Former Stellenbosch University student James Miller recently finished the gruelling 252 km trail run across the Sahara Dessert and was seventh across the finish line.
Miller (26) took on the “toughest foot race on earth” and has his eyes firmly set on achieving international trail-running success. He competed in the gruelling Marathon Des Sables, crossing Morocco’s Sahara Desert, in April and beating more than 600 other men to earn his top 10 spot.
“Knowing it was one of the hardest stage races in the world appealed to my competitive nature, and made me want to do it,” Miller explains. Battling heat of up to 50°C, sandstorms, and dunes, while carrying his food, was a test of fortitude.
On the 85 km stage, Miller started to urinate blood and lost time while using the emergency tracker to contact the race medics. “I didn’t want to have medical assistance which would cost me a time penalty, so once they had examined me, I was able to continue.”
It took him 9.5 hours to complete the stage which had a cut-off time of 35 hours. He walked the last four kilometres. “Another contestant overtook me, and that was probably the darkest part of my race.” He spent four hours in the medical tent after finishing, trying to reduce his body temperature in an ice bath and was able to rest the following day before the next stage.
Passionate about all sports and encouraged by his father Andrew who often competes in cycle and running events alongside his son, Miller only started to consider trail running and ultra-trail events seriously in 2021 after winning the 23 km Ultra Trail Cape Town.
“There were several favourites for the win, but when I crossed the finish line, no-one knew who I was,” Miller said of the local race.
Having lived in London for the past two years and working full-time as a business development manager has not been a boon to training – although he did achieve a top 200 position in last year’s London Marathon. “London is much too flat, and often when I come back to South Africa for races, such as last year’s Otter African Trail Run, I am also seeing customers so my head isn’t in the game.”
Despite this, Miller’s dedication to his training has seen some impressive results, like winning the United Kingdom final of the Salomon Golden Trail World Series twice, clinching bragging rights to represent the country at the World final. “I competed in the Golden Trail World Series final in Madeira in October 2022, racing between 21km and 30km a day, with elevation of up to 2 900 m, over five days, against some of the best runners in the world.”
A month later, he achieved 12th position at the 55 km Ultra Trail Cape Town. He was unable to take up the second Golden Trail opportunity in Italy due to a visa issue. “I’ve always been a runner, someone with a good cardio vascular engine, and academics always took a back seat to sport. I completed the Cape Town Marathon in a sub-three which is great – the more races I do and the better my times, the more I am encouraged to enter bigger, more serious events.”
With an international ranking as an elite runner, Miller is often invited to attend and scores a free race entry, but as an unsponsored athlete, has to cover his own travel costs. “I’d love to turn running into a career but I need sponsorships,” he said.
His goals for the remainder of the year are to focus mainly on shorter races of up to 30km where he can put his explosive power of youth to good use. “I plan to do the Golden Trail series again as this allows me to travel.”
He has unfinished business with the Otter African Trail Run and will return in October to tackle the 42km race. “I’m looking for a top eight position this year after last year’s 16th position. I have something to prove,” Miller said.
