Table of contents for November 2021-January 2022 in Trail Run

THE Dandenong Ranges are a carnival of trails, and what better way to experience them than the Roller Coaster Run? Steep ascents, gnarly descents, lush wilderness, up and down, round and round, loop the loop - you’ll be giddy with delight during this challenging and well-loved gem on the Victorian trail-running scene. Runners are spoilt for choice with distances. There’s the 46km Double Loop, 23km Single Loop, 12km Mad Mouse Trail Run, 5km Fairy Floss Family Run, and 2km Carousel Run for junior trailites. EVENT Roller Coaster Run WHEN 28 November, 2021 DISTANCE 46km | 23km | 12 km | 5km | 2km WHERE Kalorama Memorial Reserve, Mount Dandenong, Victoria MORE rollercoasterrun.com Starting and finishing at Kalorma Memorial Reserve, each distance is a challenge for the mind and body. Runners…

AS I’ve moved beyond my 45th year, I have opened my mind to more efficient ways of achieving improvement. But it’s important to be open minded but not so open that your brain falls out! Before blindly accepting the latest fitness or wellness “hack”, you must trial and evaluate it yourself. When I was a younger triathlete, I had far more time to squander. With no dependents or financial commitments, I could indulge my passion for triathlons and running endlessly. I trained in four disciplines a week for 12–20 hours a week, with every session lasting at least one hour (I thought anything less was a waste of time). I ate what I wanted with little regard for nutrition. It didn’t matter because I was “burning it off”. Food was…

Trail Run Mag is for anyone who wants to feel part of a community of people who love running in spectacular terrain. Packed with features, interviews, gear reviews, event previews, trail porn and more, Trail Run Mag inspires you to live a little more wildly! If you’re devoted to the dirty art of trail running, we’d love for you to subscribe Trail Run Mag. Better yet, tell your friends and family how great Trail Run Mag is and encourage them to subscribe, too! By supporting Trail Run Mag, you support our fantastic contributors, people who are as enamoured with the trails as you, whose words and images inspire us all. SUBSCRIPTION (4 ISSUES PER YEAR) Print: $66 AUD /$60 NZD Digital 1-Year: $29.95 Digital & Print 1-Year Bundle: $69.95 Digital…

I’M A BIG FAN of the Topo Athletic Ultraventure. I’ve owned a few pairs of these trail shoes over the years, as well as several other Topo models for dirt and road. Being “blessed” with super-wide feet, I appreciate the accommodating toe box – especially during longer runs and ultras. I’ve worn the Ultraventures during the Scenic Rim Ultra 105km, Surf Coast Century 100 and Blackall 100. They’re low-drop (5mm) yet cushioned without feeling heavy (although I have heard some people say they do find them a bit bulky). Able to handle a range of terrain, they really do go the distance. However, I’ve had some trouble with slippage in the Ultraventure. At the beginning of a run, they always feel great – roomy and pliable without feeling loose. But…

RACE and then relax in the stunning paradise of Noosa, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. The extensive and diverse Noosa Trail Network will be the stage for the inaugural Noosa Ultra-Trail®, to be held in March 2022. Lush hinterland, tranquil lakes and rolling green valleys will soothe your soul, but don’t be fooled – the 100km UTMB World Series Qualifier will put your stamina to the ultimate test! The Noosa Ultra-Trail® is a festival of all things trails and the outdoors. From 23-27 March, you can try a range of organised activities, including yoga, an ocean swim, a hinterland hike, Noosa river cruises, a women’s luncheon … oh, and trail running, of course! The Noosa Ultra-Trail® boasts four distances. The marquee event is the Ultra-Trail 100, which will be an introductory…

1. How did your group begin? The Trailiens started out as the Wild Runners, a training group established by Tim and Laura Coles in 2014. Wild Runners inspired Tim and Laura to create The Trail Co. and provide a space where trail lovers can find great gear and connect with like minded people. As The Trail Co. grew, it became clear that Wild Runners and The Trail Co. would be stronger together, and so the merger was made official and The Trailiens was born. In 2020, The Trailiens evolved further to become registered as a coached, not-for-profit trail-running group led by a committee of its own members. As a group, we value our planet, our friends, our own two feet and a sense of adventure. As a club, we aim…

Before COVID-19 arrived on our shores, FKTs – or fastest known times – were a bit of a thing in Australia and New Zealand. But they weren’t A THING. At least, not like in the United States, where the phenomenon was born. But in 2020, the virus struck. Lives were plunged into chaos, and lockdowns threw a king hit at trail-running events on both sides of The Ditch. What was a trail runner to do? Take matters into their own hands, that’s what – by racing the clock on trails and routes both new and established. It seemed every second day, you’d hear about a new FKT or someone’s planned attempt. The conversation added excitement to our otherwise blank year of racing. And it’s a trend that’s continuing to rise.…

IF YOU’VE ever wondered what it would be like to run on Mars, running in Coober Pedy may be as close to running on the fourth planet from the Sun as you’ll get. A ruddy-coloured sea of desert, pocked with craters and mullock, it’s no wonder it has been the backdrop to a significant number of sci-fi films. Underneath this incredible lunar landscape is an underground labyrinth of mines and accommodation, hidden from the sun’s unrelenting rays. It’s a harsh environment, but its harshness is also its charm. Each year, the strange, stark beauty of Coober Pedy attracts visitors and adventurers from around Australia and the world. The clear skies, sunsets and sunrises are astonishing – an Instagrammer’s delight. The abrasive desert is a post-apocalyptic movie director’s dream. The dugout…

ULTRA CUSHIONED, ULTRA COMFORTABLE, ULTRA VERSATILE. So says the marketing tag from Swiss company On Running about their new max-cushioned, long-day-out trail shoe, the Cloudultra. Sounds promising, right? I thought so, too, and was happy to give these a trial. Do they deliver? Let’s find out. All shoes from On Running have one thing in common: the distinctive Cloudtec sole. This gives the shoes not only a unique appearance, but also multi-directional cushioning elements, which create a uniquely comfortable ride that reacts to your individual movements. Think soft landings followed by explosive take offs. On the Cloudultra, these Helion foam elements have been doubled up, which increases stack height. But straight away, you know this shoe is made for big runs. There is an 8mm drop, and for its size, this…

HAVE you goat what it takes (boom tish!) to take on an exhilarating, bucket list mountain quest? If so, the Goat Adventure Run is calling you. Just remember to pack some tissues or a spare buff to dry those eyes at the end. Why? Because the infamous “Mama’s Mile” final climb straight up Turoa ski field is so steep, it’ll have you crying for your mama. The Goat Adventure Run is one of the toughest off-road runs in New Zealand. Runners traverse the western slopes of Mount Ruapehu, an active volcano in Tongariro National Park, along the remote Round the Mountain Track. The 20km event from the Whakapapa ski field to Turoa ski field teems with aweinspiring views of mountains, tussock grasslands, alpine herb fields, volcanic rock, and lakes. More than…

SO, you think you’re hardcore, eh? Can run an ultra, eh? Did you jump out of a plane to get to the start line? No? Well, maybe it’s time to up the ante! Skydive Ultra boasts the singular reputation of being the world’s only running race that starts with a skydive. And although it may be some people’s Nightmare Run rather than a Dream Run, rest assured that you’ll clock your fastest two miles of any race – guaranteed. Founder and organiser Eric Friedman began skydiving in 2005(ish), then started running ultramarathons in 2008(ish). “Running ultramarathons leaves you a LOT of time to think about goofy stuff,” Eric says. “So, I thought to myself how cool it would be to combine two of my greatest passions and create a running…

THERE’S something magical in the air when the only sound you can hear in the middle of the bush is the repetitiveness of your own footsteps. The crunch of leaves, the whistle of breeze, and distant calls of crickets and insects can, for some, be incredibly daunting – especially when you’re out there all alone. But for others, solo trail runs over great distances are a way of life. And recently, two Aussie women smashed their attempts at a fastest known time (FKT) on Australian trails. The trick to attempting an FKT is knowing that not every route is FKT qualified. Routes must be notable and distinct enough so that other people will be interested in repeating them. Several other factors must also be taken into account, including distance and…

THE COVID-19 pandemic has thrown so many aspects of our lives into chaos. Social distancing, self-isolation and lockdowns have led to so much more than the cancellation of trail races – businesses have shut down, people have lost their jobs, and those close human connections we all need have been severely tested. This was sadly brought home to Pat Farmer AM when he lost his dear friend and fellow runner, Steven Garamy, in 2020. “Steve was involved in everything in our running community – parkruns, triathlons, races, everything,” Pat says. “But during COVID last year, Steve took his life. Most of us didn’t understand he had a problem, but he had been in a dark place. He struggled with the isolation, and he’d been battling depression all his life. Steve’s…

I WOKE up one morning with a grizzly moustache and beard, wind-burnt lips and chafed thighs. I’d spent the past 37 hours in the mountains, beaten by rain, cold and lack of sleep. I looked at the silver belt buckle taking pride of place on my bedside table and thought, “Life on the trails isn’t that much different from the days of the Wild West – a series of lessons, experiences, hardships and victories. Like a cowboy, we grab life by the reins and guide it down the trail, dealing with challenges head-on. The challenge is to create balance in our lives through adversity and triumph.” It was November 2020, one month after my last 100km ultramarathon trail race – my tenth 100km-plus race in seven years, including three races up…