Fire Escape
TRAIL|Issue 37
Ahead of us – on the road leading home – was a wall of smoke high enough to cover the sun. We could also see flames... and the fire was moving fast towards us!
Emily Allan
Fire Escape

I have been trail running for 10 years and have had some amazing adventures all around our country. I always try to be run prepared for anything, so we carry extra food, warm gear, and of course cellphones.

But when facing a runaway fire in the Drakensberg mountains this year, I realised that sometimes you have to rely on instinct, quick thinking, and a little bit of luck.

On Saturday 18 August, a group of 10 trail runner friends set off from Injisuthi Camp. It was a beautiful morning, and although the predicted wind had started blowing, it wasn’t too bad. Between us we had plenty of Berg and trail running experience. This wasn’t our first adventure, but it was my first run at Injisuthi.

After a few kilometres, our group split up into those running to the top and back and those sticking to the contour paths below. My husband Chris and I, with friends Blake Mackay-Leslie and Pippa McGregor, spent the morning running through the beautiful valleys and swimming at the Marble Baths that Injisuthi is famous for.

The sun was out and there was a cool breeze: Perfect running conditions. Unfortunately, after about 12km we turned back because we couldn’t find the contour path that looped back to camp.

Smoke on the horizon

Esta historia es de la edición Issue 37 de TRAIL.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición Issue 37 de TRAIL.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE TRAILVer todo
Heat Cheat
TRAIL

Heat Cheat

In his How Or Why series, coach SEAN TAIT, founder and Running technique coach at Off the Mark, digs deeper into specific issues troubling TRAIL readers.

time-read
7 minutos  |
Issue 38
Pacing The Way To Change
TRAIL

Pacing The Way To Change

Seeing a need, Jo Keppler ran 130km to raise funds for the Southern Lodestar Foundation breakfast programme on Saturday 6 November 2020.

time-read
2 minutos  |
Issue 38
Die Ander Tafelberg(e)
TRAIL

Die Ander Tafelberg(e)

Dalene van Staden developed Die Ander Tafelberge* project, recruiting Caro Jordaan and Magan Hanekom to summit all 15 Tafelberge in the Western Cape, ending with Cape Town's Table Mountain.

time-read
9 minutos  |
Issue 38
Dodge The Super Plods
TRAIL

Dodge The Super Plods

We all want to get faster, not slower. But the plods are real – if we overdo our training. Stay fast with Joburg-based coach Neville Beeton.

time-read
9 minutos  |
Issue 38
Grounding Is It The Missing Link?
TRAIL

Grounding Is It The Missing Link?

Durban biokineticist Stephan Terblanche has been in private practice for almost 25 years. One of his biggest frustrations is that some patients do not get better, regardless of treatment, for unknown reasons. He believes that a lack of grounding is a major factor.

time-read
7 minutos  |
Issue 38
THE ALIENS ARE HERE
TRAIL

THE ALIENS ARE HERE

Why do we run? There is no simple answer.

time-read
4 minutos  |
Issue 38
Meeting Rona
TRAIL

Meeting Rona

Being young and fit doesn't faze COVID-19. Salomon runner THABANG MADIBA (36) experienced this for himself.

time-read
7 minutos  |
Issue 38
For the Love
TRAIL

For the Love

RACHEL MANYATHI is an ultra runner and high school teacher whose life centres around kindness, and mountain adventure.

time-read
6 minutos  |
Issue 38
Cultivating FLOW
TRAIL

Cultivating FLOW

High-performance coach CRAIG CAROLAN shares the Tao of Mike and positive psychology to help you reach maximum gratification on the trail.

time-read
6 minutos  |
Issue 38
Bites & Stings
TRAIL

Bites & Stings

Life support medic ALET MAARTENS is a Gauteng-based trail runner with a few tips to keep you safe against summer bugs with big appetites or short tempers.

time-read
4 minutos  |
Issue 38