In mid-April 2022, ultra-trail runners Ryan Sandes and Ryno Griesel set out on one of their most ambitious expeditions yet, a full circumnavigation of the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. We caught up with them after their successful finish, having run 1100 kilometres with over 33,000 metres of ascent in 16 Days, 6 Hours and 56 Minutes. – Moeketsi Mokoteli & The Red Bull Editors with Sean Falconer
I have recently been called the ‘Mountain Shark,’ partly because I am a marine (shark) biologist who trail runs, but also thanks to my strategy of starting towards the back of races and sneaking up to overtake other runners the further we run. That strategy paid off in the recent RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100km, where I also learnt a few things about myself along the way! – By Leigh De Necker
Fresh from winning a wet and wild K-Way MaxiRace Cape Winelands 75km trail ultra, we sat down with Brandon Hulley to talk about his transition from rugby player to elite trail runner, and his unfinished business with 100-milers. – By Sean Falconer
Three days of running on the Wild Coast are food for the soul, but the weather gods can add a few challenges and create quite the adventure, as we found out during the RB Africa Wild Coast Challenge. – By Jocelyn Gilfillan
As a spectator at the Rhodes Dryland Traverse in 2021, I could already see why it is considered an aspirational, must-do, bucket-list event by many in the South African trail running community, and having ‘graduated’ to stage racing during 2022, I jumped at the opportunity to run it myself this past November. It turned out to be a wonderful running experience, in spite of a few challenges my side, and left me wanting more of the Swartberg trails, awesome vibe and banana bread! – By Nicole Hayes
In May, South African mountaineer Remy Kloos was seemingly within touching distance of the summit of Mount Everest, when she was forced to abandon.
Although greatly disappointed, she has moved the end date of her ultimate goal, and in the meantime will be using running and hiking to make sure she is ready to tackle the world’s highest mountains. – By Sean Falconer
There’s no good time to experience a Trail MisAdventure (my speciality), but the one time you really do not want one is when you are running through a ‘Big 5’ nature reserve, and find yourself alone with a hungry lion, or being chased by an angry elephant! – By Carla Farina
Over a year of planning and dreaming and it came down to this day… The day I went for it! My team of five turned dreams into reality as we completed the 13 Peaks Challenge in 32 hours and 33 minutes, without sleep and with the most incredible team, support and seconders we could ask for. – By Dawn Nunes (with Sean Falconer)