2013 Comes to an End… Roll on 2014!

As I'm into the final few hours of 2013 I thought I'd just look back and reflect how 2013 went as a whole.. Unfortunately it had it's ups and downs from winning races to injuries.  But here is how it summed up:

• I got the privilege to race in the UK, Canada, Hawaii, USA (mainland) and New Zealand
• I won 2 races overall and placed in the top 3 in 5 races
• Competed in races of all distances from 10km to 125km throughout the year
• Set the Fastest Known Time in the 'TNF Banff 3 Peaks' (Which has now been beaten 3 months later) - Video link from the day, great experience: http://youtu.be/XepVvfuAlq0 
• I took my marathon tally up to 12
• My ultra running tally of races is now at 5
• I also got too summit my first 10,000ft Peak too

So looking back it's not been a bad year for me in the running world. Of course it can always be better, and you never know maybe 2014 will be just that!! 

Hope every sets and hits their running goals and ambitions in 2014.

Thanks to everyone for following me live my dream.. 

Nathan Vapor Cloud 11L - Review

Nathan Vapor Cloud 11L (2L Bladder)

Vapor Cloud 11L

Over the last week or so I have had the privilege to be running along the trails with next years Nathan Vapor Cloud Race Vest, and what a privilege it has been! I was using the smaller Vapor Cloud previously and was slightly worried about the amount of storage I had for required kit on the Ultra Marathons I have planned for 2014. Nathan has really come up with the goods on this new model due to be released in 2014. It has been designed around the world famous Ultra run of the UTMB. This race vest covers everything you will ever need on a run or race. I have really been pleased at how it has performed over the last week. The major factor for me was that with it being a bigger pack sometimes you often find it bounces when going down hill at a pace, this certainty doesn’t move at all!

Listed below are some of the main and key features of this pack:

• 2 Rear storage compartments (For them extra layers etc..)
• 2 large side wrap around pockets (For extra nutrition or head lamps, easy reachable)
• Clips for your running poles on them longer mountain races
• 2 front pockets compatible with the 22oz bottles (For them electrolyte drinks or Gels)
• A small front pocket (For your mobile or other small items)
• This pack offers multiple zippered compartments and stretch mesh pockets to keep everything organized and sorted (For them kit checks!)
• Safety whistle
• An internal section for your 2L bladder plus extra storage pocket for an ice pack. (If you’re running in warmer climates, this is perfect)
• An external shock cord to also increase capacity or lock everything down if the pack is only half full, to reduce any bouncing or movement.

Even with all these awesome features the pack only comes in at a weight of 550 grams. (including bladder)

Vapor Cloud 11L

This race vest is highly breathable and wraps around the body perfect! It can be adjusted on all straps to get that perfect fit. Also comes in two sizes to cater for all runners. (S/M = 33-38 inch chest, L/XL = 37-44 inch chests) The pack comes with reflective strips on the outer if you’re running on them dark nights another great little feature what Nathan have come up with but really effective!

I am currently using the electric blue and yellow version but it also comes in the traditional Nathan Grey for people who want that more toned down look. I am super stoked to being this race vest for my up coming races, and will continue to share my thought positives or negatives I find over the coming months of training, but as it stands I find it really difficult to find any negatives on this pack. One happy runner!

Unfortunately ladies this is a male fit pack but Nathan do a Vapor Shadow as a women’s specific fit and version.. I would fully recommend anyone wanting that race vest for longer or ultra runs keep an eye out for these hitting stores in 2014!

Overall Verdict: 10/10

Capacity: 9/10

Performance: 10/10

Looks: 9/10

Lake Hayes - Trail Race.

Last week whilst I was working a customer mentioned she was doing a trail race the following week just outside Queenstown, So I had the idea of 'Why not!' as many know now I really struggle in 10km races now as I don't really train for speed and  have really only raced ultra marathons over the last 12 month. But I figured I would give it a go and get a shorter faster run into my legs right after christmas. I wasn't expecting much to be honest as I have suffered with a cold the last week and had a tough trail trail run of 45km still in my legs from 6 days ago.

Over looking the course around Lake Hayes.

This morning me and Gemma woke up and noticed our room was really bright with the sun already shinning through our window at 8:00am.. after a quick breakfast and a Skype call to family at home we jumped on our bikes and cycled down the road to where the race was based as it was only 11km away! On arriving we were both really finding the heat a problem all-ready, quick check on the weather on my phone and it was at 24 degrees at 11:30am and we wasn't racing till 1:00pm!! The race was a loop and a bit of the Lake Hayes where we was exposed to the sun the whole way round.. wow I was suffering after 15 minutes of running and really started to get a head ache and dry mouth. I set off with the leading group but quickly faded away from 1st and 2nd within the first 5km as they were both moving very well over the rouged and undulating course. I noticed 4th was gaining on me every km but when we come to the end I had managed to hold him off, just! to finish 3rd overall. No one had a quick time at all but some strong running by all, the field was only small as the main event was a triathlon but as they say you have to be in it to win it.. On completing the race a few guys was talking about the heat and humidity whilst running, it came about the heat had rose up to 26-28 degrees during the race. No official results yet but we think Gemma was just outside the top 5 females.

Needed a lay down after the race! 

After the event we had decided we would stay around for the prize giving, wasn't the best idea we had as it meant we spent another hour or so in the sun! Oh we are suffering now.. Once that had finished we jumped back on the bikes to cycle home finishing off the day with 35km in total so not a bad day out!

Today's race profile.. Up, Down and Up again! 

Was fine before the race! afterwards another question… 

 Thanks to the guys at Nathan NZ for their support as always! And well done to every one who raced and took part in the Triathlons on the day too. Cheers guys!

Feels like Christmas!

Felt like christmas today opening my box from Nathan. Some awesome new kit from their 2014 range to get me through my training and races over the next few months. Really excited to try them out! Especially the race vest as I was really happy with the smaller version but just needed that bigger volume to carry the compulsory  kit requirement on the Ultra races… Thanks Nathan NZ and SportCo for your support. -  I will share thoughts and reviews on all the kit over the next few weeks.

Merry Christmas everyone! 

New printing looks great!

Some kit printed up in time for them training runs over the Christmas period. Orange really stands out too.. Thanks Nathan !

Looking forward to racing in them on the 27th December..

Friday the 20th December 2013 - Long trail run with Gem.

Each week on my days off from work I try and get a longer run in, I usually just do a easy flat-ish 20-25km. After yesterdays 10km run I had decided this week to do a longer run and take Gem (Girlfriend) with me as she has never ran an Ultra Marathon before and she has entered the same 100km as me in March 2014.
We set off on a very easy and comfortable pace as we was 100% sure how far we was going to run and what the trail was like apart from head from Queenstown to Arrowtown via the Millbrook Resort. What an amazing trail this was, the views the whole was was breathtaking and the terrain underfoot was everything from smooth hard packed trail to single file rugged trails.

A few stats and elevation chart from our run and my choice of kit for the day! 

My kit choices for the day was perfect! I had used my Nathan VaporCloud 2L, my Salomon Fellraisers and of course my Suunto Ambit 2.. Each bit of kit performed awesome as always, my Nathan VaporCloud carried 2 litters of water, a couple of gels and bars, a jacket and some money for extra drinks along the way. My Fellraisers gave no irritations or blisters and Ambit tracked every step as always..

A section through Millbrook Resort and ducks! 

On the way through we ran via the Millbrook Resort, wow! It's an amazing place it was like a mini Emmerdale setting in the middle of the mountains, very nice indeed. On arriving to Arrowtown we took a quick 5 minute break to jump into a store and grab a nice cold drink as the sun was in full beam by now and shortly after we started our return to Queenstown. We both felt really good and comfortable here and decided we would take the hillier option going back, well that was interesting! It was a lot more demanding on the legs and the sun was really killing us by now.. But we had to get back some how… (I'm sure Gem was really enjoying it deep down ;-) ) 

Looking back to where we had come from..

Again the views on the way back were spectacular in every direction we looked which is always motivating and much more interesting than running along side a highway in a city. 5 hours later we arrived back to where we started and straight into the cold lake we went to ice the legs, all in all a great morning out and a good solid start to the Ultra training! Well done Gem…. :-)  Time for food, recover and back to work tomorrow :-)

Our route recorded from my Suunto Ambit 2

A bit more in-depth review of todays stats… 

Every Ultra Runners dream set of races line up to create the World Ultra Tour 2014.

I'll get the privilege to tick off racing two out of the ten in 2014, but hopefully over the years I can work my way around the whole list and world! A great bucket list to have and work towards…

I'm sure over the year you can keep up to date with all the racing action from any of the three sources below. All who are great at race coverage :

• Matt Wards words on -  http://www.mudsweatandtears.co.uk
• Ian Corless take on - http://iancorless.org
• Bryon Powell and team on - http://www.irunfar.com

Happy Running! 

2014 Race Calendar

My race calendar for 2014 has been changed so many times, but here is my pencilled races so far :
(With an aim to gain a ranking in the World Ultra Tour 2014 -  Competing in at least 2 out of the 10 selected races in the world series) 

Will also use smaller and varied distances races in between for race fitness. 

• February - Shotover Moonlight Mountain Marathon 
• http://www.activeqt.co.nz/events/shotover-moonlight/race-information/
• March - Tarawera Ultra 100km  - World Ultra Tour Race
• http://www.taraweraultra.co.nz
• May - TNF Australia 100km - World Ultra Tour Race
• http://www.thenorthface100.com.au
• September - Nepal Training 
• October - TNF Singapore 100km 
• http://www.thenorthface100.com.sg

…….. = Entered and confirmed entry

Review of the Nathan Firecatcher Race Vest

After using many of race packs from several brands over the years, I was very keen to try out another pack from another Brand to compare to what I have loved or what I have not like as much about some of the other packs. This week I had the chance to test out a sample race vest from the guys at SportCo NZ / Nathan.

First impressions was the pack looked very very small to what I have used before. It basically has a large velcro pocket in the back for your 2L bladder and a small jacket, gloves, hat & and couple of energy bars. On the front of the pack on the two shoulder straps the pack comes with two 9oz fluid bottle what are great to carry gels or electrolytes drink to keep it separate from your water in the bladder. A small gel pouch to carry packet gels if you needed more, and also an expandable pouch what easily fits the Iphone4 or a couple of energy bars/food for your longer runs. The last little pocket it has was for a couple of electrolyte tablets on the front what was a great idea, easy to pop into your bottle when needed. But as you can see from my little description I actually fitted enough to tackle the mountains for a few hours, that was me happy! Unfortunately it is just a little too small for some of the ultra races with bigger mandatory kit list what you have to carry in order to compete like the TNF100 or the UTMB. Never the less you can go and train easily for a few hours and compete in race up to the ultra distances if you only need to carry a smaller amount of gear/food! 7/10

From a fit point of view I must say it has to be right up there for comfort.. It fits my back perfect! No bounce, no irritations, no rubbing and no harsh straps digging in around the back or torso. My first outing with the pack was an easy 2 hour mountain run with nearly 3500ft of elevation change, so it had plenty of opportunity if it was going to bounce around with all the ups and downs on my route. 9/10

Now lets be perfectly honest a lot of runners buy shoes/apparel/accessories on looks and colour. Well this race vest has that covered too, it is a awesome light blue with electric yellow piping and attachments with a darker blue panel on the back. It really does stand out from the rest.. 9/10

A few little things where I feel the pack could improve: The capacity could be increased a bit to be able to carry more kit/gear for the tougher and longer races out there. Maybe some side pockets around the sides? I would also like to see maybe a bungy cord over the outside of the pack to carry bukier items like a jacket on the outside to free space up inside the main compartment for food. Possibly a couple of hooks to accommodate for a small set of poles for them long hours in the mountains.

Overall verdict : Really pleased with the pack and can see me using it a lot over this next season. 25/30 Capacity : 7/10
Performance : 9/10
Looks : 9/10 

The ever growing list of Countries I have had the privilege to run in: (Some on more than one occasion)

• United Kingdom
• Ireland 
• Spain
• France
• Greece
• Germany
• Switzerland
• Italy
• Holland
• Malta
• Portugal 
• Balearic Islands
• Caribbean Island - Cuba
• United States of America
• Hawaii
• New Zealand 
• Canada