issue 07
the long run.
! s w e i v e r gear
run y k S g n i d a Y
race one initehse world ser
kepler race report news and product tests training tips and more!
: G N I D U L C IN Australian & New Zealand
Skyrunner
- meet terry davis, race director - shotover moonlight marathon - 2016 ANZ series calendar - updtaes from the world of skyrunning
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The following pages contain: - Offensive language - Highly opinionated articles - Possible nudity - Poor spelling - Bad grammar - Stolen photos
Image: The Shotover Moonlight Marathon
contents 6 All the gear, no idea 7 front of the pack; jo brischetto 8 Stuff & things 11 session: decreasing intervals 12 gear tests 14 london marathon elite men’s field 16 buckley’s chance 19 kepler challenge race report 22 skyrunner magazine 23 the latest news 24 camelbak anz skyrunner series calendar 26 yading skyrun 33 meet the race director: terry davis 36 shotover moonlight marathon 40 northburn in pictures
Cover: The Yading Skyrun. Image by Lloyd Belcher This image: Ultra-Trail Australia 2015
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BE YOUR OWN PACESETTER BE UNSTOPPABLE
SISSI CUSSOT
| TEAM FRANCE, 2015 ULTRA TRAIL WORLD CHAMPIONS
CAMELBAK.COM/RUN
FRONT VIEW
HOWEVER YOU HYDRATE, WE’VE GOT YOUR BAK. THE CAMELBAK RUN COLLECTION RANGES FROM HANDHELD SYSTEMS TO HYDRATION VESTS TO KEEP YOU HYDRATED NO MATTER HOW FAR YOU NEED TO GO.
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All the Gear. No Idea!
Regardless of needing half the crap we buy, every runner loves new stuff. Below are some non-essential essentials worth looking at, or avoiding.
coming FEBruary: la sportiva akasha
Akasha, the essence of the ultra-runner: protection, comfort and shock absorption. Akasha is a term for “æther” in traditional Indian cosmology, and is the latest La Sportiva Mountain Running shoe from the Italian mountain company. This shoe has greater shock absorption and is dedicated to the world of endurance competitions, perfect for those long distance Ultra-Trails or for those longer training sessions. The Cushion Platform™ footbed provides excellent shock absorption and comfort together with a wide internal volume of a soft, breathable and snug fitting upper that is a slip on construction, eliminates compression points during running. Innovative front active inserts Dynamic ProTechTion™ provide protection and structure following the foot in a dynamic way without constrictions. The dual mix FriXion XT gripy sole equipped with the exclusive Trail Rocker™ solution to promote the natural movement of the foot during running makes this shoe a must have. The Akasha will be available in both a women’s and men’s styles and is coming this February, they will be available at your nearest La Sportiva mountain running stockist. Contact Expedition Equipment on: (02) 9417 5755 or sales@ expeditionequipment.com.au for more info.
Endura performance fuel
New Endura Rehydration Performance Fuel features a specialised electrolyte profile and contains sodium and potassium at levels recommended for athletes in endurance events. It also contains 20 g of carbohydrates to assist energy production when you need it most. Specifically formulated rehydration for performance, Endura Rehydration Performance Fuel replaces essential electrolytes lost during exercise and contains Meta Mag® Magnesium to help prevent muscular cramps and spasms and relieve aches and pain. Endura Rehydration Performance Fuel is available in all your favourite Endura Rehydration flavours: Lemon Lime, Raspberry, Orange and Pineapple.
Front of the Pack
jo brischetto She’s the Blue Mountains mother of three that’s famed for her infectious enthusiasm and somehow managing to always smile, even during the toughest times in an ultra! Jo has amassed loads of great race results over the years and even on a bad day manages to grind her way to the finish in a respectable place. Highlight performances include 2nd at The North Face 100 in 2013, the course record at the Glenbrook Marathon, 2nd in The North Face 50km in 2014, 17th at the 2014 World Skyrunning Championships and most recently a victory in the 2015 Great Ocean Walk 100km. When Jo’s not hitting the trails for her own training or with the Summit Sisters crew, you’ll find her working behind the scenes with the team from AROC planning Ultra Trail Australia….oh, and tending to her family. What makes her so good? We reckon it’s having the Katoomba trails on her doorstep and her positivity. Well, that and lots of hard work and talent too.
Stuff & Things B2H the unworthy icon There are some races on the trail and ultra calendar that seem to have been given legend status for no other reason than having been around for a while or for a course record that’s stood for a few years. Yes, time is a factor in the attainment of becoming an icon, but there has to be a lot more to it than that, otherwise we would call a pebble on the side of the road an iconic landmark because it’s thousands of years old. My issue with the hype around Bogong to Hotham lies in the fact that while it might be in a stunning part of the country and the course is tough, the harsh reality is that it has attracted only a couple of high quality ultra runners in its entire history. So yeah, the record has stood for a while, but guess what, almost none of the fastest guys have raced it. You might think of Stu Gibson being some sort of phenomenon, however one man’s obsession does not constitute the status the event gets. Don’t get me wrong, Stu is a bloody good runner, but here are a host of equally good or even better guys on the trail scene that are yet to toe the line at Bogong.
read this and become 10% dumber
"run when you can, walk when you have to, crawl if you must. just never give up" - dean karnazes
no shoes, +no brains There I was thinking that the stupid barefoot fad would die off once again, but no, with the advent of Born to Run being turned into a feature film (Featuring Matt McConaughey) it is inevitable that this completely unfounded and destructive gimmick will again rise in popularity. The good thing is the morons that embrace it will get lower limb injuries and I probably won’t cross paths with them in races. However, like vegans, they will undoubtedly have to make all those around them aware of their silly belief and do their best to convert them. As for the film, it will be hard to categorise it. Will it be a children’s movie or a sci-fi? Maybe even a comedy? One things for sure, there will be little or no fact in there.
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Free Suunto Movescount App - learn more on suunto.com/movescountapp
SUUNTO AMBIT3 VERTICAL AIM HIGH
Some call it obsession, we call it dedication. The Suunto Ambit3 Vertical is more than just a multisport GPS watch. Follow the altitude profile of your route while working your way up mountains. Keep track of your total vertical gain from your yearly total to day-by-day ascents. www.suunto.com/Ambit3
a M – B e Papay lu
W – Berr y
Australian La Sportiva Mountain Running Team, Ruin Castle Alpine National Park
BUSHIDO
Proudly distributed in Australia by Expedition Equipment | Email: sales@expeditionequipment.com.au | Phone: 02 9417 5755
session: decreasing intervals You might think that there’s no point in being able to run a 3 minute kilometre when your pace for a mountain race or ultra is closer to 6 minute ks or slower, but the reality is, top end speed is a limiting factor to performance. Think of it this way. If the fastest you can run 1,000m is 4 minutes, then a relaxed pace will be say 5:30min/km. However, if you’ve got speed to burn and can run 2:45, then a chilled rate will be 4 minute kilometres. So, quite simply, by making yourself speedier over a short distance your steady-state or easy pace will become faster...pretty obvious! This is a classic session that is designed to not only improve speed, but more importantly for distance runners, teach you to run fast while in a state of fatigue. It has long been used by runners who compete in a range of events from 1,500m to ultras and comes in varying forms, however the consistent element is the gradual decrease in the length of the intervals. For the sake of this little article we are going to suggest the following session: 6mins/5/4/3/2/1/1. The recovery between each interval is half the length of the preceding rep. For example, run 6minutes hard, have 3minutes recovery, then run 5 minutes hard followed by 2:30mins recovery etc. To make the session harder and increase the overall volume, make the recoveries an easy jog. But never forget that this is all about getting quicker with each effort so be sure to recover adequately between reps and not go out too quickly. Think of the first few efforts as being more akin to threshold pace and build into it. Focus on maintaining good technique and really hit those last two intervals.
decreasing intervals
Despite what a lot of trail and ultra distance runners think, speed plays a huge role in improving your performance. This session combines both endurance and speed to give a more balanced result for both middle and Long distances runners
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Suunto Ambit3 Vertical
gear tests
There’s no denying that Suunto is the leader when it comes to GPS watches made with trail and ultra runners in mind. Yeah there are other players in the market with great products, such as Garmin, but Suunto design watches with the hardcore outdoor athlete in mind. The build quality is unsurpassed, the functionality with route planning, compass and long battery life makes them user friendly, and the online integration with the Movescount App provides a timepiece that’s far more than a running watch. Suunto make what I like to call “Training Aids”. No, not sexually transmitted diseases, what I’m talking about are things that make life as a runner easier…and more fun. Look, I’m a nerd and love my gadgets, so to me the latest watch that does all sorts of cool techy crap is pretty exciting, so when I was given the Suunto Ambit3 Vertical to test drive I was pumped. To be honest I actually wanted to find a flaw in it because I hate the idea that they’re just releasing a watch with bugger all differences to the other options they have in the marketplace, purely because they know gadget junkies like me will buy one. But despite my efforts I only had one issue with this thing: I couldn’t get the screen to display my ‘Average Pace’ during a run. It probably does this, but I don’t read instruction manuals, as I believe that in this day and age devices like this need to be user-friendly and intuitive in design.
So what makes this different from the Ambit 3 Sport or other Suunto’s out there? Well, as the name suggests this is a watch made for those that like to run in the mountains. Folks that are keen to rack up vertical gain as a gauge of their weekly training, as opposed to looking a volume or pace as the only key measures What I really loved is that once you’ve planned a route via Movescount you can then you can follow the altitude profile o your route directly from the watch, with real-time ascent gain and remaining ascent. Also, with a few presses of the buttons you can see daily ascent totals over 7 days, 30 days and a full year, plus you can check your all-time totals. These little touches are fun motivational tools! Another of the awesome features of this watch is the vibration alerts, that mean if you have headphones on or are in a noisy area, the vibration lets you know when laps tick over or you press buttons I found this a big help to get my attentio on windy days as each kilometer passed so I could monitor my pace. The other noticeable difference of the Vertical is the streamlined design. It’s more comfortable and seems lighter than previous Ambit3 models, with a much better fit on my pathetically skinny wrist. RRP: $629 AUD (679 AUD with the Suunto Smart Sensor) www.suunto.com/ambit3vertical
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camelbak dart This handy pack has been made with the minimalist ultra runner in mind. It’s lightweight and very comfy, with a 3litre capacity plus a 1.5L reservoir for fluids. There’s adequate space for some gels, a light spray jacket and maybe a beanie and gloves. Most importantly the reservoir holds enough fluids for in excess of 4 hours on the trails. The fit is snug and thanks to lengthy shoulder straps and a sliding sternum strap, it can be adjusted to suit pretty much any body type. Other features include and essentials pocket on the front, a key clip and front and back reflectivity. The great thing about the reflective properties is that it makes running in the dark a bit safer. RRP: $99.95
NEXT GENERATION REHYDRATION Endura Rehydration Performance Fuel contains sodium and potassium at levels recommended for athletes in endurance events. With 20 g of carbohydrates per dose for energy and Meta Mag ® Magnesium to help prevent muscular cramps and spasms and relieve aches and pain, it is a truly comprehensive rehydration formula.
Available in Orange, Lemon Lime, Raspberry and Pineapple flavours. Always read the label. Use only as directed. ec If symptoms syy m mptoms persist pe e rsist r consult consul your healthcare professional.
endura.com.au
u o y , 6 1 0 2 n o h London marat
Kimetto, Kipch
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! t i e k i l g n i h t won't see any t ins a g a a y n e k 's it e l e k e b , ge, kipsang. negesse, biwott
ethiopia
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You would be hard pressed to find a marathon field with more depth than this in 2016. Once again the London Marathon has shown what deep pockets, a fast course and a great management team can do. It’s going to be one hell of a race! ELITE MEN'S FIELD: Dennis Kimetto (KEN) 2:02:57 Wilson Kipsang (KEN) 2:03:23 Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) 2:04:00 Endeshaw Negesse (ETH) 2:04:52 Stanley Biwott (KEN) 2:04:55 Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 2:05:04 Tilahun Regassa (ETH) 2:05:27 Abera Kuma (ETH) 2:05:56 Samuel Tsegay (ERI) 2:07:28 Ghirmay Ghebreslassie (ERI) 2:07:47 Amanuel Mesel (ERI) 2:08:17 Serhiy Lebid (UKR) 2:08:32 Arne Gabius (GER) 2:08:33 Tewelde Estifanos (ERI) 2:09:16 Ghebrezgiabhier Kibrom (ERI) 2:09:36 Vitaliy Shafar (UKR) 2:09:58 Marcin Chabowski (POL) 2:10:07 Scott Overall (GBR) 2:10:55 Chris Thompson (GBR) 2:11:14 Yuki Sato (JPN) 2:12:12 Callum Hawkins (GBR) 2:12:17 Nordstad Moen (NOR) 2:12:54 Lee Merrien (GBR) 2:13:41 Derek Hawkins (GBR) 2:14:04 Shawn Forrest (AUS) 2:14:37 Kevin Seaward (IRL) 2:14:52 Phil Wicks (GBR) 2:15:37 Paul Pollock (IRL) 2:15:38 Ben Moreau (GBR) 2:15:52 Ian Kimpton (GBR) 2:15:55 Matthew Hynes (GBR) 2:16:00 John Beattie (GBR) 2:16:38 Andrew Davies (GBR) 2:16:55
In its inaugural year the Buckley’s Chance Survival Run has already created a stir in the endurance sports world. Proof of its success was the fantastic viewership figures from the broadcast of the one-hour documentary on December 26th 2015 on ONE. In excess of 64,000 viewers tuned in at its peak! Why? Well there are several reasons this unique event has quickly become one of the must do’s in 2016. Firstly, there’s the challenge it offers athletes from a variety of backgrounds. It brings together ultra marathoners, obstacle course racers, Skyrunners, the military and a host of other people that like to test themselves against the elements and fellow competitors in an event
that’s suited to no specific type of athlete. It really does take a mix of skills to complete the Survival Run challenge. Secondly, there’s the task of tackling some of Mother Nature’s most epic and tough landscapes. Across the 75km course competitors have to endure creek crossings, thick scrub, steep climbs and muddy descents. Even those opting to just take on the 25km or 50km trail runs have to tackle this demanding terrain. Thirdly, you have the mind games. You see, a Survival Run isn’t just about the fastest between two points. Along the way there are various tasks that need to be completed, ranging from indigenous inspired skills tests and
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physical challenges, to memory games. What’s more, if you fail one of thesechallenges it might mean the end of your race at the next checkpoint, because there’s a minimum number of these tasks that must be completed in order to continue. Finally, you have the camaraderie. There’s something special about the shared journey of suffrage. You might arrive at the start line on your own, but by the finish you’ll have made friends for life. Fellow competitors who too have slogged through the mud and picked off leeches will join you at the end to exchange stories from the journey and make plans for a return visit the following year.
Fast Facts: • The event features a 75km Survival Run that features challenges specific to the terrain and indigenous history of the area. • In addition to the Survival Run are 50km and 25km Off-Trail Runs that take competitors through extremely tough terrain. • 2015 Results: 1st Tegyn Angel, 2nd Jeffrey Pritchard, 3rd Todd Hazelgrove. • The Australian event featured the first ever female to finish a Survival Run anywhere in the world, childcare provider and single mum Michelle Bonomi. • The Survival Runner’s Oath: “If I get hurt, lost or die, it is my own damn fault.” • There were only 15 finishers in the 2015 race. Next year the team plans on making things even tougher!
Alpine running at its best!
Mt Buller Sky Run 17 April 2016
22—36—45 km Alpine Runs Mount Buller Alpine Resort
Register online runningwild.net.au
2015 kepler challenge
Race report by Dave Byrne.
Australia has the 6FT Track and its New Zealand equivalent is probably the Kepler Challenge. Both are iconic trail running events and regarded as quite prestigious to win, plus the distances aren’t too dissimilar. 6FT is 42km and Kepler 60km. Now, 6FT has a hill while Kepler has a mountain. 6FT has a nice bush setting, but Kepler has
spectacular alpine scenery. However both have awesome volunteers and a great atmosphere. That said if I had to compare the two I’d have to admit that 6FT is the poor man’s Kepler! Yes, I’m probably letting a few fellow Aussie 6FT diehards down with that comment, but alas it’s the truth. Even before I got into the trail scene I knew of Kepler and
wanted to run it. It was a long way from the 1,500m track races I was doing at the time, however I harboured hope that someday I’d get my body into ultra shape and give it a shake. Well, that day just happened and while my race didn’t go as planned, as an event it sure as hell lived up to expectations. The race is 60km with the first 5 or so on a mostly flat,
twisty trail through the forest, before heading for the sky on an 11km climb that goes from just over 200m in altitude to 1,400m. It’s a beast of a climb made all the more difficult on this occasion by howling winds and cold near the top. From there you run across the mountain summit with a couple steep ups and downs before plunging back to the forest below on a rapid descent. The final 30km gradually descends and follows a river. The running is beautiful with a soft single track that meanders beneath a thick rainforest canopy, with a few little bumps along the way. Throughout the course are well-stocked checkpoints with very friendly and helpful
volunteers there to lend a hand and provide some support. There’s also a proper gear check done at Luxmore Hut, which is around 13km in. Here they quickly make sure you have all the mandatory stuff before you embark on the more exposed section of the course. Now for the explanation of how my day panned out. It started well enough, with a steady pace through the opening 5km and a group of three containing me, Marty Dent and Vajin Armstrong clearing out. I found my way to the front and lead through the early part of the climb, but eventually Marty got itchy feet and ran off at the 8km point. I managed to skip ahead of Vajin, only to be caught by him and another
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at around the 11km point. Reaching the Luxmore Hut CP I was in fourth but as we ran along the mountain top in the gale force winds and cold I suffered a bit and by the time we reached the descent at about 21.5km I was in 6th place. Never one to panic I figured I would get down the mountain and then roll home in the second half of the race and pick up some places and ideally get myself home in 4:50 or so. As the descent started Vajin quickly disappeared behind me. It turns out the poor bugger blew a quad! As the cold summit turned to a warm valley I found myself in contact with 4th (Sam McCutcheon) and 5th (Stafford Thompson), with 2nd (Dominic Channon) well
ahead. Once the running became flatter I starter to feel really good and thought that I would be able to get tapping along and rack up a few sub 4 minute kilometres. Stafford too was feeling good so we had a chat and set about reeling in the runners ahead. I managed to cruise my way into second place and for a brief moment I thought I was in for a fast finish….that sure wasn’t to be the case. Like a switch being flicked I went from moving well and feeling great to being a bag of crap. Cramps started creeping in, I had no power in my chicken legs and negative thoughts took hold. I went into survival mode and still had a third of the race to go! Thankfully the final 18km is relatively flat so it meant I was able to settle into somewhat of a grinding rhythm knowing there were no major hills I’d need to get over. It was a case of hanging on for as long as I could and keeping the chasers at bay. In the end I shuffled my way to the end and with 1km to go Sam was hot on my heels. I rallied a little to make sure he didn’t get too much of a sniff as the last thing I wanted was a sprint finish. I doubt I had one in me and if I tried I’d probably have looked like a crab as my legs were in a pretty poor way. Finishing second in 5:02 provided a mix of feelings. I was glad I toughed it out, but terribly disappointed I had a bad day and ran a time much slower than I knew I was capable of. That said, it did provide plenty of motivation to return in 2016 for another crack at it. Results: Men 1st Marty Dent 4:49:36 2nd Me! 5:01:47 3rd Sam McCutcheon 5:02:01 Women 1st Ruby Muir 5:37:23 2nd Zelah Morrall 5:38:12 3rd Fiona Hayvice 6:12:11
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Skyrunner Australian & New Zealand
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editorial and news a note from skyrunning ANZ
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anz series calendar plan your 2016 schedule
yading skyrace check out race one in the world series
meet the RD: terry davis the sadist behind some tough races!
northburn in pictures get inspired to tackle an NZ legend
www.Skyrunninganz.com
shotove moonlig r h maratho t n page 36
a note from skyrunning ANZ:
and we're off! The next three months sees the Skyrunning ANZ Series kicking off with several very different events taking place in New Zealand. First up is the Ultra Easy with 100km of backcountry and big mountains in the region around Wanaka on the South Island. Following this on Feb 20th is the Shotover Moonlight Marathon just outside of Queenstown. Famed for technical terrain and spectacular scenery, it’s one of the new additions to the series and provides an opportunity for those that prefer shorter events to get some points. A week later is the awesome Hillary near Auckland, which features both short (34km) and long (80km) options on courses that are super techy and full of punchy, steep climbs. Finishing the first quarter of 2016 we have Northburn, and while the 100miler might be the iconic event, it’s the 50km and 100km races that are included in our series. It’s a big start to the racing calendar and with many of the top men and women of the sport in our region toeing the line, it’s sure to be very exciting. Make sure you visit the website to check out the calendar of races and plan your year ahead.
news: Skyrunning & UIAA Join Forces
2016 skyrunner world series
Following on from the recent ISF General Assembly and the subsequent meeting of the UIAA (International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation) it’s official that the two organisations will join forces.
The 2016 Skyrunner® World Series takes skyrunning to the next level. The best races, new events & it’s going extreme! In addition to the Vertical, Sky & Ultra formats, we’re pleased to announce the introduction of the Sky Extreme Series. 3 super-technical races represent a real opportunity to embrace the skyrunning ethos.
The ISF will continue to administer the sport of Skyrunning, competitions & events as an independent international federation with its own legal entity. Together, the UIAA and the ISF will jointly promote the integration of mountain sport associations under one roof. Among the initiatives to be addressed are the growth & protection of mountaineering & climbing, the protection of mountain environments, safety standards & the promotion of youth activities. Read more here!
The Sky Extreme kicks off on August 7, with the Tromsø SkyRace® in Norway, where Kilian Jornet and Emelie Forsberg launched the first, made-to-measure SkyRace in Northern territories. To complete the Sky Extreme Series, the biennial Kima Trophy is back and concludes with new entry, the Glen Coe Skyline. Set in the Scottish Highlands, it’s probably the toughest skyrunning race to date. Read more here!
2016 CamelBak ANZ skyrunner series calendar January 30th – The Ultra Easy 100km, Wanaka NZ www.theultraeasy100.nz February 2oth – Shotover Moonlight Marathon 42km, Queenstown NZ http://activeqt.co.nz/event/shotover-moonlight-marathon/ February 27th – The Hillary 34km/80km, Waitakere NZ www.thehillary.co.nz March 19th – Northburn 50km/100km, Cromwell NZ www.northburn100.co.nz April 8th to 10th – The Buffalo Stampede 26km/42km/75km, Bright AU www.buffalostampede.com.au April 17th – Mt Buller Sky Run 45km, Mt Buller AU www.runningwild.net.au/alpine-runs/mt-buller-sky-run June 2016 – Mt Difficulty Ascent 21km/42km, Cromwell NZ www.mtdifficultyascent.com October 8th to 9th – The Hounslow Classic 23km/68km, Blackheath AU www.hounslowclassic.com.au End Oct – Bright 4 Peaks, Bright AU www.4peaks.com.au Nov 5th – Sky Rock n Run 42km, Mt Oxford NZ www.skyrocknrun.co.nz
Entries Open Wednesday 23rd September 2015
yading skyrun
the first event in the 2016 Skyrunning world series is going to be one of the most spectacular!
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The Yading Skyrun® has captured the imagination ever since its conception. The idea of running in the high peaks of Shangi-La, China, has a certain air of mystery and adventure about it. The area of Yading is blessed with immense natural beauty, including the three sacred peaks of Mount Chenrezig, Jampayang, and Chenadorje, which loom over the National Park at an altitude of over 6,000m. Such is the high expectations of this event, even though only in its first year, the Yading Skyrun® has the honour of opening the 2016 Skyrunner® World Series. In late 2015 the race organisers invited several of the top ultra runners from the region to see the course for themselves. Clearly they were impressed! Scott Hawker had this to say: “I never knew China had such incredible mountains and breathtaking landscapes. A must see for any keen runner!” Ruth Croft had this to add: “It’s got everything, it’s got elevation, it’s challenging, it’s technical” Beginning at a lofty 2,900m altitude, the course leaves the town centre of Yading’s Shangri-La area, travels along fast flowing glacial meltwater and through alpine forest. The route climbs continuously for over 20km topping out at an incredible 4,700m. Upon reaching the col participants turn back on themselves to enjoy an exhilarating 5km descent to the finish at the
Chonggu Temple. With over 2,300m of elevation gain over the length of the course, and the finish line sitting at just over 4,000m, the race challenges beginners and elites alike. COURSE DESCIPTION: Yading Skyrun® begins in the centre of the Yading’s Shangri-La. A flattish start is made less than straightforward with an altitude of 2900m. After 3.5km of gradual downhill on dirt track the race hits in low point of 2868m before the real fun begins. After crossing the Chitu River the crux of the race begins. Passing by a small charming village, runners hit single track which hugs the glacier-fed river for 12km through alpine forests and rugged vegetation. The race continues uphill the whole time while crisscrossing the river over rugged wooden bridges. After exiting the river path competitors have 2km of road before getting back on the trail. After 1km we get the first glimpse of the Chonggu Temple which sits at 4000m and will host the finish on the runners’ return. Dirt trail climbs through colourful forest for 1km before revealing the most technical section of the race. Four tough kilometers up are rewarded with the fantastic col at the top of the race, strewn with mulit-coloured Buddhist prayer flags. Here
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runners will have hit an altitude of 4700m. Now all that’s left is the much anticipated and incredibly fun descent back to the Chonggu Temple where finish line glory awaits! Travel: Participants will generally fly into Daocheng Airport and bus/taxi to Yading. Daocheng airport is served by various carriers from Chengdu, Kunming, Chongqing, Xian, Luzhou,
Kanding, and Hangzhou airports. These airports in turn connect to many hubs in the U.S.(LA, San Francisco), Europe(London, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, Helsinki), and Asia (KL, Seoul, Bangkok, Taipei, HK, Tokyo, Singapore) etc. Accommodation: Yading offers many accommodation options from hostel through to 5 star hotels. There is something to offer for every budget. Race organisers will offer
some great value packages to competitors. Visit the website for more information. RACE DAY: APRIL 30, 2016 (SATURDAY) START TIME: 07:00 RACE DISTANCE: 29KM TOTAL ELEVATION: 2300D+ TIME LIMIT: 11 HOURS START LOCATION: YADING’S SHANGRI-LA FINISH LOCATION: CHONGGU TEMPLE, YADING
The official jacket of the Buffalo Stampede
THE HELIUM II JACKET Built for rainstorm protection, the Helium II is lighter, more breathable and 30% more waterproof than its predecessor. An ultra-compressible piece you’ll never leave behind. The Helium II is so light (180g), and packs down so small, you’ll forget it’s in your pack until you throw it on to ward off a sudden downpour. Compressible to the size of a muesli bar and completely waterproof and windproof, the Helium II doesn’t waste space or add more than a feather’s-worth of weight. Available in Men’s and Women’s specific models.
To find your closest Outdoor Research stockist email sales@intertrek.com.au or call 02 9417 5755
Click the jackets to see the full colour range
meet the race director
terry davis is one of the faces behind highland events. he’s also the RD responsible for some seriously awesome races!
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What events do you organise? The BIG EASY, Northburn, Mt Difficulty Ascent and some Rogaines. What got you started as a Race Director? The Arrow Challenge was an Adventure Race series I competed in and it completely changed my life. I found my ‘purpose’ and wanted to organise events with real ‘adventure’ aspects to them that could literally change peoples lives. What was the first event you organised? The Outdoor Expo and Race Weekend. A day of MTB followed by a day of Mountain/trail/adventure running based out of Upper Hutt, Wellington. What’s changed through the years since you started?
the top of the mountain, I went up in a 4WD to check on the competitors and the first one I saw came towards me absolutely white and crusted with snow/ice on the south side of her body (north side was fine) – she had a massive smile and said how AWESOME it was. I offered to give her a ride down to lower levels but she insisted on carrying on herself. (This is why we have a proper minimum gear list!) The worse the weather, the greater the adventure people have! What’s the biggest challenge you face when organising an event? The consents and health and safety factors – these are important details but I’m a big picture guy. When designing a course, what do you look for?
Adventure elements. Contrary to popular belief I don’t plan to make my events as hard as they can be. I plan to include awesome places and features. Living and setting courses around the mountainous Central Otago Have you got any area of New Zealand just kind interesting experiences of means they end up being a as a RD you can tell us wee tad on the ‘hard’ side by about? default. I mark my courses much better than I did those first couple of years! Facebook has seen a major change in how events are promoted and how we can keep our communities of loyal runners engaged.
The first year of the Northburn 100m race we had 5 competitors still high on the course when a southerly weather system hit. The snow was horizontal around
What’s your least favourite thing about being a RD? The pre race pressure, sleepless nights thinking
about what I might of forgot! There are a LOT of little details making events happen… and essentially I am a big picture guy. What’s the best part of the job? The sponsor’s shoes! That and hearing feedback about how awesome your courses are from participants. Got any advice for aspiring RD’s? Do (compete in) a wide variety of events, volunteer at lots of other ones. Set your event around your passion, you have to be passionate about it or you just won’t have the motivation to see it through.
BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING BE UNSTOPPABLE
GERMAINE GRANGIER
| TOP FINISHER 2015 OCC
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shotover
the shotover moonlight marathon, queenstown, NZ
The Shotover Moonlight Marathon is like most events you can do in New Zealand – Spectacular! The scenery is on par with some of the best you’ll encounter anywhere in the world. But coupled with that is the ‘Big race’ feel that somehow sits comfortably within a community atmosphere… if that makes sense? In essence it’s a true alpine mountain run with tough terrain that tests even the most seasoned athletes. Here we caught up with Race Director Adrian Bailey to find out more about this awesome event. How did the race come about? In late November 2011 I met with John & Ginny Foster whom own the privately owned 33,000 acre Ben Lomond Station to discuss the prospects around organising a Triathlon at Moke Lake - where the Marathon finishes. At the time John asked my thoughts upon mountain
running and I responded with that it’s a growing sport worldwide and New Zealand has so much potential. Before I knew it we were off up a farm track to a place called Sefferstown – an old gold mining hut - and John asked my thoughts around holding an event here. My response was “Where exactly?” to which John replied “Everywhere you can see!” I was stumped for words – and that rarely happens! Within the next 10 days we recce a potential marathon course between the start at the old pipeline in Skippers Canyon and the finish at Moke Lake, taking in old gold mining water races, ridgelines, bluffs, beach forests, streams, rivers and waterfalls, scree slopes and most importantly AMAZING VIEWS! With the help of Heliworks, a Queenstown helicopter company, and a local cameraman we put together a short promo video to help spread the word about this awesome new event – which was about to take place in just 11 weeks time!
How would you describe the course? One word - WOW! The course has something for everyone. There’s no doubt the continuous varied terrain has its challenges, but that simply adds to the excitement. After all, the views are worth the sweat. What is the biggest highlight of the event? There are many highlights, however knowing what the runners have endured physically in training to get to the start line and welcoming them across the finish line knowing what they have experienced and achieved is truly satisfying. I was so overwhelmed after starting the race in the first year that I cried with joy once I got into the helicopter to go to the finish line! What’s the most challenging part of the course? I think I’d have to say the varied terrain, simply because there’s nothing else like it anywhere, which makes it fair on everyone being on the same level playing field. Who are the favourites in this year’s event? I can’t divulge that kind of information! When the flag drops the bull s@@t stops! What advice do you have for first-time competitors? Don’t underestimate yourselves – YOU CAN DO IT! Time on your feet, cover varied terrain – enjoy time in the hills – they will become your friends. Outside of the race, what are the top three things to do in town? There are so many things to do in and around Queenstown, hence it being the adventure capital of the world. If you can think of something, it’s most probably available. Most importantly, have fun!
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northburn
a pictorial guide to the northburn 160/100/50 it’s a new zealand icon and new to the ANZ series
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event date: March 19th. location: Cromwell, New Zealand 100km: 6,350m vertical gain. 50km: 2,600m vertical gain
the 100 is both loops below. the 50 is loop one only website: www.northburn100.co.nz
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19 / 20 March 2016