PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS FLASH - The world-class Otter African Trail Run lived up to its moniker the “Grail of Trail” after trail-running super star Marc Lauenstein not only broke the trail record but conquered what organisers believed would be an impossible feat – breaking the sub-four hour barrier.

And to top it all off the Swiss athlete has decided to donate half of his R100 000 prize money to charity – one of which is local environmental group Nature’s Valley Trust.

More than 400 hardcore runners from across the globe lined up on the startline at the Storms River Restcamp on Saturday, October 17, to take on the full distance of the famous five-day Otter Hiking Trail.

Lauenstein caused a stir ahead of the event when he confirmed his participation in what has become known among the trail-running community as Africa’s toughest marathon distance trail run – with some athletes believing he could be the one to beat the fabled four-hour mark.