Hillary “Hillygoat” Allen Joins the CurraNZ Athlete Team

At CurraNZ, we support athletes who do more than chase podiums, we celebrate those who have the courage to keep climbing when the trail turns steep. 

That’s why we’re honoured to welcome Hillary Allen, known around the world as the “Hillygoat,” to our CurraNZ athlete team.

Hillary’s story isn’t just about running, it’s also about recovering from devastating setbacks to represent at the highest level - and we’re thrilled to share that CurraNZ has been part of her incredible story in 2025. 

From Rock Bottom to Running Again

In 2017, Hillary was at the height of her career. A world-class trail and ultrarunner, she was racing sky races across Europe - but her life changed in an instant during a race in Norway.

She fell 150 feet down a rocky mountainside, sustaining 14 broken bones, severe ligament damage, and a severe foot injury that threatened her ability to run. She was told she might never run again, doctors doubted she would even walk normally.

Following multiple surgeries, extensive physical therapy and years of persistence, Hillary has clawed her way back, learning to walk - and run - again. Since her injury in 2017, she’s had seven separate surgeries to fix underlying issues from her accident. 

Hillary wrote about her ordeal in the book, Out and Back: “I had to rebuild from the ground up,  physically, mentally, emotionally. It wasn’t about chasing wins, it was about learning to believe in myself again when no one knew if I’d even get back to the start line.” 

Her resilience paid off. Hillary returned to racing, with international wins and podium finishes at Madeira Island Ultra Trail 115k, Cortina Trail 50k, TDS and Ultra Trail Cape town, among others. 

Fleur and Scott from CurraNZ met Hillary in New Zealand in February 2025 and invited her to put our research-backed product through its paces for her training and racing. A lover of science, Hillary accepted the challenge. 

A spectacular win in the Big Cat Double (back-to-back Vertical Challenge) at Tiger Claw (victory shot, below!) in May saw Hillary reach another milestone: earning a spot on Team USA for the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Canfranc, Spain, where she will race in the Uphill-Only event.

The Scientist Behind the Athlete

With a background in neuroscience and physiology, Hillary approaches training and performance through the lens of both athlete and scientist.

Now, she’s taking that one step further by pursuing a Master’s degree in Applied Sport Psychology. Her mission? To help other athletes harness the mental tools that allowed her to climb out of her darkest moments and return stronger than ever.

Hillary says: “I’ve learned that racing is never just about fitness. It’s about how you respond when things don’t go to plan, how you manage the doubt in your head, and how you keep moving forward when the outcome is uncertain. That’s what sport psychology - and resilience - is all about.”

Why CurraNZ

For Hillary, joining the CurraNZ team is a natural alignment of science and sport. She’s drawn to solutions backed by research, and New Zealand blackcurrants, the foundation of CurraNZ, are one of the most scientifically validated natural performance enhancers in the world.

Research shows CurraNZ can improve blood flow, endurance, recovery, and fat metabolism, tools Hillary values deeply as she trains and competes at the highest level. But for her, it’s about more than performance metrics. It’s about sustainability, recovery, and giving herself every advantage to keep pursuing big goals while respecting the process.

Looking Ahead

From the accident that nearly ended her career, to standing once again at the start line of the World Championships, we’re delighted to partner with this inspiring Colorado-based athlete and role model. 

Welcome to the team, Hillary. We can’t wait to see where the next climb takes you!