Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 110, September 2018 | Page 27

NISSAN
TRAILSEEKER:
ADVERTORIAL
Where Legends Are Made
The new Nissan Trailseeker Legends series of events, consisting of six brand new races across three
provinces, is clearly hitting the right spot with the trail running community.
W
hen 500 runners turned out for the first event in the series, at Buffelsdrift, just north
of Pretoria, and told the organisers that they didn’t just like the course, they ‘loved it,’
and furthermore, the race facilities were top class, it was music to the ears for event
organiser Francois Theron of Advendurance. He says, “We want every runner to feel like a VIP
at our events, and knowing that we’re on the right track just motivates us even more to create a
series in which runners want to complete every race!”
Staying in the Pretoria area, the second event at Legends MX was greeted by a rather chilly start
to the day, but the vibe at the race warmed the runners up from the moment they arrived. Again,
they raved about the routes, with elite KPMG athlete Renier Grobler saying that he took the time
to “enjoy the route” as he completed the 21km long course to kick-start his legs again after the
Comrades. “It wasn’t just a flat run with jeep tracks, there were koppies and mountains to climb,
so it was technical and challenging, and most enjoyable,” he says.
While the runners are out doing the 21km, 10km or 5km routes, another great feature of this series
is the 3km pram jam for parents with babies or toddlers, or those not quite ready for a full-blown
run yet, but still on a route designed to make them feel like they’re part of a real trail event. This
makes Nissan Trailseeker Legends events ideal for families and runners of all abilities!
The third event saw the series move to Grabouw in the Cape, and Modern Athlete Editor Sean
Falconer was in seventh heaven as he took in the sunrise over the mountains from a little koppie
that he had just climbed. “It was one of those moments when you forget about your race time
and just stop to enjoy the glorious view. Then it was back to enjoying the single track sections,
stopping for a chat at the excellent refreshment station, and thoroughly enjoying myself.”
The series stayed in the Cape for the fourth event in Wellington, with adventurous trails, panoramic
views and the bonus of good wine thrown into the mix as the runners enjoyed a ‘runderful’ outing
in the Cape Winelands. “It was great to see so many smiling faces cross the finish line, from
avid trail runners to beginners,” says Francois. “This series will continue to grow, and will be a
frontrunner in the SA trail running community in the future.”
With four races already done in the
series, make sure you don’t miss out
on the remaining two:
• 16 September –
Mabalingwe, Limpopo
• 4 November –
Cullinan, Gauteng
More info at www.trailseekerseries.co.za
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