Trillary – Triple Hillary Trail 226km, 10,000m vert climb, 49 hours

It’s been nearly three weeks since I finished a Trillary – the first ever!  I still often think about it and weirdly at first don’t feel that excited for some reason, but then I explain it to someone that finds out or asks about it and they confirm with the WTF! look on their face – what a mission I have pulled off.  226km and 10,000m of vertical ascent – 49 hours 15 minutes on my feet…continuously moving. Two blooming days!!!

And as I reflect on it I first always feel slightly disappointed that I couldn’t run more in the last leg – due to my very sore feet, but then I think about everything else and realise it was perfect and apart from the feet, totally to plan.  I won – in fitness, technique, sleep (or lack of) and nutrition – I reckon I nailed it in fact and can’t wait to carry on using these new skills/knowledge in a race or two coming up!

It’s started after doing the Double Hillary in June 2011, a nagging in my head saying I had to do the triple Hillary, and ideally be first to do it so I had the trifecta – first to do a single (with my ol mate Gus Grey), a double and triple.  I tried the first time in October 2014 but ended up not finishing after pulling out at 1¾ Hillary with a real painful knee injury that came on quickly from nothing.

That attempt was done with very little training using the technique of Collins old that was trying to pull it out of my arse and it had worked for most of my single Hillary runs and the Double too really.  But Iooking back I was dreaming – so laid back about the whole thing before had I could have been doing the first leg in a lounger and I think this together with the lack of training meant my heart wasn’t really in it and the body was very ill prepared.

Roll on a couple of years late in May and I set a November date for the Triple so I was committed…and started training properly, which was something I hadn’t done for many years.  I had a plan and stuck to it, I read and watched and soaked up a truckload of knowledge which reved me up even more.   I was serious about this and to top it off had full and very awesome support from my lovely wife who was super supportive through it all.  I wanted to focus on nutrition and fitness. 

With regards the fitness most would say that for a 226km, 10,000m ascent event you should be doing some big time on the feet – but ain’t nobody got time for that.  I’m a busy man – and lots say that… but I really am.  Three businesses, one of which is a proper finance/commercial manager job for an industrial designer, the events company Lactic Turkey, some photography, helping with our newish corporate team building events company, three 10+year old girls who need taxiing to activities and a wife!  So my training was definitely a quality versus quantity scheme with the longest run in the 6 mths build up being 8 hours once and then a few 5-6 hrs and many 3-4hr runs.  The thing that made it possible and in fact made me strong throughout the Trillary I think, was my hills and stairs training.  When I was a younger fella and trained lots for orienteering and then adventure races etc I was known as Runningbeast or Hill beast and that was because hills were my go to training tool and I love them.  It was amazing getting back to them and gobbling them all up in training over the last 6 months and I credit that with how well my legs were throughout the Trillary – I could storm up the hills – walking most of them,  but at pace and somethings out-pacing my fresh support runners 😊

Nutrition wise……….I have been trying a sort of high fat, low carb thing for running and have been fueling my longer training runs with a nut paste thingy that I make.  Coconut oil, shredded coconut, almonds, pumpkin, goji, chia, date etc all whizzed up into a paste that I have in a UltrAspire Formula 250 soft flask, which has a big opening for shovelling it down my gob.  Looks like poo but is tasty, easy to eat and provides me long lasting energy.  I’ve built up to only needing one of these for a 4-5 hour run, together with water in a bottle on the front (for easy refills) and a bladder on the back of Tailwind electrolyte.  This combo has seen me right for a few longer runs and on the Trillary worked a treat!  I didn’t get sick of any of it and the Tailwind was so good the whole way! 

So while I was running the Trillary, this was the formula and then at the support stops I would have some real food – earlier on a baby food sachet and banana, then when I needed something more substantial a wrap filled with avocado and tuna or salami.  During the whole thing I had about 6 gels – more to try and ward off the sleepiness or a boost before a big hill and at the end some GU blocks for the same reason.

I was 100% stoked with my hydration and nutrition for the whole thing and in my post Trillary bloods the doctor was amazed at how little had changed in the bloods – with no damage indicated to liver/kidneys or anything!! No cramps and no energy bombing – yes!!!!

Sleep – I was really surprised with how well I did in this regard and over the 49 hours only had two 5 minute power naps.  The first was almost magic.  At about the 1 2/3 Hillarys I started to get sleepy, it was just before first light 26 hours after starting, And the symptoms…I’d be walking along and start to fall asleep and wake up suddenly as I was nearly walking off track.  This happened for about 15 mins and then I called a stop and told the support runners to wake me up in 5 minutes.  As novice supporters they were very hesitant – Only 5 minutes, are you sure?  I took the pack off and rested my head on it with my body across the track.  Then I woke with a start as Dion very hesitantly, gently woke me.  I popped up and was so refreshed I took off down Karamatura Hill at a speed my support runners couldn’t believe.  It was crazy how good I felt.  The power of the power nap!!  I spoke later to Tatsuru when he finished supporting at Piha on Leg 3 and he said “I know you can finish.  After what I’ve seen now, but when I first saw you (he met us just when I started to feel sleepy) I didn’t think you’d finish a double Hillary – you looked done!!!”

The second 5 min power nap was at the Muir/Gibbons Junction at about 32 hours and again I was feeling sleepy for about 20 minutes so called a stop.  The result wasn’t as dramatic but it was enough to fight off the sleep monsters at the time and I didn’t feel tired again until 19 minutes after finishing when I fell asleep which talking with my wife….several times!!

Footcare was the downfall. I had to walk the last half Hillary because the pain was too much to run on. I could power walk but as soon as i ran and pounded it was too much. The whole underneath of the front of the foot was bruised, creviced and blistered. I did the first Hillary a bit quick and in lightweight Icebugs and hence bruised my forefoot from the pounding. Add to this long wet grass and stream crossings and viola – trench foot i think they call it. I just couldn’t keep them dry. So so research needed on how to combat this. Prepare for gross images …

This is where my report writing enthusiasm fizzled out. You get the gist of it! An awesome massive tick to something I worked up to – thanks to all those that helped on the days, and leading up to it and my family for supporting me to finally… Knock the bastard off! More photos below.

A massive thank message post the run from my wife Madeleine which I totally second and couldn’t put better!

49 hours after THE 49 hours, I’ve had time to reflect as well as sleep and clean some very disgusting feet!
I will always be in awe of my husband’s achievements and even more so of his quiet, calm determination and the fact that not once in this whole event has he complained or whinged in any way at all. Legend.
But what blows my mind even more as I look back is the people. All of you. Now I am not normally one to gush or be emotional so saying this stuff is a big deal for me.
I am so deeply humbled by the support and love that was out on those trails over Shaun’s epic adventure. It truly is one of the most special things that I have experienced. From the people who took time out of their day (or night) to show up at spots along the way to cheer Shaun on, many of whom we didn’t even know but had been following his progress. Not to mention thepeople who showed up to cheer at one spot and then helped support him for most of the day! The people who made food for us as support crew and for Shaun as he was running. The truckloads of you who were following virtually and sending constant encouragement – those messages got Shaun through some darker moments. The people who ran with him (some just jumping in at the last minute because it was too exciting to miss!). I know it wasn’t the best run for your needs but that you were all there with Shaun kept me sane. The people who supplied gear and who jump started the support Campervan when the battery died.
I’m never going to be able to list all the amazing people that supported us, there are too many!
Thank you, thank you, thank you. We both feel humbled, honoured and so special to know you. What you all did for Shaun is the legendary stuff, the part of The Trillary that I will remember most.