Down The Beaten Track
Adventures in mud and mountains
Saturday after Saturday, my alarm buzzed at 5:30 AM.
Some Sundays too.
Rising like a zombie, moving through the pre-planned steps, eating mechanically, drinking my coffee, and stretching before I'm fully awake.
Why was I doing this, again?
Out the door at 6:30 for a sunrise start. It's winter now, and the sun's as lazy as I feel. The lazy me, the cookie-eating kid who wants to stay in bed, fades away as I lace up my shoes.
Because the decision was already made, the work already planned, and as soon as the run starts, the reward is immediate.
Grinning with other dawn dreamers in the crisp morning air.
There’s no shot fired, no starting line, more a excited murmur, a few nervous jokes, stamping feet and rubbing hands to stay warm.
And then we’re off, down the beaten track.
I wanted to share with you what a multi-hour trail run looks like and offer a glimpse into how it feels, especially for those who might not run themselves.
We all have our adventures and ways of growing and testing ourselves.
This is mine.
Preparation and Rituals
A long trail run starts the night before.
It's too involved, requires too much gear and respect for the mountain to just lace up in the morning and go.
So I prep my oats so I can eat 90 mins before start time, lay out my clothes, and load my route on my watch. I've checked the weather, travel time to the start, and lately even the parking recommendations.
It only takes one sprint from a distant parking bayto the start of a 30km run to learn that “on time” is late.
I've packed my safety kit—whistle, space blanket, bandages, and cash.
I've measured out carbs per hour, mixed and chilled my electrolyte drink. I’ve packed a dry change of clothes and flip-flops for after the run are ready.
And don't forget the towel…
These days I'm practically as chilled as a Muizenberg surfer about towelling off and changing shirts in parking lots.
The First Few Kilometres Are the Worst
No matter the prep, something's off. My pack sits funny, my calves are tight from skipping warm ups, or I'm the only idiot running 30km-plus today.
The first kilometres always suck.
Nerves must settle.
I become one with my gear or mutter "fuck it" and let my Camelbak drip on my arm for hours.
Either way, by kilometre five, the first big climb hits, my legs start to burn, and the fun finally begins.
Mid-Run Highlights
Usually, by this point, we've reached a literal highpoint.
We've slogged through major climbs and paused at summit beacons, catching our breath as ravine climbs open to incredible vistas.
Then it's time to chow down—something solid washed down with sugary electrolytes. Training means eating non-stop, every 30 minutes, hitting 100g of carbs per hour.
Eating. Like. It's. My. Job.
While eating, we soak in the views—the quiet city waking slowly, the snaking paths we traveled.
Challenges and Mental Game
Challenges shift weekly—running through niggles, injuries, pushing carb intake, tacking extra mileage onto targets.
Running and chatting with strangers makes distances fly by.
Running alone, relying solely on self-motivation, is a different beast.
My first solo marathon required every mental trick to finish, but at least my little supporters were there to help me refuel before the final slog.
But every week, the nearly impossible becomes manageable.
Toward the end of my the first leg of my trail marathon training run, in the heat of the midday sun, on the last climb I started this mantra in my head.
About the craziness of what I was doing.
It's not mental if you can manage it. You can manage it if you try. If you're gonna try, give maximum effort.
So I’m off for a run this Saturday…
By the time you read this I will have run my first big race for the year, but I’ll share more about that with pictures and the full story when I’m back.
What's your adventure?
How do you challenge yourself? It doesn’t need to be anything like the above. It doesn’t need to be running.
I know
hikes everyday with his wife, a daily pastime beautiful for the surroundings, company and the consistency.Movement is so good for the mind.
Until next time,
Keep moving
Keep writing
Zane
So great to read, you're such an inspiration!