Proving Grounds

The Cocodona 250 is hands-down one of the toughest Ultra Running races around. For CamelBak athletes, Max Jolliffe and Sally McRae, this year’s race played out the way all Ultra’s played out, delivering both a triumphant comeback and a dose of motivational fuel for another year.

Two hundred and fifty miles of pushing day and night, through highs and lows, and putting everything to the test. Your mind, your body, and your gear. All that time and energy you’ve dedicated to training for this moment shines here. Or it doesn’t, leaving you hungry and determined to come back and try again next year. That’s the Cocodona 250.

For ultra-athletes Max Jollife and Sally McRae, this year’s race epitomized the function of “Proving Grounds.” The Cocodona 250 is a big, bad, super-hard test. Of readiness, of redemption, of seeing what the body’s capable of under stress. Every athlete trains hard to pass, knowing full well that when it all comes down to it, there’s only so much preparation they can do. In this test, your race will play out as the conditions dictate, and for this reason, a passing grade doesn’t always mean first across the line. 

But long before the start line, testing of a different kind takes place. The lead-up to this year’s Cocodona 250 saw both Max and Sally dedicate their training time to rebuilding and refining, stacking on volume while testing strategies and adjusting to changes.

They logged those miles while training with the gear they’d trust on every one of those 250 miles, including the Apex™ Pro Run Vest and Quick Stow™ Flask. Strategically timed hydration and easy access to it are oh-so-critically important to support the efforts of any elite performance. The insights of athletes like Max and Sally as they put this gear to the test are as critical to us as they are essential to their success in training and during the race itself. 

For Max, this race stood as an opportunity to put the DNF of last year behind him and do what he does best—activate beast mode and amplify the race vibes. While the outcome was not what he hoped for this year (he pulled out at mile 108 due to hip pain) the hunger for what’s ahead remains stronger than ever. He will rest up, refocus, and get right back after it with that inspiring, badass Max Jollife energy we all admire. Because as with all things Ultra: there’s always next year.

There’s always next year. This truism epitomizes Sally’s return from injury story, and this is that year. After a 2025 season detonated by a meniscus injury, this race – the first of her comeback year – answered the question on everyone’s mind: would this ‘new’ knee pass the final exam and carry her to the finish of Ultra’s premiere event?

With her 67th place finish, the answer was a definite and emphatic yes.

Considering that at this time last year she was a few weeks out from having surgery on that knee, to cross the line in what is regarded as one of the toughest ultras out there is proof positive that while performance is fitness and form, performance is also patience. This was a test of the knee. Of the body. Of her mental and physical adaptation to overcome, to heal, and come back stronger than ever. For Sally, this is exactly the comeback confidence she needed to kickstart 2026. 

The Ultra Racing season is just beginning. Follow along with us as we support all our elite athletes as they challenge the limits of human performance and show the world—and themselves—what they are capable of.