A new format is laid, a new journey begins
Last week the KZNTR team decided to make their first step, towards recovery and towards a new beginning. We have scratched heads, shared numerous ideas and eventually came to a consensus on how we will move forward come 21 June 2020.
Like everyone else we don’t know what the situation will be come the 21st of June. But we have to put a peg in the ground and aim for it. We ask you to sign up and be part of this new way of running KZN’s best trails, which will last as long as it needs to.
We will revise and adjust, fine tune some areas and remain dynamic. Because this is what we need to be, dynamic, resilient and brave!
Basic Outline
- START TIMES: 6:30 – 9am, 200 participants with staggered starts.
- GROUPS & GROUP NAMES: if you want to run with family and/or friends, we are happy to help! Create a group name of your choice and share it. Then fill it in to the entry form when entering. This will allow us to cater for you as a small starting group. Your group should agree on a starting time before buying a ticket.
- REGISTRATION: You will be required to arrive at the registration desk 10 minutes before your starting time. We are trying to arrange a warm-up and warm-down area. but this will come into our final protocol.
- TICKET DESCRIPTIONS: There are 3 ticket types available, please note that these are not labelled according to distance. Priority tickets will allow you to choose your own start time, Early bird tickets include a discounted entry rate and Regular tickets which are sold at the normal rates. Neither of the latter include a priority start time, and will be handled on a first come first serve basis.
We understand that for some this might seem strange, it’s moving us away from what we have grown accustomed to. But, we will remain true to what we have always strived to bring to you – a pure trail experience.
Entries are now available, and we strongly advise all those interested to READ the information we have provided on the webpage before entering, so that you get the experience you desire.
A note from a KZNTR legend – Sanele Dladla
Waking up today, feeling lonely in my room then I turn around and see these big letters KZNTR.
I start smiling and after a few seconds I ask myself a question, why does this name bring the smile to my face and I got the answer quite quickly, guess what was the answer? It was just a big smile again that warmed up my heart, that took me back to all the past KZNTR events and what they have brought to me.
- Meeting with the landowners & getting all the info on what, when, where, how and why…
- Putting the routes together, asking yourself if the runners would like it or not, would they find it easier or tougher?
- Making all the bookings and hiring of security, medics, toilets and marshals. After that you ask yourself a big question that you do not have an answer to: are they going to show up or deliver on race day or not?
- Here comes Friday, Kajal & Lauren tell me the number of entries and how excited people are about that event and I always have the same feeling – a bit nervous.
Saturday packing takes place from our storeroom and the questions are many!
Did we pack everything?
Is the trailer and car in good condition to pull this load?
Are we going to have a safe trip on the road?
What challenges are we going to face when we get on site?
When we do get on site, I look in the mirror and I see the faces of my teammates and we all say a thanks to God for a safe trip. Offloading takes place, Lucky and Sizwe go out to mark the trails and the day goes by.
Race day arrives, with people arriving from different places, with some feeling excited and some nervous. Guess what? We feel the same!
The race starts, and the questions start again…
Are all the markers still in place?
Would the marshal remember to point everyone in the right direction?
Would the runners be able to follow the markings?
NO ANSWERS YET.
That will be a start of calling all marshals out on the route via 2way radios and cell phones.
NO ANSWER.
That is when I start panicking and get into a car start looking for 400 to 500 runners that are in the forest running different distances. I start to see them at different places – some with a smile saying good things and others on the wrong route very angry, saying bad things to you.
The KZNTR team on the route face many types of behaviours and attitudes, from happy to angry runners. I drive back to the race village, not knowing how they will feel. More questions…
Who was wrong?
Did they fail to do their jobs?
What would all the runners say to the race director?
As a route director, was I clear when explaining to my team?
NO ANSWER.
When I return, I get my answers…
The big smiles on everyone’s face, eating and drinking (a few beers too!). Those smiles warm up my heart, and that of the whole team.
I look back and I see four things:
- KZNTR makes a difference to the lives of people in different ways
- The team works together to put everything in place
- Runners show their support of what we do by participating
- Andrew and Lauren Booth have been leaders and not bosses
I guess the point is that what brings the smile to me this morning, having these good memories with KZNTR and trail running community.
#sizonqoba I covid-19 and come back to being a trail running family again.
#thanks to everyone who has been a part of such good memories.
#smile on my face.
We are all superheroes – thank you for making a difference!
When lockdown began, many of us were overcome by emotions – what does this mean for us? For our livelihoods, for the mental and physical health of our families and friends, where do we go from here and what do we do?
There’s no doubt that this period has changed our lives in many ways and has made us ask some scary questions. But from this we all shall rise again; we will rebuild, and we will become stronger.
The Garden Trail Series has become much more than we expected. It gave each of us a glimpse of hope and positivity and has helped each of us get up and smile. So, we thank each of you for coming together while being apart. Your support, participation and energy has made a HUGE difference for our team and for the trail community as a whole.
This is what a community is, and we feel privileged to be a part of such a family.
This Sunday, we come together yet again with the final event of the Garden Trail Series! THE THEME: EXPRESS YOURSELF OR YOUR CAUSE.
Keep up the amazing energy and enthusiasm and share your Sunday stories with us.
