Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 127, February 2020 | Page 35

then you’ll head down to
breakfast. Boiled eggs
everywhere you look!
Trail
(Mis)Adventures
By Carla Lea Farina
LET ME ENTERTAIN YOU
This is the first instalment of a new column on trail running
that is meant to make you laugh, but also to inspire you to
strap on a pair of trail shoes and hit the trails.
S
o, when Modern Athlete Editor Sean Falconer suggested that I write a
column for the magazine called ‘Trail Misadventures,’ I thought it was a
splendid idea. Sure, absolutely, of course... challenge accepted! However,
I’m not sure he was quite ready for my bout of enthusiasm, as he quickly seemed
to change his mind, jokingly saying, “Hmmm, maybe not. You seem to have such
horrifying misadventures that you may dissuade our readers from getting into trail
running, and that’s the exact opposite of what our magazine is about.”
I told him not to worry, that I am the most persuasive human being on the planet,
and that I’ll convince all his readers to embark on a trail running adventure. That
they will certainly want to become trail runners. They just won’t want to go trail
running with me!
That’s because when I say I have trail misadventures, boy do I really mean
misadventures. From cracking ribs to getting stuck on rock faces, or running 20
extra kilometres in a race, I’ve had it all. But under no circumstances should this
put you off trail running. I mean, almost having to be rescued by helicopter isn’t all
that bad, is it? Ok, maybe it is, but that’s very unlikely to happen to you! Instead, do
you know what will happen to you if you tackle a trail race? Let me tell you.
Something Special Awaits
You’ll wake up early – it’s quite likely a head lamp start in the dark – and you’ll
probably be woken up by some very loud ridiculous song or soundtrack, like ‘Good
Morning, Vietnam.’ You’ll put on your race gear – hopefully it’s good weather – and
All your fellow
runners will be
there with the
same butterflies
in their stomachs,
and just as the
mumble of athletes
gradually starts
getting louder, you’ll
hear the announcement...
“Runners, please make
your way to the starting pen.”
You need the bathroom. Again. Is
there time? You make it! And then it’s
5... 4... 3... 2... 1, and you’re off.
You will run with your head lamp for an hour or two, and you’ll climb, climb and
then climb some more. Your legs will start to complain, then slowly build up to
shouting loudly in protest. If you’re me, you’ll trip and fall over multiple times, not
to mention somehow get horribly lost... But you’re not me, so you’ll be fine. And
then... you’ll be at the top of the climb, and you’ll see the sunrise overlooking the
world, with thousands of different colours and smells overloading your senses. At
that exact moment the trail bug will bite. That is when you will know why you run
trail!
Maybe I’m an adrenaline junky, but flying down the hills is the most exhilarating
sensation. On the way down, you’ll fall over a few more times. (Well, me, not
you... as I said, you’ll be fine!) At times, going at full speed, it may feel like the last
thing you’ll ever do – and you will read in future columns, I have had many such
moments that came close to being the last thing I have ever done – but trust me,
you will love that feeling of low flying.
Time to Explore
So, why trail run? For the beauty. For the highs. And believe it or not, even for the
lows. There are going to be tough moments out there, but you will get through
them. You will learn from them, you will come out stronger for them... and the highs
will far outweigh the lows, anyway. You will be a changed person once the trail bug
has bitten. You just have to give it a chance, because there is nothing better!
So, please remember, when you read about my misadventures in coming columns,
it’s not to put you off trail running. There couldn’t be a bigger ambassador or
endorser of the sport! No, I
want to share my stories to
make you laugh, while also
providing you with some
trail running tips through
my misadventures. I get
lost, I fall, I run into trees,
and I laugh at myself a lot.
Sometimes I have podium
finishes, sometimes I have
DNFs, but every time there
is a story to tell.
More importantly, I want to
inspire you to get out there
and experience that magical
feeling of losing yourself in
another world. So, I would
love it if you joined me
on this new adventure of
sharing my stories – and
keep in mind that the
misadventures make the
best stories!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: While Carla’s ‘day job’ is Head Tennis Coach and
Director of Tennis at Game Set Match Tennis in Johannesburg, her second love
is trail running, which she tackles with an unquenchable thirst for adventure,
a never-say-die attitude, and a healthy sense of humour (which often sees her
laughing at the misadventures that befall her on the trails).
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