July 28, 2019.

Trail runners pack lots into a day when they’re in their happy place of the mountains. So running the five-day Num Num Hiking Trail, in one day, makes perfect sense. Num Num is the onomatopoeia for ‘yum yum’ fruit. But no time to embrace this when you’re trying not to kiss the dirt.

Yesterday’s 32km race, which took me the best part of eight hours, took us to nearly 2000m in altitude where we explored the Highveld Escarpment of the Mpumalanga province, (you know you’re quite high up when your chest starts making squeezy pains and your ears pop…🙄) as well as down to the bottom of valley floors stacked with  forests, rivers, meandering trails and waterfalls. And plenty of ladders – a bit like snakes and ladders, but different. And what is with South Africa and its dodgy hang bridges?! Eish, some took good concentration. The trail was beautiful, the scenery and terrain constantly changing, variety of technical running.

Injuries were quite minimal; one face plant, running into only one tree branch, half slipping off just one cliff, and only drawing blood once. Getting lost once or twice is a separate topic.

Now, yesterday’s race did come at a sacrifice. Rugby. I did have a loyal rugby mate sending me through score updates of the All Blacks Springboks battle that was concurrently taking place. But that plan soon fell victim to lack of cell phone coverage. So it was a waiting game; to eventually find out that the full time score was a draw. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. What a great battle it must have been. When it comes to our two nations and rugby, let’s put it in context; take your best day, put it next to a solid ABs Boks game, and that game will nudge out on top. If you were to add a few unicorns and dragons you’d probably go cross-eyed with excitement. So my super lekker day in the mountains just ten-folded, and I happily trotted the last three hours to the finish line – many of my fellow Num Num mates were already parked up drinking beer and enjoying a braai….. How those okes run so damn fast, and not break or lose teeth, I have no idea.

It was straight to the pub from there, a staunch Afrikaans watering hole in the town of Machadodorp. A big burly Afrikaans oke by the name of Jaco, who is really brilliant at making that tomato relish you put with your pap, thought we all looked a bit worse for wear. So soon enough there were a couple of rounds of shooters on the bar top, to slap a broad smile on our grubby faces.

Oh, and speaking of unicorns, we got to hang out with some super chilled and a little bit hilarious donkeys this morning, before a hike through the nearby Wathaba Trail, to stretch the legs out. More waterfalls, solid inclines, rocky descents, epic views, and good banter. Amongst the surroundings where you wouldn’t be that surprised if Peter Pan and Tinker Bell flew by and hollered ‘Howsit??!!’ Or they might say, (as I learned today..) “There ain’t no Burger like a Jo’Burger bru!!” 🙈🤣

A fun weekend for the feet, and the soul.

👣❤️😁 #goodbetterbest

https://www.wildtrail.co.za/num-num-trail-challenge

TIERPOORT ADVENTURE FARM

May 7, 2019.

A lekker morning for a 21km Sunday morning trail run. Up koppie, down koppie. But you know it’s been a less than perfectly ideal race when you hear this at the prize giving; “She had about 5 falls, 6 swims, got lost, is a little bit grubby now, and still came second. Eish, these kiwi girls eh.” Thanks Shane… Note: I had no swim – in fact, a swim may have been rather nice. There was no mentioning of me swallowing a bug either, good. I especially liked seeing the cows, although it wasn’t them I asked directions from, twice. These South Africans sure know how to put ‘adventure’ in an adventure run. @nevarestteam @trailadventure #HIGH5Nutrition #goodbetterbest #taylorpasshoney @photostudio78

September 8, 2019.

New word: Rumming. Definition: Slamming out a 19km trail running race in Rodrigues, the morning after you’ve given the Mauritian rums a very good nudge at the Expedition Africa after party. A bit tricky to talk and think in French with one of the local runners when you’re trying to focus on not spewing or tripping over. A great way to absorb some more of how this beaut wee place ticks. #itsallaboutrodrigues #expafricarodrigues #with_belles_on

16 September, 2019.

At a training camp for a race called Sky Run, we’re made aware of two facts pretty early on in the piece. One being, that for the next 100km, all the peaks and ridge lines in our sight are there at that particular time for one sole purpose – to run along the tops of. Secondly, Sky Run is not a trail run, it’s a mountain run, and the sooner we get our heads around that, the better.

Welcome to the Witteberg mountain range, just off the south-west corner of Lesotho. Tough country, big country, and nothing short of magnificently humbling.

In truth, I only went along to the Sky Run information evening a few weeks ago to catch up with mates and have a bit of a nosey. Sky Run is a racing spectacle I’d heard so much about this year in South Africa, and I was keen to chat to some of ‘those people’ who run 100km, the majority being around 2200m or higher, climbing in total the best part of 4500m.

Oh dear, then it just happened… by the time the final bit of information had been shared that evening, I was already deciding how many pairs of socks I should take when I grace the start line. Me and my brain, honestly…

For the training camp this weekend we hooked off from the quaint wee town of Lady Grey at 4am on Saturday, and legged it up and down steep tough relentless terrain; tracks, grass lands, a ridge line called ‘The Dragon’s Back’ for a reason, sandstone, a couple of near-dry rivers, other stuff, and up to the highest peak of Avoca, 2800m, for a quick lunch. How grand. Reaching Balloch campsite about 13 or so hours later was nothing short of glorious. A 5000ha sheep and beef farm whose land owners put on an epic potjie pot of meat off the land, all served under an overhanging cave. A massive thanks to all the various land owners who let us march across their land, what a privilege.

A quick kip with full bellies, then it was time for Sunday morning – up at 3am for a 4am set off – a steep hike up ‘The Wall’ (visualise a wall and you’re pretty much there.) We called it a day by 8.30am, many had a solid drive home. A testing 80km weekend . All in all, a great taster for race day –for someone of my rookie caliber with this stuff, there’s little expectation of knocking this 100km off in much less than 28 hours.

This weekend was just so super, what a neat crew. If there was a talent quest for bendy ankles, mine would win. I can eat a chia seed/oat mix with a spoon and run at the same time. I learned how to use a fancy sports watch; if it tells me again ‘You must be moving to access your location’ as I’m marching up a hill as fast as I possibly can, trying to ignore my dizzy head from the altitude, I may throw it away. Altitude must be treated with the upmost respect, it owns you up there. It was incredible to see one traditional Lesotho stockmen on his horse, waving his smart phone in the air trying to find signal. One last thing – What do you call four New Zealand sheep tied to a pole? A PlayStation…Thanks AJ, what a pleasant opening conversation at 4am on a Sunday as we’re marching up a beastly hill so steep that if we pause we may fall backwards. Saffy, Mike and Pierre, the support crew for the groups, and everyone else who made it happen, thanks so much for such a lekker weekend. Better keep moving. #hellofarun #kwayskyrun #suunto #with_belles_on

www.skyrun.co.za

SKY RUN – #hellofafuncamp