Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail

A Multi-Day race or a long-distance ultra is a huge undertaking. For many, it’s a 12-month project (or longer) that slowly but surely can consume every available day, hour, minute and second.

I get it, a long-distance race over multiple days in an unfamiliar terrain can leave more questions than answers. However, don’t panic, it’s not that complicated – read HERE.

As your key adventure looms, it’s time to focus the mind, body, and equipment so that you can plan for and anticipate all that may go wrong and right while undertaking this key target.

Quite simply, the old saying, ‘Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail’ does and can ring true.

So, what can be done?

Luck can have a place in any success; however, it should never be relied on. In multi-day events, particularly self-sufficient ones, the need to fine tune everything is a key element.

  • Training.
  • Kit.
  • Mind.

All of the above have very important roles to play in success.

  1. Get the training wrong, you may not have the fitness or an injury that will result in you not achieving the finish line.
  2. Get the kit wrong, be it too heavy, not durable or inappropriate may impact on your ability to achieve your goal.
  3. Many say the mind is a key and an integral part of any success. Often, the body can be willing, but the mind can be weak, get the mind focused and prepared.

You need to be prepared for whatever your multi-day adventure will throw at you.

In the final phase of training, 6-8 weeks before your adventure starts, is a great time to start working on the final phases and plans that will help ensure success.

THE PREPARE PHASE

If we assume that tapering will take 2 to 3-weeks, this key ‘Prepare Phase’ should be in weeks 4, 5, 6 and 7 before D-Day.

Train and prepare specifically.

First and foremost, understand the challenge that you are undertaking. You may feel that you already have a grasp on this, but there is no harm sitting down and going through all they key aspects. Terrain, weather, mandatory kit, distance, and conditions. Look at the October 2021 edition of Marathon des Sables, the race started with a series of protocols to manage Coronavirus. Ultimately, Coronavirus was not a consideration, it was extreme heat, sickness and stomach problems.

Understand the event and challenge.

Walk, WALK, WALK! – Walking will (for most) be an absolute essential skill to complete any multi-day adventure. You may think you will run most of the distance… But experience confirms that walking is a key to success. Walking, and walking with purpose is a skill. Practice. Consider poles, they may enhance your walking experience, if so, practice and use them.

Learn to walk.

Without doubt you will have long days, and some will go in to the night and through the night. Take time and plan and include a session like this in the ‘Prepare Phase!’ Understand here that this is an opportunity to test kit, not only yourself. Is your head torch bright enough, how do temperatures vary, how does my appetite and requirement for fluid change etc. By doing this in training, you do it in a safe environment. If it all goes badly, you can always make a call and get picked up or get a taxi. You can’t do that in your race or event. Darkness and nighttime can play tricks.

Back-to-back runs may well have featured in your training but running/ walking tired is a skill. However, be careful how you plan this in training. You want adapt body and mind, not break them.

Practice makes perfect.

Perform training with rationed water and race/ event food. You need to learn what works and what doesn’t work. It’s all very well going for a long run and then getting home and eating chocolate and drinking Coca Cola – can you do that in your event? Mentally this can be a real tough challenge – be prepared.

Get a pack that fits perfectly and does not bounce.

Your pack will be with you for the duration of your event. It must be as light as possible and also sturdy enough to last the challenge without breaking. Be minimalist on equipment and purchase the lightest equipment possible. Remember though, lightweight can often mean less durable, less warm, less functional and so on… Better to break or damage equipment in training so that you can make changes ready for the important challenge ahead. Modify and adapt.

Be specific!

Be specific. Snow, mountains, altitude, heat, or cold. Understand the demands that will be placed on you in your challenge and plan for a specific phase (typically in the 2-3 weeks before the event) to help acclimate. This could be a heat chamber, it could be arriving early before an event and adjusting to high altitude, it could be some specific cold, ice or snow training.

Try out food for an adventure in training.

Plan an ‘event simulation’ that will require you to run for a specific distance, be self-sufficient overnight, sleep in a similar scenario/ situation to your event and then get up and run the next day. This can be a key element in understanding what does and does not work. Is your sleeping mat comfortable? Is the sleeping bag warm? Did your food taste good? How easy was it to cook? How about snacks, did they work? How was the pack weight and distribution of contents?

Spend a night out in training to find out what does and does not work.

Train with your pack and add weight, however, be careful NOT to do too much training with too much weight. This can result in injury. In addition, learn how to pack your bag so that it sits comfortably with minimal bounce. Understand where to put snacks so that you can access them on the go.

Look after feet – many failures come via poor shoe choice and foot care.

Feet and shoes. Please do not ask. ‘What shoe shall I use for ‘X’ Event?’ Runners are individuals and what works for one does not work for others. Gait, foot shape, foot width, foot length, toe length, run conditions and so on all impact. Read THIS article on how to find the correct run shoe.

Water and hydration is key to success.

Food glorious food. Calories are essential for an event, so is what they weigh. Understand food and its nutritional values and make sound educated choices that balance fat, protein, and carbohydrate. Also understand that taste changes. Sweet may be ok early on but typically savory is better as time passes. Is beef jerky better than nuts? What food rehydrates quickly or with cold/ warm water? Should I take bars? What about protein drinks? So many questions… They need answering!

Shops are not always available.

You only have to do three things at most multi-day events:

  • Run.
  • Eat.
  • Sleep.

All three impact on each other, so, make sure you have all of them dialed.

Finally, remember, we are all individual. What works for one person, will not work for another. It is your responsibility to take ownership of yourself, the challenge you are undertaking and the challenges it will bring. Ultimately, that is why you signed up, no?

JOIN OUR MULTI-DAY TRAINING CAMP HERE

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Episode 152 – Tom Evans, Marcus Scotney and John Storkamp

Episode 152 of Talk Ultra is a packed show with two interviews from The Coastal Challenge, one with race winner and course record holder, Tom Evans the other with Marcus Scotney. Kurt Decker brings us an interview with John Storkamp and Speedgoat is here to tell us about his 39th 100-mile win!
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*****
00:07:16 NEWS
TARAWERA
Dylan Bowman and Kelly Wolf took respective victories in 8:27 and 10:08. Cody Reed and Sam McCutcheon rounded out the male podium and Amanda Basham was 2nd ahead of Erika Lori.
Vajin Armstrong and Lucy Bartholomew won the 62km
LONE STAR 100
Speedgoat won again… his 4th! 23:38. Alyson Kirk won the ladies in 29:10
BLACK CANYON 100k
Tim Freriks is on a roll again with a win and Western States slot. Juan Maron and Kanoa King was 2nd and 3rd. Top 3 times 8:12, 8:53 and 9:10.
Alisa MacDonald took the ladies win and 2nd overall! in 8:53. Courtney Dauwalter was 2nd in 9:18 and Paige Pattillo 3rd in 10:09.
MOAB RED HOT 55k
Cat Bradley and Anthony Costales took victory in 4:54 and 3:37. Anthony’s time a new CR! Benjamin Stout and Kyle Pietari was 2nd and 3rd. For the ladies, it was Emily Hawgwood and Betsy Bies.
THE COASTAL CHALLENGE
Ragna Bebats obliterated the ladies race winning all stages and setting a new CR by almost a hour (previous record Anna Frost). Her collective time 26:14. Ester Alves, previous winner of TCC was 2nd and Suzanna Guadarrama was 3rd.
The men’s race was a doozy with Tom Evans winning all stages, setting a new CR but he was only 4-min ahead of Hayden Hawks – the duo battled throughout. Tom’s record is 44mins better than the 2017 Tome Owens record, the new mark 21:44. Michael Wardian finished 3rd.

Race Reports and Images

Day 1 HERE
Day 2 HERE
Day 3 HERE
Day 4 HERE
Day 5 HERE
Day 6 HERE
*****
00:26:15  Interview with MARCUS SCOTNEY
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01:06:14 Interview with TOM EVANS
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SUSITNA 100
David Johnston and Laura McDonough won in 23:39 and 28:39.
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01:43:18 Interview with HOHN STORKAMP
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UP & COMING RACES

Canada

Yukon

Likeys Ultra 6633 | 120.0 miles | March 09, 2018 | website
Likeys Ultra 6633 | 350.0 miles | March 09, 2018 | website

Cayman Islands

Off the Beaten Track | 50.0 kilometers | February 25, 2018 | website
Off the Beaten Track | 50.0 kilometers | February 25, 2018 | website

Costa Rica

Ultra Trail Irazu | 70.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website
Ultra Trail Irazu | 100.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website

France

Dordogne

50 Kms de Lalinde | 50.0 kilometers | March 04, 2018 | website

Finistère

Ultra-thonnerieux | 115.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website

Gard

Ceven’ Trail | 62.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website
Ceven’ Trail | 100.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website

Ille-et-Vilaine

Endu’Rance Trail des Corsaires | 55.0 kilometers | February 24, 2018 | website
Endu’Rance Trail des Corsaires | 107.0 kilometers | February 24, 2018 | website

Puy-de-Dôme

Trail de Vulcain | 73.0 kilometers | March 04, 2018 | website

Saône-et-Loire

Trail des Trois Châteaux | 55.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website

Tarn

Black Mountain Trail | 55.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website

Germany

Bavaria

Chiemsee-Ultramarathon März | 108.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website

Hesse

Lahntallauf | 50.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website

Hong-Kong

Translantau | 100.0 kilometers | March 02, 2018 | website
Translantau | 50.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website

Italy

Tuscany

Terre di Siena Ultramarathon | 50.0 kilometers | February 25, 2018 | website
EcoTrail Florence | 93.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website
EcoTrail Florence | 55.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website
EcoTrail Florence | 80.0 kilometers | March 04, 2018 | website

Umbria

Strasimeno | 58.0 kilometers | March 04, 2018 | website

Nepal

Annapurna Sanctuary Fastpack | 100.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website

New Zealand

Back Country Cuisine Alps 2 Ocean | 301.0 kilometers | February 23, 2018 | website
Old Ghost Ultra Marathon | 85.0 kilometers | February 24, 2018 | website
The Hillary Trail Race | 80.0 kilometers | February 24, 2018 | website

Nicaragua

Survival Run Nicaragua | 80.0 kilometers | February 28, 2018 | website
Fuego y Agua Nicaragua | 50.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website
Fuego y Agua Nicaragua | 103.1 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website

Philippines

Davao50 Ultramarathon | 50.0 kilometers | February 25, 2018 | website

Portugal

Trail Terras do Sicó | 111.0 kilometers | February 23, 2018 | website
Trail Terras do Sicó | 52.0 kilometers | February 24, 2018 | website

South Africa

Three Cranes Challenge | 106.0 kilometers | February 23, 2018 | website
South African Addo Elephant Trail Run | 100.0 miles | March 01, 2018 | website
South African Addo Elephant Trail Run | 44.0 miles | March 02, 2018 | website
South African Addo Elephant Trail Run | 76.0 kilometers | March 02, 2018 | website

Spain

Andalusia

Ultra Trail Sierras del Bandolero | 85.6 kilometers | March 02, 2018 | website
Ultra Trail Sierras del Bandolero | 166.0 kilometers | March 02, 2018 | website

Canary Islands

Transgrancanaria | 125.0 kilometers | February 23, 2018 | website

Region of Murcia

USA

Alabama

Mount Cheaha 50K | 50.0 kilometers | February 24, 2018 | website
Delano Park | 50.0 miles | March 03, 2018 | website

Alaska

Iditarod Trail Invitational | 350.0 miles | February 25, 2018 | website
Iditarod Trail Invitational | 1000.0 miles | February 25, 2018 | website
Chena River to Ridge Endurance Race | 45.0 miles | March 03, 2018 | website

Arizona

Ultra Adventures Antelope Canyon | 55.0 kilometers | February 23, 2018 | website
Ultra Adventures Antelope Canyon | 50.0 miles | February 23, 2018 | website
Old Pueblo 50 Miler | 50.0 miles | March 03, 2018 | website
Old Pueblo 50 Miler | 75.0 miles | March 03, 2018 | website

Arkansas

Run LOVit | 100.0 miles | February 23, 2018 | website
Run LOVit | 100.0 kilometers | February 24, 2018 | website

California

Orange Curtain | 50.0 kilometers | February 24, 2018 | website
Orange Curtain | 100.0 kilometers | February 24, 2018 | website
Salmon Falls 50K | 50.0 kilometers | February 24, 2018 | website
Sycamore 100k | 50.0 kilometers | February 24, 2018 | website
Sycamore 100k | 100.0 kilometers | February 24, 2018 | website
Sycamore 100k | 100.0 kilometers | February 24, 2018 | website
Griffith Park Trail Marathon | 50.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website
Way Too Cool 50k | 50.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website

Florida

Cross Florida Route 40 Romp | 116.0 miles | March 03, 2018 | website
Cross Florida Route 40 Romp | 116.0 miles | March 03, 2018 | website
The Dunes 100 | 100.0 miles | March 03, 2018 | website
The Dunes 100 | 50.0 miles | March 03, 2018 | website
The Dunes 100 | 100.0 miles | March 03, 2018 | website

Georgia

Flatlanders Canyon Crash Trail Run | 50.0 kilometers | February 24, 2018 | website

Kansas

Psycho Wyco Run Toto Run | 50.0 kilometers | February 24, 2018 | website

Maryland

Frozen Heart 50 km | 50.0 kilometers | February 24, 2018 | website
Frozen Heart 50 km | 50.0 kilometers | February 24, 2018 | website
Hashawha Hills 50 km Trail Run | 50.0 kilometers | February 24, 2018 | website
Seneca Creek Greenway Trail Marathon & 50K | 50.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website

Mississippi

Carl Touchstone Mississippi Trail Runs | 50.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website
Carl Touchstone Mississippi Trail Runs | 50.0 miles | March 03, 2018 | website

New Mexico

Sierra Vista Trail Runs | 50.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website

New York

Caumsett Park 50K Championship and GLIRC 25K Run | 50.0 kilometers | March 04, 2018 | website

North Carolina

Black Mountain Marathon | 40.0 miles | February 24, 2018 | website

Ohio

Olde Girdled Grit 50K | 50.0 kilometers | February 24, 2018 | website

Oklahoma

Tulsa Running Club Post Oak Lodge Challenge | 50.0 kilometers | February 24, 2018 | website

Pennsylvania

Naked Bavarian 20M, 26.2 & 40M | 40.0 miles | March 03, 2018 | website

South Carolina

Conquer the Rock | 50.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website

Texas

Cowtown Marathon | 50.0 kilometers | February 25, 2018 | website
Tinajas Ultras | 50.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website
Tinajas Ultras | 100.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website
Reebok Ragnar Luckenbach | 200.0 miles | March 09, 2018 | website

Utah

Lake to Lake Team Relay & Ultra | 50.0 miles | March 03, 2018 | website
Monument Valley Ultra | 50.0 miles | March 03, 2018 | website
Monument Valley Ultra | 50.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website
Red Mountain | 55.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website

Vermont

PEAK Snowshoe race | 100.0 miles | March 03, 2018 | website

Virginia

Reverse Ring | 71.0 miles | February 24, 2018 | website

Washington

Wallace Falls Trail Run | 50.0 kilometers | March 03, 2018 | website

United Kingdom

Bihar

Green Man Ultra | 45.0 miles | March 03, 2018 | website

Essex

St Peters Way Ultra | 45.0 miles | February 25, 2018 | website

Northumberland

Coastal Trail Series – Northumberland | 34.0 miles | February 24, 2018 | website
*****
02:17:50 CLOSE
02:25:06
*****
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*****
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Lanzarote Training Camp 2017 – Day 7

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Day 7 started with two sessions – a tempo/ fartlek run of 5 to 8-miles or a technique session on using poles. Both were valuable sessions. Sondre Amdahl (9th overall at the 2016 Marathon des Sables) lead the fast men in a hard tempo session, Elisabet Barnes (2015 MDS ladies champion) pushed the pace for the second group and then Niandi Carmont lead group three with Marie-Paule leading the walkers. At the run track, Ian Corless provided a technique session on using poles. Many had the question answered, ‘should I take poles?’ Yes! was the unanimous answer. The awkward 20-30minutes of adapting to the technique required was rewarded with a faster pace for less effort.

At 1100, Marie-Paule talked, ‘Zero to Atacama’ where she told the story of how she went from little interest in endurance sport to completing the 2016 Atacama without running a step! The power of walking!

Lunch was followed with arguably one of the highlights of the #multidaytrainingcamp – a walk, run/ walk or run of 20-30km to an overnight bivouac inside a volcano.

It’s this ‘real’ experience that provides everyone on the camp a true understanding of what will lie ahead at future multi-day race. For many, it was the first time running with a pack that had food, sleeping bag, mat, clothing etc. A learning curve. For some the experience was rewarding and a confirmation they had made the correct choice of items. For others, alarm bells were ringing… the wrong pack, the wrong sleeping bag, the wrong sleeping mat, the wrong food and so on! This experience is invaluable in making sure that all the questions marks, all the potential problems are eradicated now so that the race experience is a good one!

A windy but relatively warm night under the stars and it was a self-sufficient breakfast before another 20+km run that included dunes.

As everyone arrived back at Club La Santa, there was a buzz. The last 24-hours had made the future ‘race’ a reality.

Interested in joining out Multi-Day Training Camp in 2018? Go HERE

Lead From Behind by Niandi Carmont

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“It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur.” – Nelson Mandela

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I just so love this quote by Mandela one of history’s truly great legendary and inspiring leaders. This guiding principle is what no doubt helped Mandela lead South Africa towards the democracy it is today, even from behind the secluded prison bars of Robbin Island.

Leading from behind is one of the most effective, rewarding and empowering leadership strategies. It goes against the traditional image we hold of great leaders, leading the troops from the front by setting the example.

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As a coach during a 2016 training camp for multi-day racing and specifically the Marathon des Sables (here), I had the opportunity to put this into practice. Marathon des Sables or “MDS” as it is affectionately called by most aficionados is a gruelling self-sufficiency multi-stage running event which takes place every year in April in the Sahara. The event is celebrating its 31st year this year and will gather over 1300 international participants at the start line on 8 April. Participants are required to carry a minimum weight of 6.5kg with a minimum calorie allowance of 2000Kcal/day covering a total distance of 250km with temperatures exceeding 45C over dunes, jebels and scorched sun-dried salt lakes.

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The pre-race training camp last week in Lanzarote provided participants with an opportunity to run long distances on consecutive days in the heat and on demanding terrain simulating that encountered in the Sahara. It also allowed them to test their equipment and exchange with coaches on nutritional and hydration strategies.

Attendees were divided into groups of differing ability depending on the objectives they had set themselves.

“Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish.” — Sam Walton

Coaching one of the groups provided me with one of the most insightful weeks on leadership, mentoring and providing feedback. How do you support and develop each participant in the group giving them the self-confidence to learn and grow? This is where leading from behind comes in. At times I would be running ahead setting the pace. Then I would slow down and run in the group egging them on to the next landmark. Other times I would drop down to the back of the pack and let them set the pace. After all isn’t it all about a balance between pushing people outside their comfort zone because you know this is what will help them have the strength to face adversity in the challenge they have set themselves? Then again you also need to be there to monitor their progress and not push them beyond their limits or dampen their enthusiasm. A fine line!

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A good leader is also a good listener. Managers are advised to listen 70% and speak 30% when providing feedback. It is surprising what you learn from coachees when you listen actively. I learnt a wealth of useful information listening to each participant in my run group. Listening gave me a better understanding of the difficulties of each and everyone: ranging from juggling personal and professional commitments to finding the time to train, fitting training around consecutive business trips, adopting a healthy nutritional strategy with a demanding work schedule and business dinners, dealing with sports injuries due to increased mileage, apprehension of the unknown, fear of failure, professional stress impacting on training performance…the list is endless. But listening helped me to be specific in my advice.

“A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.” — Rosalynn Carter

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A leader should also enhance competitiveness. Many in my group had set out with the objective of completing Marathon des Sables and getting that beautiful big shiny medal handed over to them by the race Director Patrick Bauer, ticking MDS off on their bucket-list of ultra-running achievements and adding it to their run CV. I know the runners in my group will cross that finish line but I also know that they can achieve much more. They showed that tenacity, grit and determination in training that will take them to the finish line at MDS.

“The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men, the conviction and the will to carry on.” – Walter Lippman

And so my final message to my coachees after a week of learning from them about leadership, mentoring and providing feedback is:

“I won’t be there with you at the start-line although I’d love to be but I will be be tracking your progress live on-line and living every minute of the MDS experience with you.” – Niandi

 

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If you would like to join our 2017 Multi-Day Training Camp, please go HERE

View images from 2016 HERE

View daily images and summaries from 2016 HERE

Richtersveld Wildrun™ goes TRANSFRONTIER

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After two years the Richtersveld Wildrun™ has become known as one of the toughest, most scenic and unique trail running stage race events on the South African trail running calendar. In 2016 however, this iconic event takes on a new shape to become the first cross-border trail running event in the world; extending to a linear 200km, five day crossing from South Africa to Namibia through the heart of the /Ai/Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park.

©iancorless.com_RichtersveldRaceDay42015-0939“We are absolutely thrilled to have unlocked a truly unique opportunity to experience both sides of such a unique and powerful place  – and to finish a long day at a natural hot springs in the middle of the wilderness is unbelievable!” said Owen Middleton, MD of Wildrunner, the events company behind the Wildrun™ events.

©iancorless.com_RichtersveldRaceDay42015-0946The new route will maintain the best of the first three days of the original edition, including the Vyf Susters, Hellskloof Pass, Armmanshoek, the Tswayisberge, Springbokvlakte and the iconic Tatasberg boulders. On day 4, the route will veer of its original course and cross the Orange River at De Hoop into Namibia and the untouched southern section of the Fish River Canyon. This 50km day will take runners into a wilderness that is completely inaccessible by vehicle and rich in wildlife such as Hartmann’s mountain zebra, kudu, gemsbok, springbok, Namibian wild horses and giraffe.

©iancorless.com_RichtersveldRaceDay32015-0853After a long, tough day, runners will spend the evening in the canyon at a natural hot spring, before taking on the final day of roughly 25km to finish at the /Ai-/Ais Hot Springs Resort and wrap up a powerful and truly unique experience.

Roland Vorwerk, marketing manager of Boundless Southern Africa, one of the driving forces behind the success of the event, said they are very happy to support this new cross-border trail running event.

“This new route contains even more highlights than the original Richtersveld Wildrun™, and promises to give participants a challenging but spectacular trail running experience,” he said.

©iancorless.com_RichtersveldRaceDay32015-0449Tamaryn Middleton, general manager of Wildrunner, was very excited to launch the new route and said:

“To be the first to cross an international border in a trail running event and to be in such an iconic part of Namibia as the Fish River Canyon is awesome – we can’t wait to take a new group of adventurers on this epic journey.”

The Richtersveld Transfrontier Wildrun™ will take place from 13-17 June 2016 and entries will open 21 October 2015 

Interested? Contact the UK agents for the race using the contact form below.

The 2015 11th edition of The Coastal Challenge on RUNULTRA

TCC 2015

“Anything can happen in a race that lasts multiple days and believe me, The Coastal Challenge provided more than its fair share of excitement. But as a battle raged at the front, behind, the story was one of survival, perseverance and enjoyment in equal measure.”

Read the full article  and view a selection of images from the 2015

The Coastal Challenge

HERE

A full selection of images are available HERE

And you can read daily reports with images from the race here:

Day 1 HERE

Day 2 HERE

Day 3 HERE images HERE

Day 4 HERE images HERE

Day 5 HERE images HERE

Day 6 HERE

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Grand to Grand Ultra 2013 – Stage One

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