Upcoming Trails!
The New Year is waiting to fill with new adventures!
We would like to make your 2020 a year of travels and discovering the new trail running events around the globe!
So, we will try to show you more new destinations with great landscapes to enjoy while running!
This time we are taking you to South Africa and Saudi Arabia!
Did you already pack your backpack?
South Africa - The WILDSERIES Challenge
The Wildlands WILDSERIES Challenge invites participants to experience unique and challenging courses that take them through scenic and extraordinary National Parks and a World Heritage Site. Furthermore, the fees generated from participants entries contribute to various conservation and sustainable community development initiatives that are undertaken by the Wildlands.
The WILDSERIES Challenge is composed of three events located in the different regions of South Africa. All of them will show you the beauty of the region where the races are organized.
Below you can discover all three places from this race series!
The WILDSERIES: Three Cranes Challenge
The WILDSERIES Three Cranes Challenge is the first event of the WILDSERIES Challenge in 2020. It will bring the event into its sixth year of an exciting partnership between two organizations: WILDTRUST and KZN Trail Running.
The WILD SERIES events have always aimed to expose the public to some of our rarely explored, incredible natural heritage, as well as raising vital funds for conservation. The beautiful Karkloof Valley, just outside of Howick, is a significant part of the inherent culture as it serves as a breeding ground for South Africans Three Crane species – all of which are now endangered as a result of development in their delicate habitats. By hosting this event within the magnificent Karkloof Valley, the organizers hope that this will generate an appreciation for these spectacular habitats by capturing the imaginations of the trail community. Hopefully, it will inspire a push to a new way of doing things that are eco-friendlier and more sustainable. Just by entering the Three Cranes Challenge, runners will be contributing to the conservation of these incredible birds and their habitats.
With all of this in mind, we will be bringing an intimate feel to the race village. You can expect locally sourced gourmet food and beverage options as well as opportunities throughout the weekend to soak up the heart and soul of the Karkloof Valley, through the eyes of the locals who know it best.
What’s changed since the last edition? Traditionally a 3-day staged race. It now includes a 2-day option opening it up to a broader field.
Quick info:
Event Date: 20 – 23 February 2020
Venue: Bushwillow Caravan Park, Karkloof.
Registration: 20 February 2020
Distance: 29km, 25km/40km, 23km
Format: 3-day or 2-day staged trail run
The WILDSERIES: Mont-Aux-Sources Challenge
This prestigious 50km trail run takes place in the Royal Natal Park, part of the Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg World Heritage Site and home to the endangered Bearded Vulture. The Bearded Vulture once roamed freely from the Cape of Good Hope, along the eastern mountain spine of Africa, and into northwest Africa. Now it is thought that the only population left in the Southern Hemisphere resides in our isolated and rugged Maluti-Drakensberg highlands and that there are less than 100 pairs of the birds left. WILD SERIES aims to support the conservation of these birds as well as other conservation and local community development projects.
The WILDSERIES Mont-Aux-Sources Challenge is a tough race, but it’s worth the blood, sweat, and tears, and will undoubtedly be an experience of a lifetime. Expect to run through some of our country’s most rugged and beautiful scenery. The route will take you through the Mahai Valley and then up the mountains, where the runners will have to tackle and climb the chain ladders and then scramble down the Gully. This race is a spectacular adventure worth every ache!
Quick info:
Event Date: 15 August 2020
Registration: 15:00 on 14 August and 04:30 on 15 August 2020 at the Royal Natal Park
Distance: 50km
Format: Trail run
Venue: Royal Natal section of the Maloti-Drakensburg Park, KwaZulu-Natal
Entries open: 12 March 2020 @10:00
The WILDSERIES: The Golden Gate Challenge
The Golden Gate Challenge is a 3-day trail run through some of the most scenic mountains situated in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. The race will traverse through restricted parts of the reserve, rarely visited by people, like Little Serengeti, Cathedral Caves and many other hidden gems inside the park. Participants will cover just over 70km in 3 days, all based on a camp in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. Even if the daily distances doesn’t seem long, the race is still a true challenge offering conquering big mountains and high altitudes. You will pass by ancient rock paintings and relics of past civilizations.
There will be a race village set up inside the Park forest, and each participant will be accommodated in his or her own tent for the duration of the challenge – you can expect after the race nice hot showers, good food, and a great atmosphere. Full catering will be available to all participants for the duration of the race and will include a 24-hour snack and coffee bar. The run will incorporate mainly hiking trails. The last day of the adventure will start off with an early morning night run, which will promise to bring out the adventurer in you.
This multi-day staged event poses a serious challenge to the participants but the rewards of running through this stunning environment are much bigger and worth of experience!
Quick info:
Event Date: 18 -20 October 2020
Registration: 17 October 2020
Distance:
- Day 1: 18km or 27km
- Day 2: 19km or 29km
- Day 3: 17km
Format: 3-day staged trail run
Venue: Glen Reenen Rest Camp, Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Free State
On the website of the race organizer, you may see more events organized in Africa the whole year long:
https://kzntrailrunning.co.za/races/the-wildseries-grand-slam-challenge/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Kzntrailrunning/
Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/kzntrailrunning/
Saudi Arabia – EcoTrail Al-ula
EcoTrail® was founded in Paris for the purpose of promoting and organizing trail running races in urban environments. Considering the big success of the event, the organizers have decided to develop the concept in the form of partnerships with local players in other countries worldwide in 2020 (12 destinations in Europe & Asia). The project comes from the desire to offer to Al-Ula and the surrounding area a true Eco responsible, close to nature race, accessible to all event highlighting the cultural and natural character of this region while respecting nature and promoting Trail-Running.
There are four races available during the event:
- 85 km trail running race
- 45 km trail running race
- 10 km trail running race
- 10 km hike
The production of EcoTrail® Al-Ula will be a unique experience to invite people to visit the city/area during the week of the Winter Tantora Festival in February 2020! The Winter Tantora Festival is an annual event held in the old town of Al-Ula, Medina. The festival began in 2018 and is composed of a series of eight-weekend concerts for world-class musicians.
Al-Ula’s magnificent landscape gives a whole new meaning to “the great outdoors.” You can not only run here but also hike, ride, climb and play surrounded by some of the most impressive scenery and historic sites in the world. You will see the monumental rock formations, secret canyons, and desert valleys.
Saudi Arabia's tourist attractions
Saudi Arabia is engaged in a wide-ranging development process for its tourism sector, new and improved infrastructure and the restoration and preservation of the Kingdom’s main historical sites. It's worth knowing that Saudi Arabia boasts five UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Website: https://alula.ecotrail.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ecotrailalula
Pictures: Race organizers