Table of contents for August - October 2022 in Trail Run

You 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…

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 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…

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I’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. 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. 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…

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 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…

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…

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. Pemberton offers a wide variety of accommodation options to cater for all budgets – so…

Grand 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. 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…

There 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. 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.…

When 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’…

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

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…

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…

How did your group begin? 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! 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. What local event do you rally…

Jake 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…

Situated 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…

kunanyi 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. You’ve all been there, right? This one is different. It’s different because it embraces Tasmanian Aboriginal culture, connection to country, and it’s run with country. It’s a festival celebrating Tasmanian Aboriginal culture – my culture. 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. Pre-dawn, calling me quietly with the promise of a warm sunrise, it was a connection that I have felt before. As a…