TRAIL designer Ewan Cochrane has promised to deliver ‘classic Summerveld’ trails for the trail runners at the STIHL Sharks Trail Adventure on Sunday 2 December, stating that the areas unique appeal moulds the type of trails he can offer.

After being added onto the successful day of mountain biking a few years ago, the trail running element of the popular family fun day based at the Summerveld Estate has snowballed in popularity, and Cochrane plans to structure the 2018 race around the unique appeal of the topography that has brought more and more trail runners back to the event each year.

“We have made some small changes to both the 9km and 18km trail run routes, but the core of both runs remain the same,” he said.

“The Summerveld estate and Shongweni farmlands have some decent hills to deal with, and a lot of the character is moulded around the sugar cane fields,” said Cochrane.

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“There is a bit of everything on both runs. They start dropping off into the valley, crossing rivers and going through shaded trails through dense trees, then up into the cane fields, and on to the iconic crossing right at the top of the Shongweni waterfall.

He said that regular runners of the race will appreciate the expanded views on offer at many stages of the race.

“The sugar cane is much lower than previous years, which opens up the views at a lot of places. It is one of those races where runners like to stop and take in the views, and take a photo at some of the really special places,” said Cochrane.

“It is not technical running, and if you have some miles in your legs, it is a great days trail running.

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The trail runs share some of the trails and roads that will be used by the mountain bikers later in the day. But get underway a full hour before the first MTB race to get the best of the weather conditions.

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