At 57, Renald Galis isn’t slowing down - he’s running up mountains, braving hypothermic rain and chasing finish lines across continents. Originally from France and now a long-time Sydney local, Renald has spent the past six years immersed in the world of ultra trail running. His training grounds span from the coastal cliffs of Maroubra to the Blue Mountain trails and his mantra is simple: No pain, no gain.

This blog takes a look at his latest achievement - completing The Grand Raid de la Réunion. Take a read to hear about Renald's training, how he fuels for success and his experience of this epic race. 

From Limping to Leaping: Renald’s Ultra Journey

Renald’s first breakthrough came at the UTA 50km, where he pushed through injury to limp the final 20km. Since then, he’s tackled races like the Kosci 100km, where he endured hypothermia at the 80km mark, stopped shaking for 30 minutes, changed gear, and still finished strong. His resilience is matched only by his appetite for adventure, with dream races like Le Grand Raid Réunion (178km with 10,500m ascent - which we cover in this blog!) and Buffalo Stampede 100km on the horizon.

But it hasn’t all been smooth trails. Renald has recovered from an ITB injury, ankle injuries, and gut issues. His biggest lesson? “Don’t go too hard too quickly. Eat natural, consistently, in small quantities.”

The Grand Raid: A Race Like No Other

The Grand Raid Réunion, also known as La Diagonale des Fous (“The Diagonal of the Crazies”), is more than a race, it’s a test of body and mind - a race that Renald has been dreaming of for the last 10 years. Spanning 180.2km with 10,500m of elevation gain, the course cuts across the volcanic terrain of Réunion Island. “It’s super tough,” Renald says. “The rocks are sharp, the trails are barely runnable, and the weather swings from 30°C heat to freezing nights, three in a row.”

But what makes it unforgettable isn’t just the brutality. “It’s the atmosphere,” he adds. “The whole island comes alive. People cheer, play music, shout your name. It’s like a festival of endurance, you’ve got to see it once in your life.”

Renald’s fuelling strategy 

Renald discovered mapleROO by chance, but it quickly became his go-to fuel. “No nasty preservatives or additives, just the benefits of maple syrup,” he says. He uses mapleRoo’s energy drink mix and gels throughout training and racing, preferring natural fuelling over synthetic alternatives.

His fuelling strategy:

- Night before: Soup with potato or spelt pasta

- During: mapleROO gels and energy drink mix

- After: Cereal with yogurt, cheese, avocado, and banana

“I use it all the time,” Renald says. “It’s the only gel and energy drink

mix I trust to be 100% natural.”

Fuelling the Climb, One Gel at a Time

Renald’s preparation was meticulous. “For months, I tested my nutrition on long training runs,” he explains. “mapleROO gels became my go-to,  smooth, easy on the stomach, and steady on energy.” During the race, he took one every few hours, especially when energy dipped.

“They were my comfort food when I was feeling low.”

He also relied on mapleROO’s energy drink mix, “the best I’ve tried”, until he ran out at 150km. “That stuff kept me going. I paired it with checkpoint meals like chicken and rice, bananas, and soup. But mapleROO was the constant.”

 Made by Endurance Athletes, for Endurance Athletes.

Renald’s thanks go first to the people of Réunion. “The volunteers, the locals cheering day and night, the other runners who share their stories, they carried me.” He goes on to thank mapleROO:

“Your products made this journey easier, tastier, and possible. It’s a brand made by endurance athletes for endurance players”.

If you’d like to explore the range of products Renald used in his race, take a look here:

All - mapleROO | Natural Sports Nutrition