{"id":17614,"date":"2018-04-23T08:42:54","date_gmt":"2018-04-23T06:42:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/?p=17614"},"modified":"2018-04-23T08:42:54","modified_gmt":"2018-04-23T06:42:54","slug":"nail-biting-action-guaranteed-at-10th-africanx-trailrun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/press-release\/nail-biting-action-guaranteed-at-10th-africanx-trailrun\/","title":{"rendered":"Nail-biting action guaranteed at 10th AfricanX Trailrun"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cLet Nature Give You A Run For Your Money\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>A number of SA\u2019s elite trail runners will be seen going for gold at the 10th<\/sup> annual AfricanX Trailrun presented by ASICS at Boschendal Wine Estate (Stellenbosch\/Franschhoek) <\/strong>this coming weekend (27 \u2013 29 April 2018).<\/p>\n

The Western Cape\u2019s premier three day stage trail run, the AfricanX Trailrun requires teams of two runners (male\/female\/mixed) to battle it out on a route that will vary in distance between 20km – 36km each day.\u00a0 Teamwork and endurance will be put to the test.<\/p>\n

Running for Team K-Way Wintergreen<\/strong>, AJ Calitz is excited to team up with long-time friend, Bernard Rukadza.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s the vibe, people and the camaraderie between runners that attracts me to AfricanX,\u201d says Calitz.\u00a0 \u201cWhen it comes to team strength, I think friendship is the key, everything else comes later.\u00a0 We would like to podium, but a win would be great. If you want to meet great people and find out what the sport is really about, AfricanX is the event to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking at their team name, Team <\/strong>#gearupgetout is #timetoplay\u2019s <\/strong>Thabang Madiba and Lucky Miya are not lacking creativity.\u00a0 <\/strong>\u201cAfricanX is more like a trail running family reunion,\u201d says Madiba.\u00a0 \u201cEach stage will pose its own challenge.\u00a0 As a team our aim is to approach each day with a positive attitude and give the best of our ability.\u00a0 A podium finish will be a big blessing for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Team Pure Endurance\u2019s <\/strong>Dawid Visser and Rohan Kennedy are no strangers to AfricanX.\u00a0 \u201cWe enjoy the team dynamic of the race,\u201d says Visser.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ve trained together for most of our professional racing careers.\u00a0 We\u2019re no longer as competitive as we used to be, but we will always race as hard as we can.\u00a0 Stillwater Sports puts on a great event.\u00a0 The stages are hard, but achievable to all athletes.\u201d
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Kate Mapham and Danette Smith of Team Brooks <\/strong>are sure to mix things up in the Women\u2019s Race.\u00a0 \u201c<\/strong>This is our favourite stage race,\u201d says Mapham.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s not a race for the faint hearted.\u00a0 It\u2019s not about how hard you can go on day one, but how quickly you can recover and keep going for three days.\u00a0\u00a0We\u00a0love trail running and the opportunity to go to new and untouched trails is really exciting. Running is normally an individual sport, but at AfricanX we get the chance to work as a team.\u00a0 We need to build on each other\u2019s strengths, learn from each other and keep each other going through the highs and lows of the adventure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fizzer sisters\u2019<\/strong> Yolandi Visser and Herme Visser are looking forward to a fun filled weekend of trail running.\u00a0 \u201cWe enjoy the event because it requires team work and we get to be outside,\u201d says Yolandi.\u00a0 \u201cWe recommend AfricanX to other trail runners because it is always spectacular and very well organised.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mari Rabie and Kate Roberts of Team <\/strong>R & R (Retired & Rewired)<\/strong> will make their AfricanX debut in 2018.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ve both retired from our professional triathlon careers and are keen to test ourselves in a trail running race,\u201d admits Rabie.\u00a0 \u201cWe have only heard positive reflections from other runners regarding AfricanX.\u00a0 We cannot wait to tackle the race – three days of running in one of the most spectacular settings in South Africa, with plenty of wine to drink (we believe it’s good for recovery)!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ronel Nattrass and Carla Wood of Team Altra Ladies<\/strong> will also be on the start line.\u00a0 \u201cApart from being a tradition, I just love the vibe, the organisation and the fact that you get to spend three days in the mountains,\u201d says Nattrass.\u00a0 \u201cOur toughest competition will be the team just ahead of us.\u00a0 Our goal is to have a ball and finish the race with a bigger smile than when we started.\u201d<\/p>\n

Team Rehidrat\u2019s <\/strong>Chantel Nienaber and Katya Soggot will admittedly be going for the win.\u00a0 \u201cWe know that we are vets, but we always give 100%,\u201d says Nienaber.\u00a0 \u201cI love running with Katya.\u00a0 We just gel.\u00a0\u00a0 This will be our 4th<\/sup> AfricanX. I recommend the event to other trail runners because of its vibe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nicolette Griffioen and Carla Van Huyssteen of Team KeyHealth Neverest\/K-Way <\/strong>are worthy competitors both in the multi-sport and trail running arena.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s the great atmosphere that attracts me to AfricanX,\u201d says Griffioen.\u00a0 \u201cDespite hosting elite runners, the general vibe of the race is always relaxed.\u00a0 Our goal will be to have fun. No matter how we perform, we really just want to enjoy the trails.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 2018 AfricanX Trailrun presented by ASICS has also attracted the attention of Songo Fipaza, founder of Songo.info.\u00a0 \u201cThis will be my seventh AfricanX,\u201d says a very happy Fipaza.\u00a0 \u201cI love the challenge that the event brings.\u00a0 This year I will be running with fellow ASICS Front Runner, Caroline Pule.\u00a0 This will be her first stage race.\u00a0\u00a0 AfricanX is very addictive.\u00a0 Once you\u2019ve done one, you will keep coming back for more.\u201d<\/p>\n

EVENT INFORMATION<\/u><\/strong>:\u00a0 2018 AfricanX Trailrun presented by ASICS<\/strong><\/p>\n

The three routes have been planned in such a way that the runners will have the opportunity to tackle a different breath-taking scenic route each day.<\/p>\n

STAGE ONE<\/u><\/strong>:\u00a0 <\/strong>Friday, 27 April 2018<\/p>\n