may well be the most extreme form of trail – but it can be the most rewarding. Here’s an introduction... WORDS Bryony McCormick

72 noVEMBER 2013 Photograph by Andrew King|Nikon www.runnersworld.co.za 73 Into the Green A race recce of the Lesotho Ultra Trail gives Andrew Booth a chance to test out 1. Matroosberg Trail Challenge 2. Lesotho Ultra Trail

ndrew Booth A ndrew by Photograph his route. (Skymarathon®) Organiser: Andrew Booth Organiser: Ghaleed Nortje Date: 30 November 2013 Date: 25 October 2013 Event distance/s: 55km Event distance/s: 36km Skymara- Elevation: +3 100m ...to tufts of grass and loose rocks, wearily scanning the landscape for described as “the place where the earth and the sky meet”. And that thon®, 24km Challenge, 14km Run Difficulty rating: the end of the route. Dried sweat cakes in the corners of your mouth, view, accompanied by the altitude-induced, drunken euphoria of Elevation: The accumulative Body breaker and that piece of hair that was annoying you earlier is now wedged overcoming such physical demands, makes it all worthwhile. elevation gain is 2 173m. Website: www.lesothoultratrail.com in your eye; but you’re too tired to care. Welcome to Skyrunning: South Africa’s latest trail-running trend. Difficulty rating: Very tough, steep Years running: 2013 is the Each step you climb requires more effort than the last, and your climbs, high altitude and loneliness at inaugural year. chest heaves and burns as you desperately suck in every last drop of WAY BACK WHEN the top, fast descents, icy stream air at this oxygen-depleted altitude. You can see the summit, but that Not only did the 90s showcase white-suit-wearing boy bands, Doc crossings. doesn’t necessarily mean you’re any closer to it. Because of the high Martens and poly shorts, but also the origins of Skyrunning. The Website: www.matroosbergtrail- altitude the weather rolls in and out, changing the conditions faster Italian Alps played host to the very first Skyrunning races, back in challenge.co.za than you can get your windbreaker on and off, and you start to the early 90s – initiated by Giacometti, the aforementioned Italian Years running: Two. First run was question why you entered the event. Hour-long minutes pass, you mountaineer. In the beginning, he explored the Italian Alps with in 2012. push your body, you test your mind. Doubt sets in, and you like-minded friends, all dedicated to finding new routes and setting genuinely wonder how you will get to the top. records at high altitude; specifically on Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa. But then you do. The pain, the physical torture and the mental With the help of FILA, who came on board as a sponsor in 1993, the fatigue have been worth it: your efforts are rewarded with a front- fledgling craze of running at high altitude really took off. In a matter row seat to what the creator of Skyrunning, Marino Giacometti, of months it spread across the globe, with Skyruns popping up from

ICY OBSTACLES Low temps at high altitude create slippery snow and frozen streams.

74 noVEMBER 2013 Photograph by Andrew King|Nikon Definitions (as per the International Skyrunning Federation) Skyrunning – The discipline of SkyRace – Races between 2 000m up to or exceeding and 4 000m altitude, minimum 20km the mountainous areas of Mexico to the Rockies, 2 000m, where the incline exceeds in distance, maximum 30km in from Kenya to the Himalayas. 30% and where the difficulty distance. In countries where the overall This fast growth generated increasing interest does not exceed 11° grade. altitude does not exceed 2 000m, among trail fanatics, and before long Skyrunning Skyrunner – An athlete who competes competitions that exceed 1 300m of was a big enough discipline to warrant a set of rules in recognised Skyrunning disciplines. vertical climbing may be considered. and regulations to make it more official. Again, Vertical Kilometre – Races with Giacometti stepped up and took responsibility by founding Disciplines 1 000m of vertical climb over variable the Federation of Sports at Altitude (FSA). The aim of the FSA was to SkyMarathon – Races within a terrain with a substantial incline and not provide a set of rules that could govern and control Skyrunning. minimum of 2 000m total elevation longer then 5km in distance. A Vertical Today, that set of rules and regulations defines over 200 Skyrunning gain and between 30km and 42km in Kilometre is defined at three altitude events across the world, in over 54 countries. In 2008 the FSA was distance. The course may be over paths, levels (+/-200m variable) 0-1 000m, replaced by the International Skyrunning Federation (ISF), but the trails, rocks, etc (a limit of <15% on 1 000m-2 000m, 2 000m-3 000m. passion and vision remains the same: to provide races at high paved or tarred surfaces) and may reach SkyTrail – Races over paths and trail altitude that test and challenge trail runners who are looking for an or exceed 3 500m. (less than 10% asphalt) that do not fall escape into the sublime, mountainous world of high-altitude Ultra SkyMarathon – Races that within the parameters of other running. exceed the parameters of a disciplines over 2 000m. The distance Skymarathon by more then 5%. is variable, from a minimum of 15km. SKYRUNNING IN SA As they say on the South African Skyrunning Association (SASA) website, Skyrunning has been around for decades – albeit the unregulated version. Events that certainly meet the criteria have been hosted on some of South Africa’s most majestic mountain ranges for well over a decade; but they’ve simply never had the opportunity to be sanctioned. Nor has there been the motivation – the ISF hasn’t focused much attention on South Africa as a destination, and Skyrunning hasn’t registered on most SA trail runners’/organisers’ radar. Until 2011, that is, when James Hallett, editor and founder of multi-faceted online trail community Go Trail, decided to write and publish an article on Skyrunning. His research steered him straight

to the ISF, which in turn led to the beginning of his professional relationship with current ISF Vice President Lauri van Houten. Chatting to her for the article sparked Hallett’s interest even more. “It was an extremely insightful exercise: I learned about everything from the initiation of the sport in the early 90s, when athletes SKYRUNNING speedily ascended of some of Europe’s iconic mountains, to how the NIRVANA ISF have developed the sport over 20 years, and where it is currently,” Geographically, Lesotho he said. is the ultimate Skyrunning Hallett’s article proved to be a stepping stone to something far destination: all of its terrain is above 1 000 more groundbreaking. Van Houten contacted him to thank him for metres in altitude, as these his coverage of the sport, and in what Hallett describes as “a heartfelt trail enthusiasts are about conversation”, the process of the formation of the South African to discover. Skyrunning Association (SASA) began – something Hallett is “extremely proud of today, and excited about sharing as a prospect

76 noVEMBER 2013 Photograph by ANDREW BOOTH www.runnersworld.co.za 77 Breakthru_105x276_Layout 1 2013/08/16 9:41 AM Page 1

by Linda Doke Linda Doke’s list of running long it will also involve an annual achievements is almost too long to series of Skyrunning events that include in this article. Doke has won will recognise a men’s and women’s two Tuffer PUFfeRs (150km), national Skyrunning Champion. finished sixth in the Mont Blanc trail in France, won and RW: What are a few easy ways to Energy Gels The pleasant tasting Breakthru Energy Gel sachets competed in a host of local races adapt your training for a are specifically designed to replenish energy stores including the Hout Bay Trail Skyrunning event? whilst simultaneously nourishing muscle tissues and Challenge, Sky Run (110km), LD: I don’t know of any easy balancing electrolyte levels. • Breakthru Boost: Quick energy boost with AfricanX and the Addo Elephant ways, but there are some simple corn syrup & cramp relieving electrolytes. 82km Trail Run. On an ones: work on your hill climbing and • Breakthru Rush: Quick energy release international level she has raced the on your technical descents. Both of with corn syrup; cramp relieving Trans-Alpine Run in Germany/ these techniques require a lot of electrolytes and muscle repairing proteins. • Breakthru Jolt: Quick & slow release Austria/Italy, the Namib Desert hard work, but it definitely pays off. energy with fructose, glucose & maltodex- Challenge, the Aussenkehr Desert trin; cramp relieving electrolytes and Extreme and the Grand Raid de la RW: What is the best advice you immune supporting glutamine. Reunion 100-miler. This year she could give first-time Skyrunners for completed The Planet: race day? Cramping Breakthru Anti-Cramp are chewable, essential for the South African running community”. Iceland. Doke also has one official LD: Go for a 3 to 5-kay warm-up tissue salt tablets which assist in reducing cramps Skymarathon under her belt before the race starts. and spasms. The tablets assist in maintaining SOUTH AFRICAN EVENTS (Sierre-Zinal Skymarathon). electrolyte and pH levels. When Hallett was appointed chairman of SASA, he didn’t have any RW: Any practical tips? Like what Skyrunning events on his portfolio. Fortunately, what he lacked in RW: How does a Skyrun differ to keep in your backpack, items you Energy Liquid events he made up for in genuine enthusiasm and love for his from a normal trail event? shouldn’t run without, food that Breakthru Endurance Carb Energy Drink new-found sport. It was only a matter of months before he had two (concentrate) is formulated as a carbo loader LD: The route of a Skyrunning will help? and energy booster. Mixed into a water bottle it events on the SA calendar. Booth Andrew by Photograph event is not necessarily any more LD: This all depends on the is ideal to build and restore energy before, during But as with all new ventures, it wasn’t smooth sailing for Hallett. technical than other trail events distance of the race, and how long and after any sporting event. “When SASA was launched in August 2011, our first objective (although they often are). The you expect to be out there. was to contact event organisers around the country who: a) already difference is in the elevation – Certainly, remember the essentials: Muscle Recovery had events that met the criteria defining them as a Skyrunning Skyrunning is about running at wind jacket and/or waterproof, Breakthru Sports Performance provides a choice of two discipline (as per the definitions established by the ISF); and b) advanced protein supplements formulated to nourish altitude (+2 000m), and inevitably, emergency blanket and small and restore damaged muscle tissue and so improve showed the potential to create new events in areas of our country having to run up a severe gradient to medical kit, hydration, a couple of muscle recovery time. that had the elevation, vertical gain, distance, etc. To be honest, there get there! energy bars and/or gels, cell phone • Breakthru Recoup Amino Acid: Full was quite a long period of reluctance in the beginning. Event complement of L-isomer amino acids. with relevant emergency numbers. • Breakthru Protein Shake: The tasty shake RW: As a pro athlete, what does it Pack light, but never compromise provides 70% protein and 16.8% carbohydrate mean to have sanctioned Skyrun- on the vitals. plus a combination of micro-nutrients. ning events in South Africa now? Also available: Creatine Caps LD: Having SASA-sanctioned RW: Should trail enthusiasts events (that are backed by the ISF) include a Skyrunning event on their here in SA is huge for South African bucket-list? And why? . Not only does it give LD: Without a doubt! Skyrunning is local runners the opportunity to tough, but it’s the most exhilarating experience the challenge, but before trail running you’ll ever do.

organisers were sceptical about the regulation of the sport, and how it could possibly detract from the experience of their event. Some organisers even felt that having their event sanctioned by SASA at school, describes what you can expect: “Not only is it an wouldn’t benefit their long-term strategy.” exciting racing concept with a multitude of disciplines to choose Ultimately SASA adopted an ‘if-you-build-it-they-will-come’ from; I believe it will open doors to new and exciting locations approach, and slowly but surely the interest has begun to mount, where we, as runners, can participate. The current global ROCK ‘N’ Roll both from progressive event organisers and from the running Skyrunning community is also a really dynamic melting pot of The higher you get, the community. top runners, amazing events and people who just want to run in rockier and more technical the terrain. So remember – This year the two events on the Southern African circuit are the the clouds. I think that as our South African off- rock ‘n’ roll is a dance form, Lesotho Ultra Trail and the Matroosberg SkyMarathon. community develops, so too will our desire to be a part of this not a running style. So, are you still unsure as to whether Skyrunning is for you? exciting community. At least now, with the formation of SASA, Available from: Dis-Chem, Springbok Pharmacy, Pick n Pay Pharmacies, independent pharmacies and selected sport stores. Also available online: Hallett, who used to fake sickness to get off cross-country meetings we have a head start.” www.nutreats.co.za; www.springbokpharmacy.co.za, www.dischemonline.co.za Sport Health & Fitness Technologies (Pty) LTD 78 noVEMBER 2013 Photograph by Andrew King|Nikon E-mail: [email protected] • Tel: +27 11 886 2932 • www.breakthru.co.za Breakthru Sports Performance @BreakthruSports