Glenmore runner first veteran at trail event
Glenmore's Deon Braun, was the first veteran at the Otter African Trail Run recently.
LIVING his dream, 48-year-old Deon Braun, the founder of Durban-based magazine TRAIL, won the men’s veterans category at the Otter African Trail Run in mid-October.
He placed 17th out of more than 200 starters over the gruelling 40km rocky coastal course with more than 14 000 stairs, finishing in 5:52:48. He has run all seven editions of the race, which is considered the Grail of Trail, and for many, it’s seen as the unofficial South African Trail Championships for the strong fields it attracts.
He is taking on his biggest challenge on 26 February next year when he does the first 100 Mile (160km) Addo Elephant Trail Run through Addo Elephant National Park, north of Port Elizabeth.
“That’s going to be a big challenge, and I am really excited about the journey to the start line. I know it’s going to be a life-changing experience! I hope to finish it in under 26 hours, running non-stop through the night and only stopping to get food and fluids at aid stations,” said Deon.
Deon is a vegan, eating no animal products and attributes his plant-based diet to being the biggest part of his increased strength and speed.
“I’m actually faster and stronger now than I was when I was still eating fish and eggs five years ago. I wish I’d made the transition a long time ago. I love animals, the environment, and am intensely interested in nutrition, so after much research and soul-searching, decided that this was the right thing to do, both for my health, and the health of the planet. There are 20,000 known edible plants, and they provide everything a fit and healthy human could want to, without the cruelty and pollution associated with animal farming,” he said.
