Dawn ready to chase the dragon some more
TRAIL RUNNING
Team Ojekamanzi Warriors circling the high mountains as we made our way from one turn point to the next . You had to work hard to reach and tag some of these points … for the one , we scrambled down a steep slope , crunching our way through a forest , until eventually we managed to tag the point . In hindsight , we realised that instead of clambering down , there was a ridge above which crossed the turn point , and would have saved us at least two or more hours of hard slogging . This is how we learn !
The challenge with this race is that you never really know how well you ’ re doing . If the weather is cooperative , the paragliders can take off and tag a number of turn points in a matter of a few hours , then soar down to have a short way back to the finish . Meanwhile , the cyclists have to go around the base of the mountains a lot , so we didn ’ t really see them much , as the runners had a variety of route choices to tag their turn points . In the history of the event , it is thus very evenly matched . This year the trail runners took first place in both the Extreme and the Mini , but in previous years both cyclists and paragliders have won . It ’ s all up to the weather on the day , and how it goes .
Getting It Done
Rox and I were on our feet for 13 hours on that first day , covering 50km , and I really enjoyed being in a team and sharing this experience with her . We complimented each other really well , as I would navigate using my phone app and watch , and Rox would then look at the terrain and recommend some alternative paths . Admittedly , at the end of day one , when it was dark and we were trudging through to
Monks Cowl , we were both tired and hit a bit of a low as the rain just began falling .
Fortunately , this low was short-lived , and after a night under a roof , we were raring to begin our second day from Monks Cowl . We knew the remaining 30km of day two fairly well , as it was the part that we had recced , and when the second day brought another crisp morning , amidst the quiet and tranquillity of the mountains , we just immersed ourselves in the experience , enjoying being out in the middle of the mountains .
The trails were now easier to follow … except for the last little bit . As they say , when you can smell the end , don ’ t let your guard down ! Rox and I must have wasted at least an hour or more in a field , wandering around , trying to figure out which was the best way through to get to the finish . We eventually found a lot of tracks through the river and waded our way across to start the last climb , which opened up onto our final stretch of the road home .
I cannot describe that finish line feeling . Running side by side with my incredible friend , having navigated our way across the Drakensberg Mountains , tagging six turn points and covering 80km of trails , to be welcomed home by the rest of the team ! This is such a community event , with the unique element of racing against other disciplines , doing it solo or in a team , and just pushing yourself out of your comfort zone to see that your body is capable of much more than you thought it was .
Stopping to smell the flowers
Rox jumping for joy at being out in the Berg
About the Author
Dawn Nunes is a physiotherapist based in KwaZulu-Natal , and will be opening a new practice at Morewood Trails in Hillcrest in June . She has a Masters in Sports Physiotherapy , and her main focus is a specialised running assessment , which she does in conjunction with treatment of normal musculoskeletal injuries . You can get in touch with her via her website : www . dawnnunes . co . za .
21