In just three weeks, a selection of South Africa’s finest trail runners will be taking on the 55km ultra trail race, running through the Tsehlanyane National Park in the heart of Lesotho’s Maloti Mountains. And it will take more than just fitness to triumph in this ultra-distance, high altitude course boasting more than three kilometers of vertical ascent, peaking at 3155m above sea level – see what it takes to Master Trail Running.
After the success of the Matroosberg SkyMarathon® in October, skyrunning fever is running high, setting the ground for the imminent announcement of a national Skyrunning series in 2014. This event will boast some of South Africa’s most renowned trail runners, including South African trail star AJ Calitz, winner of the Verdon Canyon Challenge in France and 2013 Red Bull LionHeart. (Check out AJ Calitz’s Training Secrets). He will be up against mountain running legend and winner of the 2012 Otter African Trail Run Iain Don Wauchope (The North Face), 2013 SA Ultra Trail winner Nic de Beer, and Gauteng trail speedster Lucky Mia.
In the women’s field, Canadian ultra trail star Stacie Carrigan will be dicing the most competitive women’s contingent of any southern African trail race to date, including Matroosberg SkyMarathon® winner Robyn Kime (The North face), 2013 SA Ultra trail champ Tracy Zunckel (Race Food), 2011 Otter African Trail Run winner Su Don Wauchope (The North Face), SA ultra running legend Linda Doke (Salomon), Megan Mackenzie (Salomon), and Chantel Nienaber (Vivobarefoot).
With Lesotho offering world class skyrunning terrain, the Lesotho Ultra Trail promises to be an event not only worth every lung-burning breath, but is also set to become one of the continent’s premier off-road ultras.
For more information about the race, visit www.lesothoultratrail.com
