Just had the good fortune of spending a week down on the Wild Coast. Managed to get a run in most evenings, alternating between some nice long flat runs along the beach, and some proper technical trail runs along hiking trails and goat tracks in the hills around Umngazi River Bungalows where we were staying. Good preparation for Mont Aux Sources, coming up in a week’s time.

These runs were so refreshing, after grinding out so many “junk kilometres” on the road. Running in complete solitude along ridges and cliffs above the sea, the landscape studded with aloes that keep silent guard over the sea 200 meters below. I would stop occasionally, take in gulps of fresh air, and just enjoy the silence. All you can hear is the breeze, and the waves crashing on the rocks below.... The grass is dry, with all the seed heads soft and feathery. Very pretty in the fading light, but makes it a bugger to see the paths you are running on.

One evening I decided to just run out on the beach, ignore the hills for a change. I went as light as possible, and took the Vibram KSO’s for a spin. It’s so amazing to be able to run through the water without a care, over rocks, and back onto the sand... I read somewhere how these shoes make you “feel more in touch with the earth”... I thought that was a load of marketing crap. But now I completely get it. The atmosphere was amazing. It was an unusually still evening, and about 5km out, I came upon a massive bush fire in the hills alongside the beach. It was eyrie to run on, through the smoke, with the fire on one side, and the sea on the other.... For some strange reason, the smell of an African bush fire, mingled with sea air made the hair stand up on the back of the neck, but made the experience all the better.  Seemed crazy to run on with “danger” on the left and right... I stopped at the turn around point, took a swim in the sea, and ran back in the dark. Probably one of the best runs of my life....

This is why I run.... For those of you off on the Wild Run again next week, just enjoy. If the weather holds out like this, you are in for something special.