Hillary Allen's Year of Change: Finding Strength in What Scares You

In her latest blog, CurraNZ athlete Hillary Allen shares her honest reflections on her increddible year, which was about testing limits, transforming recovery and shifting her perspective.

This season was all about change, about stepping back into the unknown, testing my limits in new ways, and rediscovering what it means to chase growth instead of comfort.

For years, my identity as an athlete revolved around ultramarathons, 50 to 100 miles through rugged terrain, long days in the mountains, and the quiet satisfaction of endurance. After my accident in 2017, those long distances became a kind of refuge. I wasn’t able to run fast anymore, and every time I tried, I got injured or re-injured. The longer, slower races gave me space to rebuild, to find joy again in movement, even if it looked different than before. And for a while, it was exactly what I needed.

But this year, something shifted. I felt a pull to change, to step away from what felt safe and return to what scared me. I wanted to revisit my weaknesses, to test my limits in ways I hadn’t dared to in years. So I went back to my roots.

This season, I traded 100-mile weeks for hill sprints. I swapped 20-hour race days for short, explosive climbs. I started racing Vertical Kilometers again. Brutal, beautiful races that climb 1,000 meters in just a few kilometers of distance. I focused on sub-ultra trail races and shorter ultras up to 50 km. It was humbling. It was hard. But it was also one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.

The sweetest surprise of all came in June of this year, where I qualified for the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in the uphill-only race in Canfranc, Spain. It still gives me chills to say that. Because there was a time in my life where I thought I’d never run again. In 2017 I fell over 150 feet while racing in Norway. I broke my back, both arms, shattered my feet, my ankle, and was told I might never run again. Lying in a hospital bed, I couldn’t imagine a life without movement. So for the past 8 years, recovery became my new race. Self belief became my mission and step by step, I learned to walk again, then hike, then run, and eventually race again and the highest level. So to make the world’s team and represent my country feels surreal. Every stride since has felt like a gift, one I’ll never take for granted.

So to stand on that start line at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships, after everything I’ve been through, and represent Team USA, was an incredible point in my comeback story. I ended up finishing 29th in the world and the second-highest-placed American, which is beyond what I imagined when I began this comeback journey.

And just when I thought my season was over, life threw one last challenge my way. Due to a last-minute injury on the U.S. team, I was asked to step into the Long Trail race (80km), with over 18,000 feet of climbing, just three days later. I wasn’t prepared physically since my training had been focused on short, steep efforts, but I said ‘yes’ anyway. Because that’s been the theme of my year: Saying yes to what scares me. I dug deep, trusted my training, trusted myself and finished strong - and helped Team USA bring home a silver medal.

One of the biggest changes this year wasn’t just in how I trained, but how I supported my recovery and performance. After a full season of racing and training with CurraNZ, I can confidently say it’s been a game-changer.

As someone who loves to understand the “why” behind what works, I’ve been impressed by the science behind this New Zealand blackcurrant extract. Its ability to enhance blood flow, reduce oxidative stress and support recovery aligns perfectly with what I’ve experienced first-hand.

After months of consistent use, I’ve noticed improved day-to-day recovery and sustained form throughout a demanding season. It’s rare when the research and real-world results match up this well, but in this case, they do.

Having a season to truly test CurraNZ across different race types, from vertical climbs to long trail efforts, has given me even more confidence in its benefits. It’s become a staple in my performance toolkit, helping me handle back-to-back efforts and bounce back quicker than before.

This year wasn’t just about racing, though. It was also about building community and giving back to the sport that has given me everything. I launched my first Hillygoat Run Retreat here in my home state of Colorado, something I’ve dreamed about for years. We spent a weekend running through my favorite trails, sharing meals, and having open conversations about mental resilience, self-belief, and the joy of movement. It was a reminder that running is about so much more than competition, it’s about connection.

Off the trails, I took another big leap. I went back to school, this time to study Applied Sport Psychology. Science has always been part of who I am, but now it’s personal in a new way. I’m diving into the science of mindset, motivation, mental performance and pairing it with my own lived experience of resilience and recovery. I’m excited to see how this blend of knowledge and experience can help other athletes find strength in their struggles, just as I have.

Looking back, this season was more than a shift in racing, it was a shift in perspective. It reminded me that growth doesn’t come from staying comfortable. It comes from choosing to try again, to believe again, to keep showing up even when it’s hard or uncertain.

Because we are stronger than we think we are. We are more capable than we know we are. All we have to do is try. To see setbacks as invitations, not endings; to lean into change as a chance to evolve.

My comeback story is still being written. But if there’s one thing this year has taught me, it’s that courage and curiosity are the best training partners you can have. The rest follows from there.