Dube Tradeport Shaka Trail Run

(Click to enlarge)

This past Sunday, Nov 4th 2012,  two YWP runners, (a Ballie, and a Ballie light ) competed in the first Dube King Shaka Trail Run.  There were two options available - a 10km and a 30 km.  Of course the 10 km was always going to be too short so being Ballies they just had to enter the 30km trail run.  (30km being the distance Shaka's impi's would undertake in preparation for war. )  The two races started together with little formality, just the sound of a warrior beating a war drum, and off we went into the bush.  At one point it seemed as though we were heading for the main airport runway, but just in time we were diverted down a culvert and into the sugar cane.  Being around the Dube Trade Port,  the race organisers had to do the best with the terrain available, including what felt like a month of rain.  It was not long before we had to dive in,  and grind out some serious mud trails.  We eventually emerged from the mud and cane,  onto some dirt/gravel roads,  picked up our pace,  with lightie Ballie being a little too enthusiastic putting his head down and not keeping an eye out for the hard to spot markings - suddenly a whole heard of Lemmings were heading for the wrong finish line.  After a km or so,  order was restored and we were back on track, or should I say back in mud.  Cane trails,  gave way to a few short dirt roads,  but ultimately we would get bogged down in some serious stuff.  Ballie lost a shoe,  and just when we thought this was hard core trail running only for real men,  we suffered whiplash from a lady runner who seemed to float through the mud,  heading for the hills, never to be seen again.  Staggering through the remainder of the mud,  we finally made it into the second half of the race.  The course dried up,  and our speed improved.  Ballie,  still very much aware of controlling the  pace as lightie ballie fiddled with the accelerator.  Eventually the accelerator would brake, and Ballie had to drive us home.  Needless to say,  we were both relieved to have a slightly shorter course (around 26 k's),  holding off a late charge from a couple of pre-ballie lights,  to finish in two and a half hours.  Trail running is the ultimate in S&M,  as even if you get lost,  fall down, get covered in mud, bleed and hardly ever see a water table,  there's nothing to really complain about,  because its self inflicted. (Did I hear someone mention whips??) The more the pain and discomfort the better the satisfaction at the end, or so we tell ourselves.

 

Thoroughly  Satisfied,   Martin & Mark