Trail runners who have already entered the AfricanX Trailrun, set to be held in the Elgin Valley in March, are invited to join the Stellies Shake Out crew for the fun 18 km AfricanX Training Run 1 from the Ou Landbousaal in Stellenbosch at 07:00 this Saturday (21 January).
According to Michael Meyer, founder of AfricanX Trailrun, the training run aims to help entrants prepare for the three-day stage race and help them meet the runners with whom they’ll share the trails and race village at the 13th annual challenge.
“This year we are very excited to team-up with the crew from Stellies Shake Out, who will spearhead the first of the training runs in the Western Cape,” he said. “The first training run will consist of a good combination of climbs, gravel jeep track, technical single-track, flowing single-track and fast jeep tracks. The Stellies Shake Out crew will have various group leaders running at different speeds, which will allow trail runners to join the group that best suits their capabilities.”
Each participating runner will receive a complimentary coffee before the run and ice-cold refreshments after the run, compliments of Coca-Cola Peninsula Beverages.”
Stellies Shake Out, established in 2019, is a social running crew based in the winelands. Starting out as a handful of like-minded runners getting together for a social trail run weekly, it has since grown in popularity with a minimum of 60 to 70 runners eagerly joining the Thursday evening runs.
“The AfricanX Trailrun sees like-minded runners from across the country come together for a fun-filled weekend of trail running, eating, laughing and making memories,” said Stellies Shake Out chairperson Julian Vermeer. “In addition to signing up 15 teams to take on the 2023 event, the Stellies Shake Out crew is excited to be leading a Stellenbosch AfricanX Training Run in the lead-up to the event. If you aren’t familiar with Stellenbosch, we will introduce you to some of the best trails that are on offer.”
Participants are urged to take along their trail running gear and enough food and hydration for a 180-minute run. To sign up, go to www.entryninja.com/events/78727-ax-training-run-1/enter.
For further details on the AfricanX Trailrun three-day stage race, visit www.stillwatersports.com or contact Stillwater Sports on 082 991 0045 or entries@stillwatersports.com.
