Innholdsfortegnelse for Summer 2025 i Trail Run

The air thins, the ground falls away, and every step demands your full attention.  A jagged ridgeline stretches into the clouds, the wind howls across exposed rocks, and all that exists in the moment is the rhythm of breath and the scramble of hands and feet. This isn’t road running. This isn’t even your typical trail hit. This is skyrunning. A sport that asks runners to meet the mountains on their own terms, where vert replaces distance, and courage counts as much as endurance. An idea born in the European Alps in the 1990s, skyrunning was pioneered by Italian mountaineer Marino Giacometti, who believed that running shouldn’t stop where the road ended. He and his team defined a sport that reached beyond the trails, up into the sky – to…

Could Merrell Race Tekapo be the most beautiful trail event in New Zealand? It certainly ticks all the boxes for jaw-dropping scenery with every race distance on offer giving competitors unsurpassed views of snowcapped mountains, vast landscapes, and the iconic turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo. Located in Lake Tekapo village, Merrell Race Tekapo is set right in the heart of the beautiful Mackenzie Region in New Zealand. Competitors travel from all over the globe to experience the untouched beauty of the area. With seven distances on offer there really is ‘something for everyone’. Lake Tekapo is part of the largest Dark Sky Reserve in the world and competitors in the longer distances get to line up under the stars before they head out on course. Walkers are also encouraged at…

When Brooke Staff laced up her shoes for a quick jog between driveways, she didn’t know she was stepping into a whole new life. A 41-year-old mum from Jimboomba, Queensland Brooke had already lost 45kg through persistence and grit. Running started as a way to squeeze in fitness between parenting and work – but it quickly became much more. Each power pole passed became a marker of possibility, each stretch a reminder that she was capable of far more than she once believed. Today, Brooke is not only an endurance runner chasing big goals, but also an ambassador for Yeah Buddy, the proud Australian brand designing bold hats with meaning. Together, they’ve created a partnership that’s less about fashion, and more about purpose – authenticity, perseverance, compassion, and heart. RUNNING…

When a brand promises to fuel your run with real Canadian maple syrup, you half expect a stack of pancakes at the aid station. Instead, mapleROO delivers something far better – pocket sized fuel that tastes good, sits easy on the gut, and keeps energy levels steady without the dreaded sugar crash. Their Energy Waffle is basically breakfast-to-go, soft enough to chew mid-stride but substantial enough to feel like you’ve something real, and is like a delish biscuit (and I’d never had thought it was gluten free!). It’s sweet without being sickly, and paired with a sip of water it’s the kind of fuel you actually look forward to eating. MapleROO’s Natural Energy Drink (Maple Sugar and Lemon/Lime flavour) is the quiet achiever of the bunch: light, refreshing, and not…

We all know injuries and niggles are part of the game, but downtime doesn’t have to be. Thuasne, a French brand specialising in compression supports, offers practical solutions for those who need a little extra stability, whether it’s an ankle rolled at a weekend trot or a lower back that won’t stop complaining after long hours on feet. As someone who is free falling into perimenopause faster than I can deploy a parachute, and blessed with the biomechanical genetics of a rock, I’ve recently found my back becoming more and more problematic. Being a professional photographer has some disadvantages too, having to stand for long hours and carrying camera gear. Then as a runner, I run stupid distances (there isn’t even a bear chasing me) and apparently I sleep on…

There’s something about slipping into a pair of trail shoes that look as good as they feel, and the La Sportiva Prodigio Max had me at hello. The colourway in Hibiscus/Malibu Blue is pure joy – bold enough to stand out, yet easy on the eyes. But okay, shoes aren’t just about looks, and the Prodigio Max promises a whole lot more for ultra enthusiasts with its maximum cushioning, long haul comfort, and enough technical bite to keep you moving forward when the trails start getting tough. The Prodigio Max are a tall stack shoe, around 37mm in the heel and 31mm in the forefoot, giving a 6mm drop, and it truly delivers on what La Sportiva call their XFlow Endurance midsole, a nitrogen-infused eTPU core wrapped in an EVA…

Trail running has many formats that push runners to the edge, but few are as brutally simple as the backyard ultra. One 6.71km loop, on the hour, every hour, then repeat until there’s only one left standing. It’s relentless, it’s unpredictable, and it’s become one of the most compelling formats in the world of endurance running. In May 2026, the Melbourne Frontyard Ultra returns for its second edition under Ultra Series Australia. Building on the success of its debut, this year’s event ups the ante with the biggest cash giveaway in Ultra Series history and exclusive Phil Gore workshops, offering a chance to learn from one of the greatest backyard runners of all time. Backyard ultras have popped up all over the globe, and Melbourne is no stranger to them,…

Trail running has a funny way of reminding us that no matter how carefully we plan, the trail always has the final word. You can study the course map until it’s etched into memory, pack your gear with military precision, and train for months with laser focus. But one loose rock, one sudden storm, one unexpected moment of fatigue can rewrite the script in an instant. That’s where adaptability steps in. It’s not the glamourous side of running we post about on social media, but it might be the most important skill we carry into both the trails and our lives. Adaptability is the quiet shift of the mindset when the legs feel heavier than expected at kilometre five. It’s swapping ‘chasing a PB’ for ‘finishing strong’, or turning a…

The Ultra Gobi 400 is a journey written in sand, stone, and silence. Held in the vast reaches of the Gobi Desert in western China, it unfolds across landscapes as raw as they are timeless. The environment is an ocean of ochre and gold, where sun and shadow play across the bones of the ancient Silk Road. Here, endurance runners step into a world both barren and alive, the wind carrying stories older than any memory. The Ultra Gobi 400 is not just a race. It’s an odyssey. Each stride carries weight across cracked earth, rolling dunes, and endless plateaus where the horizon stretches forever. By day, the desert blazes with unforgiving heat, stripping every thought down to its essentials. By night, the Gobi becomes a theatre of endless stars,…

One of the hardest things about ultras is never quite knowing what’s waiting at the next aid station. Sometimes you strike gold, other times it’s a food your stomach may not be able to handle, and it’s why many athletes have trusted crew members to prepare preferred meals for them ahead of time. But if there’s a lightweight option that can be thrown easily into a dropbag or carried by your crew without the heavy lifting, and if you can just as easily train with it, then at least one part of race day can feel under your control. And honestly? The meals by Real Meals NZ have won me over. I started with the Wilderness Stew, and it was surprisingly hearty, warming, and tasty. All it took was 1.5…

The Norvan LD has a reputation for being Arc’teryx’s one-quiver trail option, and this latest version carries that torch well. It’s a no-nonsense trail shoe that feels secure and responsive straight out of the box, making it a strong contender for runners looking for a reliable all-rounder. After months of testing on South East Queensland trails, from slick rainforest tracks and off-trail bush-bashing to dusty gravel fireroads, I'm convinced that the Norvan LD 4 can handle just about everything you’ll find in Australia. What stands out immediately is the fit. The medium-to-wide shape with its spacious forefoot and toe box makes the Norvan accessible to more runners, especially those with wider feet. They do run a little large, so consider sizing down by half. The upper wraps the foot in…

BUILT FOR THE TRAILS, READY FOR ANY HORIZON Tame the wild in style with your exclusive Trail Run × Yeah Buddy hat, a premium, performance-driven cap that merges function with fearless expression. Yeah Buddy designs celebrate the runner’s journey—from rugged dawn miles to sunset summit selfies—with eye-catching art and smart design. For a one-time payment of just $55.00, you’ll get: • 4 adrenaline-packed issues of Trail Run (worth $59.80) • A Yeah Buddy Hat (worth $69) That’s a total value of over $120 — you save over $70. Fuel your stoke, chase new trails, and gear up for the season ahead. Hats are expected to begin shipping mid to late November. RRP $69 Refer to website T&Cs. SUBSCRIBE.TRAILRUNMAG.COM SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS: • Never miss an issue • Great gift idea •…

This was one of my favourites of Aussie runner Phil Gore who was competing at the 2025 Dead Cow Gully in rural Queensland. He went on to break the world record and run 119 laps, and couldn’t have done it without his legendary crew members who stuck with him from start to finish. This shot was done mid-snack break in his Tarkine Autopilots. Capturing Phil’s most meditative state during time off feet allowed me to capture incredible behind-the-scenes moments of what it’s like to crew at a world record attempt. Camera Specs: Canon 5Div, 17-40mm lens, f4…

Are you searching for your next dream run? The Epica dell’Acqua 100km (3-stage race) could be the one that steals your heart. In the north-east of Italy, the Veneto region unfurls a landscape where river, sea and sky blend into one of Europe’s most poetic backdrops. Here, along the mighty Po Delta, runners move in step with the country’s longest river, tracing its journey across the lower Polesine and immersing themselves in a place where time feels suspended. This is a race of soul as much as stride. Imagine beginning on a floating bridge, your path curving through quiet islands and farmland before following embankments beside a great inland lagoon, its waters dotted with fishermen’s huts balanced on stilts. Picture the sun rising over an untouched beach, the air salt-tanged,…

In 2024, Ngân Harwood and friends were the first 6 Australians to participate in the Mongolia Trail Run. It was Ngân’s husband who planted the seed for this adventure when he asked her if there was a run in Mongolia that she could do to celebrate her 50th year. Ngân had always wanted to visit Mongolia but says that, “The question stunned me for a second as the idea of running in Mongolia had never once entered my mind.” That same day, an internet search revealed a relatively new trail event called Mongolia Trail Run (MTR). After the inaugural MTR in 2019, the event was put on hold like so many others during the COVID pandemic. MTR was firmly on Ngân’s radar when the second edition was held in 2023,…

One mountain, five years and thousands of stories. Kunanyi Mountain Run always delivers, and in 2026 it promises three days of epic trails, cultural connection, and unforgettable stories – and it all happens within a stone’s throw of Hobart’s CBD. Over the years, this trail festival has earned a reputation as ‘trail running heaven’ and we know why. In 2026, runners can expect a brand-new Foothills 5km and Mountain Walk 25km, as well as a Kids Bush Play (drop-off / creche), female-specific qualifying times, a pregnancy deferral policy, menstrual products, and more - making KMR more inclusive than ever. The Mountain Run 25km showcases why Hobart is Australia’s only mountain city. It’s a classic summit-return course (1560m elevation) takes runners (and hikers on the Mountain Walk) through peppermint forests that…

If you’ve entered a trail run in Australia or New Zealand, there’s a fair chance you may have seen Calumn Hockey crouched beneath a shrub or atop a sand dune. Calumn has established himself a career as one of the sport’s best photographers who, earlier in 2025, also found himself as part of the crew that helped Phil Gore to his record-breaking 119-lap victory at the Dead Cow Gully Backyard Ultra in Queensland. Calumn says one of his best mates and an esteemed endurance runner, Erchana Murray-Bartlett, asked him to join Phil’s crew alongside Gaby Villa and Tim Moffatt. The extra hand became crucial when Phil’s wife, Gemma, was sidelined with an ankle injury. “At first, I said ‘no, hard pass!’ But then I photographed Coffs Backyard Ultra, had an…

Oakley Holbrook sunnies aren’t for people who want their sun protection to whisper “I was picked from the bargain bin.” From the moment I placed these on my face (matte black frame with metal rivets and all), I felt like stepped into an old surf movie, but upgraded for high-def sun. Sunglass Hut says it uses O Matter for the frame, which means you get lightweight durability without feeling like you’re lugging a brick across your face. The lenses are where Oakley tends to pull ahead: UV protection, clarity, and with polarised/Prizm options depending on which version you get. On bright days, they do a solid job cutting glare, enough that you can stare at your phone, car windscreen, or sand without needing to squint like you just saw someone…

Designed for multi-sport adventure, the Coros NOMAD isn’t your archetypal running watch. You’re more likely to see a flannel-wearing woodsman in the marketing copy than Kilian Jornet, but just as a jack of all trades is often times better than a master of one, you’ll appreciate the NOMAD’s obsessive engineering when you’re deep in the wild. The first thing you’ll note with the watch is just how substantial it feels. At 61g it’s hefty, but it sits gently on the wrist. The offset positioning of the rotary dial and buttons means I actually find the NOMAD more comfortable than the slightly smaller Apex Pro. The housing is a fortress of aluminium and fibre-reinforced polymer, rugged enough to survive the sort of scrapes you’d expect in trail running: navigating switchbacks, wrestling…

Recovery products can be hit or miss, but Perskindol’s Active Spray and Active Gel definitely land closer to the bullseye. I tested both after some runs that saw me with sore calves, and given my age (okay, I’m not that old, but old enough…!), mysterious aches that show up when I’ve done nothing more than sit at a desk for too long. Perskindol’s Active Spray is the lazy runner’s dream – no rubbing, no mess. Just point and spray. It delivers a sharp cooling hit that makes you wonder if you’ve just run through an ice bath, followed by a subtle warmth that feels like your muscles are being gently bribed back into cooperation. It’s especially handy on spots you don’t really want to poke or prod, like a tender…

When a brand decides to dig into its archives and bring back an original, it can go one of two ways. It can either be a gimmicky nostalgia trip, or a genuine reminder of why the shoe mattered in the first place. With the limited edition re-release of the Brooks Cascadia 1, it’s the latter. Sliding into these feels like stepping onto the trail with a piece of running history underfoot, because this was Brooks’ very first trail shoe, debuting back in 2004 and famously worn by Scott Jurek during the Western States 100mi. Twenty-one years later, it’s been dusted off and brought back for another lap. And honestly? It’s still got legs. When the box arrived, it felt like opening a time capsule. The Cascadia 1 is unapologetically old…