October 2023
Day five was ace, running with good friends in perfect English summer conditions was glorious. I had such a great day but unfortunately all that unraveled very quickly that afternoon just before dinner. I had overdosed on the protein drinks at the finish of stage five, or so I thought, and came down with a bad case of diarrhea as soon as I got back to the accommodation. After dinner I did my normal routine of preparing for the next day, stocking up on gels, hydration (including bix tablets https://bix-hydration.myshopify.com/en-au) and a half an hour on the massage gun and human tecar massage spray. ( https://athleticus.com.au/ ) As the night went on I started to feel a chill coming on and decided to call it early and scuttle off to bed. That night I think I probably spent more time in the toilet than in the bedroom which was difficult as I was sharing a three bedroom apartment with two toilets and five other runners.
Needless to say the next morning I was not at my best and after packing (we were moving accommodation that evening) I struggled back to bed feeling very ropey. Eventually I had to leave the comfort of my bed and staggered to the van that would take us to the day five finishing point to start our journey. As the image below shows I wasn’t looking great and knw I was in for a long day at the office.
Once we arrived at the start I knew I was in trouble. The conditions had changed from day five and we were faced with a very chilly, foggy morning and I was completely unprepared. As the group disembarked I was the last to leave the sanctuary of the van and was soon left behind as I had to make several unplanned toilet stops as my diarrhea had not gotten any better. With the fog engulfing me and the cold air going right through me I was not in a good place, add in the diarrhea and it was a perfect storm, I was in trouble.
As we moved off Exmoor the early morning fog disappeared and at least I could see my surroundings. The terrain didn’t make running fun though, lots of stones testing every step.
Coming off the moor we ran through a really cool forest with some great running but by this stage I was leapfrogging from toilet stop to toilet stop and constantly looking for places to answer the call of nature without the possibility of being seen. Around this time Andy Gray did catch me as I was in the prone position and he was backtracking as he was lost, a tad embarrassing for both parties. I explained the situation and he had some anti-diarrhea tablets which I gobbled down. It was good to see other runners and I latched on to the group albeit keeping my distance as I scuttled to yet another toilet stop.
There was some really good running off Exmoor and before the first aid station but all I could muster was a walk and a slow ‘death jog‘ at best. Saying that I was able to hold onto the last group and we came upon aid station one together. I was going to call it at this stage but a cup of tea with three sugars and the sun coming out persuaded me to continue. I felt like death but what other option was there really.
Eventually the sun came out and things warmed up and the trail just got better. Again I was dropped by the last group and walked more than I ran. I was going downhill fast but just had to keep moving forward. Unfortunately diarrhea was still a big issue and as I moved through towns and more densely populated areas it was becoming a real problem, for me and the general public.
Just after aid station one I came across a café and decided to get a Cappuccino that I had been promising myself for the last six days. It felt good to sit down in the sun and drink a coffee but this was a temporary reprieve, I was goosed and when I set off went backwards pretty fast. With aid station two coming up, around thirty kilometres into the stage, I ran though a small coastal town and on a whim decided to pick up a COVID test. In the back of my mind I always knew there was a chance I could catch COVID with the flight from Australia and I think I knew , deep down, I had it by this stage.
Not sure what beach this is but there’s a funny story attached to it. While running on the trail my diarrhea finally got the better of me and I was forced to scuttle off the trail and into the ocean to wash off my shorts. So here am I, shorts in hand, unbeknown to me two walkers right behind me. Needless to say both parties didn’t know where to look. Funny now, not so amusing at the time.
I made aid station two in last place and pulled out my COVID test which proved my diagnosis, positive. Devastated doesn’t get anywhere near what I felt. I rang my Wife in tears , my dream shattered, a broken man. Two things would stop me finishing, an injury of course and COVID. I was having such a good time and was living the runners dream, Run Britannia was everything I imaged it to be and more, and to have that taken from you was just gut wrenching, even now I find it hard to describe the feeling.
I had always said if I did catch COVID during the event I would pull out. I wasn’t prepared to risk possible long term physical damage trying to run an ultra a day while recovering from the virus. Recovering from any virus takes time and the strain on the heart , combined with my age, was a risk I was not prepared to take. It was the right decision to leave when I did and return home to recuperate, the right decision but it didn’t help.
Back in Oz I spent two weeks sleeping more than anything else. COVID drained me physically and I was mentally destroyed leaving Run Britannia early, not a happy chap truth be told. It took me over six weeks to even think about running and I cut myself off from family and friends , working from home but really just existing. What made it worse was I knew the event was ongoing and I cut all ties with social media , it was just too hard . Dark times indeed.
As the image below shows I was fairly inactive post Run Britannia, physically and mentally broken. Probably my longest time without running , bar injuries, in the last ten years. Dark times indeed. I also discovered how easy it is too put on weight, without really trying and am now learning how hard it is to shift it. !
The last seven or so weeks I’ve found my mojo and training has stated in earnest for the Feral Pig 100 miler in the first week of November. ( https://feralpigultra.com.au/ ) The best advice when you fall off a horse is get back on , this also rings true for ultra running albeit riding a horse in an ultra will probably get you disqualified ? Post Feral is my fourteenth 6 inch ultra start in December ( https://6inchtrailmarthon.com ) and then the Australia Day Ultra 100k late January ( https://australiadayultra.com/ ) before Delirious West 200 miler in February ( https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/ ) , Light horse Ultra April ( https://lighthorseultra.com.au/ ) and Herdy’s Front yard in May. ( https://herdysfrontyard.com.au/ ) Looks like I’m well and truly back on the horse from a racing point of view.
So that’s it for Run Britannia, didn’t even finish the first week so very disappointed but had so much fun when I was there. Met some wonderful people who I regret not getting to know better in my short time but I always envisages five weeks of togetherness not less than one. The organisation was top class , thankyou James and his crew, and if you’re thinking about throwing your hat in the ring for this beast of an event I recommend you do. Will I go back ? I would love to but the cost and time away from the family is tough to justify two years in a row but never say never, if the dice rolls my way who knows?
Would I like to go back ? 100% yes, it was such an incredible adventure there is nothing I’d rather do but sometimes you’re dealt a hand and you just got to play it, this year I twisted when I should have stuck.
fisiocrem ( https://www.fisiocrem.com.au/ ) is just bloody brilliant and does exactly what it says it does , it just gets the major muscle groups moving again. I use this extensively towards the end of the race when my quads are hammered. It really makes a difference and allows me to move back through the gears towards the end of an event when most runners are stumbling home.
Bix hydration is just ace, a product brought to life by Vlad Ixel a professional ultra runner who knows a thing or two about hydration. ( https://www.bixvitamins.com/ ) The best thing about Bix is it tastes good with many different flavours and you never get sick of drinking it, this is a big plus as Maurten and Tailwind (both great products) can be difficult to digest later in the event. From the website :-
As an Australian elite multiple trail running champion, with wins in over 40 ultra-marathon races across Asia, recovery from training and races has always been my top priority.
In searching for a solid recovery and hydration supplement, I recognized that critical vitamins and minerals – both in diversity and quantity – were missing from almost all supplements on the market. I had the feeling that in an effort to maximize their bottom-lines, companies in the hydration space, failed to deliver a product that could meaningfully assist athlete performance.
In order to address this, I began the development of a hydration product. After two and a half years of development alongside a leading German sports scientist, BIX Recovery, an advanced, high-quality recovery drink was born.
BIX boosts 12 active ingredients scientifically balanced to replace lost electrolytes and assist in immune function. It’s designed with quality vitamins and minerals, in quantities that work!
BIX is a recovery solution for everyone, that will get you to the top of your game!
What can I say about HumanTecar, ( https://athleticus.com.au/ ) it looks great, smells great and is awesome for recovery or even pre-run/workout. Read about the science behind it first and then try the products. The compression bandages are just magical after a long event. Put these on and the next day you are recovered, I have used them on a number of occasions and they never fail to astound me albeit the family poke fun at me as I look like a ‘mummy and smell funny’ !
Fractel ( https://fractel.com.au/ ) have your performance headgear covered. I love the colours and the functionality of these hats, I guarantee there is one model you’ll fall in love with.
Shokz headphones, let you keep in touch with the world around while losing yourself in quality tunes or podcasts. ( https://shokz.com.au/ )
T8 running apparel is the best you can get, second to none. Designed for the ultra humid Hong Kong conditions the owners live in. It is light and does away with any chaffing worries. T8 is the name given to the highest typhoon warning in Honk Kong, storms and typhoons with gusts exceeding 180kph, which explains the branding. ( https://t8.run/)
or follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/runbkrun/
or facebook RUNBKRUNOZ
We left our accommodation which we had been in for three nights and boarded the bus to take us back to the finish from day four, which was a carpark outside a pub in Bideford. Straight away I saw the answer to my prayers, a motorised scooter, just what I needed for another day mainly on concrete paths or b-roads. This was frowned upon by my fellow competitors , and probably the owner of the vehicle, so off on foot I scampered.
The first ten kilometres from the start was on concrete paths that run through stunning scenery. Not quite the coastal beauty we had experienced previously but flat and fast. It was good to get some kilometres under the belt early and we hit the first pit stop very quickly. I ordered my obligatory tea with three sugars and wolfed down a few Rat Race bars. I had ran with my good mate Dave ‘Dangerous’ Douglas and we shared some great stories and bad jokes, time disappeared quickly, funnily enough like Dave at the pit stop. Dangerous didn’t like to hang about and treated each stage as a mini race, I was more than happy to chew the fat , and drink the tea, at aid stations, after all it was Run Britannia not Race Britannia.
As well as myself there was one other Australian who had made the long trip from down under, here the two of us ham it up for the camera.
Highlight of day two was definitely spending time with Dangerous Dave. We were room buddies and two peas in a pod, time with Dave passed very quickly despite his very bad jokes. Meeting someone for the first time but instantly knowing you’d be good friends is rare and with Dangerous I had that connection. I have many regrets with leaving Run Britannia early but missing out on spending the extra four weeks running with Dave is my main one. He killed it of course and was one of the dozen or so runners who finished every stage, despite a dodgy ankle for a few stages where he had to hobble the whole stage and his Father passing away in the first week. Dave is a genuine nice guy, plain and simple. I look forward to spending some time in his company, someday.
Dave was also useful to act as a human shield so I was always keen to let him lead as we ran along the b-road ‘killing fields’ , as I call them. As I said in a previous post cars aren’t expecting runners on these roads and you really need to approach every corner under the assumption there is a Volkswagen van being driven by a homicidal maniac just around the corner, whose sole purpose in life is to add you to his hood ornament.
Saw this outside a local church and couldn’t resist, you’d be mad not to surely.
Dave and I made our way through the countryside stopping only for the odd photo opportunity too good to turn up. He has a flare for photographer Dave, as well as running. How good is the scenery ? Clean streams flowing under beautiful hand built bridges from a by-gone era, so quintessential English.
A Dangerous Dave original; photo.
The day was spent mainly on back lanes with the odd section of b-roads , running through picture postcard English countryside in perfect summer conditions. The organisers couldn’t have hoped for these conditions in their wildest dreams, we were truly blessed.
Leaving the last aid station for the day I started on the last climb and was met with the Union Jack flying in the wind. An in credible view on a day of incredible views, this day really couldn’t have got any better.
The last trail in the Dunkery and Horner wood, how bloody English is that ? The image below shows the last rise to the finish aid station on Exmoor. Conditions really were stunning and a sharp contrast to the start the next day. I was just behind Martin and we both finished within a few minutes of each other. There were three or four other runners waiting to greet us, as well as the Rat Race crew, at the finish, hugs all around and then onto the food.
We finished day five on Exmoor in glorious conditions. The Rat Race crew were there and I gorged on protein shakes, donuts and fruit. After running all day it was an oasis of food, just what us runners needed. My Altra Vanish Tempo’s had been through a rough couple of days and looked the worse for wear but had been a good shoe choice for the day. Probably back to the Altra Olympus trainers for day six as there would be some time on Exmoor, which was mainly single track trail. Unbeknown to me at the time today would be my last full day on Run Britannia and it was certainly a day I will never forget, similar to day six but for completely opposite reasons.
fisiocrem ( https://www.fisiocrem.com.au/ ) is just bloody brilliant and does exactly what it says it does , it just gets the major muscle groups moving again. I use this extensively towards the end of the race when my quads are hammered. It really makes a difference and allows me to move back through the gears towards the end of an event when most runners are stumbling home.
Bix hydration is just ace, a product brought to life by Vlad Ixel a professional ultra runner who knows a thing or two about hydration. ( https://www.bixvitamins.com/ ) The best thing about Bix is it tastes good with many different flavours and you never get sick of drinking it, this is a big plus as Maurten and Tailwind (both great products) can be difficult to digest later in the event. From the website :-
As an Australian elite multiple trail running champion, with wins in over 40 ultra-marathon races across Asia, recovery from training and races has always been my top priority.
In searching for a solid recovery and hydration supplement, I recognized that critical vitamins and minerals – both in diversity and quantity – were missing from almost all supplements on the market. I had the feeling that in an effort to maximize their bottom-lines, companies in the hydration space, failed to deliver a product that could meaningfully assist athlete performance.
In order to address this, I began the development of a hydration product. After two and a half years of development alongside a leading German sports scientist, BIX Recovery, an advanced, high-quality recovery drink was born.
BIX boosts 12 active ingredients scientifically balanced to replace lost electrolytes and assist in immune function. It’s designed with quality vitamins and minerals, in quantities that work!
BIX is a recovery solution for everyone, that will get you to the top of your game!
What can I say about HumanTecar, ( https://athleticus.com.au/ ) it looks great, smells great and is awesome for recovery or even pre-run/workout. Read about the science behind it first and then try the products. The compression bandages are just magical after a long event. Put these on and the next day you are recovered, I have used them on a number of occasions and they never fail to astound me albeit the family poke fun at me as I look like a ‘mummy and smell funny’ !
Fractel ( https://fractel.com.au/ ) have your performance headgear covered. I love the colours and the functionality of these hats, I guarantee there is one model you’ll fall in love with.
Shokz headphones, let you keep in touch with the world around while losing yourself in quality tunes or podcasts. ( https://shokz.com.au/ )
T8 running apparel is the best you can get, second to none. Designed for the ultra humid Hong Kong conditions the owners live in. It is light and does away with any chaffing worries. T8 is the name given to the highest typhoon warning in Honk Kong, storms and typhoons with gusts exceeding 180kph, which explains the branding. ( https://t8.run/)
or follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/runbkrun/
or facebook RUNBKRUNOZ
We viewed a forty one day stage, mainly on road, as a rest day after three brutal trail days running nearly sixty kilometres each day. I’d miss the ocean views but not the testing terrain, I was ready for a short (relatively speaking) , easy road day.
After about ten minutes running it was time to say good buy to the coast and we wouldn’t see the ocean again until we arrived in Bideford at the end of the stage.
Once we got on the back roads I even bumped into a deer which I wasn’t expecting so close to civilisation. A surreal moment where we both stopped and just eye balled each other before the deer vanished, pretty cool start to the day.
A lot of day four was on back lanes and b-roads, the back lanes were ok but the b-roads were like the killing fields. Motorists didn’t expect to see runners and drove accordingly, you had to be very careful how you crossed any corners making sure you gave yourself and the vehicles space to avoid a collision. You needed to keep your wits about you that’s for sure and on a number of occasions I was forced to find safety deep in the hedgerow. To be fair it’s not the motorists fault , we were invading their territory. Still made the day interesting.
It was another big day as we left our first county moving from Cornwall into Devon. I don’t think you will ever get those conditions for the Cornwall stage again, they were absolutely perfect. Constant sunshine but never too hot that you couldn’t enjoy your surroundings and what surroundings. I truly believe, when conditions are that good, there is nowhere in the world I’d rather be. If they could just warm up the water , maybe climate change will turn Cornwall tropical , or should I say more tropical?
There really are no words for Cornwall, it had put on a show and delivered the most magical conditions showcasing all she had to offer, perfect , just perfect.
So it was over to Devon and see what she had to offer us, I was leaving my comfort zone as I grew up in Cornwall and we always had a rivalry with our nearest neighbour, albeit I was looking forward to some Devon Scones with Jam and Cream.
Truth be told it was very hard to distinguish between a Cornish lane and a Devon one. You were also just as likely to meet Lewis Hamilton wanna-be’s in their Volkswagen Vans so you still needed to keep your wits about you or you’d end up a hood ornament.
The one oasis of hydration and nutrition , apart from the local village shops or town supermarkets, was the Rat Race pit stops. These were a gourmet smorgasbord and manned by the best helpers since Father Christmas discovered Elves. We were treated like royalty and the hardest part was leaving albeit the next one was never far away. The crew were so good and the tukka was delicious , again I must mention the Rat Race bars.
Funnily enough I did manage to miss a few pit stops and this was entirely my fault as they were well marked and before each day we were drilled on their locations. The old adage ‘you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink’… it’s like you can put out a pitstop but you cannot guarantee the runner will stop and find it !
The final part of this stage was the South West Coastal Path which was stunning. We left the ‘take your life in your hands’ b-road , ran over a picturesque bridge (see below) and then followed this path to Bideford. Some great images and I even persuaded a cyclist to take a photo.
The images never do the actual scenery justice, I even went to the expense of buying an iphone 14 pro but still the final photos never show how good it really was. A photo doesn’t show the whole picture so to speak, the summer sunshine warming you as you move along trails that make you glad to be alive, breathing in the beauty of all around you. I really haven’t got the vocabulary to fully describe the feeling, if there are even words that are available. You just need to get out there and experience it yourself. Crossing this bridge, leaving the road, and heading onto the South West coastal trail was invigorating as I also knew the end was in sight and I was feeling great. No fatigue just enjoying the moment and cruising to another finish.
Although there were sections of concrete the surroundings more than made up for the terrain underfoot. So much greenery, England in full bloom is a glorious place to be.
There was trails as well as the concrete footpath so you were never too far from some great trail running and the odd stile to keep you honest.
When I persuaded a cyslist to take this photo I was close to the finish and feeling so good. The stage was relatively short compared to the previous three days so I had lots left in the tank, it was virtually a rest day as we had also left the testing undulations of the coastal path. It had been a great day.
All that was left to do was get a great selfie with some of my housemates and then all scuttle off to the pub for a good feed, tell a few tall stories of the days adventures and prepare to repeat the whole process the next day, we really were living the dream.
fisiocrem ( https://www.fisiocrem.com.au/ ) is just bloody brilliant and does exactly what it says it does , it just gets the major muscle groups moving again. I use this extensively towards the end of the race when my quads are hammered. It really makes a difference and allows me to move back through the gears towards the end of an event when most runners are stumbling home.
Bix hydration is just ace, a product brought to life by Vlad Ixel a professional ultra runner who knows a thing or two about hydration. ( https://www.bixvitamins.com/ ) The best thing about Bix is it tastes good with many different flavours and you never get sick of drinking it, this is a big plus as Maurten and Tailwind (both great products) can be difficult to digest later in the event. From the website :-
As an Australian elite multiple trail running champion, with wins in over 40 ultra-marathon races across Asia, recovery from training and races has always been my top priority.
In searching for a solid recovery and hydration supplement, I recognized that critical vitamins and minerals – both in diversity and quantity – were missing from almost all supplements on the market. I had the feeling that in an effort to maximize their bottom-lines, companies in the hydration space, failed to deliver a product that could meaningfully assist athlete performance.
In order to address this, I began the development of a hydration product. After two and a half years of development alongside a leading German sports scientist, BIX Recovery, an advanced, high-quality recovery drink was born.
BIX boosts 12 active ingredients scientifically balanced to replace lost electrolytes and assist in immune function. It’s designed with quality vitamins and minerals, in quantities that work!
BIX is a recovery solution for everyone, that will get you to the top of your game!
What can I say about HumanTecar, ( https://athleticus.com.au/ ) it looks great, smells great and is awesome for recovery or even pre-run/workout. Read about the science behind it first and then try the products. The compression bandages are just magical after a long event. Put these on and the next day you are recovered, I have used them on a number of occasions and they never fail to astound me albeit the family poke fun at me as I look like a ‘mummy and smell funny’ !
Fractel ( https://fractel.com.au/ ) have your performance headgear covered. I love the colours and the functionality of these hats, I guarantee there is one model you’ll fall in love with.
Shokz headphones, let you keep in touch with the world around while losing yourself in quality tunes or podcasts. ( https://shokz.com.au/ )
T8 running apparel is the best you can get, second to none. Designed for the ultra humid Hong Kong conditions the owners live in. It is light and does away with any chaffing worries. T8 is the name given to the highest typhoon warning in Honk Kong, storms and typhoons with gusts exceeding 180kph, which explains the branding. ( https://t8.run/)
or follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/runbkrun/
or facebook RUNBKRUNOZ
Day three and it was another glorious day in sunny Cornwall. Padstow to Bude would turn out to be very , very special. It 59km kilometres of incredible running over scenery that defied logic at times, it was just too perfect. I felt like I was seeing a picture postcard around every corner, each one outdoing the previous.
Managed to get some video of the ferry crossing and Dave ‘Dangerous’ Dougla getting reprimanded for standing on the seats. I wish I’d taken more video, next time !
The highlight of day three was running through Port Isaac, an iconic village made famous by the TV series Doc Marten. It did not disappoint. I’ve added three images below but could have added hundreds more, the place is a picture postcard on steroids’ and the conditions were absolutely perfect. When the weather is this good there is no where else you’d rather be, nowhere.
The only downside is the water looks so inviting but if you venture in there there is a good chance you’ll lose the family jewels for many hours , post dip, it ain’t warm.
How incredible is that view, it was hard to move on , leaving such a paradise and a true Cornish iconic village. Thankyou Port Isaac, you delivered in spades.
We were warned on day one that North Cornwall was one of the hardest sections and although we were blessed with perfect conditions it didn’t disguise the terrain which was testing. If you weren’t going down steep slopes you were ascending similar gradients. Luckily there were no time pressures and it was up to each runner how quick they’d run the stage. Stopping for a photo was also an excuse for a well earned rest or a break for some hydration and nutrition.
The beauty of the Cornish coast is the splattering of small village stores hidden in the coves supplying the best refreshments, like unplanned aid stations filled to the gunnels with delicious offering. I was parched and this ice cream , together with some lucozade energy drink, recharged my batteries big time. I skipped off up the next hill with renewed vigor before bumping into some tourists who offered to take a photo, the day just kept on giving.
Experiencing the runners high after a great Cornish ice cream and also happy for a rest after the hill I had just clambered up. Notice my foot wear in this photo. I had gone for the Altra Vanish Tempo’s , which were brand new at the start of this stage, this was a mistake as I was taking my life in my hands on some of the steep climbs, especially going down. My logic was the path was very runnable and there was road sections ahead, with hindsight I should have packed my Altra Olympus runners and swapped at one of the aid stations. My lovely white tempo’s were christened early in the stage when I jumped into a cowpat (a flat round deposit of cow dung) while coming off a sty.
I have added an image of an example of said cowpat, sort of landmines for ultra runners . Needless to say my lovely white Altra Tempos would never be that colour again.
It was a blessing to leave the coast to the back roads where we offered some protection from the sun. You were always on the look out for water and this watering hole was extra special as it had goldfish, I assume they had been deposited there and just survived ?
Maybe they’re dangerous and thus need the cage to protect the general public from being mauled to death, a Cornish version of a Great White shark perhaps ?
As well as backroads there was a few trails to keep you on your toes and these were heavily shaded which was a respite from the unforgiving sun.
Eventually the days running had to end and I was disappointed when I reached the finish for day three, albeit I was looking forward to a sit down and some tukka. Imagine how excited I was to receive an authentic Cornish party , bloody stoked. I devoured the beast quickly and then stripped off and had a relaxing (and invigorating ) swim in the ocean. Laying in the ocean I reflecting on the best day yet and wondered how much longer the event could keep producing the goods.
After the Cornish pasty it was back on one of the buses and we were whisked away to our overnight accommodation. We’d be here for three nights and I was grouped with five other runners in a three bedroom chalet, with sea view of course and close to a great pub which would feed and water us. As you can see from the image below it was burger , onion rings and chips, real ultra food.
Finally a perfect sunset before retiring for the evening and preparing for day four, Bude to Bideford, a 41km day, virtually a rest day. I could hardly sleep I was so excited.
fisiocrem ( https://www.fisiocrem.com.au/ ) is just bloody brilliant and does exactly what it says it does , it just gets the major muscle groups moving again. I use this extensively towards the end of the race when my quads are hammered. It really makes a difference and allows me to move back through the gears towards the end of an event when most runners are stumbling home.
Bix hydration is just ace, a product brought to life by Vlad Ixel a professional ultra runner who knows a thing or two about hydration. ( https://www.bixvitamins.com/ ) The best thing about Bix is it tastes good with many different flavours and you never get sick of drinking it, this is a big plus as Maurten and Tailwind (both great products) can be difficult to digest later in the event. From the website :-
As an Australian elite multiple trail running champion, with wins in over 40 ultra-marathon races across Asia, recovery from training and races has always been my top priority.
In searching for a solid recovery and hydration supplement, I recognized that critical vitamins and minerals – both in diversity and quantity – were missing from almost all supplements on the market. I had the feeling that in an effort to maximize their bottom-lines, companies in the hydration space, failed to deliver a product that could meaningfully assist athlete performance.
In order to address this, I began the development of a hydration product. After two and a half years of development alongside a leading German sports scientist, BIX Recovery, an advanced, high-quality recovery drink was born.
BIX boosts 12 active ingredients scientifically balanced to replace lost electrolytes and assist in immune function. It’s designed with quality vitamins and minerals, in quantities that work!
BIX is a recovery solution for everyone, that will get you to the top of your game!
What can I say about HumanTecar, ( https://athleticus.com.au/ ) it looks great, smells great and is awesome for recovery or even pre-run/workout. Read about the science behind it first and then try the products. The compression bandages are just magical after a long event. Put these on and the next day you are recovered, I have used them on a number of occasions and they never fail to astound me albeit the family poke fun at me as I look like a ‘mummy and smell funny’ !
Fractel ( https://fractel.com.au/ ) have your performance headgear covered. I love the colours and the functionality of these hats, I guarantee there is one model you’ll fall in love with.
Shokz headphones, let you keep in touch with the world around while losing yourself in quality tunes or podcasts. ( https://shokz.com.au/ )
T8 running apparel is the best you can get, second to none. Designed for the ultra humid Hong Kong conditions the owners live in. It is light and does away with any chaffing worries. T8 is the name given to the highest typhoon warning in Honk Kong, storms and typhoons with gusts exceeding 180kph, which explains the branding. ( https://t8.run/)
or follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/runbkrun/
or facebook RUNBKRUNOZ