Table of contents for Winter 2025 in Trail Run

Men are dominant at most athletic events, but ultra-endurance sports (exercising for six hours or more) represent a unique domain where the performance gap between men and women is narrowing significantly. In traditional endurance events like marathons, men consistently outperform women by about 10%. However, in ultradistance competitions this disparity can be as small as 4% - and in some cases, women have even outpaced men. So what explains this shift? The answer lies in a combination of physiology, metabolism and strategy. FATIGUE RESISTANCE: AN ADVANTAGE FOR WOMEN Women’s muscle composition is optimised for endurance. They have a higher proportion of type I (slow-twitch) muscle fibres, which are more efficient and resistant to fatigue during prolonged activity compared to type II (fast-twitch) fibres. This gives women an edge in maintaining…

It would be easy to think the headline was the magazine world’s version of clickbait. Such sensational claims are rife in social media and all too often you press the ‘Read More’ button only to discover the article you’re sent to is way off the mark or has been deliberately written to stimulate debate, or should I say, a thread of arguing comments. In this instance, I feel as though my many years of searching for hurt on the trails qualifies me just to be able to make this claim. But before delving into how I came about this stance, the event I’m talking about is the Shotover Moonlight Vertical Kilometre, held on the slopes of the iconic Ben Lomond Mountain in Queenstown, New Zealand. Now to the justification. What…

The North Face’s Summit VECTIV™ Pro 3 is engineered for ultra-distance trail dominance, combining cutting-edge propulsion, stability, and comfort to help runners push their limits. In other words, this is a beast of a shoe and is an upgrade from the 2024 VECTIV Pro 2. With a reimagined design, this athlete-validated trail racing shoe integrates The North Face’s latest VECTIV 3.0 technology, featuring a dual-stacked plate system. The combination of a full-length carbon-fibre propulsion plate and a recycled carbon-fibre stability top plate creates a responsive, forward-driving feel while maintaining crucial support on rugged terrain. A rockered midsole enhances propulsion, making every step more efficient, especially in long-distance races, so there’s no excuse not to enter that ultra you’ve been eyeing off! Cushioning takes centre stage with the DREAM nitrogen-TPU foam…

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QUÉBEC MEGA TRAIL – You can feel the energy of a trail running race by the hospitality of the town it crosses along the course. And the village of Baie-Saint-Paul, about an hour east of Québec City in Canada, gets pretty festive as it welcomes the contenders at the starting line of the 135km Québec Mega Trail race. In the queen distance of race, participants go head-to-head in a unique and wild voyage between the St Lawrence River and the mountain of the Laurentian Plateau. Starting with a long climb at sundown into the Canadian wilderness to the summit of the coastal wall of the Sentier des Caps, runners are given a breathtaking sunrise over the vast expanse of water that is St Lawrence. The journey then dives deep into…

I On the afternoon of 20 September, 2024 Julian Bowring and I set out from Cobungra, a blip in the Victorian Alps, to attempt something absurd: to cover the entire 220kms of the McMillans Walking Track, unsupported, in record time. The track, a jagged scar across Victoria’s high country, was hacked out of the wilderness in 1864 by Angus McMillan to link goldfields during the manic gold rush. Since then, the elements have mostly reclaimed it: crumbling trails, overgrown riverbanks, and valleys where nature has quietly repossessed what was once hers. A century and a half ago, Angus McMillan carved this path in search of gold; now, it was us chasing something equally elusive – a moment of clarity in the chaos of modern life. The McMillans isn’t for the…

If your idea of a perfect day involves winding trails, rolling terrain, and that unbeatable feeling of freedom only found in nature, then the Brooks Caldera 8s are ready to be your off-road companion. Built for long-haul comfort and stability, this shoe is designed to keep you moving confidently, regardless if you’re tackling technical climbs or cruising through soft bush tracks. So let’s get straight to the point and talk snazzy features. The absolute standout feature of the Caldera 8 shoe is the plush, yet responsive cushioning. Brooks has packed the shoe with their nitrogen-infused DNA LOFT v3 midsole, which gave me an ultra-light, bouncy feel without compromising on durability. The result for me was a ride so smooth, I began looking for extra kilometres just to keep the fun…

These are your trail-ready bestie. If shoes had personalities, The North Face VECTIV™ Enduris 4 would be the friend who convinces you to sign up for an ultra, assures you it’ll be ‘fun,’ and then actually makes sure you survive it. Packed with plush cushioning (it’s like running on a marshmallow…kinda), grippy outsoles, and a surprisingly stable ride, this shoe is here to handle whatever terrain you throw its way. The VECTIV Enduris 4 features The North Face’s fancy new supercritical TPU Dream foam midsole, which sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. Translation? It’s softer than its predecessor, giving you more bounce and comfort without feeling like you’re running through quicksand. The midsole is paired with a stability plate that helps keep you upright when the trails…

This was my first shoot back in Australia after understudying the legendary Alexis Berg in Europe, and I was eager to put what I’d learned into practice. One of the biggest lessons that stuck with me was ‘look for light.’ It’s so easy to get caught up in the chaos of shooting everything in sight, but Alexis taught me to slow down – to find the light first, then wait for someone to pass through the frame. So that’s exactly what I did here in this shot. The Aussie sun was already blazing, and at that point, you start doing the opposite of what you’d expect – hunting for shade. I spotted this rock where the light was cutting across at just the right angle, and the bright sky behind…

It started with a simple idea – a shared passion for running, a deep love for community, and a desire to push boundaries. For Patrick and Joanna Manulat, organising the inaugural Sandy Point Backyard Ultra in January 2025 wasn’t just about hosting another endurance race. It was about proving what was possible, not just for themselves but for the entire running community in Invercargill, South Island. At 44, Patrick has been no stranger to the gruelling demands of endurance sports. A trailblazer for Tailwind Nutrition NZ and a Fractel via zerotwenty2sports ambassador, his journey into long-distance running began at uni when he completed the Tour of Cebu in the Philippines. That race ignited a fire that led him from road running to the trails. By day, Patrick works long hours…

I went to Buzau, Romania in early August of 2024 excited to be with my fiancé Inia Raumati for his fifth race of his mission to run a self-supported ultra on each continent in one year (#8raceson8continents). He’s been on some epic races around the world this year, running to raise funds for our scholarship Kia Mau, Kia Ora, where we are hoping to put young people through self-supported ultras as we truly believe they can be life-changing experiences to help break any perceived limitations. I haven’t been able to travel with Inia to all the races due to work commitments and taking care of our four-legged family members, but Ultra Race Romania lined up nicely. I thought I’d volunteer as part of his crew; help where I could, walk…

Cutting edge technology from HMD (Human Mobile Devices) aims to bridge the gap between cellular and satellite networks, and in January announced the Australian launch of OffGrid, a device that is its entry into Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) Communications. HMD OffGrid uses ultra-reliable L Band satellite radio spectrum, enabling any Android or IOS user to connect directly to satellites, even in the world’s most challenging environments. The device delivers satellite connectivity and features 24/7 emergency response, three-day battery life and MIL-STD-810H military grade-durability. The device weighs a mere 60g and easily fits in the palm of your hand, making it ideal for adventurers, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone prioritising connectivity, security and peace of mind. HMD OffGrid allows people to stay in touch whilst ‘off grid' via the OffGrid app, enabling two-way…

If you’ve ever felt like your runners were conspiring against you – flattening your arches, numbing your toes, and making long walks feel like a medieval form of torture – meet the MBT-2000 II. Designed to revolutionise how you move, these shoes don’t just support your feet – they practically coach them into a healthier stride. MBT originates from Masai Barefoot Technology, which draws inspiration from the Masai people known for their upright postures and athletic physique. MBT shoes aren’t your standard trainers, with footwear featuring a patented sole construction with the Masai Sensor, providing comfort and natural instability to enhance lower body muscle activity, posture, and balance. In fact, MBT shoes are known to provide enough foot support for those suffering from painful ailments including plantar fasciitis – which…