In just over 24 weeks you will be lining up with some of the world’s best trail athletes at the start of one of the toughest marathon distance trail runs on the planet. You better be ready for it. If there is one thing we have learned about this trail is that the Otter (Retto) hates complacency!! If you have not started your training, there is no need to panic, yet. There is still time to prepare.
A MUST WATCH – OTTER TV
You most likely have seen edition 1 and 2 of the OTTER TV Grail of Trail Short Films – if not then here is the link – inspiration guaranteed!
RETTO TRAINING
Our official Otter Coach, sports scientist & training consultant Ryan Hodierne, has designed an Otter specific program that he himself followed in his preparations for his previous events. Ryan, who’s extensive professional CV includes the likes of being a consultant to the SA Swim team for the Olympics, is an elite trail runner with finishes in all five of the previous editions of the Otter Runs. He has qualified as an elite Abangeni Runner four times and no one is better qualified to get you to the start line in optimum Otter specific form. The training program can be tailored to the amount of time you have available and posted in six four week build cycles with guidelines and goals for each cycle.
SUB 4 RETTO – is it possible?
Is this the year that the previously inconceivable happens and someone runs this five day hiking trail in under four hours? There are an increasing number of trail runners that now believe that this is possible including the likes of World Champion Ricky Lightfoot. Some even believe that 2014 will be the year in which this historic feat will be achieved. Ricky himself holds the record in the Classic Edition of 04:15:27.
Ricky will be back to challenge RETTO record holder Iain Don Wauchope!
OTTER ACCOMMODATION
By now you must be surely aware that this is a Retto year and the Otter Trail gets run from West to East. Consequently the event is based out of the Storms River Rest Camp on the Eastern end of the Tsitsikamma National Park and not out of De Vasselot in Natures Valley like it was last year.
You will need to be on the Storms River Side of the park for registration, the Prologue, Race Briefing and the Awards Ceremony Dinner. If you are still looking for accommodation in the park, you best do your bookings asap by following this link: https://theotter.co.za/athletes-info/accommodation/ and secure one of the few remaining units; alternatively camp sites can be booked through SANParks.
For accommodation in the Storms River Village visit www.stormsrivervillagelodge.com or alternatively you may choose to stay in one of the lovely holiday homes on the Natures Valley Side of the trail and have an extra hours lie in on race day. Contact Meyer for Natures Valley Accommodation:
The Dassie
Last year’s Dassie Run route on the Natures Valley side received wide acclaim as one of the best meter for meter 10 km trail running routes ever. The Dassie Run Route this year has to match that and will be changed from the 2012 route to include more challenging and spectacular trail. It will also ventue onto the Otter trail itself for 3km. The Dassie is timed to finish just before the first runners of the Retto are due to arrive. If you have trail running family friends accompanying you or anyone who wants to be an active part of the 2014 Retto and have a front row seat to the finish line of the Grail of Trail then participating in the Dassie is a perfect way to do that.
https://theotter.co.za/dassie-10km/ (entries open 1st of June 2014)
Now it’s time to start your training!
Your OTTER team
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