Somewhere between setting up our tents as the sun set and convincing a kid that yes, this climb really does end, it hit us again:

These are big days.

We’re here in New Zealand setting for The Magnificent a 6‑day expedition race that winds through rugged terrain, wild water, and the kind of places that make you stop mid‑step just to take it all in. Setting a race like this means long hours, and full commitment from morning until evening.

And for us, it also means kids in tow.

---

Turning Setting Days into Family Missions

Our boys have been right there with us — hiking steep trails, scrambling over rocks, waiting patiently while we triple check our CP placement, write notes down, and reminding us that adventure doesn’t pause just because life is busy.

Some days are magical. Some days are… a lot.

When you’re deep into the day, far from the car, and everyone’s energy starts to dip, there isn’t much room for mistakes. Hunger shows up fast, and when it does, everything feels harder.

That’s why one of the quiet heroes of these New Zealand adventures has been 4HourFuel.

---

The Fuel That Lives in Our Packs

We didn’t bring it as a backup plan.

It is the plan.

Every adventure has followed a familiar rhythm:

Our mornings start with a big breakfast of oatmeal (which they may or may not eat all of ) followed shortly by Endurance Superfood Smoothies which we bust out just as we start our mission, because of course they are hungry with in the first 5 minutes of hiking! Before we set of we fill one up, because we know no matter how much they have just eaten, they will always say "I'm hungry" as soon as they start moving forward.

Out on course, bottles get filled with 4HourFuel and are sipped steadily as we move. Berry and Horchata have become the kids’ favorite, which, if you have kids, you know is no small thing.

And when the hours stack up and we’re committed for the long haul, the expedition mash comes out. It's real, sustaining fuel that keeps everyone moving forward. The bacon mash is the current winner and has made us play bite for bite as soon as it gets made.

It's nothing flashy, but it's good wholesome fuel that we know keeps you going no matter how old you are or how many kms you have in front of you. It's tested, yummy calorie dense fuel that works again.. and again and again.

---

Fewer Meltdowns, More Miles

One of the biggest lessons these trips keep reinforcing is how powerful consistency is.

A few sips here. A bite there. There is absolutely no waiting until someone is suddenly starving, if it gets to that point, we know we have not been on our fueling game plan and need to stop and take in some good focused bites.

The steady approach of fueling every 20 or 30 minutes has made a noticeable difference:

• Hunger‑related meltdowns are rare.
• Energy stays even longer into the day.
• Patience lasts, for the kids and the adults!

When fuel stays steady, the adventure stays fun.

---

Built for Real Expedition Life

Setting a race like The Magnificent isn’t a highlight reel. It’s real work, done in real conditions, often far from easy resupply.

What we appreciate most about 4HourFuel on days like these is how well it fits into actual expedition life:

It packs easily, its light weight, it mixes fast, it’s gentle on the gut and it’s affordable enough that we don’t ration it — we use it all day, every day.

All of this makes this our all time favorite fuel for both endurance racing and "adventure parenting".

---

Teaching Endurance Along the Way

These long New Zealand mission days have reminded us that endurance isn’t just something you train for.

It’s a skill you live and bring into all aspects of your life.

It’s teaching kids how to pace themselves, how to listen to their bodies, how to fuel before they’re empty, and how to keep moving through big days with curiosity and grit.

As we continue setting lines and building what will become six unforgettable days of racing at The Magnificent, we’re grateful for the small systems that support the whole experience.

4HourFuel has been one of those constants — quietly keeping us all going (and much happier!) one small sip at a time.