Buffalo Stampede 2025 - Bright 100km - Sia Kindberg
With less than 2 weeks to go until The Track 520km - the epic journey from Alice Springs to Uluru - I threw myself into the Buffalo Stampede 100km with one clear intention: this was not just a race, but a rehearsal for something much bigger.
As I rolled into Bright to collect my bib and pass gear check, the air buzzed with energy. The atmosphere was electric. Race nerves and excitement wrapped up in mountain air. Familiar faces popped up everywhere, and then, someone walked over and said with a grin, “You’re the Bogong poster girl!” - congratulating me on finishing the Ice Ultra. My heart swelled.
Photos from Left: Sia & Steven (Running Buddy), Sia & Jay (The Track Teammates)
My gear check was done by my good friend Jo, a seasoned trail runner herself. But of course, my running buddy Steven and I had left a few mandatory items at the accommodation. Jo wasn’t about to let that slide - no gear, no go - and I respected her for it. Out in the alpine, conditions can flip in a second, and she knows it well.
The forecast promised warmth, but race day had other plans. At 6am, the skies opened and it poured. Within 20 minutes, we were climbing a near-vertical wall in the dark, and ahead of me, a glowing line of headlamps snaked up the mountain. It was humbling - magical, even - being surrounded by so many brave souls chasing the same wild dream.
Photos from Left: Sia & Steven (Running Buddy), Sia & Jacob (First Time Alpine Ultra Runner)
Halfway up, a volunteer stood in the rain dressed in Christmas lights, clapping and cheering. I couldn’t help but laugh. Who does that? Someone who loves this sport and its people, just as much as we do.
As the sun began to rise and mist hovered over the hills, I caught glimpses of Bright below. We were above the clouds. The trails through the pine plantations were soaked and muddy, but it felt like I’d stumbled into a fairy tale. For a while, I forgot I was running 100km - I was just there, present, soaking it all in.
At the first major aid station, I was met with what felt like a runner’s dream: chips, sweets, fruit, cake, gels… you name it. And volunteers fighting over who could help first. From there, I headed toward the big climb up Mount Buffalo. The views along the way to the Chalet were breathtaking.
About halfway up, I felt a rock in my shoe. As I sat down to sort it out, Tom Dade - one of the fastest trail runners out there - came flying down and stopped. “You okay?” he asked. I waved him on, knowing he was probably leading the race. But his pause meant everything.
In trail running, kindness always beats ego.
Then came the stretch from Buffalo to The Horn. I don’t even know how to describe it - every corner opened to another jaw-dropping view. The lake, the wild rock formations, even a ski slope! I’d never been on this section before, and it felt like discovering a new world.
By the time I reached the summit of The Horn, I was soaked to the bone, but I stood there feeling like the most powerful person on the planet. I yelled at full volume into the sky! Something about that moment re-lit a fire inside me, and I took off down the trail like I was flying.
At the bottom of Hornet aid station, I saw Jacob - a young road runner I’d convinced to give alpine ultra running a go. This was his first 100km with 5600+ metres of gain. He followed my gear advice to the letter, and seeing him so composed, grabbing food, resetting - it made me so proud. That’s when it hit me: I hadn’t seen my trail running buddy Steven all day. Not at the turnarounds, not on the trails. I hoped he was okay…
I grabbed my things and moved quickly - cold was creeping in fast. Descending Mount Buffalo in the dark was tough. I tripped, slipped, caught myself. I reminded myself: This is training for The Track. Stay smart. Don’t risk injury now.
At the bottom aid station, Jo and Jay were waiting. I was cold, sleepy, and desperately need to sleep. They reassured me Steven was okay, wrapped me in a blanket, handed me food, and offered to wake me up after a 5-minute nap. I closed my eyes, but my mind buzzed. I knew I had to keep moving. We said our goodbyes, and they walked me to the start of the next trail section, urging me to stick with someone so I wouldn’t fall asleep on my feet.
The night sky opened above me, glittering with stars, and I felt nothing but gratitude. My body still had fuel in the tank, and that feeling - being alive, thriving in the dark on my own, in motion, under the stars - is something I’ll never take for granted.
At the final aid station, a masseur greeted us. A massage? This race was spoiling us! Spirits high, I thought: Only 20km to go. But I was wrong. That last stretch was brutal. The climb felt endless - so steep I could practically lick the trail in front of me. I told myself, just reach the summit and you can fly down.
Wrong again. The descent was the most technical and dangerous part of the race. I gripped my poles, taking cautious steps, every nerve on high alert. 6 weeks to The Track, I kept repeating. Don’t fall. Don’t twist anything. There’s no time to recover.
Somehow, I made it. I crossed the finish line within my goal time. 2 Days later, I was back training. No injuries, no regrets - just a full heart and a gear system tested in the best way possible. I ran in the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro - the shoes I’ll wear across the desert for 10 self-sufficient days - and Buffalo was the perfect trial. I tested everything: my gear, my nutrition, my resolve. And it all held up.
Since becoming a Brand Ambassador for Bogong Equipment, I’ve realized the importance of showing up -- not as an elite, but as an everyday trail runner with a big heart and an even bigger reason why. I used to be hard on myself for not hitting fast times or sticking to rigid training plans.
But life’s different now. I’m a single mum, working full-time, juggling life with 2 young girls. The fact that I even make it to the starting line? That’s the real win. There’s no finish line to motherhood. But Buffalo Stampede was a powerful reminder of how vital it is to carve out space for me. This wasn’t just a race - it was a gift to myself.
Happy Mother’s Day, May 11th 2025, the day I leave for The Track 520km. I’ll run with my heart wide open, because failing isn’t possible when in our children’s eyes, we’re superheroes.
See our range of trail running gear, or have a look at previous Bogong Blogs.
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