Buffalo Stampede was epic! Ziggy and I headed over and jumped in the deep end, both taking on the Ultra Grand Slam. It was a challenging three days of running. I somehow walked away with the win and Ziggy somehow finished after an epic battle. I’ve done a vlog of the weekend which you can watch below to go with this post about the weekend in Bright.
🎥 Watch Below ⬇️
What Is the Buffalo Stampede Ultra Grand Slam?
The Buffalo Stampede Ultra Grand Slam is arguably the ultimate test of endurance and recovery in the Australian trail scene. It’s a brutal three day stage race held on the slopes of Mt Buffalo and hills surrounding Bright, requiring runners to back up a 10km on Friday, a 100km ultra on Saturday, and a full 42km marathon on Sunday. Very few people even attempt the Ultra Grand Slam and even less finish it because the cumulative vertical gain and the short recovery windows make it a torturous race format. It’s not really about speed; it’s a strategic game of survival and self-preservation to see who can look after their body well enough to go again each morning.
🎯Race Goals
I knew this race would be challenging not just from a physical perspective but also mentally. Not just in the mental toughness department, but also smartness of race execution. Ziggy and I spent much time deliberating over race strategies. How do you pace such an event? We knew the race wouldn’t be won with the fastest 10k time, I was certain that it would be won or lost based on who survived the 100k and finished in an ok time and whoever toes the line on the 42k day and finishes it well.
On the flight over I mapped out exactly how I wanted to execute each day. As always I emphasised process goals since I believe that if good processes are adhered to, outcomes will follow.
Outcome Goals
- 10k race: Finish in 1 hour or slightly more.
- 100k race: 13 hours +/- 1 hour.
- 42k: 5 hours +/- 30 minutes.
- Total time: Under 19 hours.
Process Goals
- Don’t get caught racing the single-day runners.
- 10k: Run steady, no mistakes, protect quads. Steady state effort, be sensible.
- 100k:
- Race smart 🤓 be intentional and consistent.
- RPE 6-7/10 max.
- Heart rate under 155bpm for first 4 hours.
- Drink, eat, run in that order of priority.
- 1000ml/hr fluid intake minimum (900mg/l sodium).
- Eat something solid at every aid station.
- 70g/hr carb intake minimum.
- 1x Moor drink per hour + 1x Precision gel.
- Finish with a robust constitution.
- 42k:
- Get to the start line!
- Push hard after warmed up.
- Drink, eat, run again, smash carbs like a madman.
- Overall goal: Don’t DNF, become an ultra slammer!
Race Week: Preparation & Travel
The journey started early Thursday morning with a flight, then Ziggy and I were lucky enough to get a lift to Bright from Scott, another Ultra Slammer, and Gary Mullins. Arriving in Bright, the excitement was already high as we met up with George and headed to the Single Track Trail team dinner. Getting to meet the whole team really set the vibe for the weekend. We capped off the night at the brewery watching the movie The Cut Off, enjoying the calm before the storm.
Day 1 – Friday: The 10km
The 10km didn’t start until 6 pm, so Friday was spent in a bit of a limbo state, hanging around and preparing drop bags for the big 100km day to come. When the gun finally went off, I started fast on the flat, but as soon as we hit the Mystic climb, I realised I was redlining and had to consciously back off to save my legs for the next 142km.
I spent the climb chatting with Jez, last year’s Ultra Slam winner. Ziggy caught me, and we hiked to the top Mystic together. I was conservative on the technical descents, prioritising quad preservation over speed, but I still managed to finish strong in 57 minutes, which actually meant I failed at my goal of running slower than an hour. I was stoked with 13th overall, but Sam Waddington had already put a four-minute lead on me in the overall standings.
Day 2 – Saturday: The 100km Stampede
Saturday morning was a bit frantic. George was running late and stressing out, so I ended up driving his car into the car park with only 10 minutes to spare before the start. We headed out into the darkness under head torches, and I settled into a “morning trance-like” state, using my poles to cruise up Mystic much slower than the night before.
The early kilometres were a social affair; I ran with Harrison from the Single Track Team, Nick Campbell and Bridie. I think I caught Bridie about eight times throughout the day as we swapped positions at aid stations. It was great to have company in the early days to keep me running sensibly and for the chats to make the kms fly by.
I hit a low patch on the way back to the Chalet, but a cuppa soup at the aid station brought me back to life. I had a minor disaster at the Chalet, taking a fall and bashing my knee, but the flowy descent to Eurobin helped restore my confidence. George called me as I was approaching Buckland to tell me he had won and set a new course record. I was in that emotionally fragile state of exhaustion and felt a tear in my eye. So proud!! The good news got me fired up to finish my day strong.
The Dingo Ridge climb in the heat of the day was a total grind, and my brain was so rattled I spent ages playing cat-and-mouse with a runner I was convinced was Sam Waddington, only to realise it was Nicole Paton. I dug deep for a strong finish, coming in under 12:48, my “artificial” goal based on Jez’s time from the previous year. Only problem was I misremembered his time as 12:48 when it was actually 12:36. Either way the fabricated goal time helped me push hard at the end. At the finish I met Sam Waddington who was still the race leader. He finished 11 minutes before me and had 15 minutes on me overall but he struggled in the end of the 100 and was looking worse for wear.
Post race was a struggle. I had to sit in the shower at the finish for quite some time, when I finally got up I had to run to the toilet and vomit. The 100km had knocked me about. But in time I improved and soon began my evening of incessant eating and drinking. In multi-day racing I believe whoever eats and drinks the most inevitably wins. Ziggy eventually got it done after having a true battle and I worried about his ability to show up and run again the next day. But he is a tenacious fellow who shouldn’t be underestimated.
Day 3 – Sunday: The 42km Stampede Marathon
Waking up for the 42km was a struggle, but sleep had worked wonders for Ziggy, who miraculously felt better than the day before. At the start line I was approached by Sam Waddington, he said he wasn’t going to start; he hadn’t been able to keep food down since the 100km. This meant the pressure was off somewhat, I was now leading the Ultra Slam by an hour. I was relieved but also disappointed, I was kind of looking forward to the final day showdown.
I eased into the day, starting in Group 1 but taking it easy. At the Chalet, George gave me a much-needed pep talk, telling me to “stop being complacent and get to work”. That sparked something. I began taking “scalps” on the technical descents and hiked hard up Dingo Ridge, it surprisingly felt better the second time.
By the time I hit Middle Track, I had transcended the pain and entered “God Mode”. I imagined I was running as gracefully as George, flowing down the technical terrain with unbridled joy. I was wearing his La Sportiva Prodigio Pros, and this helped me channel the George Knight flowy running style. The final descent hurt, but it hurt good. It felt amazing and painful at the same time. The final push was immense, I was locked onto my 5 hours goal. The goal was achieved, crossing the line in 4:59!
Winning the Grand Slam – Reflections
It took the MC, Dave, a few minutes to calculate the results, but I already knew I had won the Ultra Grand Slam. The post-race interview was no good; I was absolutely rinsed and had zero brain cells left. But the feeling of finishing such a long weekend so strong was incredible. I executed my plan almost perfectly: 57 minutes, 12:47, and 4:59 for a total of 18:44. I was suitable wrecked and stoked!!
| Day | Dist | Time | Strava Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10km | 0:57:38 | Strava activity |
| 2 | 100km | 12:47:37 | Strava activity |
| 3 | 42km | 4:59:36 | Strava activity |
| Total | 152km | 18:44:52 |
Final Thoughts
Multi-day racing is a different beast; it’s a game of who can be the most sensible and consistent runner. My recovery protocol; eat and drink as much as possible, creatine, protein, Panadol, a massage gun and sleep helped me show up on the final day. I’d recommend the Ultra Grand Slam to anyone with a “morbid curiosity” for suffering, but respect the beast, it will most likely humble you.
The weekend was about more than just the running; it was quality time with the Single Track family, the Qantas lounge beers with Ziggy, and the surreal news that Dezi Freeman had been found. It was a peak experience weekend in Bright, and I’m beyond proud of George for becoming the number one ITRA ranked trail runner in Australia.
Diverge is next up for Ziggy and I, both taking on the 50k next weekend. Another big weekend of racing ahead. I might have a little rest after that one. We’ll see if I have the self control to back off a little. It’s been a big start the the year!! Thanks for reading, see you in Queenstown if you’re heading to Diverge.
Joseph Nunn: An avid trail runner based in Hobart, Tasmania. He loves getting out for big days on the trails with mates or racing against them.
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