Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 124, November 2019 | Page 37

From
Flats to
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TRAIL RUNNING
Siviwe Nkombi
Ashraf Orrie
y
& Mike Ober
The selfless nature of the running community is evident in the Flats2Mountains
initiative, which was started by a group of Cape Town runners trying to make trail
running, and especially trail races, more accessible for everyone who wants to
experience running in a new way. – BY PJ MOSES
provided to take them to the next level, he decided
to step in and put his experience as a runner and
multisport athlete to good use. Thus he launched
Strong2Run, and the response to this project was
immense, helping many runners move closer toward
their true running potential.
A
shraf Orrie is a well known figure on the Cape
Town running scene. He runs on the road and
on the mountains, he cycles and he swims,
and he boasts an impressive running pedigree,
with multiple Two Oceans, Comrades, UTCT, Otter,
Ironman and many more finishes to his name. Every
weekend you will find him doing some kind of race
somewhere in South Africa, or even overseas – the
man is like the Duracell Bunny we see on the TV!
This love of an active lifestyle is something that he is
not only passionate about, but also wants others to
share. “I have been so blessed with the opportunities
that sport has given me to explore the world around
me,” he says. “It has been my therapy, and has become
my one true love outside of my family. I can’t imagine
living without it... That’s why I think sharing this lifestyle
with runners who can’t afford to do so on their own
was just a natural progression for me.” Thus Ashraf and
several running friends launched Flats2Mountains, a
group that assists road runners interested in doing trail
events, but who can’t afford to do so.
Subsequently, Flats2Mountains was born out of
Strong2Run, when Ashraf decided he wanted to share
his trail running experience and encourage runners
from all walks of life to pursue new dreams and goals
by heading off-road. But no man is an island, and even
the seemingly tireless Ashraf needed helping hands.
His friend Shabeer ‘Doc’ Ebrahim is the quiet voice of
reason behind the scenes. Even though Doc’s running
journey is not that long, he has crammed as much into
it as he can over the last couple of years. He dedicated
himself to his training and moved seamlessly through
the distances on the road, before discovering a love of
trail. Now his goal is to open up the trails to those who
have never had the pleasure of enjoying them, especially
the youth from gang-ridden Cape Flats townships.
Another Strong2Run alumni, and founder of the Must
Love Hills running crew, is Mike Obery, who serves
as the coach for Flats2Mountains. He lends his
expertise and knowledge to get runners into the best
shape and equipped with the best trail technique. As
the Flats2Mountains Instagram page says, “Heroes
don’t wear capes, they wear hydration packs,” and
that describes Mike perfectly. He has become one of
the most promising trail runners on the Cape Town
scene through hard work and dedication, and he
hopes to instil this mentality in the runners that he is
coaching. “Not everybody will run to win a race, but
every time they put a foot on the mountain should be
regarded as a victory,” he says. “We provide coaching
and mentorship, and assistance with transport, all
provided by volunteers who are passionate about
sharing the joy of trail.”
Handling all things media-related is Clint Morris,
who joined Flats2Mountains in 2018 as a project
partner after being approached by Ashraf and
Mike. “I joined for the purpose of giving back
Promoting Flats2Mountains on The Expresso Morning Show
Giving Back to the Sport
Ashraf does not believe in doing anything in half
measures, and thus he often puts his money
where his mouth is. When he saw that the focus
at the majority of local running clubs was more on
beginner’s programmes and running groups, while
more developed athletes were simply left to their
own devices, with no real training or guidance being
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