Welcome to 2025: Lessons from the Long Run

Happy New Year, and welcome back to Lessons from the Long Run for 2025! I hope the festive season treated you all well and that you’re starting the year feeling refreshed, motivated, and ready to chase your goals.

For me, the summer has been full-on, but in the best way possible. I’ve focused on making the most of being outdoors, filling my cup with the things that bring me joy—diving, summer training, and spending quality time with Michelle, friends, and family.

This time of year always leaves me feeling at my fittest. Living in the Southern Hemisphere definitely has its perks when it comes to summertime training and adventures. It’s not just about enjoyment (although diving for crays and butterfish is a definite highlight). The lifestyle itself is a kind of cross-training—an accidental way to build strength, endurance, and resilience.

Sure, we don’t have the epic cross-country skiing that my friends in the Northern Hemisphere enjoy, but here’s a typical “training” day for me: a run in the morning, followed by a scramble down the coast for a two-hour dive, then hauling a loaded pack home. It’s a serious amount of exertion, but because it’s fun, it doesn’t feel like training. These extra physical stressors are making me stronger in ways that standard training blocks can’t. I’m excited to see how this pays off as the year unfolds.

Speaking of the year ahead, Tarawera 104 is just around the corner! Over the past couple of months, I’ve focused on rebuilding speed in my legs, and I’ve ramped up my training load to hit nearly 200 km of weekly mileage.

It’s been even better having my good friend and training partner Hayden Hawks in Wellington. Together, we’re laying down a solid foundation—not just for Tarawera but for our bigger goals later in the season. It’s always inspiring to train alongside someone with the same level of drive and determination, and it’s motivating me to push harder. Now, another teammate - Macy and his partner Nini have arrived, staying here to train and check out our backyard in Wellington. We’ve got an awesome little training group going on. Check out the photo below - big grins in the Makara Mountain Bike Park. (Macy on the camera)

If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know I’ve never been shy about my ambitions in the sport of ultra trail running. This year is no different—I’m here to work harder, improve, and climb higher. Having this Substack community along for the journey makes it all the more rewarding, and I’m confident that 2025 will bring some exciting results.

Updates to Lessons from the Long Run

Let’s take a moment to talk about Lessons from the Long Run. Over the past 18 months, I’ve written a new article every single week. It’s been an incredible experience connecting with all of you, but to ensure I can continue producing thoughtful, high-quality content, I’ll be switching to a biweekly schedule in 2025.

Similarly, AMAs will now happen bimonthly, giving you more time to think up some really great questions. I’m hoping this shift will lead to even more engaging and well-attended sessions.

One thing I’m keen to make more regular is video content—whether it’s workout recaps, race lead-ins, or training insights. The response to these has been overwhelmingly positive, so I’ll look to bring you more in this format throughout the year.

Finally, I’d love to hear from you! If there are specific topics you’d like me to cover or new features you’d enjoy seeing on Substack, drop a comment below. Your feedback is invaluable and helps shape this community into something even better.

As we kick off 2025, I want to thank each and every one of you for your continued support. This community has become such a special part of my journey, and I’m excited to share the highs, the challenges, and the lessons learned along the way.

Let’s make this year one for the books—both on the trails and in life.

Cheers,
Dan