The Trappers Ngoje Trail Run

Hi my name is Dave, I am not a trail runner. Yes I am a survivor of a true adventure that has me absolutely terrified. It began as a email from a friend, hey come do this race….nothing unusual about that. The only problem was this was a “trail run” The Trappers Ngoje Trail Run, BUT it did say hikers and walkers welcome. How bad could it be ? So I entered.

At the race briefing the organiser Gavin Bazley seriously scared the hell out of me with his description of what lay ahead, this left me with a feeling of nah this is not for me. I seriously considered not taking part, then Gavin said something to me, “Don’t focus on the finish, focus on the adventure ahead.”

Yes I lined up the next morning with a group of people who were all Comrades runners, Mount runners etc. I was really out of place amongst these elite people. Nevertheless I can only do what I can do.

Off we went into the unknown, 40 + kilometres to conquer. I found the beginning kays quite easy it consisted of sugar cane fire break roads, nothing to serious, I did a good 45 minutes on the first 6 kays and felt quite relaxed about this “run”. All to sudden the run actually started and I was left in awe and completely out of breath in places, from the sights but also the climb to some of these majestic views.

Climbing up a trail that looked harmless ended up with me clinging to ground hands and feet and being actually frozen to the spot, what can I say I suffer from a chronic fear of heights. I willed myself further and further up this monster as going back down was just not an option.

Cresting the top of this particular climb left me completely drained and very apprehensive of the rest ahead. This was only km 11 and it was already 3:34 into this run. My ankles, calves, feet all pained from the climb, I was not a happy boy at all.

Gavin appeared on the scene and took to the next 10 kay with me, it was a great sharing time with the likes of Gavin. This guy had done so much including the Skyrun and George Archer amongst others. Just such a wealth of information and so much patience as he stuck by me.

I was really finished, this trail had seriously whacked me between the eyes, I was totally unprepared for what I had taken on and by 21.1 km into this 40+ run I felt as though I had done 60 kays, I was finished there was just nothing more I could give.

I have never in my life done something as difficult as this, Gavin told me there was two more very high places ahead and on gauging my finish time with regards to my current performance it would be around midnight.

At the 21.1 kay mark I had been out there for 6 hours 51 minutes, I decided that this was enough adventure for me, there was no possible way I could do this in the dark nor was I going to be able to attempt heights after the last scare at 11 kay.

So yes I pulled out but I do 6 hours 51 minutes in the toughest condition I have ever been in yet the most beautiful I have ever seen. Yes I did bail but I did so with my head held high, I gave it all I had but The Trappers Ngoje Trail Run was tougher then I had ever expected.

After getting back to the start I heard things that actually made me smile and that was these hardcore runners saying things such as “Tougher then Comrades, Harder then Mount, much worse then Donkey”