Trail Run

There I was, believing that I had eradicated most of my pre-conceptions and had become genuinely open-minded about just about everything. And then a chap called Andrew Dickson made contact and unearthed yet one more misguided notion lying not so much

Where: Sefton Ridge Track is one of a series of trails in the Kaitake Range in Oakura, Taranaki. Kaitake Range is remarkably different from the rest of Egmont National Park, with its variety of warmth-loving, semi-coastal forest, and when up high, sw

Where: Falls Creek is a resort town in northeastern Victoria, Australia. It is a 4.5 hour drive from Melbourne, an easy day’s drive from Sydney and less than two hours in the car from Albury. Most access to Falls Creek is via the nearby township of M

I recall having a chat with a guy called Jimi a few years back. Jimi is the founder and leads a movement called Live More Awesome*. Jimi talked about this thing called ‘mental health’, and to be honest I didn’t really know what he meant by that term.

Even if you think you are someone that relishes the heat and doesn’t mind, it still makes good strategic sense to be cautious with your training as summer sets in. No matter your level of fitness or schedule for the summer, it is best to not overdo i

Name: Skyline Traverse Run Location: Wanaka Distance: 28km with 1480m+ elevation gain Date: January 20, 2019 About the event: Part of the Red Bull Defiance adventure racing weekend, a maximum of 300 competitors can start their new year off with

Stacking intentions moves you towards what you need to do on a daily scale to become who you want to be over a life time. Stacking allows alignment of meaningful micro action with true macro purpose. Start small within your capacity to create big cha

Most people know that eating a predominantly whole food plant-based diet that is high in micro nutrition per kcal, fibre, and appropriate macro nutrients for your personal activity levels and performance goals is going to enhance you. It will help ma

Ultra-light materials and a streamlined design make this vest ideal for long-distance training and elite-level racing. Features 3D Ventilated mesh for multi-directional air flow and cushioning, two Quick Stow flasks, front storage pockets for fuel, o

THREE-TIME OLYMPIAN, FOUR-TIME ITU WORLD CHAMPION (IN TRIATHLON AND DUATHLON), ITU WORLD CUP VICTOR AND IRONMAN-DISTANCE WORLD RECORD HOLDER TIM DON, AKA THE DON, SETTLES FOR NOTHING LESS THAN REACHING HIS GREATEST POTENTIAL. WHEN DON WAS HIT BY A C

Within the last 12 months there have been some significant challenges to the environment that we as trail runners and people who enjoy other active pursuits have long considered our playground. Large swathes of the Waitakere Ranges have been closed b

It was over a coffee in a Taupo café between two long-standing friends which formed the catalyst for the creation of The Ring of Fire Volcanic Ultra. Victory Events owner Jason Cameron and his fellow event organiser Nick Reader of Element Events had

I have often wondered where extreme athletes go when they disappear into the dark recesses of their minds. When they are running on empty, and seem driven by something no-one else can see. When they go far beyond the frontier of what one might reason

Bikram is a bit like the ultramarathon version of yoga. You may sweat profusely, feel nauseous and frequently want to quit, while accessing just enough euphoric joy to get hooked. The studio I attend announced a 30-day challenge, where you commit to

Took a day off work to celebrate the first day of the yoga challenge. There’s a bit of a carnival atmosphere. And star charts. Blah. 5.30am? This challenge was a bad BAD idea. This is okay. I hit both toe stands for the first time in ages. Start to

At the conclusion of the 30 days I have a full star chart and receive a small trophy. It feels satisfying, an achievement of time management as much as anything else - finding two hours a day to drip profusely while gazing at myself in a mirror isn’t

Mud, they say, is the bane of a trail runner’s life. I didn’t know that until now. If you think that makes me sound like a beginner on the trails, you’d be right. I have a heap of road events under my belt, but I’ve run just three trail events in the

The memory came flooding back to me, and again stopped me in my tracks. It was 12 months ago, yet the impression of the scene remains fresh. Memories of perfection will do that; linger far beyond their time and just beyond the reach of the words to d

Last year’s Tauranga International Marathon was a great chance to design myself an 18-week training plan while planting some new habits to shift my progression towards a higher trajectory. My two new enhancing habits I wanted to experiment with was m

As a coach, I value all my athlete interactions, as they are all meaningful. It is edifying to engage with people who are trying to create a new normal and put themselves through something that, regardless of the outcome, will be ultimately transform

There are 26 bones in the foot and a web on muscles, tendons and ligaments. The foot is divided into three sections: the forefoot, midfoot and rear foot. There are many evolving theories of the best and the most effective gait pattern when running. A

Most of us as runners have had the moment when we are out on the trails and suddenly, unavoidably you need to go to the toilet. It’s fairly common and slightly annoying if on a training run but if it happens and keeps happening during a race it can r

It is a well-known fact that running is great for our physical wellbeing. It is a weight-bearing exercise so it helps to build stronger bones and strengthen our muscles. The aerobic nature of running also means that it improves our cardiovascular fit

SS: I am from Manurewa but have been a long time resident of Westmere in Auckland. SS: I had a midlife crisis a few years ago – I was stressed at work, overweight and unfit, so I decided to change my life and got a personal trainer Phil Chapman. He g