Innholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2023 i Trail Run

There’s a topic covered in this edition of Trail Run Mag that I’m super hyped about, and it’s all to do with pushing and campaigning to take our beloved sport to the top of world eventing – the Olympic Games. There are so many reasons why trail running deserves Olympic status, and if I were to go on about it, I could very well take up every single page of this edition. As someone who interviews people and writes for a living, I get incredible opportunities to talk to not only a wide range of athletes who showcase trail running with the upmost pride and representation, but with race directors and organisers whose passions lie so much deeper than you’d have ever considered. These are the individuals you can rely…

THIS WATERPROOF JACKET IS DA BOMB. I really mean it. And not just because it looks absolutely fantastic on me, I love parading around in it, but it 100% does the job of everything Red Paddle claims it to do. Marketed as ‘light, packable and waterproof’ I will write a strong yes, yes, yes to all three assertions. Even though the label is known for its paddleboards and changing robes (which, by the way, are the perfect solution to those awkward car park changes when you’re going from bathers to regular clothing), this waterproof jacket is the perfect waterproof product for its entry into targeting trail runners. I have a few raincoats that I’ve used before whilst out on the tracks, and though the Active Jacket doesn’t feel like it’s…

In An Unstoppable Runner, author David Williams tells the story of his lifelong running adventure. In his easy-to-read book, he describes the physical and mental challenges he’s faced in such diverse locations like the blister-making Simpson Desert, muddy New Zealand forests as well as many other international marathons and ultras. Well known ultra runner Pat Farmer (who recently ran around Australia for ‘The Voice’) wrote the foreword to this inspirational book, saying ‘David Williams has been able to tap into the very core of an ultra runner’s motivation, to discover who they really are…David takes us on a journey to many countries and climates through decades of time to prove that we were meant to run the corners of this world and experience every aspect of life’. And, perhaps, this…

Let’s face it. The truth is, trail runners are always on the hunt for the next adventure. Whether it’s on a 5km stretch of dirt that’s been found accidentally, or a flight is booked to head further than one’s own backyard, it’s something that all trail runners enjoy – exploration of the unknown. It’s exhilarating, and it’s intrepid. We can all agree. So on that note, there’s now an incredible opportunity for athletes to race in a world class destination for walking and hiking, where animal and plant life is abundant, and Aboriginal rock art paintings and shelters are ancient and full of mystery. Race the Grampians Peaks Trail 100 Miler at speed and target that PB in the wild, or take it easy and absorb every breath you take.…

As the world continues to place greater importance on ethical consumption, it has become increasingly important for endurance races to align with these principles. You could argue that runners nowadays are not only looking for events that provide an honest challenge but ones that also place an emphasis on sustainability and the environment. These themes were the centerpiece on a stunning autumn day at Island Hills Station in April. Race Director Richard Negus gives us the low-down on Skedaddle, a brand new New Zealand trail running event where nature is the number one motive. 29 APRIL 2023 – NORTH CANTERBURY, NEW ZEALAND: After almost two years of hard work and having navigated the storm that was COVID-19, the time finally came to welcome runners from across Aotearoa to a hidden gem at…

HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE IT WHEN YOU FIND A PIECE OF CLOTHING AND IT’S BEEN MADE WITH RECYCLABLES? It’s absolutely brilliant, both ethically and sustainably, that Patagonia’s most iconic piece of gear – the Down Sweater – is made from fishing nets that could have otherwise ended up floating around the oceans and threatening our creatures of the deep. The ever popular Down Sweater has been redesigned with improved performance and reduced impact in mind. By puffy jacket, I’m not talking about one of those 1990s gangsta, rapper-style ‘original puffers’ that make you look like a gigantic cloud baby living on marshmallow milk. This particular puffer is smooth and silky without the real big ‘puff’ look – and I love it! I took it out on a couple windy…

RUNNING NUTRITION. HATE IT OR LOVE IT – IT DOESN’T REALLY MATTER. The fact is it’s inescapable, and to make things even better (or worse), there’s an overabundance of choice out there. Some products will wreak havoc on your body, while others will get you a PB. Choose wisely! Enter Spring Energy, a sports nutrition company that brings genuine, real food to the table. Unlike other industry players producing highly processed bars and sludges, Spring Energy aims to ‘bring back the joy of training and racing without GI problems, sugar highs, dips and negative effects of low quality ingredients and chemicals’. As a quick preface, due to nasty stomach issues in the past, I avoid running gels like the plague. I’m sceptical and somewhat hesitant going into this little experiment.…

“When we get too caught up in the busyness of the world, we lose connection with one another – and ourselves.”Jack Kornfield. There is a real shift towards mindfulness in the health and wellness sector. Everyone is talking about being ‘present’. Most wellness publications have a piece on mindfulness with a different perspective. Sometimes the mindfulness message gets complicated, getting lost in new age hippie translation, however practising mindfulness will help in all aspects of our lives including dominating running moments on the trail! I wanted to break it down so mindfulness can be applied right away in your day. Being present on your task at hand will allow you to move towards the best you can be in life and in running – plus our world will benefit. Most…

Beautiful tanned and toned bodies everywhere. No matter where you look, there’s a collage of buff silhouettes flexing their stuff and topping up last minute workouts before hitting a live stage in front of a crowd that watches competitors in sheer awe. And just like us trail runners get ready the morning of a race with our hydro-packs, on-the-go nutrition, drop bags, the right clothing and maybe even a spreadsheet here or there to keep track of our expected pace, bodybuilders adorn dressing rooms before standing in front of judges, clearing out their own area and strapping on bejewelled bikinis, high heels and snacks. Chiseled like the Greek gods they are, there is so much work that goes behind each individual’s dream of being crowned winner in this world of…

TRAIL RUNNING HAS BEEN A SAVIOUR FOR A VAST ARRAY OF PEOPLE. FROM ESCAPING THE EVERYDAY GRIND TO FINDING THEMSELVES AGAIN AND REDISCOVERING THEIR TRUTH. VICTORIAN ANIKA WARREN-SMITH WENT FROM ROAD TO TRAIL RUNNING IN 2013, REVELLING IN EVERYTHING THAT SURROUNDED HER – FROM THE TERRAIN AND NATURE-SCAPES, TO THE COMMUNITY WHO SUPPORTED HER. IT WASN’T UNTIL 2022 THAT SHE BIT THE BULLET, THOUGH, AND TRAINED FOR HER VERY FIRST 50KM. TODAY, SHE SHARES WITH TRAIL RUN MAG READERS THE KNOWLEDGE SHE GAINED, EXPLAINING HOW SHE DID IT AND WHAT WORKED BEST FOR HER. When I started writing about preparing for my first ultramarathon, the practical stuff first came to mind. Training plans, gear, nutrition, etc. Whilst all of those are important, and I will get to them later, I…

MADE FOR ENDURANCE AND CHALLENGING CONDITIONS, The North Face’s Summit High Trail Run Short Sleeve shirt is the perfect partner for training and racing in all conditions – and I was lucky enough to give this high-end fabric a go! That, and the LED Yellow colour is prime choice for anyone who loves adding a splash of their personality to the trails. Down to the nitty gritty of this slim fit shirt which TNF calls ‘coupe slim’ due to its darted seams (a type of sewing method to ensure shape for body contouring). It’s made with FlashDry-Pro™ materials that pull moisture away, designed to repel and resist wetting out to help provide quick drying performance that keeps you dry. This tech is engineered to act like a second skin against…

As a running coach, I’m fortunate enough to speak to people about trail running on a regular basis, and one of the most common questions I’m asked is, ‘How can I run faster?’ After reviewing training logs and data, the most surprising answer to many is, telling people to slow down. Whilst this sounds counter intuitive, let’s dig into the reasons for running slow, the why, the what and as important for you, how slow, should your slow and easy runs be? Why Do We Run Slow To Speed Up? Running easy allows us to build up our endurance through being able to add more distance and volume throughout the training week. Very simply, we can run a lot more when running easy and gain all the same benefits without…

It was like a Hollywood movie script, a true hero’s journey. A race of epic proportions, I had dreamed about it, trained and sacrificed; travelled the breadth of the Earth to stand at the start line. Only to quit, DNF at 250km mark, broken, frozen, hallucinating, fractured and busted. But the hero’s journey continued. I limped home to discover the wisdom hidden within the failure (insert Rocky-style training montage and an eventual return to the start line in a foreign land). Not only did I conquer the race that second time, finally reaching the finish line on the shores of a frozen Arctic Ocean, but I stood on top of the podium, conquering all and sundry, demons within and competitors without. It literally, literally could not have gone better. So…

Staggering through the heat haze of the salt flats like a cowboy from an old Western movie whose horse had died long ago, I spotted the white dome of the aid station. Well, I hoped it was the aid station and not a mirage, but typically mirages don’t sing happy birthday, do they? I’d planned on doing something memorable for my 40th birthday. I didn’t count on not being able to remember it, but that’s what happens when you run 250km in the heat of Chile’s Atacama Desert – a place so inhospitable that they use it to test the Mars rovers. The Atacama Crossing race was the hardest of the events; with altitude and heat combining to literally cook you. The sun not only beat down, but reflected up…