CurraNZ athlete Hayden Hawks secured his place in ultra-trail running history on August 30 with a remarkable victory in a hot renewal of the 100K CCC event at the UTMB World Series Final in Chamonix.
It brings to bear Hayden's prediction that he would win the biggest races in the world with the performance-enhancing assistance of CurraNZ.
As a CurraNZ ambassador, Hayden has long championed the use of our blackcurrant extract for its game-changing recovery, performance and gastrointestinal (GI) benefits. He believes that CurraNZ has played a pivotal role in his ability to recover faster, maintain higher energy and consistently put in bigger training blocks to reach peak fitness.
Reflecting on his win, Hayden stated, "Winning the CCC in 2017 changed my career. To come back and win again, especially with the support of CurraNZ, is an incredible feeling. I’ve always believed I could win the biggest races in the world with the product, and today, that belief was confirmed.
"The recovery and GI benefits I’ve experienced by incorporating CurraNZ have allowed me to push my body further than ever before, and just a year after knee surgery. It’s been a game-changer in my career, and I truly believe it’s helped me achieve this victory."
Hayden saved his legs early on in the race but moved to the head of the pack around a third of the way into the race. He exerted his confidence as the race wore on, putting distance between himself and the chasing pack, to finish in a time of 10:20:11, seven minutes ahead of his nearest rival.
IMAGES: MATT BOUCHER
Despite the 31C conditions, his time of 10:20:11 was also a new personal best in the race, improving on his 2017 performance by four minutes.
Hayden’s victory at the CCC not only cements his status as a legend in the sport but also highlights the evolving role of high-value polyphenol nutrients in achieving peak performance.
His success is a powerful testament to the impact of CurraNZ in elite-level competition, demonstrating once again how the super-nutrients present in CurraNZ can make a difference on the world’s biggest stages.