Writing these blogs in the lead up to The Hillary event definitely had a really positive influence on my performance this year. The things I was writing about, which hopefully helped some of you in training or preparing for the race, ultimately also helped me because it meant that I was really thinking about how [...]
I had a great night sleep on Friday night, I tucked into an energy packed bowl of porridge for breaky followed by some brown rice with a variety of other energy packed ingredients for lunch just on 12 and then headed out to Bethells. By 2:00pm I was standing at the start of the 16km [...]
First, some apologies. To all the rocks, tree roots, and ruts in the track I cursed, I’m sorry. To the guy whose legs I nearly took out when I tumbled downhill on my backside, I’m sorry you had to hear that language. (And that I nearly knocked you over, obviously). And just in case you [...]
Be The Goat As a virgin off-road runner it goes without saying that you will be required to have a reasonable level of fitness to complete the challenge but after a sneak peak at the course yesterday afternoon I can also advise that anyone out there who happens to be half goat will have a [...]
Thinking Time When people learn that I run marathons and ultras, there are typically three things they’ll say. You’re crazy. Um, no, not really (ok…maybe…but not in a bad way). How far do you run every day? Hmmm, the real answer is it depends where I’m up to on my training programme…but that’s complicated to explain…so [...]
How is it race week already?! Where is this year going?! In my early days of trail racing, which to be fair wasn’t that long ago, I considered race prep to be the things I did in the morning of a race. I now understand that preparation for a race, particularly one as lengthy and [...]
The First Timers Perspective On Off-Road Training One of my first blogs was predominantly about my goals and probably the biggest point I promoted was that from the very start I wanted to be clear on what I wanted to get out of the event. For me this was enjoyment and I built every aspect [...]
As the race gets closer (how is it March already??!!) I find myself dreaming and having nightmares about the race more and more. And at the weekend I imagined this: Tearing off down Pipeline Track, the noise and hubbub of the startline having vanished many footfalls ago, I realise I've made a terrible mistake. I've [...]
It's the final countdown! Whoop whoop! Caleb tells us about the pure happiness that is working towards a magnificent race like The Hillary ..... With less than two weeks until the Hillary race it is fair to say I am now getting very excited. I'm not sure exactly what is driving that excitement...I mean, I [...]
I had planned to dedicate part of this blog to the track condition for the start of the 16km and so I have to admit at this point that I had a training fail on the weekend. My plan on Saturday was to do a training run from Bethells and largely as a result of [...]
Should we aim for the stars, or is the moon more achievable? Kat tells us how she sets goals that will get her moving but that she can actually reach by race day... My Friday long run the week just gone was made even more enjoyable by the fact that I had just handed in [...]
"It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves" said a wise man once (Sir Edmund Hillary was that wise man of course). Caleb tells us about conquering his Everest ... First off...don't be fooled by the title of this blog...I'm not comparing myself to or competing with Sir Edmund Hillary. His amazing feats earned [...]
Eugene turns from aspirer to inspirer as he tells us all about the magic of The Hillary Trail, why he keeps coming back for more and the wonders of being part of the trail running community (you may need a hanky!) As my quads began to shriek and my lungs rasped, I finally reached the [...]
