Year Two in the Victorian Alps: What Shackleton Taught a Bunch of Trail Runners

Adam Clarke nearing the summit of Mt Feathertop with the Bright Valley in the distance

We’ve just returned from our second Up N Adam Victorian Alps Running Camp.

And honestly… it’s hard to fathom how it could have surpassed last year.

But what made this camp special wasn’t just the vert, the views, or the sessions.

It was the story.

The Story of Shackleton — and Why It Matters

On our first night, Adam Clarke told the story of Ernest Shackleton and the voyage of the Endurance.

If you know the story, you’ll know this:

The ship was crushed by ice in Antarctica. The mission failed. The odds were catastrophic.

But Shackleton made a decision that defined his leadership.

He would leave no one behind.

Not one man was lost.

The expedition became one of the greatest survival stories ever told — not because they conquered Antarctica, but because they protected each other.

That theme echoed across our week in the Alps.

Natalia (Physio) & Steve enjoying what the Razorback had to offer

Trail Running Is an Individual Sport. But It Doesn’t Have to Feel Like One.

Trail running is, by nature, solitary.

But something powerful happens when you train as a team.

This year’s group embodied that:

• On the long alpine climbs, stronger runners looped back to encourage others.

• On technical descents, knowledge was shared, comraderie echoed and support given where needed.

• During performance discussions, runners leaned in — not just for themselves, but for the group.

• During our recoveries (at waterfalls, in ice baths & group saunas & during nightly dinners), the group dynamics became stronger, stories were shared and friendships built.

No one was left behind.

Not physically.

Not emotionally.

Not mentally.

And that changes everything.

Recovering as one at Ladies Bath Falls at Mount Buffalo

The Alps Expose You

The Victorian Alps don’t care about ego.

They expose:

• Weak aerobic foundations

• Poor pacing decisions

• Strength deficits

• Fueling mistakes

But they also reward preparation.

This year, something was different.

More runners arrived with:

• Stronger zone 2 bases

• Consistent strength training behind them

• Better understanding of lactate thresholds

• Greater durability

The result?

• Less breakdown.

• More confidence.

• Smarter decision-making on the trails.

• And incredible performances

That’s not accidental. That’s preparation meeting environment.

Shannon showing what a difference 1 year can make between Running Camps

Community Is a Performance Multiplier

We often talk about physiology at Up N Adam:

• VO₂ max.

• Mitochondrial density.

• Force production.

• Tissue capacity.

But there’s another performance variable that doesn’t show up on a ForceDeck or in a lactate reading.

Belonging.

When runners feel part of something bigger:

• They push further.

• They recover better.

• They hold themselves to higher standards.

• They show up consistently.

Shackleton understood that survival depended on morale and unity.

Performance isn’t survival — but it follows the same principle.

A connected group outperforms a disconnected individual.

Adam leading the charge!

What We’re Really Building

This wasn’t just Camp #2.

It was proof that something is compounding.

Strangers became training partners.

Training partners became friends.

Conversations moved beyond splits and Strava segments.

We saw runners:

• Backing each other mid-climb

• Sharing vulnerabilities about life, injuries and setbacks

• Talking openly about fear before big days on the trail

• Celebrating small wins like they were podium finishes

That’s when trail running shifts from individual sport to team culture.

And culture is what lasts long after the Alps fade in the rear-view mirror.

The Legendary Carlos Duque and Trip Photographer Andy

The Standard Has Risen

Year one was special.

Year two was stronger:

• The preparation was smarter.

• The community deeper.

• The leadership among all was clearer.

And if Shackleton’s story taught us anything, it’s this:

Success isn’t about summits.

It’s about people.

No one left behind.

Not on the trail.

Not in preparation.

Not in recovery.

Not in growth.

We’re proud of what this group achieved in the Victorian Alps.

But more than that, we’re proud of who they became as a team.

And this is only just getting started.

My cup is genuinely overflowing after this camp.

To every runner who came — thank you.

You didn’t just turn up. You leaned in.

You gave your all on the climbs, on the descents, in the recovery sessions and around the dinner table conversations.

Most importantly, you trusted the process.

You immersed yourselves fully in what this experience is about — growth, connection, resilience and doing hard things together.

That’s what made it special.

The start of our amazing day on Mount Buffalo

If you’d like to be part of Camp #3, keep an eye out.

The mountains will test you.

But you won’t face them alone.

This is Number 2 Photographer, Number 2 'Carlos' & APA Sports Physiotherapist, Darren Glendenning, signing off for now!

You can book an appointment with Darren, Natalia or Newcastle Knights Physiotherapists Katie or Hayd'n at www.upnadamptphysio.com for any run related issues or if you want to become better at what you do.

Bookings also available on our website for the following services at Up N Adam Performance Training & Physiotherapy:

• Dietitian - Sweat testing, weight-loss or to optimise your training nutrition / fuelling www.nutrientnation.com.au

• VO2 Max testing - to discover more effective ways to train efficiently www.flowitri.com.au

• Strength & Conditioning Programs or Coaching - contact us or book via the website or email us at upnadamptphysio@gmail.com

• Remedial Massage - to relieve accumulative muscle tension & keep you training well.

• CycleFit by Physiotherapist Dean Waterman - At Up N Adam, for all your bike fitting solutions www.cyclefitphysio.com