Kelly Staunton | 55 Miles | 6,160ft | 🥈 Female | 5th Overall

55 Miles | 6,160ft | 🥈 Female | 5th Overall

Hope Trail Festival 12 Hour Recap

The Hope Trail Festival is known for its community atmosphere and challenging multi-lap format — but in 2025, it added another challenge: blistering heat. On the hottest day of the year down south, with temperatures soaring to 34°C, Kelly completed 11 laps of the 5-mile loop (560ft gain per lap) to take second female and 5th overall out of 168 runners.

The Conditions
The heat was the main adversary. Sustained high temperatures can drain energy, dehydrate quickly, and turn nutrition into a battle. On a repetitive trail loop, pacing and fuelling discipline become just as important as fitness.

The Result
Kelly kept her cool — literally and figuratively — to secure a strong podium finish and a top-five placing overall.

Fuelling Strategy
Her success came down to a simple but effective plan, centered on BareFuel Strawberry Juicy:
BareFuel – 60–90g carbs per hour, taken every 5 miles
Flavour advantage – tasted like a refreshing strawberry milkshake, making it easy to drink even in extreme heat
Hydration – plain water alongside BareFuel to balance intake

The result? No cramps, no energy dips, and consistent pacing across all 12 hours.

“BareFuel was the perfect carb load — it felt like a normal refreshing drink that got me going lap after lap.” – Kelly

Lessons & Takeaways
Managing heat in ultras isn’t just about slowing down — it’s about having a fuelling system that’s palatable and easy to digest in tough conditions. BareFuel’s flavour and carb delivery helped Kelly keep moving and finish strong when many faded.

What We Had to Say:
From the very first test mixes to racing in extreme heat, Kelly has trusted BareFuel to get the job done.  Watching her handle 34°C for 12 hours and still finish strong is exactly why we built this product — to perform when conditions are at their toughest.