Mud squelches underfoot as you run through the forest. Your heart drums and your eyes sting with sweat. The slippery ground almost gives way, but you keep going. You are completely alone as you run, this is your adventure.
This is the experience I had during the 15km Sky Lite trail race at Katberg Eco Golf estate, Fort Beaufort, recently.
The snow had fallen at Katberg five days before the race, but the sun was out and the first obstacle was the mud.
We ran out of the Eco Estate and into the game reserve, where the sloppy wet soil persisted in its efforts to bring us down on to our faces.
Mud squelches underfoot as you run through the forest. Your heart drums and your eyes sting with sweat. The slippery ground almost gives way, but you keep going. You are completely alone as you run, this is your adventure.
This is the experience I had during the 15km Sky Lite trail race at Katberg Eco Golf estate, Fort Beaufort, recently.
The snow had fallen at Katberg five days before the race, but the sun was out and the first obstacle was the mud.
We ran out of the Eco Estate and into the game reserve, where the sloppy wet soil persisted in its efforts to bring us down on to our faces.
The second obstacle was a river-crossing over stepping-stones. But the most tedious was the 1km uphill through dense bush. After this strenuous task, we were rewarded with a continuous single track through indigenous forest.
The view from there was enough to get me to stop and take deep breaths of fresh air and look at the vast expanse of bush surrounding me.
I was on my own at this time, as I would be for the rest of the race. I enjoyed it even more this way. To be able to run through a forest alone, listening to the gurgling of the river and whispers of the trees is like something out of a fairy tale.
At one point I had to climb a small mound of fallen pine trees, felled by loggers. I felt like a child, stumbling through the thick scent of pine and grabbing on to branches for support.
At the top of this I was on a forest road, where the sun shone in full force. Compared to the thick confines of bush, I felt completely free and, seeing the stretch in front of me, I ran with the energy of a pre-schooler to a jungle gym.
After this it was back into the oak forest for a gentle downhill, acorns littering the floor. Under the shadows of the trees it was cold. I had to shake my hands before I could unclasp them.
The highest point of the race was 1150m above sea level.
The rest of the race went quickly after this, although there were a few more fallen trees to climb over.
I was on a twisting road to the finish, running past estate houses and the golf course.
The Winterberg mountain range could be seen in its full glory from there, the last of the snow melting on its tops.
I finished the race with mud-covered shoes and pants, but I felt invigorated.
I finished at a tortoise pace, 2:50:35, but I was happy to have taken the run slowly because I'd appreciated the scenery more.
Next up is the 18km run hosted by Shawpark Primary School and Country Club on 21 August – and I'll be there…
