WRITTEN BY: KATE DZIENIS IMAGE: ASTRID VOLZKE HOW DOES PHIL GORE DO IT? WINNING ALMOST EVERY BACKYARD ULTRA IN AUSTRALIA AND SETTING RECORDS? He went from 5km a day to smashing yard records in Australian backyard ultras, and now he’s known as the Backyard King. Since his first 12km race in 2014, West Australian Phil Gore has gone from humble beginnings to having his presence known when walking up to the start…
WRITTEN BY: DANIELLA A. COLOMBO-DOUGOVITO PHOTO: DANIELLA A. COLOMBO-DOUGOVITO LET DANIELLA TAKE YOU THROUGH THE BLISS OF THE GRAND CANYON 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…
REVIEWER: ABDUL-RAOUF MOHAMED-ISA IMAGE: SUZANNE POLI Shoe Review: La Sportiva Akasha II 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…
REVIEWER: KATE DZIENIS AS IMPRESSIVE AS MONT BLANC ITSELF 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…
REVIEWER: KATE DZIENIS SO I HEAR FROM HARDCORE ALTRA USERS that once you go Altra, you never ever go back. And quite frankly, after putting on a pair of these babies in the form of Lone Peak 6, I can absolutely understand and attest to the fandom that comes with having them. Firstly, I’m just going to say that the zero drop on these is unbelievable. For someone who usually runs in…
REVIEWER: KATE DZIENIS THE BROOKS CASCADIA SHOE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR SOME TIME NOW, and the newest version, the Cascadia 16, has gone through several changes and updates that make it more durable and stable than its predecessors. Known throughout its lineage for adventure versatility, Brooks have increased the stack height by 2mm in the Cascadia 16 to accommodate the new foamy midsole which features DNA Loft v2 technology for a more plush feel…
PHOTO: MATT CREHAN AT THE BRISBANE TRAIL ULTRA / Supplied. THE AUSTRALIAN ULTRA RUNNERS’ ASSOCIATION LAST WEEK (Feb 21, 2022) announced the winners of its annual AURA Awards for 2022, recognising the efforts and achievements of runners across the country through select performances in 2021. Whilst some winners were awarded the accolade for track race results, others were noted for their wins at trail events. Tia Jones from Queensland was awarded title of Australian Female Ultra Runner of the Year for breaking…
REVIEWER: KATE DZIENIS SPORTS NUTRITION IS A BIT OF A PERSONAL THING. Whether you consider yourself a professional athlete or not, most humans need a little bit of help when it comes to vitamins and minerals – aka micronutrients. Crucial for a variety of activities in the body, including turning food into energy and keeping your joints stable, you may find it interesting to note that there are some which can affect how well you perform on the trails. Let’s face…
PHOTO: MARCO NOE WHILE MOST PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF AUSTRALIA think the country’s nothing but red desert and dirt with hardly a watering hole in sight, the west coast is fifty shades of emerald green and a host to overflowing rivers when winter kicks in. Showcasing the very best of the Avon Valley National Park, which is set 80km north-east of Perth in Western Australia, the Transcend Ultra was created in 2021 by mates Shane Johnstone and Mitchell Craig. Having travelled together…
REVIEWER: KATE DZIENIS FOR ANYONE WANTING A SUPER CUSHY RIDE along the trails, the VECTIV Enduris by The North Face will be your go-to shoe in amongst your collection of runners piling up in your closet. Personally, my trail shoes were long overdue for replacement, so when I laced up this plush pair of marshmallows to my feet, I felt like I had a spring in my step before I even got out…
