“Trail running has exploded onto the scene in South Africa,” says Megan Mackenzie, a South Africa trail runner supported by Salomon, Suunto, Gu Energy and Oakley. A competitive trail runner, she has broken records and regularly places on the podium.

 

“It was only a few years ago that people still asked what trail running was and I had to laboriously explain that it was like hiking, except that you run. Now it seems that it is one of the most popular sports to get into, even road runners are seeing the light,” she says.

 

South Africa has been internationally recognised for years for its running with prominent races such as the Comrades Marathon drawing athletes from far and wide but with new trail races constantly popping up, combined with increased prize money, trail running is becoming a growing international phenomenon. And where better to do it than in the great African outdoors?

 

Mark Collins, The Otter African Trail Run Race Director and Director of Magnetic South says that with traditional road runners taking up the trail challenge, media exposure and word of mouth, the sport has gained considerable popularity and prominence, especially in South Africa.

 

The Magnetic South team see very well attended nationwide Series’ of Trail Runs in the 5km to 15km range, which Mark says are both affordable and achievable. He explains, “There are also the more demanding, established iconic events such as the Cape Peninsula’s 80km Puffer, the Rhodes Trail Run, the Table Mountain Challenge and the Hout Bay Challenge. The Otter, the Sky Run and the Whale of Trail are the new bucket list events that attract national and international starting lines up.”

 

Trailrunner.co.za’s Kyle Redelinghuys believes, however, that the sport is just getting warmed up. He says, “It’s still a niche sport, but you’re finding a lot of people getting out onto the trails for anything from 3km to 10km as a first run. It’s great to see the sport growing and more people getting involved. There are more events of varying distances and more corporate growth.”

 

Its society’s general shift towards healthier, more outdoor lifestyles that those in the industry are attributing the love of trail running to. Redelinghuys says, “South Africa has the fastest growing trail running scene in the globe at the moment, with Cape Town leading that charge.”

 

“The rise in popularity is definitely due to evolving lifestyles. Health and fitness have a much higher prominence in modern contemporary lifestyles,” explains Collins. He adds that trail running is fun and fulfilling and is a strong option for people moving in that direction, as well as having an affinity to nature and being outdoors.

 

Mackenzie says that trail running combines her love of running with her absolute enjoyment of mountains and exploration. This, she thinks, holds true for many other individuals.

 

“The idea of getting out of the city chaos and people’s desire to be in touch with nature while exercising are big contributing factors. As it gathers momentum, more people are able to experience being outside, exploring new places while still getting their work out. As word spreads, the bigger it grows.”

 

With international runners such as Ruby Muir and Ricky Lightfoot gracing the South African trails, the continent is certainly on the map when it comes to the sport. Collins says that the Otter Trail has already attracted the world champions of trail running and host of the world’s most high profile trail runners. The trailingrunning.co.za team have also seen many internationals simply coming to the country to train. Redelinghuys says, “South Africa is really beautiful and has some magnificent trails, which are remote and wild. The international competitors love this, as do we.”

 

Those in the industry believe that trail running is set to become the next biggest tourism focus with races such as the Salomon Sky Run, the Wildrunner series, the Giant’s Cup Trail Run, the Platteklip Challenge and the Red Bull Lion Heart just some of the ways to test the trails. Mackenzie says, “We have the resources – mountains, beach, bush – and the enthusiasm as a South African community, so I can’t wait to see its growth. Hiking places like the Drakensberg, Table Mountain, Cederberg and Magaliesberg, is already a tourism focus. Trail running is an extension of that.”