The greatest journeys we can ever take are those where we find out just what we are made of.

The Munga Trail is one of those journeys, and local participant Kevin Ruthven can certainly vouch for that. “It was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done. It is the craziest, most life-altering experience you can have on two feet,” said Ruthven, who unfortunately became one of 12 runners who did not finish the race.

The Munga Trail is not your average running race. It is a crazy, single-stage race across some of the toughest
terrain south of the equator. It is a 370-kilometre route from Lakenvlei Forest Lodge in Belfast to the Blyde River Canyon. The race is non-stop, with a 120-hour cut-off time, nine waterpoints and five race villages along the course through pine forests, over high mountains and remote valleys.

Organisers on Saturday were notified that the resort hosting the race finish has been closed due to protest action. Since they could not risk the safety of athletes and the crew, the race had to be stopped before the affected area or re-route the course. The race finish was then changed to Forever Resort Mount Sheba, six kilometres shorter than the initial distance.

Ruthven, along with 19 other participants, took to Lakenvlei for the start of this iconic race last Wednesday, hoping to reach the finish line at Mount Sheba by noon on Monday. But by Saturday, after experiencing technical difficulty and a long, cold and wet night under a space blanket as a result of getting lost, his race was over.

There are five race villages along the race route, spaced roughly 80 kilometres apart from the start. At each of these villages runners were able to eat and sleep. He completed 174,5 kilometres but refused to quit, but the medics insisted that he was done. “My GPS malfunctioned again, and I had to spend the night on a mountain,” he said, which took its toll. But despite getting back on track the next day, his setback caused him to run out of time and he had to withdraw at race village three.

Ruthven’s grit is legendary. About 13 months ago, he ran his first-ever five-kilometre race and ran only one marathon this year. Despite his withdrawal, he still managed to complete almost  180 kilometres in what is considered one of the toughest trail runs in the world. His story is one of overcoming drug addiction to taking up hiking and he has become somewhat famous as a day trip leader around Mpumalanga.

He took part in The Munga Trail as a hiker to prove that you do not need to be a runner in order to complete this challenge.

“Yes, I am disappointed that I didn’t finish, but immense support from the community very quickly helped me overcome the disappointment. I know that physically I was able to complete the race, but my gear let me down. My clothes were drenched, I did not get enough sleep and with the adrenalin pumping, your stomach growls with hunger but your appetite is non existent.

“It was physically exhausting. Being  2 000 metres above sea level, and taking on a total vertical ascent of 12 kilometres, was much tougher than anticipated,” he said. Ruthven values the experience gained, and said he will without a doubt take part in next year’s race.