Records Tumble at OTTER

Press Release / 02.10.2011

The OTTER African Trail Run, presented for the third time this year by sponsors Hi-Tec, once again saw off-road runners blaze along this legendary trail in the Garden Route National Park. A total of 200 endurance runners took on the 42km ultra run in the hope of improving on last year’s blitz of 4hrs47min.

It is no wonder the OTTER African Trail Run has been dubbed ‘The Grail of Trail” by local organisers Magnetic South. This magnificent coastal run traverses the beaches and sea cliffs of the Eden District from Storms River Mouth to the laid-back village of Nature’s Valley, and there is no doubt it will soon rate as one of the most desirable trail runs on Planet Earth.

Two runnings of the OTTER Route are sanctioned by SA National Parks, who open the trail to runners only one weekend every year, and under the most stringent of environmental considerations. “We understand this exhilarating raceshowcases the natural splendour of one of South Africa’s favourite national parks”, SANparks management said in a statement after signing an historic agreement with event organisers Magnetic South.

The concept of the OTTER African Trail Run was the collective brainchild of brothers John and Mark Collins, key partners in the successful event organising company, Magnetic South. Together with presenting sponsor HI-TEC, and nutritional sponsor GU, they set their sights onthe impossible dream of ‘a 42km trail marathon along an unspoilt wilderness coastline’.

Numbers obviously need to be limited, so only 200 athletes are allowed to do both the Race (Friday) and the Ramble (Sunday). It is also most certainly not within everyone’s physical ability to do the Otter Hiking Trail in a single day, but last year Doctor Andre Gie proved a point by setting a blistering time of 4hrs 47min.

The magical 5hr barrier was first broken by KZN runner Iain Don-Wauchope, who set a time of 4hrs 59min. Sedgefield local John Collins followed suit during the second running in 2010, but Gie made sure his glory was rather short-lived. This year, a total of 400 eager endurance runners were given the opportunity to take on both Collins and Gie, and rumour had it that they were gunning for the 4hrs 30min mark …

This year the race, again sponsored by global outdoor footwear and apparel manufacturer HI-TEC, saw a star-studded field assembled at Storms River Mouth, including SA’s trail running star, Ryan Sandes. Fresh from his victory at the prestigious Leadville 100 mile Ultra Marathon in the USA, he would for the first time contend with a full-strength trail running field from all over the country.