Trail running events specialists Wildrunner, have confirmed the dates and venues for the four races of the KZN Spur Trail Series® happening in October 2016, including events at Rocky Bay in Scottburgh, Blythedale Coastal Resort and Aloe Wildlife Estate, plus a night run at Kenneth Steinbank Reserve in Durban.
“We start the KZN Spur Trail Series®, on Sunday, 2 October 2016, racing at Rocky Bay, Scottburgh, where runners have the option of two stunning courses of 6km or 10km on farm roads and through indigenous forests on single track,” comments Trail Series® founder and Wildrunner MD, Owen Middleton.
The Spur Trail Series®, which has proved to be wildly popular among trail runners in the Western Cape, Gauteng and Eastern Cape, attracting thousands of trail novices and experienced race snakes, and race organisers expect the event to grow in leaps and bounds in Kwazulu Natal 2016. “We have fabulous routes through really beautiful terrain this year,” says Middleton.
Andrew Booth, Director of KZN Trail Running, says that they are thrilled to partner with Wildrunner to host the series: “It’s an opportunity to be involved in a national series and deliver these well-structured events to a growing trail running community in KZN. We have managed to find venues with trails suitable for beginners and challenging enough seasoned runners – October is going to be an amazing month for trail running in KZN and the Spur Trail Series®.”
“We are thrilled to be working with Andrew and his KZN Trail running team to take the Spur KZN Trail Series to the next level in KZN. With their local knowledge and good relationship with the KZN trail running community, we know South Africa’s original and only national trail running series is in good hands as we look forward to strengthening the support and participation in such an active sporting province,” says Middleton.
“The Spur Trail Series® is a very accessible place for novices to be introduced to trail running and for experienced racers to do speed training and compete against top trail runners in South Africa.”
The KZN Trail Series® consists of four long (Championship) and four short courses (Challenge) and runners only receive a medal if they complete the entire Series. To complete the Series, runners have to run at least three long courses or three short courses.
Alternatively, if runners only want to run one or two of the races and can’t complete the entire Series they’re welcome to enter on a race-by-race basis. The Spur Trail Series® is a fantastic place to involve the whole family – kids as young as six years old are allowed to enter and compete.
“These are fun events – we encourage families to participate and have categories for younger runners,” says Middleton.
“KZN is a stunning area for trail running, and we are really pleased to be promoting the area’s natural environment through the Spur Trail Series®.”
Watch the Spur Trail Series® promotional video here
The KZN Spur Trail Series Events
Race 1:
Date: Sunday, 2 October 2016
Venue: Rocky Bay, Scottburgh
Description: The venue is only a stone’s throw from the beach. The courses run inland, combining farm roads and indigenous forest single track. Both courses are on fast, smooth trail with the long course going further inland seeking out more forest single track. Drive time from Durban is only 40 minutes.
Distance: 6km (short course) or 10km (long course)
More information: http://bit.ly/29fmuGu
Race 2:
Date: Wednesday, 5 October 2016
Venue: Kenneth Steinbank, Durban (Night Run)
Description: Set in Durban, this is the only night event in the 2016 KZN Spur Trail Series. This Ezemvelo managed reserve is a real gem and the courses have been laid out on the established network of trails. Both courses are ideal for those wanting to try their first night trail run.
Distance: Between 5km and 6km (short course) or between 10km and 12km (long course)
More information: http://bit.ly/29qYvrB
Race 3:
Date: Sunday, 16 October 2016
Venue: Blythedale Coastal Resort, Blythedale
Description: The short course will wind through the coastal indigenous forest in the vicinity of the venue, which is located at a beautiful picnic spot. The long course heads through the forest and onto the beach for about 1 km. This is a brand new venue with a great network of single tracks.
Distance: Between 5km and 6km (short course) or between 10km and 12km (long course)
More information: http://bit.ly/29hjKIZ
Race 4:
Date: Sunday, 30 October 2016
Venue: Aloe Wildlife Estate, Lion Park
Description: A brand new venue that has yet to host a trail running event, but has so much to offer. Single track galore through this game estate is going to have runners and walkers in their element; the natural bush and wild animals are a great spectacle. The event is just 15 minutes from Hillcrest or Pietermaritzburg by car.
Distance: Between 5km and 6km (short course) or between 10km and 12km (long course)
More info: http://bit.ly/29qYYKl
Issued on behalf of Wildrunner by Catalyst Communications:
Contact Chace Brand, 072 095 6718 chace@catalystcommunications.co.za
Series contact: Lauren Booth, 082 7917 069 lauren@kzntrailrunning.co.za
