TRAIL
( MIS ) ADVENTURES trail ( mis ) adventures by CARLA LEA FARINA
Top 10 of Trail
So , do you know what the absolute worst part of trail running is ? It ’ s not the blisters , nor the chafe . It ’ s not the getting lost ( which , in fairness , tends to only happen to me ), and it ’ s not the tough climbs and ( sometimes ) awful conditions . No , the worst part of trail running is NOT trail running .
Images : Courtesy Rhino Peak Challenge , Karkloof 100 & KZN Trail Running
The last few weeks have been big for the trail community – and boy did I have FOMO . Merell Hobbit at the end of April , UltraTrail Drakensburg and another Backyard Ultra in the Cape , and I wasn ’ t signed up for any of them … So yes , the FOMO was very real ! All I can say is that when you have been bitten by the trail running bug , it bites hard , and when you run your first ultra , you discover this whole new world of adventure and fun that you just want more of .
My next big one will be the Pondo Ultra at the end of May , and for those of you who haven ’ t been following the MisAdventures of Carla , it ’ s a team race where you run 100km along the Wild Coast – my favourite place in the world – and it ’ s largely selfnavigated . My running partner Su-yen and I attempted this race a couple of years back and got so hopelessly lost that we almost needed to get airlifted out after we got stranded on a cliff , almost drowned , suffered mild hypothermia , and ended up running close to 120km , only to then get a DNF .
So , stay tuned for the next episode of Trail MisAdventures , where I will be sharing our ‘ take two ’ of this challenge , but as I wait patiently to tackle the Pondo , I have kept myself busy by creating a top 10 list of the best things about trail running , to hopefully entice you to give your first trail a try if you haven ’ t ventured off-road yet .
10 . Being in the mountains . Yes , sometimes you are on the wrong side of the mountains , but quite frankly , I would rather be on the wrong side of the mountain than not being on the mountain at all .
9 . The excitement of the build-up . The few days prior to the race are so exciting , deciding what you are going to pack , planning your nutrition - OK , for me this is usually just Bar Ones and Red Bulls – and hoping the race T-shirt is amazing , because that is what you will wear after the race . If you have ADHA like me , a brilliant idea is to write yourself a permanent list that you check every time , as you will forget things … even basic things , like your underwear and toothbrush .
8 . The road trip . Need I say more ?
7 . Registration ... mainly because this is where you will have your first beer . There is nothing better than arriving at a race and
seeing all your friends , who have basically become ‘ your people ’ because they share these crazy yet amazing adventures with you . Some of them will be running the shorter distance and some the longer , and if you ’ re doing the 100 miler … well , then you are a god !
6 . The sights . You will see things and go to places that most people have never seen or been to before – like being on the top of Montaux-sources , or the untouched coastline of the Transkei – and no matter how many photos you take , you can only truly experience the beauty by being there .
5 . Being able to walk . Yup , that ’ s right , you can walk while doing trails . And the views are even better when walking !
4 . The achievement . You get the same welcome , whether you come first , midpack or stone last – no matter what position you come in you will be met with cheers and applause , and most probably a beer or two .
3 . The ‘ gees .’ There is no gees like trail running gees . It ’ s like a constant party … but without the hangover . OK , sure , your legs may be broken , but that part is totally worth it .
2 . The camaraderie . Yes , many people are out there to race , but there is somethings special about bumping into a fellow runner out on the trails . You will most probably run ( or walk ) together for a while , you will make a friend , you will share war stories , and then , at the next race , you will have a beer with them at registration .
1 . The misAdventures . Yes , that ’ s right , the best part of trail running is the misAdventures you will have . They make life fun and exciting , keep things challenging , give you amazing stories to tell , and will keep you coming back to more . I promise you , they are worth it , so get out there and just embrace whatever happens , because that ’ s trail running !
So , those are just a few of my favourite parts of trail running , and I can ’ t wait to share my next Pondo adventure with you . Hopefully there will be no helicopters involved …
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-saydie attitude , and a healthy sense of humour about all the misadventures that befall her on the trails !
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