TRAIL RUNNING just soak up your surroundings . Unfortunately , we were soon pulled back to reality by a short , extremely steep descent , which Bernard had warned us about most eloquently the night before . Something about ‘ knuiping ’ tighter than he had ever ‘ knuiped ’ before on a motorbike … A few brave souls trusted their trail shoes and just gunned it down , but most of us went down on our bums !

Nearing the Finish

Slowly but surely , we made our way back to Kaleo Guest Farm , but that ( evil ) route designer had another twist in the tail for us . We reached the road across from the farm , and you think you are finished , but alas , instead of heading to the finish line , you are sent uphill and around the farm . Thankfully , this cruel joke was quickly forgiven as we ran through a rocky outcrop , past a small dam and then on to the trail back to the finish .

There , a medal was placed around our necks and a wonderful sense of achievement washed over us . A quick shower later and we were joining our fellow finishers for lunch , prize-giving and a few more laughs , and then , with a sense

Winding single-tracks always hit the mark with trail runners

A well-earned medal for the collection

Alexis and Nicole , friends and finishers

of sadness , we packed our kit , said goodbye to new friends and began the trip home … a few kilograms heavier , but with a soul a whole lot lighter .

Events like these reinforce my love of trail running . There is a massive sense of community , where race organisers strive to put on the best event possible , and fellow runners strike up a conversation or crack a joke as you pass by . It is not just about the kilometres run , but a shared experience with people like you , who sleep in tents when it ’ s freezing and run through thick sand for fun !

Personally , having thoroughly enjoyed my first experience of an event put on by the Dryland team , I can ’ t wait for their Rhodes Dryland Traverse in November . It ’ s an iconic race with a fantastic vibe , which takes place next door to the Cango Caves near Oudtshoorn , and I hear it is a race you ’ ll never forget . Hope to see you there .

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