High tail it to Bummer Run

THE popularity of trail running has exploded over the past few years, and along with the increased popularity has come a larger number of trail runs, each offering a competitive and challenging course with a side order of nature.
Heading off the pavement and onto a trail offers the body a mental, physical and spiritual awakening – just ask Durban North runner, Vaughn Smit.

Smit, a member of Riverside Trail, is currently planning the next event on this year’s busy trail running schedule, The Bummer beach run. He is urging residents to get involved in the run, which offers three distances.

“The first is a run only from Ballito to uMhlanga (23km), the second is a walk/run from Beach Bums to uMhlanga (15km) and the final walk/run is from eMdloti to uMhlanga (6km). The idea was really to experience the beauty of our coastline. Malcolm Millar, who is well known in trail circles, ran from Ballito to uMhlanga and thought it was a very cool run. We are hoping the event will popularise beach running and training along this stretch of beach on an ongoing basis.

“The event will also assist in raising money for the community bread-making project of Celebrate Life SA. It’s an awesome and sustainable venture, empowering women and children to run their own bakeries,” he said.
Smit urged residents to take part in the event.

“Trail runs and beach runs take away a lot of stress from the impact that you’d normally get running on harder surfaces. There are many interesting landmarks to see along the Bummer Beach Run route. We hope this will become an annual event,” he said.