Some people find running. Others find themselves through it. For Hayden Warren, trail running wasn't just a new hobby — it was the thing that finally gave shape to a life that had been missing direction. We sat down with him to talk about the moment that changed everything, the mental shift that comes with years in the pain cave, and why he's chasing UTMB.
What Did Your Life Look Like Before Running Became A Big Part Of It?
Looking back on my life before running, I can distinctly remember feeling as though I was missing some sort of direction. I felt like I was just coasting through, rather than being an active participant in shaping my future — although inside, I felt like there was a passion waiting to be discovered. Since finding my true passion in trail running, it's become an anchor and a practice that has touched every part of my life.
What Did Your Initial Running Journey Look Like And How Did You Keep Yourself Accountable When You Lacked Motivation To Get Out T here?
The spark that started my initial journey into running was signing up for the Wellington Round the Bays half marathon. At the time, I could barely run 3km, and it was a goal that scared me — I couldn't imagine what it would be like to run that far. Through the process of training towards a goal and facing challenges that scared me, I learnt so much about myself, which sparked a curiosity to discover my potential that I had been ignoring.
At the time, community run clubs weren't as big as they are now, and running was more of a solo sport. I kept myself accountable by knowing that I was following my own path and being my true self — even though at the time, it was the complete opposite lifestyle of those around me, at 22 years of age.
Ultra Running Is As Much A Head Game As A Physical One — What's Changed Most In How You Think During A Race Compared To When You Started?
When I started, I was very aggressive towards myself. When I would enter the pain cave, I would think about being a failure and disappointing myself and those around me, having quite a harsh conversation with myself — for me, this was great fuel, and somewhat still is when it's required. Although since being on this journey, I have learnt to become more kind and positive during those hard moments, often smiling at the pain and welcoming that experience. Having icons in the sport like Courtney Dauwalter has really opened my eyes to different ways of dealing with the ups and downs of ultra running — she has had a big impact on me.
Do You Have A Mantra Or Ritual You Fall Back On If You Hit A Low During An Event?
To be honest, I don't — every time is different, and for me, I never know how long the low will last. What I do is recognise the space that I'm in, and tell myself that after every low comes a high, you just need to ride this wave, however long it takes — you will eventually come back.
You're In A Position Now Where People Look To You For Inspiration In The Running Space — Was that ever something you set out to do, or did it happen naturally?
I never set out to inspire. I still feel like I'm looking up to those around me, constantly being inspired by those around me and using it as fuel. I remember being young, coming into the sport, seeing who's who in the New Zealand ultra scene — and now I'm lucky enough to share the trails with them and consider some of them my peers. Feels insane. One thing I set out to do is just follow my passion, own it, and share it with everyone I meet.
What Do You Want Your Running To Represent To Other People, Beyond Just The Results?
I want my running to represent following your passion and going all in on it — whatever that is. Running is my vehicle for doing that.
If You Were Talking To Someone Who's Scared To Start, What's The One Thing You'd Want Them To Hear?
You'll never be without fear and anxiety. If you are true to yourself, you will see that fear and anxiety is a sign that you are growing and choosing to pursue something truly special.
What's A Piece Of Advice You Got Early On In Your Running Journey That You Still Lean On?
At one of my first races, I thought I had done pretty well, landing myself somewhere in the top 20. I looked to the leader of the race and I couldn't believe that he finished a whole two hours ahead of me — especially after I thought I had given it everything I had at the time. This was Ryan Carr. I remember asking him after the race, how is that possible? He said: "You need to be fearless on the descents." This has stuck with me all these years, and now descending is my strongest aspect of my racing — I feel I would give most a run for their money.
What's Next For You?
Next for me is to race at Naseby 100km, a race that last year I didn't perform as I expected due to various reasons — this year I will return stronger. In the long term, I am working towards gaining entry to UTMB 160km in France — this has been a life goal for me, and I am getting closer to realising this dream. I am also looking to continue sharing my story, my adventures, and my passion for trail running through my social media, and connecting with those in the community.
You've Been A Long-time Suunto User — What's Kept You Loyal To The Brand Over The Years?
I've been using Suunto for around 5 years. It was the first GPS watch I've owned, and I've stayed loyal to the brand because it's always been a product I could rely on, and it performed like it said it would. Since then, I have learnt more about the heritage and the athletes behind the brand, and find that their core messaging is something I can relate to. The product just works, and it works very well.
What's Different For You Day-to-day With The Vertical 2 vs Your Previous Suunto?
The biggest change since upgrading to the Vertical 2 has been the battery life — I can run it for days without even considering charging it, and I know that there will always be life in it when I need to log a surprise activity.
This, along with the clear display and map systems, has been a game changer when navigating new trails. I'm reasonably new to the Canterbury region and am constantly exploring new terrain, so having something on my wrist that shows me clearly where to go has been a great peace of mind.
Are There Any Specific Features On The Vertical 2 That's Become A Genuine Favourite, or Neat Features That You Love?
My favourite feature has to be the overall design and feel of the product. The large touch display with its metal body feels really good to wear — I wear it basically 24/7 and it never feels irritating or heavy. Being able to easily access menus and stats under fatigue makes it perfect for those long days on fee.
5 Minutes With Hayden Warren
Some people find running. Others find themselves through it. For Hayden Warren, trail running wasn't just a new hobby — it was the thing that finally gave shape to a life that had been missing direction. We sat down with him to talk about the moment that changed everything, the mental shift that comes with years in the pain cave, and why he's chasing UTMB.
What Did Your Life Look Like Before Running Became A Big Part Of It?
Looking back on my life before running, I can distinctly remember feeling as though I was missing some sort of direction. I felt like I was just coasting through, rather than being an active participant in shaping my future — although inside, I felt like there was a passion waiting to be discovered. Since finding my true passion in trail running, it's become an anchor and a practice that has touched every part of my life.
What Did Your Initial Running Journey Look Like And How Did You Keep Yourself Accountable When You Lacked Motivation To Get Out T here?
The spark that started my initial journey into running was signing up for the Wellington Round the Bays half marathon. At the time, I could barely run 3km, and it was a goal that scared me — I couldn't imagine what it would be like to run that far. Through the process of training towards a goal and facing challenges that scared me, I learnt so much about myself, which sparked a curiosity to discover my potential that I had been ignoring.
At the time, community run clubs weren't as big as they are now, and running was more of a solo sport. I kept myself accountable by knowing that I was following my own path and being my true self — even though at the time, it was the complete opposite lifestyle of those around me, at 22 years of age.
Ultra Running Is As Much A Head Game As A Physical One — What's Changed Most In How You Think During A Race Compared To When You Started?
When I started, I was very aggressive towards myself. When I would enter the pain cave, I would think about being a failure and disappointing myself and those around me, having quite a harsh conversation with myself — for me, this was great fuel, and somewhat still is when it's required. Although since being on this journey, I have learnt to become more kind and positive during those hard moments, often smiling at the pain and welcoming that experience. Having icons in the sport like Courtney Dauwalter has really opened my eyes to different ways of dealing with the ups and downs of ultra running — she has had a big impact on me.
Do You Have A Mantra Or Ritual You Fall Back On If You Hit A Low During An Event?
To be honest, I don't — every time is different, and for me, I never know how long the low will last. What I do is recognise the space that I'm in, and tell myself that after every low comes a high, you just need to ride this wave, however long it takes — you will eventually come back.
You're In A Position Now Where People Look To You For Inspiration In The Running Space — Was that ever something you set out to do, or did it happen naturally?
I never set out to inspire. I still feel like I'm looking up to those around me, constantly being inspired by those around me and using it as fuel. I remember being young, coming into the sport, seeing who's who in the New Zealand ultra scene — and now I'm lucky enough to share the trails with them and consider some of them my peers. Feels insane. One thing I set out to do is just follow my passion, own it, and share it with everyone I meet.
What Do You Want Your Running To Represent To Other People, Beyond Just The Results?
I want my running to represent following your passion and going all in on it — whatever that is. Running is my vehicle for doing that.
If You Were Talking To Someone Who's Scared To Start, What's The One Thing You'd Want Them To Hear?
You'll never be without fear and anxiety. If you are true to yourself, you will see that fear and anxiety is a sign that you are growing and choosing to pursue something truly special.
What's A Piece Of Advice You Got Early On In Your Running Journey That You Still Lean On?
At one of my first races, I thought I had done pretty well, landing myself somewhere in the top 20. I looked to the leader of the race and I couldn't believe that he finished a whole two hours ahead of me — especially after I thought I had given it everything I had at the time. This was Ryan Carr. I remember asking him after the race, how is that possible? He said: "You need to be fearless on the descents." This has stuck with me all these years, and now descending is my strongest aspect of my racing — I feel I would give most a run for their money.
What's Next For You?
Next for me is to race at Naseby 100km, a race that last year I didn't perform as I expected due to various reasons — this year I will return stronger. In the long term, I am working towards gaining entry to UTMB 160km in France — this has been a life goal for me, and I am getting closer to realising this dream. I am also looking to continue sharing my story, my adventures, and my passion for trail running through my social media, and connecting with those in the community.
You've Been A Long-time Suunto User — What's Kept You Loyal To The Brand Over The Years?
I've been using Suunto for around 5 years. It was the first GPS watch I've owned, and I've stayed loyal to the brand because it's always been a product I could rely on, and it performed like it said it would. Since then, I have learnt more about the heritage and the athletes behind the brand, and find that their core messaging is something I can relate to. The product just works, and it works very well.
What's Different For You Day-to-day With The Vertical 2 vs Your Previous Suunto?
The biggest change since upgrading to the Vertical 2 has been the battery life — I can run it for days without even considering charging it, and I know that there will always be life in it when I need to log a surprise activity.
This, along with the clear display and map systems, has been a game changer when navigating new trails. I'm reasonably new to the Canterbury region and am constantly exploring new terrain, so having something on my wrist that shows me clearly where to go has been a great peace of mind.
Are There Any Specific Features On The Vertical 2 That's Become A Genuine Favourite, or Neat Features That You Love?
My favourite feature has to be the overall design and feel of the product. The large touch display with its metal body feels really good to wear — I wear it basically 24/7 and it never feels irritating or heavy. Being able to easily access menus and stats under fatigue makes it perfect for those long days on fee.