Perfect venue for KZN Trail Running’s second event in their inaugural Coastal Series

Blythedale Coastal Estate was the perfect venue for KZN Trail Running’s second event in their inaugural Coastal Series.

After Tuesday’s storm and an abundance of rain across the province, estate management was kept busy clearing tracks and moving branches in the run-up to Sunday morning’s event.

Weaving their way through the indigenous coastal forest, over 400 runners were grateful for the cool shade under the forest canopy along the three routes. Breaking out into the sugarcane, competitors were greeted by glorious spring sunshine. A stint on the beach challenged even the fittest trail-runners’ ability to adapt to the varied terrain.

“Running on the beach at around 8 km was hard going, as the sand was soft anywhere you tried to run. At the end of the beach, when we thought there would be a bit of reprieve, we were faced with a killer hill!” comments 13 km finisher Jacky Ewing.

All three distances, the 6 km, 13 km and 20 km races started in the expansive grassy area under beautiful big Natal Mahoganies. Sheltered from the beach by a coastal dune, the route to the finish was a welcome downhill.

“The single track down to the finish was beautiful, great running conditions and the best end to the race,” says Ewing.

Hospitality vendors serving beer, coffee and breakfast were busy as competitors and their supporters lingered in the shade, enjoying the peaceful forest long after the prize-giving had finished.

Trail running is proving a popular alternative to clocking kilometres on hard pavements. Unpredictable footpaths demand unfaltering concentration and the sights and sounds of nature are a welcome escape from competitors’ daily routines. It’s not uncommon for runners and mountain bikers to come across duiker and numerous birds on Blythedale Coastal Estate.

“Healthy, active, outdoor living is a fundamental element of what we are offering at Blythedale Coastal Estate,” says Development Director, Andrew Thompson who completed the tough 20 km course. The vast 1,000 hectare estate includes a unique combination of indigenous coastal forest, golden sandy beaches and an ecologically rich estuary on the northern boundary. Competitors in the 13 km route followed a contour along the pristine estuary, home to magnificent mangroves.

Runners on the 20 km route were rewarded with spectacular views from the elevated sugarcane plantation, destined to become a golf course in future stages of the estate’s development.

“We welcome trail runners and mountain bikers to explore the beautiful trails on the estate,” says Thompson. “A ticketing kiosk is under construction but in the meantime, athletes are welcome to register their presence on the estate with the security guards based at the container at the entrance. “Bring your training buddies and enjoy the tracks for free until access is controlled and ticketing formalised,” says Thompson.

KZN Trail Running coordinates events ranging from 5 km to 50 km around the province. Founder, Andrew Booth says, “this is the third event we’ve hosted at Blythedale, with numbers increasing each time. It’s a great venue for trail-running and epitomises what the coastal series is about – undulating landscape with sea views, towering coastal forest, fields of sugar cane and the sea air a welcome reprieve from the daily life.  he community atmosphere at trail events is ideal for  competitors and supporters to mingle.”

If you missed this one, catch KZN Trail Running’s next event at Blythedale Coastal Estate, scheduled for March 2018.