Otter Trail set to weave its magic on trail runners

Leading South African and international trail athletes gather at Nature’s Valley in the Southern Cape this week for Saturday’s 14th running of the Otter African Trail Run, presented by Easy Equities, with a strong men’s field likely to result in intense competition along one of the world’s most beautiful coastlines.

The vision of the Otter African Trail Run is to be the most prestigious trail marathon on the planet – a high ideal but given the unique natural richness of the Tsitsikamma Coast, not an outrageous challenge. While that may be some years in the making, there is little doubt that the Otter is seen but many elite trail runners in Africa as the most prestigious marathon-distance trail race on the continent.

Run over 42km between Storms River and Nature’s Valley along the iconic Otter Trail through the Tsitsikamma National Park, the race, which includes four significant river crossings and almost 2500m of elevation gain, provides a stern test of athletes’ trail running abilities.

But there are many plus points and a combination of the unspeakably beautiful forest and fynbos coastline, the rich marine and terrestrial diversity and the unique brand of organisational efficiency, environmental and wilderness passion and caring humanity associated with the adventure-loving Collins family, who gave birth to the race 14 years ago, brings trail runners back to the Southern Cape every October.

“The Otter African Trail Race takes place in one of the most beautiful places on earth,” said Carel Nolte, Easy Equities Chief Marketing Officer. “It brings together a community of phenomenal people who achieve a remarkable feat in conquering one of the toughest races in the world. EasyEquities is grateful to be a part of the team who make the event possible. Good luck to everyone who is taking on this iconic trail in 2023!”

It also attracts the running elite, with some of the world’s best seeking out the secrets of the Otter African Trail Run.  Names such as former world champion, Ricky Lightfoot and Holly Page from England, Ruby Muir and Ruth Croft of New Zealand, Swiss athlete Marc Lauenstein, Polish star Bart Przedwojewski, Spanish athletes Kilian Jornet and Emma Rocca and current world marathon-distance champion, Norway’s Stian Angermund, are some who have enjoyed racing the Otter over the past decade.

Most of South Africa’s trail-running legends have pitted their skills against the technically challenging Otter. Names such as Victor Gugushe, Bruce Arnett, Ryan Sandes, Iain Don Wauchope, AJ Calitz, Lucky Miya, Thabang Madiba, Melikhaya Mzisi, Christiaan and Landie Greyling, Kane Reilly, Robyn Owen, Meg Mackenzie, Nicolette Griffioen, Mvuyisi Gcogco, Johardt van Heerden, Toni McCann and Bianca Tarboton are deeply etched in Otter African Trail lore.

Many international and local elite athletes have their names associated with parts of the trail which had special meaning to them. Runners this year will have a chance to celebrate their feats when passing sign boards with quirky names such as Sandman’s Surge, Marc’s Mile and Wauchope’s Walk.

For many, the Otter African Trail Run is about the pure enjoyment of running in nature in one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline on the planet. But others come to test their physical limits against the challenging trail and beating one of the cut-off times to qualify for one of an array of coloured medals on offer.

And for the elites, podium places and prize money offer added incentives and the chance to record one of the fastest times in the event’s history. No South African has ever run under 4 hours, although five international athletes have achieved that feat. 4 hours 40 minutes is judged the equivalent marker for women and Toni McCann smashed through the barrier in the Retto (run in the opposite direction) last year, with her superb 4:33:26, a forerunner to her great win at the UTMB OCC 56km in August.

The ‘Classic’ Otter records stand behind the names of Marc Lauenstein (3:59:29 – 2015) and Bianca Tarboton (4:45:34 – 2021) and with the strength of this year’s field, there is every chance of those marks falling on Saturday.

Johardt van Heerden and Bianca Tarboton return to defend their 2021 ‘Classic’ titles but Van Heerden, in particular, will have his work cut out. With the exception of the 2018 Retto, which doubled as the final of the Golden Trail World Series, this year’s men’s field is arguably the strongest ever in trail racing in the Southern Cape.

Scottish athlete, Robbie Simpson, and Marcel Hoeg of Germany from the global adidas TERREX team make their Otter debuts and will be serious contenders for podium positions, with Simpson, consistently one of the world’s leading performers and winner of last year’s Ultra-trail Cape Town 55km, likely to be tough to beat.

Simpson and Hoeg will have to contend with in-form South Africa’s leading marathon-distance trail athletes, including Kane Reilly, who gained a top 15 position at the recent national cross-country championships, Robbie Rorich, winner of the recent SkyRunning SA series, and Van Heerden.

It’s game on.