Wednesday, 20 October 2010 19:36
The Otter Trail run and the Day Care Centre
By the time you read this, the 25 September 2010 will have seen the second running of the Hi-Tec Otter Trail Run. After only the 2009 debut, the run the race has already climbed to the top of the list of to-do runs and entries were sold out within days of opening. The 42 km run takes place along the Otter trail which is normally a five day hiking trail and is regarded by hikers as extremely beautiful but strenuous. The tree in Nature's Valley where hikers who have completed the trail traditionally hang up their boots is full of worn-out hiking shoes and boots that bear testimony to the toughness of the trail.
My affair with the Otter trail began in 2004 when adventure racing legend John Collins conned me into trying to run the Otter in a day with his girlfriend of the time. No one else had tried this before. He would also do the run but would run on his own. I had run one half marathon in my life at that stage and was not quite sure what to expect. Off we went, blind leading the blind as John disappeared over the rocks (a familiar sight to a lot of people). By half way I was cramping and starving and by the time we reached Bloukrans we decided to call it quits. The surf was rolling into the mouth and we were both exhausted.
John finished the first unofficial Otter run and I did not. This haunted me until 2009 when with the permission of San Parks we were allowed to officially prove that the Otter could be run in a day. This time a lot fitter and more experienced along with my Pennypinchers Adventure Racing Team we completed the run in a shade over 8 hours.
In August 2010 I was offered an entry to do the Otter Run I kicked myself for even hesitating five minutes before accepting the offer.
So why try to run the Otter Trail in a day when it can be enjoyed over a 5 day period for a fraction of the price and a fraction of the pain? My answer is simple and as clichéd as it sounds, it is because we can. Last year I gave a couple of people advice on their training and race strategies and they all finished the Otter. This year will be the same except I will be out there running too, not wondering how my chargers are doing and will they make it.
What is going to be special for me this year is that I have decided to try and raise some money and awareness for an amazing day care centre in Plettenberg Bay called Die Sterreweg. This Centre cares for 24 disabled children who have basically be discarded by all but a few in medical and social circles. These kids can’t do what we do and for them taking a few steps or learning a new song is far more of a challenge than for me to go and run 42km and climb 2,500 metres in one day. On my first visit to Die Sterreweg Day Care Centre in New Horizons just outside Plettenberg Bay I was privileged to sit in on the first hour of these kids' day. There are 24 kids with “special needs” and they start the day with an amazing singing and dance routine. They all take part whether it be just nodding their heads if that is all capable of doing to clapping hands and high fiving me as a guest. I was blown away I had to do something to help these kids.
My challenge is to go out and do the Otter Trail and beat my time of 8 hours and at the same time create awareness about a small group of kids who also do things because they can even if they are only a few steps or a new song.
I will be taking about 55 000 steps on 25 September 2010. In my mind I want to take each step for those kids at Die Sterreweg. With this in mind why don’t you join me and donate money in increments of 55 to this really amazing place.
Follow the links on www.pennypinchersarteam.blogspot.com or
http://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/james-stewart
After the Day
Two days after the Otter and the dust has settled and the pain is almost gone. I have managed to raise over R12,470 for Die Sterreweg and completed the otter in 6hrs 49 min. The run was awesome but like I said to someone afterwards, the only advantage of having done the route before is knowing how painful it is going to be, a bit like the second time you have hot chili sauce.
James 'Lettuce' Stewart
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