Articles

The race highlight of the weekend 11-13 March was the Cell C AfricanX, presented by ASICS, with some nail-biting position changes among the leaders.

Sleep better to improve your recovery, performance, and general well-being. Sleep scientist Dr Dale Rae shares her insights with trail runners in issue 29. She uses her own scientific research, and evidence from other studies for science-based sleep advice.

Originally printed in TRAIL 27, we remember the highs and lows of Addo Elephant Trail Run, held 2-4 March, 2018. Sandra Le Roux, Andy Wesson, James de Scande, and Nico Loubser tell their stories.

Q: Running has proven health benefits, but can running (without injuries or medical conditions) ever be BAD for you? A: Yes, when the AIR QUALITY is bad. Read on to protect yourself from the worst of air pollution.

Buffelsdrift Mountain Bike Park introduced five offroad running trails at the already popular MTB destination in 2017. It's located 15km north of Pretoria in the Buffelsdrift Conservancy. The new trails, which range from 5km to 21km in length, have been met with enthusiasm by runners and walkers alike.

There's one chance to run in Addo Elephant National Park and that is by toeing the line at Addo Elephant Trail Run. Martin Malherbe relives his 100 miles, with snippets from Caitlin Lewis, Andy Wesson, and Sébastien Lesage.

The Otter African Trail Run, presented by Salomon and GU, is a sublime trail race. Well organised, in an iconic setting, it's an extremely challenging race, and not for the average runner. It throws every possible challenge at you, and is why so many, including myself, keep coming back. That includes this old man! Here are my thoughts on surviving the 2015 Otter with a better chance of success.

In my experience as a running form coach, I've observed that hip position is the most challenging technical trait for runners to master. It is, however, a real barometer for running performance.

An extract from Ryan Sandes' March 2016-released book Trail Blazer. The chapter Redemption in the Jungle focuses on his 2009 adventure at the Jungle Marathon, in Amazonia, Brazil.

Towering mountain peaks in the Annapurna range, a seemingly unending climb, and an ultra distance trail challenge at altitude create a perfect storm for Saffa Warren King. This article appeared in TRAIL 41 (Oct/Nov/Dec 2021 edition).

Three determined people outrunning type 1 diabetes. Anne-Marie Warner, Nicole du Plooy, and Nic McConnachie are all athletes who balance their blood sugar with their activity level. Find out how they do it. Originally published in TRAIL 32.

So, you really do want to be stronger at the end of the west to east Otter African Trail Run route known as the RETTO? Of course you do! This is one of the most amazing runs you’ll ever do and the main reason the event is sold out almost immediately entries go live. But be warned! It’s a real beast.

One gym accessory, so many options! Use your resistance bands effectively with coach Brendan McBirnie of Fitness From Africa. This article was first published in TRAIL 34.

Sunday 22 August was a dramatic day on Table Mountain. Four people were hurt and required assistance. One of them was TRAIL reader Nicholas Nicolle.

Trail running takes us to some remarkably beautiful and remote places. The wildness and solitude are part of the attraction, but with that comes safety risks. One of those is exposure to wildlife, and diseases they carry, including the rabies virus. And guess what? Dogs, not wildlife, are responsible for most rabies infections in humans. Here's what you need to know to stay on the safe side of adventure.

What better way to deal with a breakup than run the 1,400km Great Himalaya Trail solo? Andrew Porter did it, and did it quick, in 28 days, 13 hours, 56 minutes. This is his journey.

The Fish River Canyon in southern Namibia is the second-largest washaway in the world. It is 160km long, up to 550m deep and 27km at its widest point. It’s also one of the oldest, an estimated 650 million years old, formed by the earth’s plate as it rearranged the continents like we rearrange furniture.

Run coach Sean Tait drills down into the major challenges facing TRAIL readers. In this article he addresses the benefit of analysing your run pace.

Ryan Sandes won the 2017 100 mile Western States Endurance Run in a shirt full of holes – precision cut holes. There is a history of innovation for this race, and a longer history of the holey shirt.

“What’s the best way to train for longer events without sacrificing my pace for shorter ones?” - Michael Carratu, Durban Some athletes find that once they start competing in ultras they can’t manage their five minute kilometres in short runs anymore. Coach Mo explains how you can train to keep your speed while preparing for longer distances.