Of Otter, Dassie, mad dogs and Englishmen…
Reigning trail-running world champ, Englishman Ricky Lightfoot, is among a white-hot field of participants in this year’s Otter African Trail Run, scheduled for September 22.
But the country’s best trail-runners will collectively try staving off the posturing posse of international challengers in a bid to keep ‘The Grail of Trail’ firmly rooted in South African soil. Bets are also down over whether 2012 winner Ryan Sandes’ record of 4:40 could be shattered this year.
Normal human beings in fit physical state should take note that entries are still open for the Dassie Run – baby bro of the iconic Otter at a distance of 10km, and taking place in conjunction with the main event.
The Dassie starts in Natures Valley at 8am on the 22nd and participants are expected to take between an hour and 150min to complete the course, which includes a wide variety of trail types and nearly 350m of climbing.
Finishing in the same location as the Otter Run, the Dassie field’s tail-end should finish just before the first of the world-class Otter runners arrive.
Visit www.theotter.co.za for information on The Otter African Trail Run presented by Salomon and GU, or email Magnetic South at christine@magneticsouth.net to enter The Dassie.
Source: CXpress