Sam Rout breaks records in a sensational season on CurraNZ

Taking out the Bay of Islands Ultramarathon in 3:30:38 in May, he followed it up with new records at WUU2K 65km and Tekapo 50km - his first South Island Ultra which attracted a field of 1,600, with runners from around the globe.

The one he really wanted (Taupo 50km) unfortunately slipped from his grasp as he finished a mere 90 seconds off the record set by Kunaal Rajpal in 2018.

Reflecting on his win, Sam said, “I led from the start and went out fast with the cold conditions, but I managed to settle into my pace. Climbing up Mt John was a highlight, with the view over the lake and mountains as a reward. It’s such a unique race. The atmosphere, the scenery — it’s something special. I’d recommend it to anyone who hasn’t tried a race like this before.”

The week before Tekapo, 'just for fun', he won the Sport Northland events Whangarei 8.5km run, all while pushing his son Banjo in a stroller, and to the amusement of spectators. 

Sam has been using CurraNZ on his winning streak, observing, "I've seen a noticeable difference this year with improvements in my digestive system during training and racing. Plus, often I've only had a few weeks between events, and CurraNZ has improved my recovery, allowing me to perform at my best for each event.

"I plan on taking a break from racing over the summer but will keep CurraNZ as part of my daily routine through til my next training block for Ultra-Trail Australia early next year."