re looking to score a goal, a run or a point.

In our sport, we can lace up our runners at any time of day and head out the door regardless of weather conditions; we can start our journey with a cheap pair of shoes and slowly progress our build-up to the obsession we all share when it comes to the best gear for our needs.

But there comes a time when our solo sport turns into team work, and I for one, love it and breathe it.

If you’ve ever gone for a run with a friend or two, perhaps even joined a social crew or enlisted the aid of a trainer or coach, you’ve definitely by now left behind the solo world and become a part of what we’ve all come to learn and love as ‘our tribe’.

And your tribe, whoever that may be, lives in a village – that village? The trail running village.

I started running back in 2012 before I had children, but it was recreational with a double dose hit of wanting to shed a few kilos. Runs for me at the time were an evening ritual about twice a week, where it would just be me and an old pair of cheap-o Nikes getting in and around the suburb while the sun fell over the horizon.

Twice a week turned into perhaps four or five times a week, and it was the feeling of strength, fitness and accomplishment that had me really enjoying looking forward to heading out the door after work.

It only lasted about 10 months though, because I soon fell pregnant very late in the year, and that was that.

A rough pregnancy didn’t allow me

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e g a l l i V

YOUR

to go running, so I held out until 22 March 2014 when I’d heard through the neighbourhood newspapers about this thing called parkrun and decided to make a go of it.

Needless to say, the people I’d met through my local became an incredible part of my life, and if it wasn’t for them,

I’d never have gotten to where I am today – they are my tribe, and they are from the village I find consolation in.

Every single person within my running tribe, which has grown from a couple people to a close two dozen, has made an impact on me whether they realise it or not.

ISSUE 44 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM

e b i Tr Your

There are two in particular who I see as my tribe ‘OGs’ and the story’s one I’ve only begun reminiscing about recently for one reason or another. I can’t remember which online group I was a part of, but I was there to ‘meet’ other women, other mothers who ran, and strike up conversations with them

to get information and learn about how to get back into running after having a baby – it was all the typical stuff, you know…how to increase mileage, nutrition, best headphones, that type of thing.

One woman named Tracey just happened to write a post saying she

was thrilled, raring and ready to do the Perth Half Marathon (August 2014), then asked who else was going to be there. How this came about, I’ve got no clue, but after putting my hand up to let her know I’d signed up for it, another woman, Christine, raised her hand, and we all somehow learnt that we ran at the same local parkrun.

Long story short, Tracey and Christine picked me up in the very early hours of the Perth Half – okay, no. Let me rephrase that…two strangers who I’d never met before but spoke perhaps three sentences to in total picked me up from my house to take me to my first ever half marathon.

To this day, eight years later, Tracey and Christine are there for me when it comes to all things running. They are my Tribe OGs as I like to call them, and they were – and still are – what symbolised the start of my life with running. From these two women, my village grew into what it is today, and I’ve met some of the most inspirational, some of the most extraordinary, prodigious and resolute individuals I’ve ever come to know.

Each and every one of those people has impacted me in some way. One of them inspired me to give trail running a go (and now look where I am!), whilst another influenced me to see how far I could take myself mentally and physically.

My list of gratitude goes on.

Your tribe is from a village of greatness.

Don’t ever overlook the possibilities of what each person within your tribe is capable of teaching you. Even if you think you know everything there is to know, there’s always one more lesson to be learned.

It takes your passion, your determination, and your grit to turn you into the runner you’ve always wanted to be.

But it takes your village to invoke inspiration and help stand you up when you fall.

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NOW’S A GOOD TIME TO BUY

ALL THE GREAT GEAR

PAIRE SOCKS REVIEWER: KATE DZIENIS

If you've ever run for more than a few minutes, you’ll know covering your feet in the best possible socks is pretty much just as important as finding the right pair of runners. You can get away with wearing a ‘normal’ pair of socks for a little while into your running career, but before you know it those gnarly foot issues you hear coming from other runners will start creeping up on your own feet, so it’s crucial to get serious about the right sock rather than dismiss the topic altogether.

The first reason to consider a good sock is pretty blatant – blisters. Followed by cushioning, compression and recovery; and Aussie brand Paire is nailing the brief for trail runners everywhere.

Created by Melbourne entrepreneurs Nathan Yun and Rex Zhang, Paire has been designed with longevity, quality and comfort at the forefront, and one of the most captivating features of the brand is that sustainability and social responsibility are key factors that keep the brand going – as much as trail runners love nature, Paire takes into consideration its input and output of the environment, using conscious suppliers and ensuring their products are as good for our skin as they are for the planet.

I received my two pairs of Paire Socks in a beautifully minimalistic recycled box with a simple yet touching inscription inside – A Little Comfort Goes A Long Way. Inside were the Ankle Sock in the Shadow colour and the Active Ankle Sock in Stormy Blue, and I was keen to head outside and take them out for a spin pretty much immediately – I mean, reviewers aren’t calling these the most comfortable socks in the world for nothing, am I right?

Might I first add that there is a significant difference between the regular Paire Ankle Sock and the Active Ankle Sock range – the Ankle Socks are made from 86% Supreme CoolBlend© (50% Australian merino wool, 50% GOTS-certified organic cotton), 12% recycled polyster and 2% spandex whilst the Active Ankle Socks feature 86% BreezeBlend© (50% Australian merino wool, 50% TENCEL™), 11% recycled polyster and 3% spandex.

So what does all of this mean?

Let’s talk about the basics – it’s industry standard to have polyester and spandex in all socks. It’s what makes all of them so stretchy and shapely, but Paire have made it very well known that they’re all about transparency and sustainability, and have chosen to use recycled polyester over regular polyester as it’s a big part of their brand.

Kudos for the recycled materials, Paire; that’s the way to move together with the future.

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Organic cotton is used specifically in Paire socks because it’s soft, absorbent and breathable, creating a so-called ‘magic’ when blended with fine Australian Merino wool fibres at a micro level.

Nathan explains further.

“Wool by itself is not absorbent enough because its nature is to resist water and retain the temperature of the animal’s body, so sweat can still soak up,” he says.

“This is where cotton comes in to help. The absorbance of moisture gets an enhancement when cotton is combined with wool. You’ll notice that Paire Ankle Socks are extremely moisturewicking – that’s the secret to it. You’d also be aware of all the other benefits provided by wool such as anti-bacterial features, the reason why Paire socks don’t smell as bad as other brands.

“We choose organic cotton rather than regular because the cotton trade is a dangerous one. I’ve previously worked on environmental projects about organic farming, I’ve personally visited developing countries like India and learnt that… (there are) financial difficulties and health side effects in the non-organic farming industry. This is a worldwide issue, where the use of non-organic cotton can cost lives.”

Because cotton and wool’s magical absorbency comes to a limit, Tencel comes into the equation as it’s one of the most breathable and sustainable materials available, whilst BreezeBlend keeps everything cool and doesn’t heat up.

But putting everything together wasn’t simple, as Nathan reveals.

“Blending these fibres at a micro level isn’t easy.

Animal fibres (wool) and plant fibres (cotton and Tencel) don’t go hand-in-hand; quite the contrary, they naturally resist one another,” he says.

“It took us almost a year for each blend to be developed, with numerous fails and errors. In the end, we use the best range of each material i.e. long staple fine fibres, in order to blend them together.

“We’re so proud of what we’ve ended up with.”

Now that we have a full understanding of the research and effort that’s gone into Paire products, I have to say that yes indeed, they are an extremely comfortable and soft sock that I essentially now live in.

First I put on my Ankle Socks and spent the day in them with my casual runners; this meant they came with me to experience a ‘day off’ from work to do school drop off and pick up, take the dog

for a walk, do groceries, a few household chores and some gardening. They stayed in place all day, I didn’t have to keep pulling up at the back of the ankle, and there were no skin irritations (not that I get any, however you never know how your body will react to new textiles so I thought this quite important to mention).

I then took the Active Ankle Socks out for a couple one hour runs over the course of a few weeks, and let’s just say they’re next level. As trail runners, we aim for the Goldilocks fairytale ending – they can’t be too thin, they can’t be too thick, they have to be just right. The breathability factor was immaculate, and I felt no seams pulling across the top of my toes. The pressure around the midfoot and heel was ideal, and there was plenty of room for my pinkie and her housemates. At the same time, there’s an extra bit of material directly behind the ankle, forming extra cushiony support to protect that part of your foot from niggling running shoes that rub against skin; and I loved that the word ‘LOOK’ was for the left foot, and ‘LEAP’ for the right.

Paire socks are not made the same. And you’d be wise to at the very least give them a go because they’re magic for your feet.

VITALS RRP Active Ankle Socks $21.90 AUD RRP Ankle Socks $19.90 AUD paire.com.au Paire products can be shipped internationally

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14 HOURS COLD

NOW’S A GOOD TIME TO BUY ALL THE GREAT GEAR

THE NORTH FACE FLIGHT RACE DAY VEST 8 REVIEWER: KATE DZIENIS

For those looking for a minimalist vest when it comes to single day events, you don’t need to search any further thanks to the North Face’s Flight Race Day Vest 8 which caters to the trail runner who wants, and needs, something in the featherweight category.

Built for speed, this Flight Series vest is made of a stretchy mesh cooling fabric (FlashDry™) that is breathable, and to top it off has a barrage of pockets almost everywhere – front, sides and back. Pockets, as we know, are a trail runner’s bestest friend forever, and there is one zippered pocket for a mobile phone, four open air pockets at the sides, two flask chest pockets, one hydration bladder or super storage pocket, and a two-way entry lower rear pocket at the back suitable for storing hiking poles.

Let’s work our way with storage first before getting onto fit and comfortability, shall we?

The zippered pocket, which sits behind the left flask pocket, unfortunately didn’t fit my android (Samsung S10 Plus). Nor was my phone a decent size to sit in any of the other pockets without poking out, so this left me with hand-holding my phone during training runs because I needed accessibility. The four remaining pockets underneath the flask pockets and to the side of the vest were of decent size to store keys, gel packets and/or hydration tablets, and even a smaller phone if I had one. They’re all in a good location too, so if you’re reliant on race day fuel, you don’t need to worry about fiddling around and manoeuvring your fingers in every direction to find an entry point.

The flasks are great quality, made by HydraPak, and come standard with the vest. Each flask connects itself to a hook inside the bottom of the pocket to make sure it doesn’t fall out – however this comes with both a pro and a con. The pro being there have been too many occasions where I’ve been out racing, looked down, and found I was missing a flask. Sometimes I’d run back to retrieve it in good time, other times I’d just given

up looking for it and resorted to finishing with one less flask, so for the North Face this is a great positive technique in ensuring flasks remain in place. The hooks are connected to unique pull cords so it’s easier to pull the flasks back into the pocket too; it’s a feature I was quite impressed with.

There are also looped toggles at the top to pin around the neck of each flask, so they are double secured; the flasks come in at 500ml each once filled.

In terms of any cons, the hook does actually make it difficult to get the flask out of the pocket when you want to re-load at an aid station. If you’re on borrowed time, I wouldn’t even bother trying because you’ll spend more time fidgeting with it then stocking up and getting back out there on the course.

Should you need more fluids, the large upper back stash pocket holds a standard sized bladder, but personally I don’t think the Flight Race Day Vest 8 is built for that as there are no loop holes or locking mechanisms around the neck or chest for a tube – and because it’s made for speed, as mentioned earlier, a bladder will only hold you back. The pocket is definitely more suited for extra items like a phone or a lightweight rain jacket, whilst the lower rear open ended pocket securely held my poles.

When it comes to fit, I’d suggest obtaining a smaller than usual sizing (if you’re a size L, opt for an M and so on) as I’d discovered that once my flasks were full and I began running, the vest became bouncy (even as a woman with ‘extra cushioning’ at the front, so to speak), and wasn’t as snug as I’d have hoped. Once the right fit is found though (keep in mind, this is a unisex product), each stride will feel more secure and I can see why it’s considered for speed.

The sternum straps at the front keep the vest in place, and they’re easy to slide down and adjust to your liking; I had mine dialled in as tight as possible. Keep in mind too that that’s the only

adjustment option – there are no cinches at the sides. In terms of the dreaded issue of chafing, I didn’t experience any around the neck or ribcage, which can be a problematic area for many vest wearers.

Another great detail added to the Flight Race Day Vest 8 is its 360° reflectivity, allowing you to increase your safety by standing out from all angles so you’ll never have to worry about visibility, day or night.

This isn’t an entry-level vest. It’s extremely capable of going through the paces of technical trail and endurance; the high quality material is second-to-none, and when everything aligns with fit and storage, the North Face Flight Race Day Vest 8 is extremely superior. It’s for the runner who knows what they need on race day, at the most bare minimum, and is made in the featherweight category to not affect performance. This is a vest meant to feel like it’s not there, like it’s a part of you, and comes in at a cruisy 124g.

Having the Flight Race Day Vest 8 on you will help make your kilometres as easy as possible.

VITALS RRP Flight Race Day Vest 8 $280.00 AUD / $300.00 NZD thenorthface.com.au / thenorthface.co.nz

In the May/June Trail Run Mag (Edition #43) it was incorrectly reported that the Earshots headphones (pg 14) provided a battery life of 4 hours. We would like to rectify our blunder and say that these incredible headphones, with badass bass, funky frequency and wireless wickedness, actually provide you an insane 10 HOURS of battery life. Head to earshots.com for your set!

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ISSUE 44 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM

BIX HYDRATION REVIEWER: KATE DZIENIS Most runners are glued and committed to their fuel supplement of choice because they’ve found a product that agrees with their bodies. Some people can handle gels, others can’t – and it goes for all other types of fuel as well, including powders and bars.

tablet, it dissolves into your bottle and voila – no fuss, no mess (the recommended measurement here is 300ml to one Bix tablet). In the days that followed, I had no qualms with the other two flavours, and in fact, I’d have to say Grapefruit is my favourite.

But there’s a new guy in town, and he comes in the form of an effervescent tablet for a tall glass of water (bottle) that will help in both fuelling your run and aiding in your recovery. Water alone, as I’m sure you know already, doesn’t contain the electrolytes our bodies need to sustain our energy levels and when we’re performing at optimum, proper hydration takes more than just water.

One might think, really? Grapefruit? But yes, it was surprisingly delicious (and nutritious)!

Our bodies need electrolytes to survive, meaning it’s all about sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and chloride. There are some sports drinks that contain these minerals, but they’re also filled with carbs and sugars; runners know what they want, when they want it – and it’s always about pure hydration without the extras. So most of the time, sports drinks are out the door when it comes to endurance.

Enter Bix Hydration, a solid recovery and hydration supplement built on the back of a professional athlete looking for the right vitamins and minerals to assist his performance.

Australian trail running champion Vlad Ixel, who has won more events than I can keep count of, spent over two years working with a leading German sports scientist to create Bix Hydration, an advanced high-quality fuel and recovery product featuring active ingredients scientifically balanced to replace lost electrolytes and assist with immune function. Originally, Vlad had been taking between 4 and 6 recovery products to meet his post-hydration needs, but decided enough was enough – and this was when he took matters into his own hands.

There are two products available on the Bix line with Active Electrolytes (Grape, Grapefruit and Natural Cherry) and the Recovery Supplement (Mixed Berry and Orange Mango), so naturally the first taste test was with the electrolytes, which I used mid-run.

I went with the Grape flavour at first go, and hands down the taste and the texture did not disappoint. It’s definitely an effervescent tablet (20 in a tube), those tiny bubbles going down a treat on a mid-warm day, and it was sweet without being too sweet at the same time. What I found ideal about Bix is that the packaging is the right size to throw into your hydration pack, unlike powders where you need to measure and find a storage solution before taking it with you. As a

When it comes to fuel and hydration, I’ve never been a runner who can consume gels.

My gut doesn’t agree with them; that feeling of nauseousness settles in almost immediately and when I was new to running many years ago, it seemed like I wasn’t left with any other options.

These days, what’s available to runners is two-fold, but the fact that Bix Active features a balance of ingredients (both active and inactive) that gave me everything I needed to feel rejuvenated and energised speaks wonders. I simply pulled out a tablet from the tube, plopped it into my bottle, gave it a good shake, and off I went – and one of the best parts was that it didn’t matter if my water was ice cold, room temperature or warm. The flavour and texture still worked in my favour.

It's ease of use is not only ideal for point-to-point runs in the way I used it, but also for loop and track courses where aid stations are set up – your crew doesn’t have to measure anything out, they simply fill up a bottle, pop in a tablet, and Bob’s your uncle. Again, no mess and no fuss.

Because of the combination of ingredients though, just be careful with the maximum daily dosage so you don’t overdose while racing in ultra events, and by all means dilute as much as you like with more water or as needed. A female athlete I know, who recently did a point-to-point, out-and-back 200 miler, used one Bix tablet in 400ml of water per aid station (20 aid stations over 4.25 days).

Since consuming Bix, she rarely takes salt tablets (except on hot days and during higher efforts) and feels like she has achieved a consistent, even hydration throughout her races.

Onto the Recovery Supplements, which are in a smaller tube (10 tablets) and work differently to the Bix Active. Similar in taste, but with less effervescent bubble, they feature more ingredients (I counted 12, but others have collectively reported 11) including magnesium, vitamin C, BCAAs, zinc, iron and potassium. Not only is this is a brilliant post-run supplement to make sure your body is filled with all the essential vitamins and minerals you’ve recently lost, it’s perfect for post-workouts at the gym, if you’ve been crook with an illness like gastro, busy working days and travel.

My experience taking the Recovery saw me

with less muscle cramps and stiffness, and an improvement in energy levels. The fact there’s 150mg of magnesium meant I didn’t have to consider taking any stand-alone magnesium tablets straight after, and the 100mg of BCAAs allowed for my muscles to repair without interference.

It’s also important to note here that Bix is vegan, gluten-free, it’s non-GMO and it’s sugar free. Vlad has gone to great lengths to ensure Bix is filled with clean natural ingredients in a bid to avoid any chemical taste, and to top it off, he’s added a secret ‘power’ ingredient – red beet juice powder. Now obviously, I don’t have the space here to talk about it, but if you haven’t read about the benefits of beetroot, in particular for athletes, then take some time out of your day to do that because it really is a superpowered resource.

So run and sweat it out as much as you like.

Bix now has a permanent place in my race pack because it’s simple to use, highly effective and quite frankly…uber delicious.

VITALS AUSTRALIA RRP Bix Active Electrolytes $15.00 AUD RRP Bix Recovery Supplement $9.50 AUD RRP Bix Recovery Supplement (Box of 8) $76.00 AUD bixvitamins.com Bix products can be shipped internationally

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NOW’S A GOOD TIME TO BUY ALL THE GREAT GEAR

THERAGUN PRO REVIEWER: KATE DZIENIS

Lordy, lordy, lordy. Never have I had the gratification of utilising a massage gun for recovery, but wow. Wow are the words coming out of my mouth when I turn on the latest Theragun Pro percussive therapy massager – a massage gun you will 100% want to include on your wish list when Santa asks you what you want for Christmas this year.

I don’t care if you’ve been naughty or nice.

You need this.

The investment is absolutely worth it if you want to make sure your muscles are recovered properly after any training session or race.

For a bit of background, the original Theragun was initially born out of necessity. Founder Dr Jason S. Wersland suffered intense pain and eventual atrophy from a motorcycle accident back in 2017, and he couldn’t find any product on the market that could help manage his pain. As a chiropractor, he began tampering with the idea of a hand-held device that could hit the right spot at the right pressure; and after 8 years and 5 prototypes, he finally did it – and called it Theragun.

If you’ve never heard of percussive therapy, it’s a form of massage technique that was developed in the early 1970s and applies rapid, repetitive pressure on specific pain points. The magic behind the therapy is that it increases various restorative processes to improve your recovery, and is a stimulus that causes the tissues to experience both pressure and vibration at the same time.

It’s genius.

I mean, fair call, the idea of rubbing and squeezing sore muscles is something us humans have been doing for millennia; basically, it’s an instinctive response. When you knock your knee or head, what’s the first thing you do? Use your hand to rub the sore area or apply pressure, am I right? The concept of the Theragun is no different, but it’s application is distinctive and unlike any other massage treatment out there.

The Theragun Pro is the latest, and most premium, version of Therabody’s Theragun range and features a rotating arm with ergonomic multi-grip, QX150 motor with QuietForce Technology™, a 300-minute total battery life, OLED screen with Force

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Metre and customisable speed range.

And let’s not forget the smart app integration, where you can pair your Theragun Pro and use it conjunction with Apple Health, Google Fit or Samsung Health where you can learn to use the device correctly, and be guided through routines for not only recovery but also warm ups for running, walking, climbing, stair activities and even gaming!

When you select a routine, the app will guide you through each step with directions, a countdown clock and a metre to indicate if you’re placing the right amount of pressure onto the gun. Seriously, this device and its partnered app are game changers in the recovery device industry.

The Theragun Pro keeps you away from awkwardly positioning yourself on other resources like foam rollers (I have a complete love-hate relationship with those).

The unique triangular shape design allows you to grip it in a multitude of ways, making it easier to reach any muscle group while saving your arms from overload, and the moveable arm joint can be positioned by pressing a button on the gun’s base – super handy when targeting shoulder blades or the lower back.

Onto the nitty gritty details of all the attachments – for those of us who travel to race, the Theragun Pro comes with two interchangeable lithium ion batteries and a charging block; and the device itself comes boxed inside a hard-shell case – easy to transport and very well protected. There are six attachments to give your muscles the reprieve they need, each with names and each with a specific purpose (the Supersoft for delicate areas, the Large Ball and the Standard Ball for general use, the Wedge for flushing motions, the Thumb for smaller areas, and the pointy Cone to pinpoint particular areas – think knots).

Performance-wise, the first time I turned it on, I was taken aback by its power and was slightly hesitant to give it a go without gaining a full understanding of where to hold it and what muscles to target – there are some areas that are not recommended, including the head, neck and groin areas.

It’s scientifically calibrated to reach 60% deeper into muscle at 40 times per second than the average massager, so it’s not a joke to place it in those non-recommended

areas. The power on its motor is elite, and the standard of treatment provides a greater therapeutic benefit to your body.

Once I got used to the feeling of holding it, the gun was incredibly easy to use.

You don’t have to use it for more than five minutes on your targeted space, and when using the app you’ll have all the guidance in the world.

The Theragun Pro is widely used by professional athletes across the globe including Cristiano Ronaldo, Maria Sharapova, and James Harden as well as the AFL, NRL, Red Bull Racing team and goodness…the list goes on. You’ll even notice English long distance runner and Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah as one of their ambassadors – check out the Ambassadors page on their website. There are some impressive promo videos.

Honestly, I can’t recommend the Theragun Pro enough. With consistent use, it’s proven to assist my aches and pains that come with running, daily life and the ageing process, allowing me to recover without seeking aid from pain relief medicines. If you’re not ready for the Pro (which is considered professional-grade), there are other Theragun’s available – the Elite (premium), the Prime (simplified) and the Mini (ultraportable), but I’m telling you now, you won’t regret getting your hands on the Pro. My verdict? It’s the best thing since sliced bread when it comes to easing sore muscles, reducing tension and promoting muscle recovery. It’s functionality is impressive, and its 16mm amplitude (the highest level of penetration into your tissues) is innovative and super swish.

One of the most invaluable tools a trail runner can have in their arsenal.

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EVENT PREVIEW WORDS: VERA ALVES IMAGES: PHOTOS4SALE

TAUPo ULTRAMARATHON TAUPo, NORTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND Whether you’re a seasoned ultra runner or dipping your toe in the world of long-distancing running, the Taupō Ultra is the race for you.

Set right in the heart of New Zealand’s largest lake, surrounded by incredible volcano vistas and snowcapped mountains as far as the eye can see, the trails that comprise the Taupō Ultramarathon are truly world-class.

Arguably one of the most runnable ultra events in New Zealand, this race will take you on a journey over the Great Lake Trail.

All finishers across all distances (100km, 74km, 50km and 24km) receive a locally-made glass medal created

by LavaGlass, a special memento for a special day.

The 100km event is designed for those who want to do the ‘Full Monty’ and experience all that the Great Lakes Trails have to offer. It starts at Waihaha carpark on the western shores of the lake, and runners then travel through private farmland (access is only available for this event), do a gnarly section of gravel and tar seal bashing before heading onto the airstrip and down on to the wonderful Great Lakes K2K and W2K trails to the finish line at Whakaipo.

If you choose the 74km race, you get to ride the boat out west and run to your heart’s content from Waihora Bay. The 50km event is designed for those who want to enter the world of ultras and experience a whole lot of single trail bliss. It starts on Whangamata Road at an airstrip which is on private land.

If you quite like running but you’re not sure about this ultra lark just yet, you can enter the 24km. It starts outside the Kinloch Hall on the Kinloch Domain and takes runners through the streets of Kinloch before sending them off into the wonderful Great Lakes W2K trails to the finish line at Whakaipo.

The longest distance at the Taupō Ultra is a qualifying event for UTMB (worth 4 UTMB points) and sanctioned by the International Trail Running Association. For the first time ever, this year’s 100km event will also be a Western States Endurance Run (WSER) qualifier.

We suggest you make a real weekend of it (perhaps even a proper holiday) and go explore the unique beauty of this area of Aotearoa, with its ski fields, alpine deserts, towering volcanoes, ancient forests, trout-filled rivers and geothermal valleys.

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EVENT Taupō Ultramarathon WHEN 15 October, 2022 DISTANCE 100km, 74km, 50km, 24km WHERE Taupō, North Island, New Zealand MORE taupoultra.co.nz

CALDERA 6

You want a shoe that can handle kilometres of trails?

Then take on the Brooks Caldera 6. It’s got our new nitrogen-infused DNA LOFT v3 midsole for maximum softness on any terrain. Try on a pair and discover how it feels to go further.

Find out more about Caldera 6 at brooksrunning.com.au

EVENT PREVIEW WORDS: VERA ALVES IMAGES: SEAN BEALE

RACE TEKAPO TEKAPO, CANTERBURY, NEW ZEALAND

No one is saying you need an excuse to plan a trip to stunning Tekapo but, if you did, here it is.

Race Tekapo will lead you on a tour of some of the absolute best landscapes of the Mackenzie country. Located right in the heart of Tekapo, the event allows you to indulge in the incredible views of the beautiful turquoise lake and the snow-capped mountains.

With race distances ranging from a kids 3km all the way to a 50km ultramarathon, Race

EVENT Race Tekapo WHEN 17 September, 2022 DISTANCE 50km, 32km, 21km, 10km, 5km, 3km (Kids’ Dash) WHERE Tekapo, Canterbury, New Zealand MORE racetekapo.com

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Tekapo truly has something for everyone.

Take in the scenery, including the worldfamous Church of the Good Shepherd and the incredible views from Mt John. Once you finish running, relax and soak in the local hot pools while you admire the blissful serenity of the international dark sky zone.

spectacular views. The 21km course is similar without the added Lagoon Loop.

The 32km and 50km runs start and finish on the edge of Lake Tekapo, and incorporate Mt John and the Regional Park, with an added section along the Lagoon Loop. The course is a mixture of flat trails, hill work and

Runners are truly spoilt with breath-taking views of the surrounding Mackenzie district.

The races all start and finish at the lakefront, right on the town’s doorstep, making Race Tekapo a truly special destination event.

The 10km race takes you up Mt John and around the side of Lake Tekapo while the 5km is a looped course around the side of the lake and through the stunning Regional Park.

ISSUE 44 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM WORDS: HARMONY WAITE IMAGES: PATRICK BOERÉ

PEMBY TRAIL FEST PEMBERTON, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA If you’re in WA and looking for a multi-day event where you can spend some chilly nights under the stars in a tent that may or may not be mosquito proof, and bring the whole family along so the little tykes can be at your every beck and call despite you wanting some free time to run…then come along to the Pemby Trail Fest!

No, okay…listen, in all fairness the Pemby Trail Fest is set around some spectacularly beautiful trails through the majestic forests that surround the South West town of Pemberton. Organised by the Perth Trail Series, it’s held during the school holidays in October and makes for a fantastic family friendly destination race.

according to colour rather than indicating if it’s a ‘long’ or ‘short’ course, so on Saturday there’s the green course 5km, blue course 10-15km, a black course half marathon and an ultramarathon 50km for those who really want to spend a day soaking up the magnificent Karri Forrest and unique spring orchids, wildflowers and fungi (ewww…..!

But it’s cute fungi, I swear!) on a network of undulating singletrack and fire trails, dotted by aid stations with crazy PTS ‘Woo Hoo!’ crew’s infectious support. If you’ve never experienced a ‘Woo Hoo!’ from PTS volunteers, you seriously haven’t lived.

Friday night generally kicks off with a 6-7km night run; watching the line of headtorches snake through the forest is quite a vision and is a great introduction to night running for those who have never tried it before – it’s just so friendly and festive!

Sunday switches venues to super-fun mountain bike trails and picturesque Big Brook Dam. These northern forests are just as spectacular as Saturday’s southern ones. Green, Blue and Black course options giving many alternatives for families to participate and immerse themselves in this beautiful scenery together. Afterwards, immerse yourself – literally – by taking a quick plunge into the freezing natural waters of Pemberton Pool to soothe sore muscles while the festival-like finish line parties on behind you.

The Perth Trail Series labels their courses

Or party on. Your choice.

Pemberton offers a wide variety of accommodation options to cater for all budgets – so yes, you don’t have to camp if you don’t want to! But get in early because it’s justifiably busy that time of year.

EVENT Pemby Trail Fest WHEN 14-16 October, 2022 DISTANCE 5km, 6.5km, 10km, 21km, 22km, 50km WHERE Pemberton, Western Australia, Australia MORE perthtrailseries.com.au/event/ pemby-trail-fest/

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EVENT PREVIEW WORDS: KATE DZIENIS & RUTH BOWERMAN IMAGES: TIM BARDSLEY-SMITH

ULTRA-TRAIL KOSCIUSZKO SNOWY MOUNTAINS, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA

Dreaming of hitting the Snowy Mountains and taking on an alpine playground you’ll be talking about for weeks on end?

Well, brand spanking new from the creative people at UTMB is Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko, a race that will see you test your body, challenge your mental prowess, and have you gunning it uphill just for the views.

Designed for trail runners, by trail runners, there’s something in the long distance genre for everybody with a 27km, 50km, 100km and a 100 miler thrown in for good measure.

Keen to take on the ultimate test and see what you’re made of? Let’s start with the KosciMiler, where those crazy enough will take a leap from the start line in Thredbo and find themselves ascend a mountainside before making the journey across an alpine

EVENT Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko WHEN 15-17 December, 2022 DISTANCE 27km, 50km, 100km & 100 miler WHERE Snowy Mountains, New South Wales, Australia MORE ultratrailkosciuszko.com.au

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plateau towards the highest peak in Australia – Mt Kosciuszko. There’s no way you can reach this point and not take a selfie, so make sure it’s not blurry and that it’s in focus because that’ll be your chance to share with the world you hit the country’s tallest point.

After obligatory photos, runners will make their way down the trails of Perisher Valley, stopping off at iconic alpine spots like Charlotte Pass, Perisher and Blue Cow along the way to meet with support crews – and it will be here where the change in scenery begins as the alpine meadows turn into snow gum forests, and trails twist and turn between trees as they make their way down towards Lake Jindabyne.

There’s a boat crossing – yes, even a boat crossing! – to take you to the lakeside trails of Jindabyne before sprinting your way to

the finish line at Bullocks Flat. With just over 4500m of climbing, it’s not a mountainous miler by any means, and perfect for anyone looking to give the distance a go for the first time.

For seasoned trail runners and endurance athletes, the Kosci100 is one to add to your bucket list and follows the same route as the KosciMiler for the first 50km. There’s 3500m of climbing in this one, and it’s considered much more on the runnable side thanks to wide trails and smooth rolling hills.

If you’re wanting a double digit distance, the Kosci50 (1900m) and the Kosci27 (870m) are both up for grabs – but regardless what you choose as your flavour, your racing experience in the Blue Mountains will be second to none.

SPORT

superfuel high carbohydrate drink mix

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CALORIES

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SODIUM

400

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PEAK PERFORMANCE WORDS: BRAD DIXON IMAGES: JACK LEMON

SHORTEN YOUR EATING AND SCREENTIME WINDOW.

“Own your morning and own your life.

Don’t start the day by looking at the highlight reels of someone else’s.”

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ISSUE 44 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM

MAXIMISE PERFORMANCE AND

Wellbeing

Having a condensed, purposeful window for eating and screen time is beneficial for running performance and wellness on many powerful levels. As a society we generally graze on poor quality food over a 14-15 hour eating window daily (on average), we’re on devices for most of our waking day and we use our phones to

get us up and use them throughout the day.

These enlarged eating and screen time windows within the day is doing damage to our physical, mental and spiritual well-being – our holistic health is paramount to our ability to run well.

Researchers from the Salk Institute and the University of California San Diego School of Medicine completed a study (published in 2019) with two groups of participants who had metabolic syndrome (a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes).

Both groups consumed the same type of food and exactly the same amount of calories. One group had an ‘eating window’ of the usual 14-15hrs while the other kept to a window of 10-12hrs. The group with the smaller eating window lost weight and reported improved sleep compared to the larger eating window group.

Fasting periods as part of a wellbeing routine are becoming more popular. The most popular is the 16:8 intermittent fasting, which is completed daily by some however many of my athletes with children find this regime restrictive and difficult to work around busy lives.

Italian-American Professor Valter Longo, who is one of the world’s experts in the role of fasting and nutrient response genes, has shown within his research that restricting kcal (one of his protocols is two low calorie days a week) will give good health benefits and is much less rigid than the 16:8 daily fasting. *Before people try any type of fasting please ensure you do so within your capacity, and get clearance as well as supervision from a medical professional who understands the key concepts.

Sleep is a complex harmony of multiple interconnected molecules and pathways that depend on circadian rhythms and is influenced strongly by our behaviours, thoughts and bedroom set up. One night time molecule that is critical is Pyridoxal 5- phosphate (P5P).

This is the bio-active form of vitamin B6.

P5P is required in the brain pathways that produce three more important bed time molecules GABA, melatonin and serotonin.

Getting sunlight on the eyes shortly after waking triggers a neural circuit that controls the timing of the hormones cortisol and melatonin that positively affect sleep. Checking your phone as soon as you wake forces the brain to skip the important theta and alpha stages and primes your brain for distraction. When we spend time looking at screens, we are exposing our eyes to photochemical

stress, a type of light stress that occurs due to the chemical reactions and oxidative stress from the retina absorbing blue light for prolonged periods of time.

A recent study showed that reading on an iPad before bed, compared to reading a printed book, suppressed melatonin (a sleep quality and mitochondrial efficiency hormone) release by over 20% and resulted in a 90 minute lag in evening rising melatonin for several days after. As a runner, your ability to produce power at a cellular level is vital. Your mitochondria are literally your powerhouses within your cells.

What we eat, when we eat and what we choose to watch can affect our health. The science is becoming clearer. Eat a whole food, plant centred diet and if possible, keep your eating window to 10-12 hours rather than the usual 14-15 hours. Minimise screen time, especially upon waking and in the hour before bed. Own your morning and own your life. Don’t start the day by looking at the highlight reels of someone else’s.

Takeaway Tips •

Upon waking, get into your own personal enhancing habits; don’t get sucked into what others are doing by scrolling social media. Keep your phone on aircraft mode until you’ve worked on your own game e.g. head outside for movement unplugged, journal and/or meditate.

•

If possible, get outside and move in nature during the early sunrise light. To enhance the moment, get into the ocean, a lake, have a cold shower or jump into a river after your run.

•

Look to stop snacking after dinner. If you want a sweet treat, then have it immediately after dinner and then clean your teeth. If you have a short low intensity exercise session in the morning, complete it fasted (if possible) and eat afterwards.

•

Be ruthless with things that don’t matter. Be purposeful with rest and don’t waste down time with meaningless scroll time.

•

Our children need positive role modelling around eating and screen time; they learn better from demonstration than empty unauthentic lecturing.

•

Going for a run in the bush or a swim in the ocean, lake or river

•

Opening your mind to change your old habits

Brad Dixon is a holistic physiotherapist, endurance coach, and wellness evangelist based at EVERFIT Physio & Coaching. His passion is helping people strive for their potential with promotion of enhancing daily habits. The power is in your hands! Connect with Brad at www.everfit. co.nz, Strava, You Tube (EverFITcoach) and Instagram (everfitcoach).

His book ‘Holistic Human’ is available through his site or Amazon.

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DREAM RUN WORDS & IMAGES: DANIELLA A. COLOMBO-DOUGOVITO / NORNSLIFE ART

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, US

G

rand Canyon National Park in the US state of Arizona is pure, unadulterated freedom, and pure magic for trail run lovers.

Although most people think of only desolate desert when they hear of Arizona, the landscape is actually dotted with areas of high and low elevation deserts (with some elevations reaching over 8000 ft) as well as volcanic mountain ranges, and you can camp amongst carnivorous forests, waking up surrounded by elk or wild horses.

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Running is emotional and cathartic here, especially the Rim to Rim to Rim (R2R2R) in the Grand Canyon. A total of about 70km, this is an ultra runner’s dream. The wildlife you can see on trail is phenomenal, and it includes Desert Bighorn sheep, Kaibab squirrels, Ringtail, the Grand Canyon rattlesnake, and scorpions.

Most runners prefer to start the R2R2R from the South Rim on either the South Kaibab Trail (SKT) or the Bright Angel Trail (BAT), then head down into the Grand

Canyon, cross over the Colorado River on a suspension bridge, run back up and down North Kaibab Trail (NKT) on the North Rim, and finish their journey back up and out of the canyon on the shaded Bright Angel Trail.

For runners who love the heat, mid-May is the time of year to hit the trails here, however for those who enjoy cooler weather, then October to November is ideal.

For more information visit nps.gov/grca/ index.htm

ISSUE 44 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM

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TRAIL CREW

MUMS ON THE RUN

ANSWERED BY: EMMA SECOMB IMAGES: SIMON LUTKIN

Q&A

MUMS ON THE RUN

How did your group begin?

What local event do you rally around?

Like everyone else in 2020, the isolation and confinement of lockdown made us ladies re-evaluate what mattered. Upon ‘release’, a group of mums from Montville School began walking the Mapleton and Kondalilla trails regularly, then one of them, Kim, decided she wanted to run instead of simply walk!

We like to support local events with a cause, so this year as a group we ran the Mater Breast Cancer Fun Run at Mooloolaba.

Where does your group run mostly?

Mapleton Falls National Park.

What is your favourite local trail?

Mapleton Falls 8km loop, or if there are dogs/babies with us, then Leafy Lane Loop in Mapleton. We do the occasional longer run in Mapleton Falls National Park, including out to Thilba Thalba, Kureelpa Falls, Kondalilla Falls to Baroon and Oakey Creek Lookout. We’re blessed with so many beautiful trails right here on our doorstep.

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It was a nice chance to hit the beach and keep our shoes mud and leech free.

We aspire to run the Blackall 100, and last year our legendary member Justine completed the Blackall 50km with a few more of us entered in various forms this year.

It’s a slow build up, but look out for MOTR in a few years’ time!

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

Pick us, it’s a lot safer than netball.

If your trail group was an animal, what would it be and why?

Definitely a crackle of black cockatoos!

Flying high in small groups with their young,

with a fluid and lazy flight pattern, their calls to one another are often heard in the bush long before they are seen…(cheers Wikipedia!).

If you were heading out for a solo ultra run and some bastard stole your pack so you can only take two things, what would you have in each hand?

Salt for the leeches and Tequila for the salt.

The world is ending. Nominate a trail anywhere on the planet that your group must run. It’s the last trail you’ll ever see. Where is it?

Mmmm…that’s pretty dark. Most of us confessed we do more drinking than running on holiday, so this was a tricky one.

Our member Tanya reckons the Rocky Mountains might have some good trail running options.

ISSUE 44 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM

TRAIL CREW NAME: Mums On The Run BIRTHDAY: June 2020 (at the end of the first lockdown in Qld) 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?

A few of us have lost our mums so we’d love the chance to reconnect and have them meet the MOTR crew.

Comedian Celeste Barber, she’d fit right in and we need to see her model Skye’s midriff jumper. Emma and Justine are going to have to battle it out for Euripides vs Lara Croft (maybe Euripides and Lara Croft could battle it out…)

How have you seen participation in your group change people and lives?

REGION: Montville/Mapleton, Blackall Ranges, Queensland

This group has transformed all of us. Fitness is the least of it, though some astounding changes have been achieved. We’ve walked and run alongside each other through broken bones, broken hearts, career changes, sobriety, mental health problems, kids with every challenge you can name, as well as new babies, new loves, wild nights out, weekends away, great food, music, books, and so much to laugh at.

MEMBERS: 22 (24 if you count babies, 29 if you count dogs) AVERAGE RUNNERS AT EACH HOOK UP: 8 SHOES OWNED IN TOTAL: Can leeches own shoes?

UNOFFICIAL CLUBHOUSE: Mapleton Bakery

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FEATURE WORDS: KATE DZIENIS IMAGES: NOÉKO, ASTRID VOLZKE

THEY CALL HIM THE BACKYARD

King

HE WENT FROM 5KM A DAY TO SMASHING YARD RECORDS IN AUSTRALIAN BACKYARD ULTRAS, AND NOW HE’S KNOWN AS THE BACKYARD KING. SINCE HIS FIRST 12KM RACE IN 2014, WEST AUSTRALIAN PHIL GORE HAS GONE FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO HAVING HIS PRESENCE KNOWN WHEN WALKING UP TO THE START LINE OF A RACE – THERE’S WHISPERS FROM BEGINNER RUNNERS, AND A SHAKE OF THE HAND FROM THOSE HE KNOWS. BUT THERE’S MORE TO HIM THAN MEETS THE EYE – HE’S METICULOUS, LIKES PREDICTABILITY, AND WORKS SOLIDLY TO BREAK HIS OWN PBS AT THE NOW NOTORIOUS LAST ONE STANDING FORMAT. HE’S FOUND HIS CALLING WITH BACKYARD ULTRAS, AND AS KATE DZIENIS DISCOVERS, THERE’S BEEN A LOT OF ‘BEHIND THE SCENES’ WORK THAT’S GONE INTO HIS IMPRESSIVE REPUTATION

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ISSUE 44 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM

2021 Birdy’s Backyard Ultra.

Astrid Volzke

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FEATURE THEY CALL HIM THE BACKYARD KING

T

here are few names these days that are raised constantly in conversation about races, especially names of runners you may not know on a personal level but have heard a lot about – whether they’ve broken records, claimed new course PBs, or put in a massive performance that simply warrants celebrity-style status.

Phil takes on a lap solo at the 2022 Herdy’s Frontyard Ultra.

Noeko

West Aussie Phil Gore, 36, has become synonymous with the Aussie backyard ultra format, but it’s taken him years to get to the standard he’s set himself. In 2020, he ran his first Last One Standing event, Birdy’s Backyard at Lake Towerinning (WA), where he found himself coming face-to-face with 2019 winner Michael Hooker. Finishing up after 39 laps (261.69km), Phil took home the title of Assist to Michael who once again claimed the win at 40 laps.

In March 2021, Herdy’s Frontyard Ultra in Herdsman Lake (WA) lay claim to Phil’s second-ever backyard event, and this was the race where he set the benchmark for not only his performance, but for the future of LOS formats across the Tasman. Finding himself up against well-known runner Kevin ‘Big Kev’ Matthews, it was a battle like no other with just the two of them racing, alone, from lap 34 onwards. Social media was going off the charts, live videos were streaming everywhere, the crowds were building, and even the local television station popped in with cameras to capture what was being called ‘history in the making’.

There didn’t seem to be an end in sight for this battle of physicality, stamina, mental toughness and tenacity.

In the end though, Kevin bowed out at 47 laps whilst Phil finished his 48th to take home the title of LOS, but (and together with Kevin) they set new Australian records, beating the previous 46 lap record set by NSW runner Chris Murphy in October 2020 at Big Dog’s Backyard World Championships.

It doesn’t stop there though. Phil went on to race at Birdy’s again five months later in 2021, going head-to-head for the second time with Michael Hooker, and breaking his own record with 51 laps (342.210km) – and I’ll keep going here…Phil won the Hysterical Carnage Backyard Ultra (SA) in November 2021 in 38 laps and then Herdy’s yet again in March 2022 with 50 laps.

So how in the world does someone go from 5km daily runs to smashing Australian records and breaking his own barriers?

“In 2015 I signed up for the City 2 Surf 12km after being, what I guess is, a random runner due to extra time – well, shift work – from joining the firies,” Phil explains.

“From there, I felt like I wanted more, so I got on the computer and tried to find something I could race in, but all that kept popping up was this parkrun thing. Everywhere, all I saw was 5km at parkrun, so I showed up one day. That was September 2014 and I found myself doing that distance every week at the 19 or 20 minute mark.

“That’s when the ‘5k A Day’ idea popped into my head; I wanted to improve my time and be one of those people at the front of the pack, so in 2015 I started an Instagram account and opened myself up to Strava for a bit of accountability. Running was always sporadic for me and I figured if I signed up to run every day, there wouldn’t be any excuses.”

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Phil never considered he would reach a lot of people with his 5k A Day objective, but he did, and the running community around Perth got to know him better. He then started to find that the daily 5km wasn’t enough for him though, and so he began upping his distances until eventually Phil ran a half marathon in 2015 and then a 3:02:45 marathon at the Perth Marathon.

He got that marathon distance down to a sub-3 hour (2:55:37), but as most long distance runners know, the urge to go further down the rabbit hole became incredibly potent and before he knew it, Phil was chasing the ultra. He signed up for the point-to-point Six Inch Ultra 46km for December 2015.

“I discovered that trail running is more about being outside and enjoying the run, about not having the stress of how fast you go because it’s so technical,” he reveals.

“If I’m going for a fast 10km session then obviously I’ll hit the roads and paths, but out on the trails none of that matters, and I needed that sometimes to ground me, to work on the technicality of the sport with terrain and elevation, getting a whole body workout, rather than just focusing on the speed.

“In my head, I never really considered Six Inch as my first ultra because it’s a few kilometres more than the marathons I’d been doing from 2015 to 2019. I would say my first endurance event was the Lighthorse 12hr in April 2019, so I went from marathons and Six Inch straight to 124.680km.”

That’s right – nothing in between.

Lighthorse in WA is a loop trail race, which sees participants race on a 2.5km lap – a comparable format to backyard ultras but with a number of differences. One of the similarities, though, is the ability to set up one’s own aid station at ‘the village’ near the start and finish lines. Phil had received a free entry to the event because he was in the Reserves, and figured if he signed up to the 12hr, he had nothing to lose and everything to gain.

ISSUE 44 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM

Kevin ‘BK’ Matthews and Phil ready to take on another lap during the 2021 Herdy’s Frontyard Ultra.

Noeko

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FEATURE THEY CALL HIM THE BACKYARD KING

pull out when you start thinking you’re exhausted and want to go home. But I can’t do that…I think to myself, ‘well hang on, you’re the record holder, you have to finish this.’ I’m moving to the mind focus stuff because focusing on the journey is going to help me with my results overall.”

Although Phil has blitzed the backyard ultra game since first stepping up to the plate in 2019, he feels there is still work to be done to improve on a mental level, but the physical prowess he possesses is second-to-none and he even mentions to me that at most backyards he’s raced in, he has plenty left in the tank.

“I don’t really feel it until I cross the finish line for the last time,” he says.

Phil’s still smiling at the 2022 Herdy’s Frontyard Ultra.

Noeko

“Because I got in at no cost and could sign up to any of the timed events on offer, it didn’t matter to me if I’d pull out at the 3hr mark whilst registered for the 12hr because I’d have still gotten a 3hr run in for the day,” he says.

“Going into it, I really did think the loops would get to me, that they’d play on my mind and become incredibly monotonous, but it actually turned out to be a strength of mine and worked in my favour. The point-to-point events are great because of all the scenery and your mind is always busy with the terrain and sorting through navigation, but for me just being able to zone out during a lap event and have the consistency of knowing where everything is going to be – whether it be the sand section or the slight inclines, whether it be seeing my crew members or running along with a friendly face – I found it suited me. I guess I like the predictability of it all and I can concentrate on my pace without having to worry about the technicality of different terrains coming up.”

And there was his calling, there was the discovery that Phil’s strength lied in endurance lap events. He had placed 2nd Male in the 12hr.

“There’s a consistency, knowing each kilometre has to be done at a particular speed to get to where I need to be,” he explains.

“I’ll be the first to say that I’m very results driven, goal orientated, so if I have to stop or slow down to work out where I’m going, then that’s affecting my overall result – and I want my result to be the best that it can possibly be for me.

“I mean, yes, I get to the point of questioning my own ability halfway through a backyard, but not when it’s down to the wire and it’s just me and another runner. What happens is I tend to look at the bigger picture a lot rather than simply focusing on the lap I’m about to hit, and that in itself can get very overwhelming.

“Having said that, where I am at the moment, today and in this point in time, I’m trying harder to be about the experience than that end goal because I may not get to my goal at every race I do, so I’m going to start working on mind focus; working on my mental strength with the right mindset and strategies.

“Currently I do feel a little bit of pressure…well, no I wouldn’t call it pressure, but I do feel an expectation which I actually think helps me. In something like a backyard ultra, it can be so easy to 36

“And in terms of what’s in store for the rest of the year, it’s a bit tricky to determine exactly what events I want to do because it takes a long time for me to recover and some of these races are not spaced out with enough time.

“I’ve signed up for Birdy’s again (5 August 2022) but I’m yet to decide if I’m going to use it as a training race or go all out, and there’s a few others I’m keen to do in South Australia and Victoria but they’ll be dependent on how I pull up from Birdy’s.

“The other factor I look at when signing up for an A Race is seeing who else is registered because I want to be pushed further and further by other runners and get challenged to discover what my limits are.”

His advice to others?

“Planning ahead is the key. Plan ahead for a lot longer than what you think you’re capable of. My plan for the most recent Herdy’s actually went up to 120 hours – not because I thought I could get there, but because I thought it was that ludicrous and far-fetched that I couldn’t get there – you don’t ever want to sell yourself short,” he says.

“Plan for at least double of what you reckon you might be capable of – and when you think you’re done, do just one more.”

Phil’s wife Gemma ensures Phil gets the nutrition he needs, and a pep talk, to continue with the 2022 Herdy’s Frontyard Ultra.

Noeko

To connect, to evolve, or just to run.

The act of running is practical, aesthetic and spiritual all at once. Few other ways of moving offer such diversity of use and utility. It’s this notion that informs the things we fight for, the people we spend time with, and the products we make.

You don’t need much to accomplish quite a lot.

PROFILE WORDS: ISOBEL ROSS IMAGES: CONNOR HANCOCK

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ISSUE 44 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM

THE FOREST

Goat

QUEENSLANDER JAKE MALBY HAS BEEN THROUGH THE WORST OF IT, BATTLING DEPRESSION IN HIS YOUNGER YEARS AND FIGHTING THE HARD BATTLE TO STAY ALIVE. AFTER REACHING OUT TO HIS BROTHER IN HIS BIGGEST TIME OF NEED, JAKE FOUND A CALLING ON THE TRAILS. THE SALVATION HE FOUND WAS A DISCOVERY DEEPER THAN HE EVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE, AND HE NOW TRAVERSES THE BEST MOTHER NATURE HAS TO OFFER WITH HIS ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE THE EARTH AT EASE. HE’S BECOME KNOWN IN HIS RUNNING TRIBE AS THE FOREST GOAT, AND ISOBEL ROSS SPENDS SOME TIME WITH HIM TO FIND OUT HOW IT ALL BEGAN, AND HOW HE’S COPING WITH LIFE NOW.

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PROFILE THE FOREST GOAT

J

ake Malby, also known as the Forest Goat, has battled depression in his past, but has found the sport of trail running to be the coping mechanism he’d long been searching for. It was mid-August 2016 and Jake was in one of the darkest places he’d ever known with his mental health. He had everything set up to end his life, but in a split moment, suddenly felt a strong urge to call his brother Ben and reach out for help.

Ben dropped everything to take Jake home with him, where he set up a room and made sure he was in a safe place.

He and his wife watched over Jake, and as he started the long process of recovery, Ben began talking to his brother about the possibility of taking up running. In fact, he did more than that and signed Jake up for the 2016 Nerang 25km trail race on the Gold Coast.

Jake recalls not having much of an option at the time, but it turned out to be one of the best things for him, and one of the most defining moments of his life.

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“It wasn’t my chosen race, but I didn’t really have a choice in the matter,” he says.

“I was running this race whether I liked it or not.” Jake was incredibly glad he did the event though, and now considers the Nerang trails one of the training spots that leaves him with the happy thoughts of where his running began.

A month after this foray into trail running, Jake ran his first marathon at Port Douglas, the Great Barrier Reef Marathon.

It was during this beautiful run, around the back-end section, that he realised he still had so much more to discover about himself and where his running could take him both mentally and physically.

physically, and today, longer distances like 100 miles are more appealing to him along with multi-day events.

But together with seeing how far he can go on a physical scale, Jake believes running played, and still plays, an enormous part in maintaining his positive mental health. It gives him structure in his day-to-day life, with long runs allowing him to ‘sit’, so to speak, in the present moment for lengthy periods of time.

When he ran the Nerang 25km back in 2016, Jake says it was the first time since his late teens where no negative thoughts ran through his head for the entire three hours being out there.

Another month after that, he ran the Misty Mountain 50km in Northern NSW, and from there it’s been multiple distances of 50km, 50 milers, 100km and 100 milers.

“I find being out on a run, I’m able to process a lot of things with a calm and clear mind, which provides better outcomes for the day,” he says.

So how is it that running became Jake’s saviour in life?

“Running keeps me focused and driven in everyday life, which in turn gives me purpose and a love for the sport.”

One of the biggest factors that came into it all was exploring how far he could go

His current training schedule sees him

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PROFILE THE FOREST GOAT

at it six days per week where he aims for between 10km and 25kms at each run.

Longer distances of between 30km and 70kms are left for the weekends so he can make the most out of an adventure, but there’s more to it than just that.

Jake’s commitment to the mental health cause he champions has meant leaving his trade of 13 years to focus solely on training and being a mental health advocate.

“I was finding it difficult to get the training in alongside working over 40 hours and commuting during the week,” he explains.

“Now with more time on my hands, I’m able to invest more energy into training, recovering, and promoting mental health and suicide prevention.”

Jake mentally prepares for his long events by running a lot of the same routes, which helps him to get all new stimulations out of sight and mind and to remain in that uncomfortable feeling of times of boredom.

with the ‘mental chatter’ he experiences.

Journaling, followed by 20 minutes of meditation, is a daily practice he utilises at night to help wind down any of his racing thoughts after the day. Despite that, he still finds that running is definitely his main meditation practice.

That mind chatter in running and life, according to Jake, is hard to let go of.

Moments of self-doubt and failure enter his head still, but pushing through and coming out the other side sets him up to ride the ebbs and flows of running, and life. Dealing with mind chatter in everyday life for years has given him the base mental resilience to know that they’re only hard moments in that one given time and that tough humans last, not tough times.

Jake feels as important as running is, it doesn’t have to be running that helps people on their mental health journey.

“When you find purpose, you’ll then find passion,” he says clearly and without a second thought.

“The real mental strengthening runs are the days when everything hurts, when your head is telling you to stay in bed and miss those back-to-back long runs,” he reveals.

“With passion comes dedication to whatever it is to be able to keep up-skilling ourselves. When we are following our passion, or the things we love, we’ll usually be doing them with focus, all the while being in the present moment.

“Those are the days I make sure I fight the hardest and just get out and run.”

“Having something to work for also keeps us hungry in everyday life.”

Discovering he had a knack for endurance, Jake set out to create his first big charity run in 2019 – completing 31 marathons in 31 days. The feat of running each 42.2km leg wasn’t the main goal for Jake, but rather to create a safe place where people could join in and share anything they wanted without judgment. He set out to raise $5,000 for a local mental health charity on the Gold Coast, a charity called LIVIN, but his biggest target was creating much-needed awareness around mental health and suicide prevention.

One of the main things Jake loves about running is ‘the places your legs can take you.’ With so much of nature’s beauty only accessible by foot, it’s left Jake with the ability to experience locations not many others have an opportunity to do. And as most of us have, he’s found his running community to be amazing, saying he’s met some of the best humans in this tribe of people.

With the success of that project, Jake and his best mate Brad Glover went on to complete a 24 hour mental health and suicide prevention run in mid-2021, where they covered 174.74km along the coastline of the Gold Coast in Queensland.

Over the years, Jake has identified that using mindfulness practices help him

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So what’s in store for Jake now? Well, he’s planning a journey in August where he’ll be running from the Sydney Opera House to the Gold Coast (850+ km) over the course of seven days – this means Jake will be targeting approximately 122km per day, all whilst raising funds for the Kids Helpline and spreading awareness of the challenges today’s youth are facing.

According to Jake, he knows firsthand how important it is to expose the next generation to the reality of mental health as it will set them up with an awareness of themselves and others along with the tools to help them deal with the adversities that life can throw at them.

Jake recommends that we should always try to run with our hearts, with a smile and with a reason.

In fact, they helped him come up with his alter ego, calling him a mountain goat version of Forest Gump – which ultimately led to everyone knowing him as the Forest Goat.

“Once the going gets tough, and it always will at some point, having a strong reason to draw back on definitely helps keep the head on track and ready to push through to achieve the goal,” he conveys.

Jake relishes the sense of purpose running gives him to test his mind, body and soul whilst also being able to use his endurance out on the trails to create awareness around the struggles so many face during their lives.

Wise words indeed. *If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis, please reach out to Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14 for 24/7 support.

WHAT IS ADVENTURE? For generations, adventure has been in our blood.

It’s taken us to new heights and pushed us to new limits.

But what is adventure?

It’s in all of us but it’s different for everyone.

FIND YOURS 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

NAILED IT

The 2021 Ultra-Trail Australia.

Sportograf

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WORDS: KATE DZIENIS IMAGES: THE EVENTURERS / PHOTOS4SALE / SPORTOGRAF

Stopping THERE’S NO

THE VICTORIAN VICTOR

FOR ONE VICTORIAN TRAIL RUNNER, IT WAS WIN AFTER WIN AFTER WIN IN 2021 WHEN IT CAME TO THE RACES HE ENTERED ACROSS AUSTRALIA, AND IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR HE WAS RECOGNISED BY THE AUSTRALIAN ULTRA RUNNERS ASSOCIATION TO BE NAMED 2021 MALE ULTRA RUNNER OF THE YEAR. FROM THE CRADLE MOUNTAIN RUN IN TASMANIA TO THE MARGARET RIVER ULTRA IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA, MATT CREHAN EARNED THE TITLE THANKS TO HIS SPEED, ENDURANCE, AND HUMBLE NATURE. HE’S A NAME AT RACES THAT MANY HAVE COME TO KNOW, AND THAT MANY HAVE COME TO ADMIRE AND BEFRIEND AS THEY SEE HIM APPROACH THE START LINES OF NUMEROUS TRAIL EVENTS. KATE DZIENIS SAT DOWN WITH THE AGILE MATT TO DISCOVER HOW HE MANAGED TO GET SO MANY RACES UNDER HIS BELT IN 2021, AND WHAT IT TAKES TO HIT PODIUM FINISHES CONTINUOUSLY.

L

ast year was one of his best seasons on record. Matt Crehan, a passionate horticulturalist from Northcote, Victoria took 2021 in his stride, and although somewhat better than 2020, this speedylike-Gonzales trail runner gave competitors a real run for their money when they saw him take to the start line that year.

The 37-year-old saw no less than 6 wins out of the 7 ultra races he competed in that year, as well as a blistering 4th Place finish from 1129 runners at Ultra-Trail Australia. So it’s no wonder that in February 2022, Matt was named the 2021 Male Ultra Runner of the Year by the Australian Ultra Runners Association (AURA) and given due credit for all of his achievements in the 12 months leading up to the announcement.

It’s not unusual to see some trail runners take on a large number of official events over the course of a year, and Matt got himself through some hefty distances all across Australia, including the 80km Cradle Mountain Run in Tas, the 64km Razorback Run and 45km Mount Buller Sky Run in Vic, the 80km Margaret River Ultra in WA, and two 100mi races at both the Brisbane Trail Ultra in Qld and Alpine Challenge in north eastern Vic. “I’d been slowly increasing my race entries over the last couple years, and all my winning events from 2021 were from the first six months of that year,” he reveals.

“The first three – Cradle Mountain, Razorback and Mount Buller Sky Run – were all in extreme close proximity to one another

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NAILED IT THERE’S NO STOPPING THE VICTORIAN VICTOR

with Cradle Mountain in early February and the latter two in mid and late March. These three all led to the Alpine Challenge, so I used them specifically as stepping stone races to get into Alpine.

“Going into each event, I go in with a hope to secure a podium finish, but I don’t go in with the thought that I necessarily would. You do see familiar faces when you get there, and that’s great because once you get to know the regulars, you know when you’ll be up for a brilliant challenge. There’s this one runner I’ve come to know, Matthew Dunn, and although he didn’t do as many events as I did in 2021, when we were up against each other, he came in right behind me – he really tested me and kept me on my heels.”

The words ‘recovery’ and ‘taper’ appear somewhat non-existent for Matt, especially when races are aligned so close to each other.

He might say he does active recovery, but what he does is much more than just that.

“I take a bit of time off running, sure, but it’s a very small amount of time. I’ll keep moving with either swimming, walking or hitting the bike; I feel like active recovery really helps speed things along rather than taking too long off,” he says.

“If I’m aiming to go for a race that’s like a 100mi or a 100km, I might take a week off sole running in the lead up; the kilometres I do per week range between 100km and 120km, so it’s large-ish when I’m aiming for events.”

Matt follows a plant-based diet so there’s not too much he needs to concern himself with when it comes to nutrition, and he may use some extra sports nutrition products on race day. But it appears a lot of his characteristics – his decision to go plant based and his love of trail running – stem from a lifetime of the great outdoors.

Long Run 70km and the Surf Coast Century 100km.

“Then in 2019, I won my very first race, the Marysville Marathon, which was a low key, small event hosted by Trailsplus; I completely surprised myself by taking out 1st place, especially because I’d had a couple beers the night before.

“I suppose that’s when I thought perhaps I might be ‘okay’ with this trail running business, and to be honest I’m not quite sure why I decided to straight away aim for longer distances, starting at a marathon.”

Matt does actually have favourite events he specifically looks forward to, and they include the Alpine Challenge and Cradle Mountain Run, saying if there’s one reason to enter, it would be the diverse landscape.

“To do well in these sorts of races, you really have to know how to traverse over the technical parts but also burst out with some speed along the flat boardwalk or path bits,” he explains.

“I love the technicality of trails, it keeps me incredibly interested and my mind occupied because I’m constantly keeping track of footing to make sure I can get over all the obstacles and challenging spots; I find I’m most comfortable in natural terrain.”

Working as a landscaper previously and now a horticulturalist for the last 10 to 15 years, Matt enjoys the competitive side of racing because he has such a keen interest in the great outdoors. He says he couldn’t see himself being drawn to road marathons because for him it’s all about the natural landscape and environment.

“It all started with hiking, believe it or not,” he says.

Every year, AURA goes through a vigorous selection process when looking at the performances of its members, and its committee selects eight winners across eight awards or categories to recognise the achievements of members across Australian and international events.

“As I got more and more into it, I wanted to cover greater distances in a shorter amount of time, and that I guess led me to running trails. Before I knew it, I’d entered a couple races back in 2017 – You Yangs 50km, Berry

President Ewan Horsburgh explains there are categories for over 60 and under 30 year old runners, but the premier category is the ‘Australian Ultra Runner of the Year for both a male and female.

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The 2021 Mt Buller Skyrun.

The Eventurers

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NAILED IT THERE’S NO STOPPING THE VICTORIAN VICTOR

The 2021 Ultra-Trail Australia.

Sportograf

The 2021 Ultra-Trail Australia.

Sportograf

“The committee pours over race results, race reports and yearly rankings of its members,” he says.

“We also reach out to our experienced state representatives and international team selectors. Once we have our top choices, the committee then meets to discuss and vote on each award – it really is a highlight of the year to see the amazing feats of our members.

“Matt had a perfect 2021. He was consistently

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The 2021 Margaret River Ultra.

Photos4sale

on top of the podium in challenging races that ranged from 45km to the 100 miler.

“A year so good, he made the cover of our annual report.”

When asked how he felt about winning the title of 2021 Male Ultra Runner of the Year for Australia, Matt humbly answered in the most simple way.

“I was surprised and over the moon when I got told that I’d won,” he says.

“I was astonished that my passion and love for running was recognised in such an amazing way; to be honest, at the time, I didn’t even know that I was in the running, and I still have no idea who nominated me.”

Don’t be surprised if you keep seeing Matt’s name pop up across the Tasman trails. He’s got so much in his tank – and I have a feeling that like they say, ‘We ain’t seen nothin’ yet.’

DARE TO DREAM WORDS: KATE DZIENIS, SEAN BEALE IMAGES: SEAN BEALE

MAMA

Frosty RUNS A NEW RACE

IF YOU’RE A NZ RUNNER, THEN YOU’LL KNOW THE NAME ANNA ‘FROSTY’ FROST. HER HISTORY WITH THE ULTRA DISTANCES DATES BACK TO 2010, WHERE AT HER VERY FIRST ENDURANCE EVENT, THE CALIFORNIA TRAIL 50 MILE, SHE CLAIMED 1ST FEMALE WITH A SUB-8 TIME. SINCE THEN, HER TALENT HAS TAKEN HER ALL OVER THE WORLD, FROM SPAIN AND GERMANY TO CANADA AND COSTA RICA, AND SHE’S STOOD ATOP MANY WELL-EARNED PODIUM FINISHES. TODAY, ANNA’S COMPETITIVE RACING WORLD HAS TAKEN A BACKSEAT AS SHE ENJOYS THE NEWEST CHAPTER OF HER LIFE – MOTHERHOOD. KATE DZIENIS AND SEAN BEALE TOGETHER DISCOVER THAT ANNA’S NEWEST LOVE, HER DAUGHTER SKYLAR, IS HER DAILY REMINDER THAT EVERY NEW PARENT SHOULD BE CELEBRATED.

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DARE TO DREAM MAMA FROSTY RUNS A NEW RACE

W

hen you take a look at what Anna Frost has achieved since she started running, it’s not hard to consider her one of New Zealand’s most successful players in the competitive racing game.

Just take a look at her stats. ‘Frosty’, as she’s known, secured podium after podium after podium across the globe – the Coastal Challenge Expedition Run (236km) in Costa Rica, the Hardrock 100mi Endurance Run in the USA and the 73km Transvulcania in Spain just to name a couple on top of the list.

Anna’s one of the most experienced trail runners around, with an international and professional background in mountain, trail and ultra running spanning across 15 years. But today, she’s taken a backseat from competitive racing and simply enjoying life with her husband Ron ‘Braz’ Braselton and 3-year-old daughter Skylar. She’s even started up a new adventure company to share her passion of the great outdoors and take people on group trips to remarkable places all over the world.

The 40-year-old from Dunedin is still racing though, just not as competitively as she used to because when motherhood begins, it’s all about new chapters, new experiences, and new memories being made.

“A comeback for me is getting back what you had, because you’re a new person after having a child,” she explains.

“You get pregnant, have a baby…you’re changed physically, mentally and emotionally. You’re a mum with new responsibilities, and your

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relationship with your partner is brand new. Everything is new, and a ‘comeback’ doesn’t make me feel like it’s celebrating the hard work someone has done to get to where they are in that moment.

“Even if they’re competing at the same level they used to, they’ve still worked super hard to go forward and be where they are now. It’s not celebrated enough, and we need to start celebrating everyone, not just the elite runners. Your hard work for the day could literally be getting out of your pyjamas; whether you’re a stay-at-home-mum or a working mother, it’s hard enough as it is before you have to get training into your schedule as well.

“Parents ‘coming back’ need to be celebrated; they deserve to be celebrated!”

Content with her racing career before having a child, Anna didn’t feel a real need or urge to return to competitive racing once Skylar was born in 2019 - and for her, that was okay.

“It was a great time, being out there in the world running to race,” she reveals.

“I got to travel the world and meet incredible people, and my pregnancy came just at the right time because I got to a point where I was thinking to myself that it was time to move on to a new unknown chapter. I’d done all the projects I wanted to do.

“When I was about eight weeks pregnant, I’d started the World VK Series in Europe, so I was doing that right in the thick of morning sickness when I was ‘green’ and feeling horrid, but I continued with it because I’d trained hard for it and it was an international series – it

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DARE TO DREAM MAMA FROSTY RUNS A NEW RACE

was fun and friendly, and I was super excited to be there.

“I had a really good pregnancy after that, and I was still able to run all the way through. I went to Ecuador for a running trip, and then to Bhutan – I was 7 months pregnant at that stage.

“In some ways, if my pregnancy had been harder, it might have been easier for me once I had Skylar, simply because I feel pregnancy should be a time when you slow down, but because it was good all the way through, I thought to myself oh well, it’s cool…just keep going. I only stopped in the last month because of my feet, they’d gone sort of pigeon-toed.”

Once Anna held that little baby in her arms and breathed in that newborn scent, she was surprised with the reality that set in for her mindset and physicality.

“You’re not given a guide or a book on your baby, you’re not given one on how your body functions after giving birth either,” she recalls.

“I had an emergency c-section, I was on so many painkillers, and at the same time I was trying to figure out how to breastfeed – essentially, I was trying to figure everything out. I couldn’t simply go out and go for a walk whenever I wanted; I wasn’t sleeping, everything suddenly stopped. I suffered from postnatal depression, but what even is that?

“It’s different to different people, and one of the things I did miss was getting out whenever I wanted to. A heaviness came over me, the depression for me was that I wasn’t overjoyed with the whole situation even though I was, and I still am, in love with Skylar. It was the process of it all that was getting to me.

“It didn’t help that I’d be awake in the middle of the night sitting on social media, and it’s so bad to do that. You’re seeing all these young mums living their perfect lives, even those women who return to

competitive racing almost immediately after having a baby and it all seems so perfect. I had to remind myself that social media wasn’t the be all and end all.

“I have the upmost respect for those mums who can return to racing that quickly, it’s absolutely incredible, but that wasn’t my story or my progress. That wasn’t how I responded, and it’s important for other women to know that it’s okay. It’s okay to get back into it straight away, but it’s also okay to not want to either. For me, I had a responsibility, a new priority in my life, and I preferred to take time off racing than completely lose time with my daughter.

“That was my personal journey. When I went through anxiety, I don’t know where it came from, but it lifted when I was more accepting of saying to myself, screw it – screw what society, books, socials and people say about motherhood. I’ll do what works best for me and my family. Once I went with that, things got so much easier and I wasn’t anxious anymore.”

Racing for Anna is very different these days. She’s not about being competitive, which for her can be tricky at times because there are many who she feels expect that of her.

“I have to tell myself that running in events and running in general is not about them, it’s about me. It’s about what I want to do,” she says.

“Yes, there are times I want to race hard, but there are also times I don’t. When I ran Three Peaks recently, in the end it was a good day.

In fact, it was a great day – it was clear and calm, and simply beautiful.

It did not bother me one bit that I came in 7th Female, I loved every minute of it.

“Because competitive racing has taken me all over the world and introduced me to the most amazing collection of people, it would be very hard to walk away from that. It wouldn’t seem fair, to me or the industry. So the races I’m doing now are always ones where I’m going for a purpose – not a racing purpose though. More of a personal purpose, like I want to see friends or I want to have a holiday there.

“It’s been so incredibly nice to go from the elite, competitive world to just enjoying the events now and going at my own pace. I’m going to head to the Ultraks Matterhorn in mid-August, and I haven’t explored there before so I’m very much looking forward to that.

“After that, it’s the Wild 100 back home in NZ , and then…who knows what’s next?”

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September 3rd - 4th

SIGN UP Escape to Paradise

CONTRIBUTION WORDS: MATT CREHAN IMAGES: JIM SKOURAS

ROAM AMONGST THE HERD at THE

Buffalo STAMPEDE

THERE’S NOTHING MORE EPIC THAN LACING UP YOUR SHOES BEFORE THE SUN RISES TO MAKE YOUR WAY TO ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S FAVOURITE RUNNING FESTIVALS, WHERE THE BEST OF THE BEST SMASH IT OUT AMONGST THEMSELVES AND YOUR ADRENALINE RUSHES THROUGH YOUR VEINS LIKE THE RUSHING WILD RIVERS OF NORWAY. THE BUFFALO STAMPEDE HAS BEEN A STAPLE ON THE VICTORIAN TRAIL RUNNING CALENDAR SINCE 2014, PROVIDING AN ENTIRE WEEKEND FULL OF GNARLY TRAILS AND GOOD VIBES. IT ALSO PLAYS HOST TO THE AUSTRALIAN SKYRUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS AND IS A SELECTION RACE FOR THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM, SO WHO BETTER TO REPORT ON THIS YEAR’S EXTREME BUFFALO ADVENTURES (31 MARCH-2 APRIL) AND GIVE YOU A PODIUM FINISHER’S RE-TELLING THAN 2021 AUSTRALIAN MALE ULTRA RUNNER OF THE YEAR MATT CREHAN, WHO WON THE BUFFALO STAMPEDE’S THREE-DAY STAGE RACE, THE 72KM GRAND SLAM.

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CONTRIBUTION ROAM AMONGST THE HERD AT THE BUFFALO STAMPEDE

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ituated at the foot of the Victorian Alps in Bright, 2022 saw Single Track events take over the reins, and it’s fair to say they pulled it off with a trail running festival that will undoubtedly be one of the major players on a national scale in the years to come.

This year (31 March-2 April) with new and improved courses, the addition of a second Grand Slam option, as well as a buzzing event hub at the Bright Brewery, it has really stepped up to be one of the premier events on the Australian trail running scene.

FRIDAY NIGHT 10KM PUSH Friday evening hosted the 10km Sky Sprint, which was also the first event in both the Stampede and Ultra Grand Slams. I was signed up for the Stampede Grand Slam (a three-day multi-stage event of 10km, 20km, 42km), but not having raced a stage race or the like before, was a little apprehensive about how to pace the weekend.

The plan was to jog the 10km on Friday, race the 20km on Saturday, then see how my legs held up for the marathon. Fair to say that plan went completely out the window as soon as the gun went off for Friday’s race.

It started fast, and I resisted the urge to burn off with the front pack. However, once the gradient increased, I found myself catching them. As we moved up Mystic I worked my way through the field, passing Ash Hoffman then Dave Byrne as we neared the top and turn-around point.

I’ve been coached by Dave for the past nine or so months, and we had discussed my pacing strategy just before the race: ‘I think I might have gone a bit off script here,’ I said as I caught him, but he gave me some words of encouragement and I focused on trying to get back down the hill as fast as I could while staying upright.

Dave was hot on my heels the whole descent, with Ash not far behind him. I managed to open a little bit of breathing space on the more technical terrain, but he was right back at me when the trail smoothed out. I began to worry about the flatter final kilometre along the river to the finish line; I had every reason to worry too as he was glued to my shoulder the whole way through it. For a race where I wasn’t intending to push, now all that 58

mattered was holding on to that position.

We came around the last bend and I could hear him breathing hard as I thought about how tight I could take the corner without rolling my ankle. We burst into the finishing chute and I saw him duck over the line by my side as I did the same.

Picking ourselves up off the ground we were happy to call it a draw, only to find out later that it was indeed equal down to the tenth of a second!

A brilliant start to the weekend!

BLISTERING SATURDAY FOR 20KM

volunteers and vibes…it was an awesome way to celebrate my birthday with friends and some wins!”

In the men’s 100km, Morgan Lindqvist claimed the top podium finish after a finish time of 11:20:59 and he looked strong all day. He had nothing but praise for the event organisers and volunteers, and of his own day said, ‘I made a mistake thinking most of the hard work was done when summiting the Horn at 44km…little did I know how challenging the infamous Mick’s Track near the end really is!’

After Friday’s harder than planned effort, as well as some essential rehydrating at the Bright Brewery, the goal for Saturday’s race shifted a little. I decided to hold back and focus instead on racing the marathon – although going on how my legs already felt, I was questioning whether that would be possible.

SUNDAY’S HERD MARATHON

One thing at a time though to get through the day’s race with a controlled but steady effort. The front pack took off incredibly fast, and I lost sight of them quickly. I told myself that this was good, because I’d be less likely to get carried away. Twenty kilometres with over 1200m of elevation is never an easy task, but I was pleased with myself for maintaining a steady effort while keeping a bit in the tank for Sunday.

Sitting perhaps around 10th place, I enjoyed a good chat with a few other runners on the descent off Mt Buffalo.

After Eurobin aid station, there was a gradual climb that worked its way up 300m over 3km. I had hoped this would be a good opportunity to make up a bit of time, but I was feeling the accumulation of the last couple days and my legs didn’t seem to have much power.

The particular 20km race was won in 1:45:40 by the blisteringly fast Charlie Hamilton, who told me later on that, ‘The community is what makes Buffalo Stampede such a sweet event! Not to mention the gnarly trails and super strong competition.’ Still quite young with a lot of potential, he is definitely a name to watch out for in the coming years.

I managed to grind away and move a little up the field, but not with a comfortable gap. A quick water refill and pat of my dog at Buckland Valley (thanks Matt), we started the climb up to Clearspot. This particular climb seemed to go forever.

Each time I thought I must have been near the top, another steep ascent would appear right before my eyes.

A shower and some food then we were off to try and catch the front runners of the 100km come through the Eurobin aid station. It was a big day out on a tough course for everyone in the 100km.

The drizzly rain didn’t help boost my spirits through this section, but the thought that climbing was a relative strength of mine gave me the determination to keep pushing. I finally reached the top of Clearspot hoping for an aid station, but learnt that I had to wait until I got back down for another refill.

I’d also learnt that there had been a bit of carnage up front, and two runners had gone off course.

In the women’s race, Aussie ultra running legend Lou Clifton took the win (14:05:09) and informed me later on that the Grand Slam had been a bucket list challenge for years.

“I loved the 100km course and the extra kilometres at the top of Buffalo, which was all new to me,” she recapped.

“The weekend was amazing, it was a fantastic location, all the organising, the

Marathon day. As predicted, the front group went off extremely quickly. The first half of the 42km Sky Marathon course is what I consider very runnable, and very fast, so I was happy to sit back a bit in the hope of making up some places in the second half.

This was very interesting, and I immediately wondered where that put me?

First thing was first though, trying to get

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CONTRIBUTION ROAM AMONGST THE HERD AT THE BUFFALO STAMPEDE

down the steep descent off Clearspot while staying upright…I didn’t manage this. A bit of mud and a few minor scratches aside, I arrived at the 35km checkpoint to find out I was now in 2nd place. I’d been going through a bit of a low patch, but this really gave me the adrenaline kick I needed, knowing that Tim Locke was right on my heels in 3rd.

A quick bottle change and I was off and heading up the infamous Mick’s Track.

A lot of people dread this section, but I knew that if I just kept putting one foot in front of the other (or in this case above the other), I’d get to the top. Yes it was slow, but it was slow for everyone.

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Once at the top I was keen to get around the bend before Tim caught a glimpse of me, so pushed all the way up to Mystic.

Then it was time for that final descent.

It was my third time running down this trail across the entire weekend, and while I may not have gone down with the same ferocious panic of Friday night, I kept my feet on the gas all the way down to the bottom and I managed to finish under my target time (in 3:52:21), although still a good 10 minutes back from the incredible Blake Hose in 1st place (3:42:06).

AFTER THOUGHT I came away feeling absolutely satisfied

with the whole weekend, with my results concluding a multi-stage event of equal first in the 10km, eighth in the 20km and second in the marathon. My combined efforts were enough to get me First Overall in the Stampede Grand Slam too, which was a nice bonus.

A big shout out to the 13 finishers of the Ultra Grand Slam. That 100km course is no easy task by itself, but to back it up the next morning on a hard marathon course after limited sleep is incredible.

I’ll be back again next year, with the only question being – which to sign up for!

The Men’s BTU100mi (168km), with about 7500 vert, was won by 2019 BTU110 winner and previous BTU110 record holder Vlad Shatrov (NSW) with an impressive 20:21:08.

The Women’s BTU100mi field was decimated in brutal conditions where the temperatures dropped to zero degrees overnight. Only one female finished in the category, last year’s winner and current record holder Maree Connor, finishing in 27:51:20.

The BTU110 (with 4520 vertical gain) awarded $5000 in prize money thanks to Australian Expatriate Finance and The Expatriate.

The female line-up was hampered by recent Covid infections and injuries, leaving the race for the podium prize money wide open to any woman who wanted to give it a go. WA runner Jen Millum (2021 2nd Place Finisher) finished it in 16:00:13. Ursula Adams (NSW) got 2nd in 16:43:00 and Katrina Baker (NSW) completed it in 16:44:48.

The male line-up was also impressive with 2021 winner Mike Carroll smashing the BTU110 record on a longer 2022 course, with 11:09:31. Mike was over 2 hours ahead of Matt Gore (NSW) 13:25:42 who had some navigational difficulties at CP5, and also ahead of Alexis Hastings (NSW) who finished in 15:29:26.

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Race organisers tackled course changes due to potential planned burns, battled course tampering, and worked with Covid affected staff, yet still, the Brisbane Trail running community pulled together to host a slick show for Queensland’s international guests.

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The Brisbane Trail Ultra (BTU), which also played host to the Spartan Trail World Championships (STWC), was held from 8-9 July and attracted a solid field of international and Australian runners.

10k

BTU PUTS ON A SLICK SHOW FOR ALL RUNNERS

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The BTU60 course had a massive 2400 vertical gain and kicked off with New South Welshman Iain Best winning the Male event at 6:15:40. Spaniard Marcos Pascual Martin claimed 2nd in 6:20:18 and Lachlan Jamieson (2020 BTU30 winner) stepped up to take 3rd Male.

Trail running legend, Team La Sportiva Australia and AURA runner Gill Fowler (NSW) took line honours with 7:21:02. BTU podium regular and Sunshine Coast runner Carol Robertson came in 2nd with 7:46:09 and 3rd went to NSW runner Ellen Bradley (7:48:13).

Spanish elites Sara Alonso Martinez and Antonio Martinez Perez lined up with Queensland steeple chase representative Aiden Hobbs in the BTU30. Aiden led the field until the last 7km, which allowed for Antonio to take 1st Place and claim the title for 2021 Spartan Trail World Champion.

The Spanish National Trail Running representative raced to the top of the Suunto Climb in 2:03:07. He was around three minutes behind Aiden’s time in 2021 on the Suncorp Contingency course.

Victorian Brodie Nankervis placed 3rd in 2:06:23, followed by Polish born-Tassie local Pietro Babis.

The belle of the ball was Sara Alonso Martinez, the current leader of the STWC and the Golden Trail Series Leader. Sara is an absolute gun and a pleasure to welcome down under, straight from her Mont Blanc Marathon win. She led from the start, finishing 5th Place overall and lifting the field of female runners.

Sara was faster on the longer contingency course, 2:15:04, and taking 24 minutes off the previous female record set by UTA100 winner Cecilia Mattas.

Victorian Simone Brick won 2nd Female (2:30:51), whilst 3rd went to the ACT’s Patricia McKibbin (2:36:42) – all under the 2021 course record time. Victorian Anna Munro came in 4th at 2:43:18 and New Caledonian Deborah Kaboer came in 5th with 2:53:10.

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INNERVIEW WORDS: VERA ALVES IMAGES: KURT MATTHEWS, SUPPLIED

IMAGE: Kurt Matthews.

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ISSUE 44 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM

BORN TO RUN JUST LIKE HIS

Mum

MEET ‘FLYING FI’ AND ‘SPEEDY SPIKE’, THE MOTHER-SON DUO TEARING UP AOTEAROA’S TRAILS. VERY WELL KNOWN IN NZ’S RUNNING CIRCLES, CHAMPION ULTRA ATHLETE FIONA HAYVICE IS A FAMILIAR FACE TO ALL KIWI RUNNERS, BUT THESE DAYS IT’S HER YOUNG SON SPIKE WHO IS PROVING TO BE HER TOUGHEST COMPETITION. FIONA’S PASSION FOR THE SPORT HAS BEEN INSTILLED IN HER LITTLE BOY, IN PART BECAUSE OF THEIR CLOSE BOND, AND VERA ALVES SITS DOWN WITH THEM BOTH TO FIND OUT JUST WHERE SPIKE GETS HIS MOTIVATION FROM AND HOW MUCH OF A ROLE MODEL HIS MUM REALLY IS TO HIM.

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INNERVIEW BORN TO RUN JUST LIKE HIS MUM

I first wanted to run for New Zealand, in 2015 at the Trail Running World Championships,” Fiona explains.

“To do that, you need to be affiliated with a club so I joined Wellington Scottish. I also joined Spike up as well, because they had a junior group. There was a great mentor then called Jonathan and Spike really warmed to him so it became a regular Saturday afternoon thing for him to go to the club runs.”

On top of his own club races, Spike also became quite the pro at being mum’s support crew, alongside dad. Up until the Covid-19 pandemic brought world travel to a halt, the family got to go to Australia and the US a couple of times, as well as Hong Kong for Fiona to race. In New Zealand, Spike was also a regular at the Tarawera Ultra finish line, even getting to put the medal around his mum’s neck.

SUPPLIED.

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’ll spare you the ‘runs in the family’ puns but, believe me, if there’s ever been a place to use them, it’s when telling the story of these two generations of Hayvices and the lengths they are going to, to explore their passion for running.

was back in Wellington recovering from her longest run to date – an extraordinary performance at the Southern Sydney 24 Hour Ultra, where she ran a mindboggling 303.6km in 48 hours to come out first female and third overall.

A couple of months ago Spike Hayvice made headlines in New Zealand when, just one day before turning 10-years-old, he ran his first marathon.

Sitting next to her was Spike, one day after winning his distance (7.5km) at the Xterra race in Belmont Regional Park. A last minute change of plans saw Spike’s dad Todd having to chaperone him during the race – except Fiona watched as Spike crossed the finish line on his own, in first place, after leaving his dad behind (dad, to his credit, finished in a very respectable fifth place).

Things didn’t exactly go to plan (do they ever?) and because of the weather, instead of the carefully planned route along his Wellington hometown, ‘Speedy Spike’ as he’s known amongst those who know him, had to run his first marathon around a track. Still, he did it. Lap after lap, he kept on going, determined to get a marathon under his belt before going off to celebrate his first decade on Earth. On the sidelines, among his many supporters, were mum and dad Fiona and Todd, proudly cheering for their boy as he ran further than he’d ever done before.

‘Speedy Spike’ crossed the finish line, becoming a marathoner just hours before turning 10, and raising an astonishing $4000 for Sustainable Coastlines in the process.

Spike’s mum Fiona needs no introduction as an ultra champion and one of New Zealand’s best long distance runners.

On the day TRM caught up with the Hayvices, a cold afternoon in June, Fiona 64

“It was fun but a bit slippery,” Spike said of his Xterra race. He’s well versed in these now, as he has been running them alongside his mum for four years. It’s become a sort of Hayvice family tradition, and one that both mum and son cherish.

“When it came to catching the running bug, he really couldn’t avoid it,” his mum says, half-jokingly.

Lockdowns may have put the travel on hold but that didn’t stop their training.

The family temporarily relocated to Naseby in central Otago, and mother and son spent many quiet hours exploring the forest trails. It was during that time that Spike started hitting the double digits on his runs and still finding himself full of energy when going back home. Slowly but surely, the idea of the marathon seeped deeper into his mind.

These days, the two of them enjoy running side by side but, with Fiona’s ultra races back on and Spike’s cross country commitments, the training plan varies

Spike has been mum’s running companion since he was six-weeks-old, when he’d go in the buggy as Fiona tried to recover the fitness lost after pregnancy coincided with a back injury.

“To start off with it was only like 20 minutes to get moving, then it got longer, hillier, we used to pick up the groceries, go visit friends, do everything,” Fiona recalls.

At four-years-old, Spike started running on his own.

“When he was about four, that was when

IMAGE: Kurt Matthews.

INNERVIEW BORN TO RUN JUST LIKE HIS MUM

SUPPLIED.

SUPPLIED.

quite a bit for each of them.

nervous about the short distance races.

That said, you won’t find wider smiles than the ones on their faces when they talk about running together.

In fact, Spike says pre-race nerves are his least favourite thing about running. Once the race starts, he loves it all.

“She’s just amazing,” Spike says, talking of his ultrarunning mama.

“I’m the same,” his mum admits. “Shorter and sharper races make me more nervous.

It’s not really what I’m best at. But it’s good to do some of that too, to get outside your comfort zone.”

“It’s amazing to share this with him,” Fiona agrees.

“It also helps me balance the hard and easier sessions by doing some of the easier ones with him. It helps me rein it in a bit.

“The more he does, the more he understands what I’m going through as well. Afterwards, it’s fun doing the post-race debrief with him because he understands it.”

The 10-year-old runner has no big secrets when it comes to his training or nutrition, other than listening to his body, having a lie down and eating ‘a ton of food’ after a race. He does, however, have one secret weapon pre-race, which he has kindly agreed to reveal to TRM readers.

When it comes to the experiences that running has allowed them both to share, Fiona and Spike know exactly how special they’ve got it.

“You get a banana, you slice it lengthwise, you put a slit in the middle and put little bits of chocolate in the middle and you bake it for a bit in the oven and it caramelises,” he reveals.

“Time on trails is great bonding time.

I love nothing more than spending a Saturday or Sunday exploring the trails with him,” the proud mum says.

(Feel free to take a break from reading this article to go experiment with that, then come back to it.)

“It makes my heart sing so loudly. Sharing the same experiences and feelings, during and at the end of a long run is second to none. Knowing that he'll be feeling such an enormous sense of achievement at such a young age gives me confidence that a solid foundation is being laid for the rest of his life. Being able to share your passion with your child is one of the greatest gifts in life.”

Mother and son share a passion for endurance running and both get far more

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Now that Spike is starting to get more comfortable with longer distances, his mind keeps racing with ideas of what to do next. For mum and dad, it also opens them up to planning different weekend getaways, where mum and son can spend time on their feet, with support crew dad on his bike, as he often does.

“Todd is super supportive,” Fiona says.

“He’ll quite happily join us on his bike; some of those longer runs, it was great for Spike to have Todd there on his bike.”

SUPPLIED.

Fiona’s excitement about Spike’s love for running is almost palpable – she knows how much long distance running has given to her in her life and has hopes that her son will get to experience many of the same feelings.

“Long distance running is where I found my tribe, it's where I feel most comfortable, I can be myself, it's the people I enjoy being around. Even after only running and chatting alongside for a short time (minutes to hours) I've formed long-lasting friendships all over the world.

People I’ve kept in touch with and since visited (typically prior to a race in their area),” she says.

“Long-distance running is one of the few things that excites me, that I’ll happily wake before sunrise for.”

While Spike wants to take on longer trails, his mum also has some other big goals in sight. While still recovering from her incredible 48-hour run in Sydney, she has her eyes set on her next big goal: representing New Zealand at the Backyard World Championships in October this year.

For any challenge that lies ahead, one thing is for sure.

Fiona and Spike will continue to bond over their shared trail time and the exhilaration of reaching a new goal. And when the going gets tough, as it invariably does at times, Fiona too has a new secret weapon: she thinks to herself, ‘…if Spike could run a marathon at 9 years of age, then surely at my age I can do a few more laps or hours”.

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SCREENING AS AN OFFICIAL PART OF WOMEN’S HEALTH WEEK

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Q&A WORDS: DAN SLATER IMAGES: STEVEN KHOURY, MITCHELL FORD, SEAN MARSHALL, JI YOON

Matt and pacer Ben leading the way on day 7.

Mitchell Ford

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TREKKING

655

FOR TAKAYNA

IN NOVEMBER 2021, TWO AUSSIE BLOKES DECIDED TO HIT THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS WALKING TRACK TO RAISE MONEY IN A BID TO HELP SAVE THE TAKAYNA WILDERNESS REGION IN THE NORTH-WEST OF TASMANIA. AT THE SAME TIME, FOR MORE IMPACT, THEY ENLISTED THE HELP OF A FILM CREW TO CAPTURE ALL OF THEIR MOMENTS ALONG THE 655KM STRETCH OF TRAIL THAT WINDS THROUGH THE HIGH COUNTRY OF VICTORIA, NEW SOUTH WALES AND THE ACT. DAN SLATER GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHAT WITH MATT GORE AND GILES PENFOLD ABOUT THEIR PREPARATIONS, HOW THEY MANAGED TO GET THROUGH THE HUNDREDS OF KILOMETRES OF RUGGED, REMOTE ALPINE COUNTRY, AND HOW THEY PULLED UP AFTER A SUCCESSFUL TREK. “Every day that goes past I wish I was still out there,” Matt Gore grins.

Giles Penfold concurs, saying, “There were some grim times, but I look back on it so fondly. It makes me want to go out there and do bigger and better adventures, which is hard to do because it’s the bloody AAWT!” The Australian Alps Walking Track runs for 655km from Walhalla, west of Melbourne, to Tharwa, a small village 15km south of Canberra, and takes in the high country of Victoria, the ACT and southern NSW. Hikers can take anywhere from five to eight weeks to complete the trail but Giles and Matt, both 25, finished it in 16 days and 6 hours.

When did you start running?

G: I started in 2015, my first ultra being a 50km around the Matterhorn. I did around eight or nine, the biggest being a 100km race in the Tarahumara region of Mexico, which Born to Run has popularised.

M: I got into running in 2018. I ran my first 100 miler in 2020 at Tarawera in NZ, then I’ve been getting more serious about

it ever since. My goal race for next year is to run the Larapinta. I definitely want to win that race and run the FKT if I can, which is 40 hours.

What research did you do in the planning phase?

G: Our bible was John Chapman’s guidebook. We based the whole run off that – where to put our drop boxes, where the tricky parts were, the river crossings, possible campsites, and where we could meet the film crew. It was a relatively flexible plan though. The goal was always to finish between 15 and 20 days, so we were pretty happy with our time.

M: The run was in November (2021), but even as early as June I’d be sitting in libraries for hours using multiple different online GPS files of the track to map it ourselves. It was like a part-time job for half a year.

How much did you carry?

G: Anything between 7-12kg, depending on food and water.

M: We carried everything to be selfsufficient, never actually relying on the

film crew for anything. When we talked to other FKTs, they stuck closer to 5-6 kg.

They’d really skimp on comfort.

G: We left Sydney a week before the run to drive down and drop the food, doing massive loops from section to section.

Six total food drops took four days to lay. We left food, medical supplies, spare socks, batteries, toilet paper and also got a look at those parts of the course before we set off. We were lucky enough to have the film crew collect the stuff we left behind, otherwise we’d have driven back afterwards to do it.

Were you nervous or confident?

G: I was pretty damn nervous, as I was going into it with a fat pad impingement in my right knee which had been lurking for the better part of two months. I could always feel it coming on after three to four hours. I was obviously unbelievably excited as well though. I felt like a little kid, my dreams coming true.

M: I had a healthy level of nerves, but mostly I was so excited. I’d been thinking of this for six months, planning non-stop for the last three weeks, and driving for 69

Q&A TREKKING 655 FOR TAKAYNA

the last week. When we were packing our bags the night before I was like a kid before Christmas – I just wanted to go to sleep so I could wake up and start running.

over logs. It was like nothing I’ve ever done. Everything was more runnable once we crossed the border into NSW. We went from 35-40km days to 60km days.

Speaking of the knee, were there any other injuries?

What about mental exhaustion?

G: I got quite ill on day six after I got very wet. I was weak and lethargic for a good two or three days, but slowly got better.

Apart from that my knee held up.

M: For me it was the feet – they were so sore, and by the last few days I was almost using my hiking poles as crutches to take the weight off. In retrospect though if that was the worst of it, I was very happy to finish like that.

What was your proportion of running to walking?

M: Probably 10-20% running, 40% rapid hiking on runnable stuff, then 40% of 2km/h, hands on legs, grinding.

G: Yeah, the elevation was insane. It was a huge slap in the face, the sheer size and angle of these hills slowed us down a lot.

M: You can’t prepare yourself for the Victorian Alps. It’s incredibly tough, just huge logs all over the place. We’re crawling along doing 30-40 minute kilometres, taking bags off, crawling under or jumping

G: For the first two-thirds we were okay.

Our spirits were high, we were motivated, the energy was there. If anything, the nav really tired us mentally, just the frustration of getting lost rather than watching our feet. Once every couple of days we’d stray off the trail and have no idea where we were, and it would be an ordeal to get back on track.

M: In the Vic sections, we could be guaranteed a minor nav mishap every hour. The leader isn’t focusing on every foot placement, they’re making sure they’re picking the right footpad. The hardest days were those where we took turns being point nav. A 5km spell would take two hours because the terrain is so tough and you’d feel shattered, like you’re intensely working at your desk and you can’t turn off for a second. That’s something I hadn’t envisaged or prepared for, but it whacked me hard.

Tell us about the film.

G: It’s due at the end of this year some time. The crew has 55 hours of footage to

Resting at the third drop box at Benambra-Corryong Road, 370km in.

Sean Marshall.

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sift through, and they need to get it down to 40 minutes or so. It’s a slow process.

Stay in the loop on social media channels!

M: We took two GoPros. On the days it was super rainy and I was focused on nav and Giles was sick, I wasn’t really sitting around GoProing.

How did you decide on the Bob Brown Foundation as a cause?

M: We wanted to do something that had real meaningful impact. You can never know, when you put money into a charity, how many cents to each dollar is going to it, so first we did due diligence on what foundations make your money go the distance. We knew the Bob Brown Foundation was real grass roots. I went down and saw their action in person on the front lines. It’s not just a really special place they’re fighting for, it’s a really genuine organisation, doing everything they can and making every cent stretch as far as possible.

G: Matt and I have been down to Tassie a few times and we absolutely love it. Doing some research and finding out about how special the Tarkine/Takayna is, it resonated for the two of us. That got the ball rolling, and we set this big number of raising $20,000.

ISSUE 44 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM

Last minute gear check at the start line in Walhalla.

Steven Khoury.

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Q&A TREKKING 655 FOR TAKAYNA

Leaving Ghost Gully camp ground on the last day, only 25km from the finish line.

Ji Yoon

Taking in the majestic views from Mt Kosciuszko’s summit.

Mitchell Ford

Ideal running terrain just after Mt Murray on day 15.

Steven Khoury

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ONE WEEKEND THREE INCREDIBLE EVENTS Get ready for the biggest weekend in alpine trail run and walk events in New Zealand!

10-12 March 2023 Tongariro National Park New Zealand

The Ruapehu Trail Festival brings together two Australasian trail favourites, the Ring of Fire and Tussock Traverse, and introduces a new exciting event to the mix, the Sky Waka Vertical Challenge.

Take on the unique sky-running challenge on Mount Ruapehu, where athletes attempt to ascend the highest mountains of the world. A New Zealand first, the Sky Waka Vertical Challenge sees individuals, pairs and teams of three knock off as much mountain elevation as possible in four hours, ascending by foot and descending by gondola!

The Ring of Fire Ultra 73km and 50km solo events are joined by the return of the popular ROF Relay in 2023 where teams of three take on the circumnavigation of Mount Ruapehu. The 73km and 50km carry ITRA points.

The Tussock Traverse is a much-loved event which is now in its 18th year and offers a number of distance options to suit all levels of trail runners and walkers.

4hr Laps, 400m Dash

ROF Relay, 73km, 50km

32km, 21km, 12km, 6km

The location is awe-inspiring, the atmosphere exhilarating, and the Ruapehu region will be pumping. Join us in 2023!

Entries open now www.ruapehutrailfestival.co.nz

CONTRIBUTION WORDS: JACKIE GOUDY IMAGES: MARK WATSON / @INCITEIMAGES

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Kunanyi

WITH EVERY STEP AT

THERE'S A STORY

FOR DECADES, AUSTRALIA’S TRAIL RUNNING COMMUNITY HAS BEEN CALLING FOR AN ULTRA EVENT ON HOBART’S ICONIC KUNANYI/MT WELLINGTON. WELL, THEY FINALLY GOT THEIR WISH IN APRIL 2022 WITH THE FIRST EVER KUNANYI MOUNTAIN RUN (KMR) AND ITS 68KM ULTRA EVENT (SOLO AND RELAY) AS WELL AS THE 27KM MOUNTAIN RUN AND THE VERTICAL KILOMETRE. BUT AS PROUD PAKANA WOMAN JACKIE GOUDY DISCOVERED, KMR WAS MUCH MORE THAN ‘JUST’ A TRAIL RUN EVENT. IT WAS A CELEBRATION OF HER TASMANIAN ABORIGINAL CULTURE, WITH RUNNERS ALSO ENCOURAGED TO EXPLORE THEIR OWN CONNECTION TO COUNTRY AS THEY RAN WITH KUNANYI, RATHER THAN ON THE MOUNTAIN. THE EVENT’S TAGLINE IS ‘EVERY STEP A STORY’ – AND THIS IS JACKIE’S.

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CONTRIBUTION WITH EVERY STEP AT KUNANYI THERE’S A STORY

k

with country. It’s a festival celebrating Tasmanian Aboriginal culture – my culture.

You’ve all been there, right?

From the start line of the epic 68km ultra solo event (which can also be completed as a team relay), we had the silhouette of kunanyi/Mt Wellington in our sights. Predawn, calling me quietly with the promise of a warm sunrise, it was a connection that I have felt before.

unanyi Mountain Run (kMR) just made sense to me from the start. It was like many commitments in life, and in trail running. You stumble across an event, hear a rumour, get an event link from a buddy; and have that instant connection.

This one is different. It’s different because it embraces Tasmanian Aboriginal culture, connection to country, and it’s run 76

As a child, I would spend school holidays on Flinders Island, off the north coast of Tasmania. That is where my connection is strong, heading out onto the mountains and beaches of Killiecrankie, with no mandatory gear!

I was humbled to be given bib #1. It was an opportunity to open discussion, and I was asked by many other runners, ‘How did you get number one?’, ‘You must be fast’ or

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‘You must have been quick to enter.’ After acknowledging my gratitude for having this number, I replied with ‘No, I’m Jackie and I was awarded the kMR Tasmanian Aboriginal Scholarship.’ That gave other runners the opportunity to acknowledge their gratitude for being on country – to contemplate their connection.

From the start line, it didn’t take long to feel the cool air trapped amongst the

ferns, keeping the ground wet for the creatures that needed it. Heading up and up, the landscape changed, warming up under the Tassie eucalyptus trees and the boulders. I then, from below, look up and see the Organ Pipes – I took a breath, and acknowledged the feeling of connection.

Before I knew it, the wind was cold and I was exposed, surrounded by low scrub that provided protection for wallabies to forage.

The Pinnacle, a place where the spirits of my ancestors are. Respect the place I am within. I can see the world laid out in front of me, the way my ancestors have seen the world for all of years.

Not wanting to linger, I started the descent over the north west side of kunanyi. The trails are technical here, but incredibly welcoming. A little up and a lot down, into the valley, using the 77

CONTRIBUTION WITH EVERY STEP AT KUNANYI THERE’S A STORY

rope crossing to make it over the wet boulders that funnel the mountain water downwards. Out to the checkpoint at Myrtle Forest.

It was a decent climb back out of Myrtle Forest, moving from the damp air in the rainforest, up again, then pausing. I looked out over the landscape, but it was time to ignite my quads. Heading down the trails that seemed to go forever, they were indeed runnable, and there was plenty of hopping, slipping, smiling – but no time to look left or right. Gaining strength from every step, I knew that the mountain had me. I recalled someone saying at the next aid station, ‘Down hills can go and get f*$%ed!’, which made me smile. It really is all a matter of perspective.

Coming up out of Mountain River aid station, the climb was relentless. This was where my perspective was tested the most – it’s only up if you look. Underfoot, the track was dry and rocky, making it a 78

bit tougher to move, and it was this climb that also tested my breath.

Up on the Cathedral rocks, the winds were whistling as I clung to the rocks, hugging to climb around to the other side.

The Spider Man theme song was playing in my head! Nothing was runnable up there! Some sections coming down were so steep that I had to go down backwards as if descending a ladder, my legs not long enough to reach the ledge below and having to slide, reminding myself to keep three points of contact to the earth at all times.

Once down through the ferns into the valley of Cathedral aid station, it was time to go up again. There was one steep climb that rose to a ledge, then followed by a formed wide track that allowed my legs to stretch out and run, and run, and run.

I acknowledged the setting sun, resisting the need to put on my head torch,

expecting my eyes to open wider and use the light from the stars to show the path ahead. When my torch went on, the path ahead lit up for all the animals around me to see. Scorpions come out to hunt, wallabies scurried their way through the scrubs, possums traversed the trees catching up with their mates, greeting a partner. I could see, hear and feel them all around me, their eyes glowing as they watched me pass by. Connection, peace and belonging was the overwhelming feeling. My smile was a mile wide.

Another short steep climb and out to the Tavern at Fern Tree. Again, my number one bib opened discussions and it was lovely to hear others talk about country at the Fern Tree aid station. This was where I chatted again with vollies who knew the country I came from, truwana (Cape Barren) and Flinders Island (side note to all – the Tavern hands down had the best vegetable soup ever, and it was vegan!).

As I moved on, time stood still, until that next unexpected hill that was merely a blip on the elevation profile, but after 60km it felt like a mountain. I reminded myself of creation stories of this place and was distracted by the dreamings in my own head of how I would move if I didn’t have knee joints, and how joints were cut into limbs to allow movement. These hills are integral to this place. Movement was all I needed in that moment.

I’ve been known to cross finish lines in tears of joy, reaching for the closest open arms, but this time I made a phone call to my family before heading down to the finish line, sharing with them my tears of joy. My husband appreciated the phone call, but quickly said, ‘Dry your eyes, they are waiting for you.’

The kMR experience has deepened my connection. Not once did I need to call on strength to keep going as it was with, and within, me all the time. The memory of my grandmother and past elder, Alma Lily Stackhouse, was with me all the way.

Don’t just take on this race. Embrace it and find your connection to country.

BOOK CLUB

REVIEW

REVIEWER: KATE DZIENIS

BREAKTHROUGH WOMEN’S RUNNING: DREAM BIG AND TRAIN SMART

BY NEELY SPENCE GRACEY & CINDY KUZMA

I

f you’re looking for a book that redefines the way you train as a woman, then Breakthrough Women’s Running: Dream Big and Train Smart is the publication you need in your hands and on your bookshelf. It touches on just about everything a woman needs to know to become a successful athlete, from goal setting and selecting targets, to nutrition basics and how your menstrual cycle affects performance.

This is it. This is the book that discusses periods, pregnancies and other femalerelated training issues that you may not find so readily available – especially if you don’t have a female coach to answer all those nitty-gritty questions.

Author Neely Spence Gracey, a pro-athlete and coach, graduated from Shippensburg University (Pennsylvania, US) with a major in communications and a minor in coaching.

She’s come together with writer Cindy Kuzma to create a much-needed book that deals with woman-related concerns – tips on when to change your tampon mid-race, how to reduce symptoms such as cramps and bloating one week before your period starts, whether or not you should run while pregnant, and balancing breastfeeding with your long run days.

There’s a barrage of other topics too, and not just for the woman who’s of babybearing age. You’ll find so much helpful

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advice about injury prevention, prepping for performance with the right nutrition (with a few pages’ worth of delicious recipes for recovery!), mobility, and exercising your brain for a winning mindset.

There’s even a full 22-week schedule for a marathon training plan as well as a 12-week Run-Walk training plan.

What pleasantly surprised me was that towards the end of the book there’s a great discussion about how to handle missed training, and asking yourself whether you should ‘run or rest’ when struck down with illness. The majority of runners are tough and can persevere even if feeling under the weather, but there does come a point where chillaxing is crucial because you’d otherwise deplete your body’s recovery resources. There’s a quote from an elite marathoner, Becky Wade, in Chapter 16 that reads ‘Sometimes forced rest – especially for very driven distance runners – is what we really need to reach the next level, but that only becomes apparent in hindsight.’ It’s a great reminder of the need to learn how to navigate obstacles and adjust your goals to match that reality isn’t failure; that it’s actually a critical step toward success.

Gracey makes it clear that she hopes to convince readers of the critical importance of rest and recovery minus any unnecessary medical visits. She explains that understanding about how your body

responds to hard efforts can indeed make it easier to honour the need to recuperate.

She might not have a medical background, but Gracey’s clear and well written language about what happens to the body during recovery is easy-to-understand and relatable as she explains ventricles, the production of red blood cells, hemoglobin, capillaries, muscle cells and glycogen. And believe it or not, I loved the coverage of the six types of recovery – to be honest, I never even realised there were so many!

It's only been in very recent years that the so-called ‘taboo’ topics relating to women have started to unravel and unwind and become issues that are no longer embarrassing for many to talk about.

Breakthrough Women’s Running is the new support buddy that will answer all your questions and more. It will take the time to explain why your goals matter so much and what you’ll need in pursuit of them. It will be your cheer squad and help you gain the right knowledge and information for you and your body.

Push past your training obstacles and be the best runner you can be with Breakthrough Women’s Running. It’s an engaging publication by Human Kinetics with colourful images and actionable suggestions so you can become strategic and progressive with your physical and mental approach to running.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TICKETS

www.runnationfilmfestival.com

Running is more than a physical act. It can be the ultimate test of endurance. For hours Running is more thanwe a physical act.

It canand be minds the ultimate testwe of endurance.

For hours and sometimes days, push our bodies to places never thought possible. and sometimes days, we push our bodies and minds to places we never thought possible.

Running is also an ideal medium for storytelling. When combined with f ilm, it allows us to Running is also an ideal for–storytelling.

Whenwhat combined with film, it allows us to is all explore life’s themes bigmedium and small which is exactly the RunNation Film Festival explore life’s themes big and small – which is exactly what the RunNation Film Festival is all about. about.

This year marks the seventh year of the RunNation Film Festival. An original, inspiring event, ThisRunNation year marksFilm the eighth year the RunNation Festival. An event, and the Festival hasofbeen attended Film by thousands oforiginal, runners,inspiring non-runners the RunNation Film Festival has been attended by thousands of runners, non-runners and running celebrities worldwide. With submissions f rom Australia, New Zealand and the running celebrities worldwide. With submissions from Australia, New Zealand and the globe, ilms are are curated curated into intoan anexhilarating exhilaratingand and inspiring two-hour screening. globe,the thevery very best best ffilms inspiring two-hour screening.

With stunning footage, gripping stories and miles (and miles!) of inspiration, the RunNation With stunning footage, gripping stories and miles (and miles!) of inspiration, the RunNation Film than just justabout aboutrunning. running. a celebration of the human spirit, where FilmFestival Festival is is more more than It’sIt’s a celebration of the human spirit, where our comradeshipand andadventure adventure come the fore. oursense senseof of generosity, generosity, comradeship come toto the fore.

The winners: The2021/2022 2022/2023RunNation RunNationFilm Film Festival Festival award Prize Winners: » International Feature: Totally FKT Australian and New Zealand - The Long Pathway » International Short: PeakFeature of Possibility Australia and New Short Zealand Short - Finding Salvation » International Short: Running Isn’t Cancelled International - ChrisMuddiest Fisher - To The Top » AustraliaFeature Short Short: Known Time International Short Controlled Burn » Australia Short: Our Connection with the Blue Mountains

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» Australian Feature: Sand to Snow – Coast to Kosci 2020

And the Best Film Overall is Totally FKT And the Best Film Overall is Finding Salvation Read ind out about this this year’s year’s amazing amazingline-up line-upofoffilms. f ilms.

Readon on to to ffind out more more about runnationf ilmfestival.com runnationfilmfestival.com

runnationfilmfestival.com

!"

CHALLENGER ATR 6

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FILM SYNOPSIS CHRIS FISHER – TO THE TOP

Director: Gabriel Rovick Duration: 15:17

Chris Fisher has been training as a mountain athlete for roughly two years, focusing on trail running and backcountry skiing, and in 2020 competed in the virtual Cirque Series’ Max Vert October, where he ran 250,000 uphill vert. In 2021, he made the decision to dedicate the entire month of October to winning that year’s Max Vert October and pursue a World Record attempt for the most vertical ft gained in one month – a goal of 400,000 ft uphill.

THE LONG PATHWAY Director: Tommy Wright Duration: 36:38

Australian trail runner Lucy Clark has long dreamed of setting the speed record for running the Te Araroa in New Zealand. In 2019, she geared up to run the 3,000km trail in less than 70 days. Averaging more than one marathon a day, she was faced with lonely days on the trail, wrong turns, dangerous river crossings and solo nights in remote back-country huts. Has she bitten off more than she can chew? Find out in Tommy Wright’s documentary The Long Pathway.

JAKE MALBY FILM TEASER

Duration: 1:17

Queenslander Jake ‘The Forest Goat’ Malby is raising awareness and funds for a charity close to his heart, the Kids Helpline, by running from the Sydney Opera House to Burleigh Hill – a total of 850km he hopes to accomplish in less than 9 days.

Jake battled his own fights with mental health, so follow along as he and his support crew run to their own finish line in a bid to support children who may be experiencing mental health symptoms.

The full film will be released later this year.

FILM SYNOPSIS EKIDEN

Director: Haruna Azumi Duration: 22:48

This short documentary is about a traditional Japanese long-distance relay race called Ekiden.

In 2021, one particular team held an Ekiden race in New York City to display the city’s diversity and how different people can unite by running together to achieve a common goal. And although a race, the event never involves any competition, and so this film focuses on what makes the Ekiden so incredibly unique – it’s history and how today it spreads a message of positivity and unity.

CONTROLLED BURN

Directors: Nick Goldston & Eric Lagerstrom Duration: 4:00

Music producer Nick Goldston and professional triathlete Eric Lagerstrom team up to create a brief (4 minutes) and tempo-ed glimpse of the forest through the light and dark of a controlled burn in the American state of Oregon. Due to the effects of climate change, overpopulation and urbanisation, extreme and strategic planning have become a necessity to keep people safe. Small peeks at regrowth breed hope as Lagerstrom controls a burn of his own in his triathlon training.

FINDING SALVATION

Director: Louie J Hadfield Duration: 22:00

This is the story of ultra runner, conservationist and father Kieron Douglass. Kieron’s life is a testament to the human spirit, everything we can achieve and our ability to overcome adversity. He’s an inspiration, and his story demonstrates exactly that. Filmmaker Louie J Hadfield works with inspiring athletes to share their stories in exciting ways, and Finding Salvation is his most ambitious project to date, capturing something truly special.

Sydney East Gold Coast

Ritz Cinemas

11 August

HOTA

16 August

Brisbane

Hawthorne

18 August

Nambour

Majestic Cinema

24 August

Canberra

Dendy Cinemas

24 August

Wollongong

Gala Cinema

25 August

Avoca Beach

Avoca Beach Theatre

25 August

United Cinemas

25 August

Melbourne (St Kilda)

The Astor Theatre

25 August

Roseville

Roseville Cinemas

25 August

Luna Theatre

25 August

SX Luna

25 August

Sawtell

Majestic Cinemas

31 August

Port Macquarie

Majestic Cinemas

1 September

Katoomba (Blue Mountains)

Perth Fremantle

Launceston Hobart Newcastle Penrith Adelaide

Newmarket (Aukland)

Village Cinema Launceston

14 September

Village Cinema Hobart

15 September

HOYTS Charlestown

18 October

HOYTS Penrith

18 October

The Regal Theatre

20 October

Rialto Cinemas

1 September

Dunedin

Rialto Cinemas

1 September

Hokitika

Regent Theatre

1 September

Wellington

Penthouse Cinema

1 September

Bridgeway

Monterey Cinemas

15 September

Upper Hutt

Monterey Cinemas

15 September

Rialto Cinemas

15 September

Tauranga

To bring RunNation to your home town contact christine@adventureentertainment.com

www.runnationfilmfestival.com

TRAIL PORN FRANCE, USA, NZ, ITALY, AUSTRALIA Located seven miles (11.2km) from the north side of Roanoke, Carvins Cove Natural Reserve IS in the North American state of Virginia.

Daniel Kolasa

TRAIL PORN

Chamonix, France is one of the most beautiful pl aces in the world to go trail running in the mountains, and is especially great for high altitude training.

Brian Metzler

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ISSUE 44 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM

Run the Wild founder and trail running guide Simon James runs beneath Mont Bl anc high up in the Alps above Chamonix.

Simon James

A Run the Wild intermediate Alps running trip takes pl ace in September every year and here, the guided group has Mont Bl anc Massif in the background.

Run the Wild Introduction to the Alps as well as Running and Yoga weekends take pl ace in June each year and are suitable for those starting trail running.

Simon James

Simon James

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TRAIL PORN FRANCE, USA, NZ, ITALY, AUSTRALIA Endurance runner Maureen Stachowicz takes a moment of reflection above the Rees Valley, just north of Queenstown, in Glenorchy on the South Isl and of NZ. James Harcombe

James Harcombe takes a moment out of his run to soak in the view of the Dart Gl acier whilst high above the Rees Valley track near Queenstown, NZ Maureen Stachowicz

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IT'S YOUR YEAR 21st January 2023 Tongariro National Park New Zealand

Entries open now www.thegoat.co.nz

TRAIL PORN FRANCE, USA, NZ, ITALY, AUSTRALIA Runners brave the cold on a snow-capped trail around the Italian mountain town vill age of San Candido/Innichen.

Harald Wisthaler

In Victoria, Australia runner Adam Murphy soaks in a moment of bliss before approaching the mid-way point of the Surf Coast Trail Marathon (18 June 2022).

Aaron Collins

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REVIEW

TRAIL SHOES // ALTRA MONT BLANC

WORDS AND IMAGES: KATE DZIENIS

AS IMPRESSIVE AS MONT BLANC PREMIUM PREMIUM PREMIUM. The newest member of the Altra family, the Mont Blanc, has literally sold out everywhere with demand outrunning supply. But don’t worry. Altra has heard the call and is returning this month in August with plenty of new sets available.

performance with added bounce and durability. Essentially, it’s a blend of cushioning compounds, and there’s no other way to describe how the shoe feels other than two thumbs up and crying out ‘Yeah, baby!’.

And they’ve come up with their most premium long distance trail running shoe yet.

At first glance, the Mont Blancs scream Altra – they feature the same undercarriage foot shape toe box, are a balanced 30mm zero drop front and rear geometry, and are very recognisable in their design. Their fit to the wider foot is impeccable, with runners getting their own personal security guard of snugness within the forefoot and midfoot, and plenty of room for toes to swell up and breathe.

Clearly inspired by the UTMB, the biggest feature (and star of the show) for the Mont Blancs is the EGO™ max midsole – foam that provides a light and luxurious

Altra markets their shoes three ways – Original FootShape™ Fit (the roomiest design), Standard FootShape™ Fit (the middle of the bunch), and Slim

And just why has it been such a success?

Well, I’ll tell you one thing. The Mont Blanc shoe is Altra’s offering to the ultra gods after they heard ‘the people’ calling for a product that could go the extra mile against the toughest terrain.

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FootShape™ Fit (their slimmest option but still with plenty of toe room). It’s a trademark to have the wider toebox combined in a specific and unique-tobrand FootShape™ Fit so that the majority of runners can experience the shoe. It’s a big reason why Altra has become one of the fastest growing footwear brands globally – a brand that allows people to run more naturally but still with the benefits of superior, high-tech and modern cushioning.

The Mont Blancs are classified in the Standard category, but as someone who took to the Altra Lone Peak 6 shoes recently (which are of Original FootShape™ Fit), I could immediately tell the difference in ‘fit’. When I run, I tend to wear a thick sock brand, and have done so for over six years…never having a problem with testing or trialling shoes in those exact socks. In the Mont Blancs, however,

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THE LOW DOWN GREAT FOR: Ultra distances on technical terrain, preferably dry ground NOT SO GREAT FOR: Road and bicycle path (you want to use these babies on trail as much as possible) TEST CONDITIONS: Limestone, boardwalk and asphalt TESTER: Kate Dzienis TESTER MECHANICS: Severe overpronator with wide feet, usually running in 8mm drop shoes VITALS RRP: $319.95 AUD / $349.95 NZD WEBSITE: altrarunning.com.au CONDITIONS: Shoes provided for testing by Altra

there was a necessity to source a slightly thinner sock so my foot wouldn’t feel strangulated.

But that was an easy fix, swapping out socks, and I happily took the Mont Blancs with me for training runs as well as the Lighthorse Ultra 3hr event, where I bonded with two other runners who were wearing the exact same pair in the exact same colour – “Don’t you just love these?!” were the words coming out of our mouths as we idolised over the funky Coral Black colour scheme.

One of the most impressive features with the Mont Blancs is the insane tread on the outsole. Think premium track wheels on the best 4WD vehicle, and that’s what you get with the grip these babies give you.

Other than the sexy, sleek design, it’s one of my favourite parts of this shoe. The innovative sole technology of the Vibram®

Litebase rubber is an uncompromised piece of material, giving superior grip and traction, and there’s plenty of lug spacing to tackle the terrain too. The Mont Blanc gave me confidence on the dry trail, and on days when the ground became slippery and wet, it still performed very well across a range of surfaces.

A more interesting component I found, however, is that the tongue is lightly padded, made from a very thin stretchy nylon. I believe it may have been designed this way to strip the upper down to make it as lightweight as possible. It’s still a gusseted tongue though, to reduce debris getting inside. Not many people may notice, but take a look at this – Altra have printed the latitude and longitude of Mont Blanc on the tongue. There’s no function in that, but it made me smile when I got online to check the coordinates. It’s definitely a charming personal touch.

With regards to other elements of the Mont Blanc, the only things that didn’t quite work in my favour where the lace lock and the heel collar. The lace lock holes sit further up the shoe than what I’m used to, so the technique meant the heel collar, which is made of the same material as the tongue and sits high up, felt loose and rubbed against my skin. I solved the issue by trialling a higher sock rather than my usual ankle length ones, but the heel lock still provided me with a slighter more lose feel than I’m used to.

Overall, the Mont Blanc is a precision Altra shoe that doesn’t sacrifice its signature features. Incredibly impressive in technology and design, I can completely see why it’s one of the most popular trail running shoes on the market. Definitely a fit for anyone who has a wide foot, who loves technical trail, and who can use and abuse these shoes as much as possible.

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REVIEW

TRAIL SHOES // LA SPORTIVA AKASHA II

WORDS: ABDUL-RAOUF MOHAMED-ISA IMAGES: SUZANNE POLI

THE ‘OOH LA LA’ AKASHA II Created with a focus on endurance, the La Sportiva Akasha II fits snug, but not too tightly around the forefoot. It’s a high cushioned shoe built specifically for longer runs on technical terrain, with its aggressive tread providing great traction and its ability to work at its best in wet and muddy conditions. In saying that, I found them less responsive on dry smoother trails, and felt that with the amount of cushioning and tread, the shoe felt like overkill on ‘easier’ terrain.

The shoe provides good protection around the heel and toes from rocky terrain, which it excels in. The Trail Rocker outsole 96

technology promotes a rolling heel to toe motion. I didn’t feel this so much being more of a mid-to-fore foot runner, but when hiking it was noticeable how the rocker helped to promote forward motion.

When running downhill it did feel like my toes were being jammed into the front of the shoe, but in saying that this could have come down to sizing as others have said to go up half a size compared to what you normally wear. The heel lock lacing technique helped though to keep things more in place. Being used to a wider forefoot, I may have felt this a little more.

The well-padded tongue and Orholite

Hybrid insole makes the Akasha II incredibly comfortable. The open duallayer mesh material dries quickly if you happen to get them soaking wet, while the lacing system allows your feet to feel locked in and nice and secure.

Being a first time user of this brand I came in with an open mind. Out of the box you definitely feel the cushioning and snug fit.

At first I tried it on wide bridal trails where it was comfortable enough but felt like too good of a shoe for that type of simple trail. The Akasha II comes into its own on more technical terrain, where you can feel the grip sink in going up and downhill,

ISSUE 44 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM

THE LOW DOWN GREAT FOR: Technical trails. High cushioning provides good comfort for longer runs. Does well in the wet and mud NOT SO GREAT FOR: Smooth trails and dry pea-gravel TEST CONDITIONS: Multi-use trails, rocky terrain and wide bridal trails TESTER: Abdul-Raouf Mohamed-Isa TESTER MECHANICS: Overpronator with wide feet, usually running in zero drop shoes VITALS RRP: $229.95 AUD WEBSITE: lasportiva.com CONDITIONS: Shoes provided for testing by La Sportiva

especially when the terrain’s gotten the ground wet and muddy. The shoe gives you more confidence here, even if you’ve picked up some speed. No problems slowing down and stopping if needed.

Compared to other shoes the Akasha II midsole feels only slightly rigid, however that most likely comes with the amount of protection from rocks and sharp objects – once again another reason this shoe is better for longer runs.

You get enough feel for the trail for short bursts of speed but it’s definitely not one for high turnover or fast races. Here are some of the stated specs of the Akasha II.

The stack height is 31mm in the heel and 25mm in the forefoot giving it a 6mm heel-to-toe drop. A US Men’s 9 weighs in at 310 grams. Frixion Red dual-compound with trail rocker provide good traction and promote smooth heel to toe motion.

Ortholite hybrid laces are made from recycled materials. The colour options in the men’s shoe are Black/Yellow, Space Blue/Kale, Carbon/Flame and Space Green/ Metal whilst for the women they are Hibiscus/Malibu Blue, Topaz/Red Plum and Carbon/Cherry.

Some changes I would like to see, and keep in mind this is more of a personal

preferences: a velcro attachment on the heel for gaiters and perhaps slightly more room in the toe box. The only other thing would be a bit more flexibility in the mid sole, however I’m the sort of runner who likes to feel the trails underfoot and this comes at the cost of protection.

Overall the La Sportiva Akasha II is a welldesigned running shoe suited for those looking for high cushioning with enough protection in the heel and toe, and plenty of grip for technical terrains and durability.

It’s comfortable, breathable and provides great support for longer runs.

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WISE WORDS SUBJECT: VLAD IXEL

VLAD IXEL

FOUNDER OF BIX HYDRATION, VEGAN ULTRA RUNNER I was born in Ukraine in 1987 when it was still part of the USSR. When the USSR collapsed in 1991, my family and I moved to Israel; I was 4 years old at the time. At the age of 14 (2001) we moved to Perth where I have been living ever since (except a few years in the middle where I lived in Hong Kong).

The thing that I like the most about running is being out on the trails and racing. Without races I wouldn’t run twice a day, I would probably only do 3-4 trail runs a week to stay healthy and spend time in nature. Luckily right now I can still be competitive in races so that gives me the motivation to run twice a day most days of the week.

I started running at the age of 25. Even though I was an active kid, I had never been a part of any organised or structured training until we moved to Australia when I was 14 years old and I started playing tennis. I played the sport at a high level until the age of 17, and from 17 to 25 I didn’t do much in terms of sports. I fell into student life while working nights at restaurants – where I picked up some unhealthy habits of drinking and smoking. A few days before my 25th birthday I decided to make a change so I quit smoking and signed up to the Perth Marathon. Running that marathon was one of the hardest things I had ever done but it got me addicted to running and racing. In the last 10 years, I’ve done over 300 races all over the world ranging from stair races to 250km self-supported ultra marathons.

What made me decide to ultras? After I did my first marathon, I then did another road marathon a few weeks later and thought to myself that most road marathons would be the same. I wanted to see if I could challenge myself a little more. I knew that ultra running and trail running was less

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competitive so I had a better chance in placing well in those races compared to road races.

I lived in Hong Kong for five years, and I really liked running on the trails there but one of my favourite trails, globally, is Chamonix. Race-wise, it’s hard to say what my favourite is, because when I race I usually just look 1.5 meters in front of me and don’t really ‘enjoy’ the views because I’m in the process of pushing myself to my limit. I did do a 100km 3-day stage race in Kazakhstan three years ago and that was really fun as a whole race experience and definitely a memorable race I enjoy races that are 2 to 4 hours long so usually 20km to 50km on the trails, but I also enjoy the short 10km to 15km trail races and really pushing the effort and heart rate to the max. I’ve done seven 100km races, but have never done a hundred miler – definitely want to run one of those, but will look for a more runnable one maybe in the USA in the coming years as I’m not a big fan of the really long ultras where you hike half of the distance. I’m sure as I get older and lose my speed I will probably enjoy those longer races more, but for now while I still have two to three years left of speed, I’m going to try and make the most of it.

When out on an ultra race, I usually like to keep it super light so I would take as little as possible. Usually in training, I’d do 30km to 35km trail runs without water or food.

Usually when I sign up though, and see a big mandatory gear kit, I don’t sign up for the race because I don’t really enjoy moving on the trails with a big backpack. I definitely like to keep it light – I have my Bix running belt with a small water flask with Bix Active mixed in for electrolytes and perhaps one to

two gels.

When I began running I knew I had a lot of catching up to do if I wanted to be competitive, so I spent most of my free time learning everything I could about training, recovery, diet, running form, running workouts, and everything I could do to be a better runner. I read somewhere that a plant based diet can help with recovery so I decided to give it a try for two weeks. Prior to that I had been eating meat 2 to 3 times a day and consumed a lot of animal products, but I thought two weeks wasn’t a big deal and worst case scenario I’d go back to my normal diet. After those two weeks of experimenting with a plant based vegan diet I was sleeping better, I had more energy, I was recovering faster after my runs, I was generally just feeling better and even though I wanted to go back to my old diet, I just couldn’t lie to myself that I was feeling so much better and I have been vegan ever since. It’s been 9.5 years already.

Making that change was so easy, because I knew why I was doing it for from the start. I knew it was just a little sacrifice I needed to do to become a better runner and over the years I also learnt about animal farming and that made me really believe in the change I made. Once you believe in something, making a change is easy.

For those considering making the change, from my own personal experience my advice would be to simply eat a variety of foods; try to get different types of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes and experiment with them all to see what works best for you.

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DURO | DYNA

R unnin g d o e s n ’t s u c k b u t i t i s h ar d . E a c h gl o r i o u s l o n g r un in t h e m o un t ain s i s t h e r e s ul t o f c o un t l e s s h o ur s o f t r ainin g ; e ar l y m o r nin g s , l a t e ni gh t s , t ir e d l e g s an d n o e x c u s e s . T h e D ur o/ D y n a m ak e s e v e r y r a c e o r r un e a s i e r w i t h b o un c e -f r e e s t ab ili t y an d o p t i o n s t h a t a c c o m m o d a t e e v e r y t hin g f r o m a f t e r- w o r k j a un t s t o l o n g d a y s in t h e m o un t ain s . S o k e e p t r ainin g .

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