#grailoftrail

[jacquesmarais]

#RETTO2020 CHALLENGE Year #12 .. that is just about a lifetime of photographing the @otterafricantrailrun. Yet, every edition offers an incredible new - and very different - adventure. By now, I remember specific rocks along the way, and sometimes even stop to have a chat with a few of my favourite @sanparks #gardenroute trees ... . . That is the thing about #OTTER: it is a true wilderness marathon, and you literally traverse the edge of one of the most pristine marine protected areas in all of Africa. Inland, fecund riparian forests blanket the ridges, with views from the trail on par with anywhere else on the planet. . . Today saw the #OTTERChallenge field face off against #Bloukrans, which - despite the odd surge and wave - seemed in a rather good mood. In so many ways this is a trail that should not be raced, but rather experienced while you reconnect with nature ... this is where you will discover where the true stoke of the #grailoftrail lies rooted 🍃💙🌊 . . #ottertrailrun #trailrunning #Wesgro #gardenroute #nationalparks #guenergy #sonyalpha #sonyafrica #sony // All images shot on @sonyalphasa #A7riii . . A huge thank you to old friend @tonykinahan for putting us up at the brilliant @plettbeaconhouse. It really is like a home from home 🙏😊 (at Plett Beacon House) https://www.instagram.com/p/CG8J4w6Jsbt/?igshid=15asa3yza46pn

[therovingrunner]

#40 #52Weeks52Peaks Hangklip This slab of rock near Pringle Bay was a landmark with some significance for me as a kid growing up! It not only is a landmark signaling the eastern tip of False Bay, but it was our destination of choice outside Struisbaai & yellowtail fishing, where my dad taught his 3 sons the finer arts of geelbek (cape salmon) & kabeljou (cob) fishing at night with his best mate oom Bokka & cray fishing between the bamboes/kelp. So today I decided to grab a few friends and take in the view from “the Rock” from another angle, and what a pleasant surprise running the little trail network inside the Rooiels Conservancy. Last short & easy run before Otter with Tienie (who runs the Otter Challenge on Thursday), his wife Lirina, Maya the not so 🐝, and Will_i_am, my usual training partner on sabbatical 🙈 Next week this time, I’ll be on the #GrailOfTrail #AltraRunning #TailwindNutrition #UltimateDirection #SquirrelsNutButter #SquirrelsWhoTrail 🐿🥜 #Suunto9 #30southsunglasses https://www.instagram.com/p/B3PLSLUpoFt/?igshid=z2m3bdqpqnxd

[jacquesmarais]

This is Sunny. He is a German shepherd and anyone who has been to Point in #Jbay will recognize him right away. Sunny belongs to Oom Robbie, one of the old guard surfers here, and she loyally stands guard on a shallow reef, all the while waiting for her master to finish his dawn surf session. Our trip to #Jbay was all about #FamilyStoke,and there is nothing quite like it. We swapped the rugged mountains of #baviaanskloof for the @kougamunicipality coast, where a booming swell was predicted to roll in (this, according to @robert.marais & his plethora of #surf prediction Apps). And boy, was this surfer boy right! Points. Shallow reefs. Banks. Beach breaks. Wedges ... we surfed them all. The #Jbay breaks worked six days out of seven, with The Robster styling Supers and Tubes (both a bit beyond my personal pay grade). The cherry on top was a gut-thumping final morning of 6ft walls on the Kitchen Windows backline, with only me and @hilanamarais out on #dawnpatrol. Connecting with my parents and siblings, and a whole bunch of old (and new) friends was an added bonus. Because, in the end, it really is all about reconnecting with your tribe 🙏😊 Now it is homeward bound for two days before returning to the #gardenroute to shoot @otterafricantrailrun with the @magneticsouth_events crew. So pleased that this premier #trailrun is back on the calendar (because trail-runners are family, too, my Bru)! #KougaTourism #Kouga #surf #ottertrailrun #magneticsouth #grailoftrail (at Starfishsurfhouse, Jeffreys bay, South Africa.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGxN_s1pD_D/?igshid=19d2xpjxzd8i4

[jacquesmarais]

This was the year of #Bloukrans... In my 11x years of shooting the #otterafricantrailrun, I've never been subjected to such a brutal and massive tidal surge, and at times during my hour in the river, all you could do was to surrender to the elemental forces of nature. Kudos to each and every runner who took on the @otterafricantrailrun #challenge yesterday - you are all true #trail heroes 😲😬🙌🏻 As always, this epic #marathon #trailrun absolutely pulsed with emotions ... It is no wonder runners from all over the world come here every year to test their mettle in one of the wildest and most beautiful #outdoor playgrounds on #PlanetEarth. And once again, the kickass @magneticsouth_events crew pulled off a truly world-class event - incredible respect especially to the #riversafety team at #Bloukrans! 🙌🏻👌 Next up is the #race edition, and even though the swell levels are dropping, I can guarantee that the stoke level will be sky-high tomorrow. Bring it on! 🙌🏻 💚🙏💙 #ottertrailrun #trailrunning #salomonrunning #grailoftrail #gardenroute #nationalparks #guenergy #Miwater #sonyalpha #sonyafrica #sony // All images shot on @sonyalphasa #A7riii 🙌 (at Nature's Valley, South Africa) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3d_QabJ-jD/?igshid=qt7gpe70lcp5

[jacquesmarais]

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A post shared by Jacques Marais (@jacqmaraisphoto)

#TheYearOfBloukrans In more than a decade of experiencing the tempestuous moods of the #otterafricantrailrun, I've never been subjected to such a brutal and massive tidal surge. On Thursday - while navigating this treacherous crossing during the @otterafricantrailrun #Challenge Shoot - all one could do was to surrender to the elemental forces of nature. This #MovingImage may give those of you who did not face #Bloukrans an inkling of the #fearfactor at play on the day. Kudos to each and every runner who took on #Otter2019 2019 African Trail Run - you are all true #trail heroes 😲😬🙌🏻 It is no wonder runners from all over the world come here every year to test their mettle in one of the wildest and most beautiful playgrounds on #PlanetEarth. Once again, the kickass @magneticsouth_events crew pulled off a truly world-class event. incredible respect especially to the @canyon.adventures_wilderness #riversafety team at #Bloukrans! 🙌🏻👌🙏 #ottertrailrun #trailrunning #grailoftrail #gardenroute #nationalparks #guenergy #magneticsouth #Miwater #sonyalpha #sonyafrica #sony // All images shot on @sonyalphasa #A7riii 🙌 (at Otter African Trail Run) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3ogQeVpFmA/?igshid=pisprcyeisl5

[jacquesmarais]

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A post shared by Jacques Marais (@jacqmaraisphoto)

Emotions ... The Victors & the Vanquished. Triumph and Tragedy. Elation & Exhaustion. Competition & Camaraderie ... Legends and myths unfold every year along the tempestuous #gardenroute coastline during the running of the exhilarating @otterafricantrailrun ... This year will be no different, and I'm as nervous as the first time I shot this amazing #trailrun more than a decade ago! 🌊⛰️🌲🍃 As always, I cannot wait to be part of the kickass crew put together by @magneticsouth_events, a truly world-class event organization. And kudos to each and every athlete lining up to take on this epic #trail challenge. Bring it on. #Bloukrans is waiting! 🙌🏻 💚🙏💙 #ottertrailrun #trailrunning #salomonrunning #salomonsa #grailoftrail #gardenroute #nationalparks #goldentrailseries #guenergy #LiveU #sonyalpha #sonyafrica #sony // All images shot on @sonyalphasa #A7riii 🙌 (at Otter African Trail Run) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3ZUmdnpVga/?igshid=f5wvt5gu0k5

[therovingrunner]

Still not quite getting to grips with what went down yesterday at the #GrailOfTrail. Running a Sub-6 Otter & getting that blue medal has been a dream the past 2 years, and as many can testify, if things go pear shaped on the trail, the Otter devours you! I went into yesterday’s run probably the most underprepared of any other attempt! After the crash end of May, I have not run more than 21km or 3 hours at a time without feeling any back pain! Yesterday I left a piece of my soul behind on the rocks between Ngubu & Stormsriver, but found a mental headspace I lost 2 years ago after the 1st back injury! Things went pretty according to plan, sneaking in the prescribed time checks at each CP, but then the wheels came off between Scott & Ngubu, and the 5 minutes I had in the bank turned into a 10 minute loss! 45min to cover 4.8km of the most technical terrain on the trail! I was about to give up, and just death march it in, but as soon as I hit those rocks a 2nd/3rd & even 4th wind kicked in! I snuck home in 5:57:01, looked up to see my wife Karien in tears, and great friends & family in the stands looking even more relieved than I was (they probably remember my foul mood after 2017’s Otter)! A huge thank you has to go out to the organizers for delivering once again a great event! Mark, John, Christine, Belen & Matty, you guys deserve all the accolades coming your way! To the sponsors that backed me and continue to support this passion of mine, I could not have done it without you! The guys from #AltraRunning & #UltimateDirection for the brilliant gear. Grant & Mel Markey from #TailwindNutrition SA, your support & friendship means the world to me! Kate Frost from #Racefood (damn that last little #FARbar went down without even being chewed)! There are so many friends who send messages of support, or who was out there supporting on the day, I can’t mention you all, but you all played a roll, and I’ll thank you personally over a cold 1 sooner rather than later! What’s next! Well, we’re going back to the #OtterAfricanTrailRun 1 final (5th) time in 2019 for one last dance on the greatest stage of them all! 📸 3/6 Jeff Ayliffe, 4 Alfred Thorpe & 5 Peter Kirk https://www.instagram.com/p/BpNbxQcng7F/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=xiwndm7ir7au

[jacquesmarais]

Emotions. Win or lose, triumph or tragedy, elation and exhaustion, competition and camaraderie ... The faces during the incredible @salomon_sa @otterafricantrailrun often tell the story of this amazing race way better than words can. Never before have I been so incredibly privileged to meet so many #trailrun legends in one field, with the global #Top20 #goldentrailseries athletes from France, Spain, America, New Zealand and the rest of the world at the start line. @kilianjornet, @ruthcrofty, @marc_lauenstein, @sagecanaday, @idanilssi, @stianangermundvik ... the list goes on and on. Brave running from the SA contingent saw @Robbierorich, @roryscheffer and @christiaangrey (Men) and @megmackenzie1 (Women) sneaking into the respective #Top10 positions.Upset of the day came from the 24-yr old (and relatively unknown) @tonimccann from Cape Town,who ran a blinder of a race to take the 3rd position in an incredibly strong Women's Field. Overall wins went to two athletes of near-inhuman capabilities, with @Bartholomiej Przedwojewski from #Poland, and @HollyPage0 from the UK. Records were utterly shattered, with the fastest ever human navigation of the #OtterTrail in 3hrs 40min, by Przedwojewski. #ottertrailrun #trailrunning #salomonrunning #salomonsa #grailoftrail #gardenroute #nationalparks #goldentrailseries #guenergy #LiveU #sonyalpha #sonyafrica #sony All images shot on @sonyalphasa #A7riii 🙌 (at Nature's Valley, South Africa) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpL9HHGFToq/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=c2eoagsw8hli

[jacquesmarais]

The @salomon_sa @otterafricantrailrun. It's unforgiving. It's in your face. It's the undisputed #grailoftrail, and this year, it kicks up another level as the final event in the #goldentrailseries. This is as close to a world-championship #trailrun as one can get, with our local #SA trail heroes being joined on this gruelling but beautiful marathon-distance route by the world's top off-road endurance runners. Names like @kilianjornet, Marc Lauenstein, @ruthcrofty, @sagecanaday, @lauraorgue, @idanilssi & @stianangermundvik will make for a mouth-watering contest, especially when pitched against our own @christiaangrey, @megmackenzie1, @robynkime and @kanereilly1. There's only one guarantee, and that is that there's no guarantee who will walk away victorious at #retto2018. Let's just say it's #TimeToPlay 🙌 #salomonsa #salomonrunning #salomon #guenergy #ottertrailrun #otter2018 #magneticsouth #gardenrouteNP #sony #sonyalpha #SonyZA #sonyalphaSA #sonyxperiaza #sonyxperia (at Nature's Valley, South Africa) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpIZWywFDlN/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1nwdea3tbwkfd

[therovingrunner]

Busy packing & getting my choice of weaponry ready 2 tackle the #GrailOfTrail on Saturday during the #OtterTrailRun & #Salomon’s #GoldenTrailSeries Final. #AltraRunning #KingMT 1.5’s #ZeroLimits #UDhydrates #SelfPropelled #TailwindNutrion #GoTailwind #AllYouNeedAllDayReally #Rebuild #Racefood #FARbar #ApplePearCinnamon #Injinji #ToeSocksOrNoSocks #Suunto #Suunto9 #Road2Retto #Otter2018 https://www.instagram.com/p/BpAWbgTncub/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1xhxfdkl81rcy

[therovingrunner]

Conquering/Surviving the Grail of Trail

Ever since I read an article by my good friend & trail running mentor, Patrick Cruywagen, on his experience at the Otter Trail Run in 2009, it has been in the back of my mind, and right on the top of my bucket list. To be honest, this was the article that got me running trail in the first place, and I was lucky enough to do my first few multi-stage races with Pat before he left for the UK.

Dubbed the Grail of Trail, The Forbidden Run, this iconic trail in the Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park is only allowed to be run during the event week, as running it during into other time of the year could and will see you banned from the trail.

Ironically, it was due to the illegal running of brothers John & Mark Collins that the idea of this race was born. Back in the day they use to run the route after first dropping off their bicycles in Nature’s Valley, driving back to the start of the trail, running it, and then cycling back to Storms River Mouth camp site to pick up their cars again. No easy feat, as this 40 odd kilometre stretch of trail covers all kinds of terrain, and requires 100% concentration at all times.

The Otter route profile

My love/hate affair with the Otter finally started in 2013 when I received an opportunity from a sponsor at a very late stage to go run the Challenge. Under prepared, and over enthusiastic I accepted, and going in with no expectations either than to finish, I had a blast!

Crossing Bloukrans in 2013! Image Peter Kirk

In 2015 I was back, but things did not go according to plan, and I had to go for a tetanus shot to recover from the Otter bite that day! What made 2015 even more terrible was that I convinced a friend to run too, and after my own disappointing run, sitting at the finish line looking at the clock ticking by past the 8 hour mark knowing that Will has missed the cut. He eventually came in at 8:10, a broken man. The worst part that night was getting up to receive my medal, but looking back and seeing the disappointment in his eyes.

Will & I, in good spirits before the start of Otter 2015. Image Jacques Marais

I made him a promise that night that I’d come back the following year to do the Retto with him, but unfortunately a back injury had me out and a promise broken. I was given the opportunity to do some media work though and ran half the route from Oakhurst to the finish, just in time to see him cross the line at Stormsriver, with 45min to spare on the clock. Mission accomplished!

But our story doesn’t end there, and the human mind is a great thing. Will wanted that Otter medal, so we found ourselves back again this year, Will giving it another crack at the classic route, myself toeing the line for the 3rd time.

This time I felt good about my training (not great) and was relatively confident that I would make the target I set myself.

Personally, I don’t think any amount of training will ever result in an easy running of the Otter, although specific Otter training will go a long way in making it easier or more tolerable, but although my training included a lot of climbing, finding stairs in the Helderberg Basin is either the most well kept secret or doesn’t exist. With over 7000 steps along the way & almost 3000m vertical ascent to negotiate, various river mouths & streams to cross, and the continual undulating technical terrain, it makes for possibly the most difficult/challenging trail in SA.

This year I set myself 2 goals after a pretty disappointing 2nd run in 2015. I wanted to make the Abangeni, The Challengers, or top 24 fastest runners after the prologue, and run a sub-6 hour race.

Prologue time! Image Jacques Marais

So heading through the Thursday  afternoon already meant this year I would be in the vicinity of the race village and not still be on the road towards it come registration/prologue day. With rain having falling during the previous day’s Challenge (the 11hour cut-off race), and still a light drizzle in the air, I decided to rather go earlier than later, and get the prologue done & dusted before the trail either gets to wet & worn out, or it becomes hot later in the day. So with registration and a full scale kit check done, it was time to lace up and face the music.

Although the prologue is a mere 3km, it’s a great simulation of the Otter trail and gives you a very clear idea of what you’ll be in for the following day!  It is probably the hottest contested 3km in any trail event, but is a bit of a catch 22. If you want to challenge for the Otter win, you have to go out hard and make the Abangeni. But for us mere mortals, going flat out during the prologue can mean that it comes back to bite you in the ass the following day.

Mission 1 accomplished, make the Abangeni! √

The Abangeni

Time to rest & recover. Or so I thought, as Will arrived slightly later than expected, and I found myself down at the race village again to support him during his run. This did give me the opportunity to catch up with some “old” Otter friends or family as I see them now. Maybe the planned nap would have been a better choice, but I’m a sucker for all things trail, either running or supporting!

D-Day has arrived, and after a quick warm up trot and final kit check I found myself in the starting chute with the rest of the Abangeni including favourites Kane Reilly, Thabang Madida, Christiaan Greyling (who would go on to win) and on the ladies side Megan Levinson, Robyn Owen & Carla van Huyssteen to mention a few.

The Abangeni gets a 10 minute head start on the rest of the field. There after runners are set off in batches of 4 (according to their prologue times) every 30sec to minimize the bottleneck effect when then trail becomes single track soon after the start.

Early days on the way to Nqubu Hut! Image Jacques Marais

My plan was to start off conservatively as in my last two runs I really struggled during the last 5 or so km’s, which technically wise, is the easiest on the entire trail. I have made myself certain time checks at the various huts playing around with the 5-6 hour time bands, and was still relatively spot on till I reached the infamous Bloukrans crossing.

The leaders Kane Reilly (top) & Christiaan Greyling hitting Bloukrans! Images Jacques Marais

1 slip on the very moss covered rocks as I made my way to the safety line, an awkward landing which led to an even more awkward cramp on my inner thighs, made for a very interesting last 12km or so to the finish! Hitting the cold water of Bloukrans, jumping over or diving under rolling waves, not only cooled the body, but also led to a few more cramps as I swam/pulled myself across!

I wrote Rule #5 of the sportsman’s code, HTFU (Harden the F**k Up) on my hand prior to the run, but by the time I got through Bloukrans it had been reduced to a mere scribble looking like  I F (I’m  F**ked)

Some technical terrain just after Bloukrans. Image Jacques Marais

The next 4km of technical trail and the last big climb from André Hut was a real struggle, and the cramps would come back to bite me with every step up the stairs!

Reaching the plateau on the top, and probably the easiest section on the whole trail, I could actually run again at a decent rate, although with about 5km to go, and knowing what still lay ahead, I knew my sub-6 goal was out of reach!

Just as I was about to completely throw in the towel, good mate Stuart McConnachie  came past me, stopped, took out his phone, took a selfie, gave some words of encouragement & the promise of a cold beer later, and disappeared into the distance nearly as quickly as he came from behind! The quick joke & conversation shared was just enough, and where this section has caused me a few issues on previous occasions, I had a decent run in to the finish, ducking below 6:20, and a new PB.

Stu & I with a few km’s to go! Image Stuart McConnachie

I still have mixed emotions about the day, and that probably is why it took me 2 weeks to put the day in perspective. On any occasion if you run a PB you should be feeling great, as you gave it your all? But not in my case! I wanted that sub-6, felt I had done enough, and for the first time actually finished strong compared to the other 2 times. So where did it go wrong? Should I have pushed a little harder at the start on terrain that is normally my strong suit? Should I have gunned the few downs a bit faster and not hold back so much? I’ll probably never know, till I run this magnificent piece of coastline once again! So 2019 will see me toeing the line once again if all goes according to plan, but I reckon a “route scout” next year during the Retto will be the first “training run” on the #RoadToOtter 2019!

You may ask so what happened to Will? Well, he’s now the proud owner of two Sub-8 red medals with a back to back Retto/Otter combo, coming in just over 7:20. That was right up there as 1 of the biggest highlights for me of the entire weekend, the other being good friend Christiaan Greyling’s super come from behind win!

Christiaan Greyling on his way to victory at the Otter African Trail Run 2017. Image Peter Kirk

As always, a big thank you must go out to the Collins crew behind Magnetic South, Mark, John, Christine & Belen! Your passion for nature, specifically the Otter Trail and trail running in general is clear to see and infectious! It always feels like going to a family reunion when seeing the familiar event staff & friends like Matty, the river captain without a boat, Ruan Lückhoff, and all the others that are part of the Otter family, Jacques Marais, Peter Kirk, Jeff Ayliffe and many many more!

To the sponsors that make this event possible, Salomon, GU, SanParks, Buff, Bayport etc, we appreciate all you bring to this event.

My personal sponsors, Columbia Sportswear, Tailwind Nutrition, Racefood & Hilly Socks, thank you for the continuous support and letting me live this passion or lifestyle called TRAIL everyday!

And last but not least, my wife Karien & the kids, Janke & Christoff, who has supported me through this journey, waking up countless Saturday & Sunday mornings with a husband/dad already out the house on training runs, missing family time and trips! I’ll make it up over the coming months before the #RoadToRetto starts again!

[therovingrunner]

Basically sums up my #Otter tale! If you want to tackle the #GrailOfTrail and not get eaten alive, #HTFU! Things didn’t go my way yesterday, but still managed a PB! Disappointed, but happy to be able to #RUN this amazing trail injury free again! Will be back stronger, leaner & meaner come the #OtterClassic 2019! 📸 @andrewkingphoto

[therovingrunner]

Goal 1 achieved! #Abangeni #OtterTrailRun #GrailOfTrail Now the games begin! #TestedTough

[therovingrunner]

Road tripping with this as the final destination! #ottertrailrun #GrailOfTrail

[jacquesmarais]

Mountains and Oceans. We have a lot of those here on the #capepeninsula, and I ended up spending most of my weekend in one or on the other. Three #surf sessions and a 2hr mountain #trailrun, to be specific (the latter because in a few days, it's @otterafricantrailrun, and I need to get my ass in gear) 😬 Best thing about this #outdoor life is that I get to do it with my kids (and wife and mates, of course), and see the pleasure the young guns get from their first #barrel, or the confidence with which they attack the back line break. Next week it will be the #grailoftrail in the #gardenroute NP - going to be great to get to test the #pentaxk1, #tomtombandit and #xzpremium on one of the most scenic sections of #trail in the world 🙌 (at Otter African Trail Run)

[jacquesmarais]

Into the final mind and body #taper for the @otterafricantrailrun, happening in the @gardenroute NP this coming week. So chuffed to be shooting #grailoftrail once again with @magneticsouth_events, and all those legendary #trailrunning heroes who'll be burning up this epic #trail. Can't wait to see you on the rock ledges, in the fantastic forests, and at the infamous #bloukrans crossing 🙌 #OtterTrailRun #salomonsa #guenergy #tomtomsports #trailrun #getgoing (at Garden Route National Park)