| TRAIL Mail #30: Friday 08 October 2021
Sent to 9,560 readers | It's Otter time. | | | | In this issue - Trail Talk. It's Otter time. Your adventures, every Monday.
- Races. October event revival.
- Gear. Salomon, First Ascent.
- TRAIL 40. Into the light: the Jo Keppler story.
| | | 1. TRAIL TALK | It's go time for Otter African Trail Run.
Hello from Nature's Valley in the natural paradise of the Garden Route.
Yesterday I was one of 223 Challenge runners who were immensely privileged to run the 42km Otter African Trail Run. It was a truly fantastic day, and I will never forget the day. It's a spiritual journey as much as it is physical. So many emotions and thoughts go through one's mind. It's life-changing.
I thought the mostly overcast conditions were perfect to be on South Africa's most iconic hiking trail, although I heard lots of runners saying they'd battled with the humidity. I find white UV arm sleeves do a brilliant job wicking sweat and cooling me down significantly.
Congrats to the 209 who completed it in overcast warm conditions. Overall winner was Skippy Claassens in 5:36:50 and the women's winner was Courtney Pulford in 6:48:53.
This is the 13th edition of the race known as the Grail of Trail, so the Peter Kirk pic above of the wild and wonderful Elandsbos River crossing is fitting: it's of Darryl Munn who finished 13th overall. His time was 6:51:25.
Be inspired by wonderful images from yesterday's event on Facebook and Instagram.
Today the Race entrants will register and run a 5km Prologue to decide start times tomorrow. It's a stacked field of locals who are bound to deliver close racing:
WOMEN
Landie Greyling
Bianca Tarboton
Robyn Owen
Susan Sloan
Rebecca Pretorius
Julika Pahl
MEN
Ryan Sandes
Johardt van Heerden
Kane Reilly
Christiaan Greyling
Daniel Claassen
Robert Rorich
Mvuyisi Gcogco
Sinovuyo Ngcobo
Melikhaya Msizi
Bruce Arnott
If you're running your first, consider this advice from someone who has completed 15-16 Otter runs:
Start slow, a lot slower than you think you need to go. You'll make it up in the final stages of your race. Almost everyone misjudges the Superman/woman qualities of adrenalin in the opening minutes. It comes back to bite in the second half of this race. The Andre Hut climb is waiting for you. You'll know what I mean when you get there. Sip fluid regularly, every 15 minutes or so. Make a habit of doing this whenever you reach non-technical sections. Try to eat real foods that you've used on runs before, especially in the first half. Don't rush through the GU Munchie Point at halfway. Load your pack with enough food, especially the GU electrolyte options, to stave off cramps. Be sure to have enough water and food for the closing stages, to keep your blood sugar stable.
| | Your adventures continue
Together, we celebrate our weekend trails on Facebook every Monday morning. It's simple: upload one photo that you or a running buddy took on your weekend missions, and say a bit about it. There are always some gems, and this week was no exception. Head on over there and add your own.
Also on Facebook this week is an opportunity for Racing Snakes to share race images. This is for those totally epic show wow type photos but not taken by you, but of you, by a race photographer. So visit that post and let's see how awesome you really are when you're not taking photos.
Have a great Friday and weekend. Happy trails!
Deon Braun
TRAIL founder
| | | | 2. RACES | PROMOTED EVENTS Get listed
Otter African Trail Run Race.* Fri 8 – Sat 9 October (EC)
5km/42km. Nature’s Valley. Run the classic route west to east from Stormsriver Mouth to Nature’s Valley with 2,600m of ascent, 9 hour cut-off. otter.run
Dassie Trail Runs.* Sat 9 October (EC)
6km, 10km. Nature’s Valley. Float over rocks, roots, pebbles, through riverbeds and test yourself up steep climbs. Start 8:30am. R240/R280. otter.run
Harrismith Mountain Trail.* Sat 16 October (FS)
15km, 30km. The 98th edition of SA's oldest trail race. Technical, scenic climb to summit Platberg and descend. Start 8am. R200/400.
North Coast Ultra. Sat 6 November (KZN)
10km, 30km, 60km. Blythdale. Beautiful coastal trail with indigenous forests and steep rocky gorges. Start 6am. R550/R900/R1,500. northcoastultra.co.za
Drinkwaterskloof Trail Run – Mountain Challenge. Sat 13 November (WC)
23km/12km. Mont Blois Wine Estate, Robertson. Spectacular singletrack, mountain streams and views. Start 7am. R850/R550. drinkwaterskloof.co.za
*See you there. | | | |
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