This year the Old Fisherman’s Trail Challenge will be run on 21 June

South Africa - The race was started by Richard Sutton and Ken Findlay in 2004 and has grown into an exceptionally popular race for both individuals and two-person relay teams. KYLIE HATTON gives us the lowdown on the race and what’s required, for those of you interested in travelling home to take part.

As the name suggests the Old Fisherman’s Trail Challenge largely follows the route that fishermen used to take to cross the mountains that separated the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The race’s start and finish points alternate each year between Fish Hoek and Hout Bay.

The race distance is 21kms, but don’t be fooled by this relatively short sounding distance. Distances in the mountains are deceptive – while top road runners tend to finish 21kms on the road in approximately 65 minutes, the top finishers in the Old Fisherman’s Trail Challenge are pleased to break 2 hours.

But this race is not just about the winners at the front of the race. Trail running for the majority of runners is not particularly competitive, but is more about getting out and enjoying the majestic beauty of the Cape’s mountains. It is about persevering up rugged mountains and relishing their brutal descents.

Trail running is a relatively new sport in South Africa but races like the Hout Bay Trail Challenge and Old Fisherman’s Trail Challenge have encouraged more and more road runners to reject miles of munching tar and getting out and about in the Cape’s mountains. The OFTC presents aspirant trail runners with the perfect introduction to the joys of trail running as the comparatively shorter distance can be tackled as an individual or as a member of a team.

More at southafrican.co.uk

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