ON Monday, 1 September 2010, several runners met outside the Mad Italian Trattoria in Durban North to run a trail of approximately 8kms. Thus Riverside Trail was born and the number of runners soon grew as did the popularity of trail running in the area. 

The club recently celebrated its fourth birthday. 

Since the pioneering day the group has grown to a membership of close to 200 runners and now enjoys a regular turnout of more than 40 runners every Wednesday at 5.15am. 

Local running legend and member of Riverside Trail, Buzz Bolton, said the number of trails has now increased to five with three groups walk/run, intermediate and experienced and distances vary from 6km to 8.5km.

“It’s fantastic to see the club grow in such a short space of time. Trail running in the area has also given runners a chance of experiencing the natural beauty of the ecological sites right on our doorstep, like Virginia and Danville bush and the Beachwood Mangroves.

“Since the inception of the club we have staged several successful events and we have become synonymous with trail running the Durban North area,” Bolton said.

Every Saturday the group meets Riverside Hotel at 5.15am to make use of the Fish Eagle Trail that runs from the Beachwood Mangroves as far out as Newlands West. 

To join them follow their Facebook page (Riverside Trail) or email durbantrails@gmail.com