Advice to trail runners when confronted by a puff adder: “Jump high and then run like hell.”

That anyway is what Bennie Roux (Nedbank), joint winner of the Addo Elephant 100 Mile Trail Run, would do.

Roux hopes that when he competes in the Hout Bay Trail Challenge on Saturday 23 July it will be a ‘snake free’ run.  The race will double up as the South African Championship.

During the past 12 months Roux had the unfortunate privilege of crossing paths with puff adders on three occasions. The end result was the same each time.

“I jumped and I ran. Honestly, I don’t like snakes,” said Roux.

However, even his aversion to snakes is not enough reason for Roux to stop competing in trail runs.

“I am a bit of adrenaline junkie so trail running is the ideal sport for me. What makes it even more exciting is that you never know what is waiting around the next bend in any race.”

At times such a sudden rush of adrenaline can become a little bit too much. Two years ago, while he was running a race in the Magaliesberg outside Rustenburg, Roux made a slight judgement error and disappeared from sight.  He ended up on a narrow ledge with another 50 metre drop below him. It took four hours to rescue him during which time he had to cling to a rock to avoid sliding over the edge.

“It was a scary moment but I think it helped me to become a stronger person.  Being in such a life-threatening situation for hours also made me more appreciative of the value of religion in my life,” the Nedbank athlete said.

Roux will have a real incentive when he competes in the Hout Bay Trail Challenge.

“The ultimate for me as a runner will be to represent South Africa at an international race. I don’t think there can be anything more special than wearing the green and gold when running for your country. This is why I am going to race to the very best of my ability to get a top three finish. Hopefully that will be good enough for me to be selected for the World Championships,” he said.

According to Roux one of the reasons why he decided to compete in the Addo Elephant 100 Mile Trail Run was to be mentally prepared for the Hout Bay race.

“I wanted to find out what effect running such a long distance will have on my mind set. I came to the conclusion that at some stage your mind just switches off and you go into survival mode. The only thing that eventually matters is to get closer to the finish step by step.

“I think running the 100-miler was a good decision. It certainly made me mentally tougher.  When I completed the Comrades in 6 hours and 53 minutes, which is personal best for me, I proved it to myself. I now realize that anything is possible with the right mind-set.

“But I have to be realistic. I had a quick glance at some of the names of the athletes who have entered the Hout Bay race.  Some of them are ‘scary’ good, which means it will be a tough race in which you will have to keep your wits about you all the time,” said the Nedbank-athlete.