Free trail running events calendar

Event organisers: To have your event listed on this page, or to appear as a highlighted Promoted Event more than one month in advance, click here for info, including required formatting.

Runners: Get the full South African trail running events calendar in TRAIL 37. It’s available only in digital format. We include some of the top international events of interest to South Africans too.

Promoted Sat 5 December GP Kaia Manzi Trail Run. 6km, 12km, 18km. Kaia Manzi Resort, Bronkhorstspruit. Well-marked, custom-made singletrack. Steep climbs, winding paths, fast flowing trails. Water table under pecan trees. Start 6:30am. R100/R150/R200. entryninja.com Sun 13 December WC Trilogy Trail Run. 5km, 10km, 15km. Warwick Wine Estate, Stellenbosch. Chance to win of Warwick’s top Trilogy wines or awesome FALKE & Sportsmans Warehouse gear! Start 7am. dirtopia.co.za Fri 25 – Thu 31 December WC Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge. 6km, 12km, 21km. Kurland Estate. Beautiful, varied, challenging course. Wet feet and a smile guaranteed. Run when you feel like it and collect goodie bag at finish. R250. sabrinalove.co.za Fri 8 – Sun 10 January  WC  KnysnaX Trail Series. 4km, 9km, 14km, 22km. Pezula Resort. Spectacular trails at inaugural event. Prologue 4km on Friday, other distances on Saturday. knysnaxse.co.za Fri 23 – Sun 25 April KZN Ultra-Trail Drakensberg. 21km, 30km, 62km, 100km, 160km. Premier Resort Sani Pass. The first 100 miler in the Drakensberg, traversing the Southern Berg. ultratraildrakensberg.com Sat 1 May EC Lake Gariep Run. 40km, 20km. Driekwartblou Guest House, Gariep Dam. A trail run in the Karoo next to the biggest dam in South Africa. Start 7am. R550/R650. lakegarieprun.co.za

Sporting events are still currently restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many trail running events have been cancelled or postponed, and we have indicated these where we are aware of them. Please check on the organisers’ websites to confirm.

Trail running events in December 2020

Mon 1 December WC

Trail Series Phantom Rally 6. 5km-20km. Complete your run on any day of December to compete on the leaderboard. Route supplied and run tracked via free app. R100-R120. trailseries.co.za

Wed 2 December GP

Black Diamond Night Trail Run. 4km, 8km. Randpark Golf Club. Night trail run with a headlight. Start 7:30pm. R70. entryninja.com

Sat 5 December KZN

Drakensberg Northern Trail. 5km, 10km, 20km, 40km. Oliviershoek. Life-changing mountain marathon. Start 6am. drakensbergnortherntrail.co.za

Sat 5 December GP

Kaia Manzi Trail Run. 6km, 12km, 18km. Kaia Manzi Resort, Bronkhorstspruit. Well-marked, custom-made singletrack. Steep climbs, winding paths, fast flowing trails. Water table under pecan trees. Start 6:30am. R100/R150/R200. entryninja.com PROMOTED

Sat 5 December EC

RHBC Beer Run. 5km. Settlers Park, PE. Four beer points! Start 11am. R195. bigosports.co.za

Sat 5 December WC

TrailFun D’Aria. 5km, 10km, 20km. D’Aria Wine Estate. Summer Series. Challenging run through the vines. Start 7am. R150-R180. trailfun.co.za

Sat 5 December SA VIRTUAL

Women For Change Virtual Race. 5km, 10km, 21km. All entries include a Women For Change medal, race bib, a mini first aid kit for runners, and mini water bottle from Reuterina Femme. Kids Entries will receive a Kids Race Pack. R90-R350. cmiyc.co.za

Sun 6 December NW

Iron Throne Trail Run. 6km, 11km, 21km. The Iron Throne Brewery, Hartbeespoort Cableway. Challenging but rewarding. Start 6:30am. mrltevents.com

Sun 6 December KZN

Summer Series Karkloof Market. 5km, 10km, 20km. Karkloof Market. Forested hills with proper climbs in long distance. Start 7am. R50-R230. kzntrailrunning.co.za

Sun 6 December KZN

Saint Giles Trail Run. 4km, 8km. Virginia Prep School. Hidden jewel in the Durban North suburb. Singletrack through beautiful tropical forests. Start 7am. R60/R90. wardevents.co.za

Wed 9 December GP

Zwartkop Nite Race Series. 5km, 10km. Zwartkop Country Club. Lucky draws, category prizes, and craft beer. Start 6pm. R90/R110. entryninja.com

Sat 12 December WC

MaXiRace Cape Winelands. 20km, 40km, 75km. Stellenbosch. Traverse the winelands in a limited, highly competitive field. R350-R2,600. maxirace.co.za

Sun 12 December EC

Chintsa Trail Run. 8km, 21km, 44km. Emerald Vale Brewery. Run through pristine coastal bush and forest, on exclusive private trails with spectacular ocean views. Start 6am. R250/R200/R150. rbadventures.org

Sun 12 December KZN

Viking Trail Run. 6km, 12km. Shongweni Farmer’s Market. Magnificent valley trails. Best dressed viking get Salomon shoe voucher. R100/R150. Start 6am. entryninja.com

Sat 12 – Sun 13 December EC

Fresh@Beskuitfontein. 5km, 10km, 20km, 30km. Beskuitfontein Farm, Middelburg. Surrounded by mountains of Eastern Karoo, spectacular views, rugged terrain. R150-R2,000. freshtrails.co.za

Sun 13 December KZN

WESSA Christmas Run. 5km, 12km. Umngeni Valley, Howick. Single track and dirt road through uMngeni Valley Nature Reserve. Start 6am. kzntrailrunning.co.za

Sun 13 December KZN

Milk & Cookies Christmas Trail Run. 5km, 10km, 20km. Cattle Paths Adventure Centre, Estcourt. Run through farmlands and pristine natural bush filled with wildlife. R100/R120/R150. entryninja.com

Sun 13 December WC

Trilogy Trail Run. 5km, 10km, 15km. Warwick Wine Estate, Stellenbosch. Chance to win of Warwick’s top Trilogy wines or awesome Capestorm gear! Start 7am. dirtopia.co.za PROMOTED

Tue 15 December WC

Skilpadvlei Twilight Trail #2. 6km, 12km. Skilpadvlei Wine Estate, Stellenbosch. Run through vineyards. Views of False Bay and Helderberg mountains. Start 6:30pm. R75/R135. entryninja.com

Wed 16 December WC

Wild Boar Trail Run. 5km, 10km, 20km. Val du Charron Wine and Leasure Estate, Paarl. Run morning route and sunset 10km on public holiday. Start 7:15am, 6pm. R100-R180. entryninja.com

Wed 16 December WC

Red Bull Dune Dusters. 8km. Atlantis Dunes. Suffer on your public holiday. Start 8am. redbull.com

Sat 19 December WC

Sea2Tower Trail Run. 40km. Thesen Island. Start at sea-level in the heart of Knysna and finish at the top of the Knysna Forest. Start 6am. R550. wannado.co.za

Sat 19 December EC

Kariega Classic. 5km, 10km. Southwell Cricket Field, Kenton-On-Sea. Beautiful forest Trail and creek crossing. Long distance is double loop of short. Start 7am. R100. kariegaclassic.co.za

Sat 19 December WC

Plett Trail Run Festival. 6km, 15km. Cairnbrogie MTB Trail Park. Singletrack, jeep track, farm roads and forest. Start 5pm. R120/R150. entryninja.com

Wed 23 December EC

TCS Sand River Trail Run. 5km, 14km, 21km. Dune Ridge Country House. Scenic dunefields and dirt road. Start 8am. stfrancissport.co.za

Fri 25 – Thu 31 December WC

Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge. 6km, 12km, 21km. Kurland Estate. Beautiful, varied, challenging course. Wet feet and a smile guaranteed. Run when you feel like it and collect goodie bag at finish. R250. sabrinalove.co.za PROMOTED

Sat 26 December WC

Hartenbos Trail Run Challenge. 5km, 9km. Hart & Bosch Village. Outeniquabosch Trail on Boxing Day. Multisport options. R70/R100. jakhalsevents.co.za

Sun 27 December WC

Klipheuwel Trail Run. 10km, 25km. Little Brakriver. Beautiful trails on private property. Tranquil farms, soothing river, majestic mountains. Start 7:30am. R170/R250. trisport.co.za

Wed 30 December EC

Chokka Full Moon Trail Run. 5km. Cape St Francis Main Beach, Seal Point Blv. Beautiful beach run along waters’ edge, watching the moon rise over the sea. Start 7:30pm. stfrancissport.co.za

Trail running events further ahead

Fri 8 – Sun 10 January  WC 

KnysnaX Trail Series. 4km, 9km, 14km, 22km. Pezula Resort. Spectacular trails at inaugural event. knysnaxse.co.za PROMOTED

Fri 23 – Sun 25 April KZN

Ultra-Trail Drakensberg. 21km, 30km, 62km, 100km, 160km. Premier Resort Sani Pass. The first 100 miler in the Drakensberg, traversing the Southern Berg. ultratraildrakensberg.com PROMOTED

Sat 1 May EC

Lake Gariep Run. 40km, 20km. Driekwartblou Guest House, Gariep Dam. A trail run in the Karoo next to the biggest dam in South Africa. Start 7am. R550/R650. lakegarieprun.co.za PROMOTED

See more events in your copy of TRAIL 37, where we list 68 trail running events from October to December 2020.

Get your trail running event listed

Get details on how to have your event listed on this page, as well as in the next digital edition of TRAIL magazine here. Up to 100 events are listed every issue.