Vagamon ULTrail: Excitement, Anger, and a Hard-Earned Straw Hat

Vagamon ULTrail and I go back a bit; this was my second time lining up at the start, and once again, I came back with the winner’s straw hat. This time, it was the 36 km category, run on an updated route that promised more adventure, more elevation, and more of Vagamon’s wild beauty.

What I didn’t sign up for, though, was trauma.

From early on, the race turned into a test of patience as much as endurance. Route markings were tricky, with several turns either poorly marked or completely missed. At one point, an entire section of trail was marked incorrectly. Later, it became clear this wasn’t just human error but the result of route sabotage.

And, the result?
Lost time… Lost rhythm… Lost trust in the course…

I personally lost nearly an hour in total navigating the confusion and backtracking from various sections. What was meant to be a 36 km race ended up reading 42 km on my Garmin. Extra kilometres no runner mentally or physically budgets for. I kept wishing the organisers had shared the GPX route file beforehand; it would have saved a lot of stress and uncertainty out there.

Beyond the race itself, the ripple effects hit harder than expected. An unplanned extra hour on my feet and the stress that came with it isn’t just “part of the race”; it derailed my January training plan, something I’m usually very deliberate about. That frustration lingered long after the finish line.

Yes, I won. But if I’m being honest, the route drama took the joy out of the win.

Still, trail running has a way of mirroring life. You plan, you prepare, you show up; and then something entirely unexpected throws you off course. In those moments, what really matters is the willpower to keep moving forward, without letting stress or anger consume you.

And that’s what I did.

Despite everything, Vagamon reminded me why I keep coming back to the trails. The landscape was stunning – lush, quiet, raw, and humbling in the way only mountains can be. Even on a tough day, the trails gave something back.

I’m back home now, reset, recovered, and enjoyed a week of downtime. And, on to the next challenge!