The early bird catches the best breakfast trail runs

PLETTENBERG BAY ATHLETICS NEWS - They say the early bird catches "the worm", but in Plettenberg Bay's case it will be "the best running trails" as the Buco Adventure Breakfast Trail Run series kicks off.

The series will take place over six weeks, from 7 November to 6 December, and will include three races at three unique venues in Plettenberg Bay and surrounding areas.

Organiser James Stewart of Muddy Foot Adventures said each event will offer two distances. "Each route will cover some very unique trails, some of which have been made during the lockdown. Due to Covid regulations, there will be no prize-giving at each event, but there will be prizes for the series winners in each distance," he said.

The series opener will get under way at 08:30 at Royston Farms on 7 November. The routes will be a 5km and 10km with never-before-seen singletracks crafted from bush-pig paths in the forest. The 10km route will include a kloof crossing that has been closed for the past 20 years.

The second race, which will take place at Moss and Maple on 21 November at 08:30, will include a 6km and a 10,5km route which would traverse both private and MTO property. The 10km race will once again go through a never-before-seen kloof with a couple of tough climbs to test participants' mettle.

The final event will be at 08:30 on 6 December in Covie, a tranquil hamlet above Nature's Valley. The longer route, a 13km run, is set to include the best first few kilometres of the Tsitsikamma Hiking Trail before heading down towards the coast and running parallel to the world-renowned Otter Trail.

A shorter 6,5km route will include the best of both worlds on a smaller scale.

Tickets, available on entrytickets.net, range between R75 and R125 for adults and between R50 and R110 for children.

Stewart said all runners will undergo Covid screenings, including temperature checks and basic questionnaires. Online entries are encouraged and late entries will be handled in a way that limits exposure to crew members.

"All three venues have great, safe outdoor spaces and mask-wearing will be mandatory until 100m into the run. Our aim is, as always, to get people out to have fun in a safe environment and show off what we have on our doorstep."

Trail runners tackle one of Muddy Foot Adventures' popular trail runs in and around Plettenberg Bay.