African Otter Trail Run - Joshua Nuttall

The Otter African Trail Run takes place annually and runs in the opposite direction each year. The Otter Trail is officially the oldest and undoubtedly the most iconic hiking trail in South Africa. It runs along the spectacular coastline between the Storms River mouth and Nature's Valley and was opened in 1968. It's considered to be one of the finest multi-day trails in the world, and more than half of the entrants to the Otter Trail Run are already investors in EasyEquities.

The 42km route features rugged Indian Ocean coastline trails, indigenous forests, river crossings, and spectacular scenery. To protect this environment, the Otter has a green principle that helps to ensure that the near-pristine environment is better for you to participate in.
 
Every year, the Otter African Trail Run hosts two cut-off time-graded events:

• Otter - Challenge - Fearsome 11hr cut-off
• Otter - Race - Extreme 9hr cut-off

The event is run by not only fantastic people but also good friends of ours and is supported by the legends at FACES. It also has some amazing sponsors involved, such as SANParks and adidas TERREX, and we are privileged to be the presenting partner of the event.

The 2024 edition of the event is the Retto edition of the race and will start at Natures Valley and finish at Storms River.

The Otter Trail Run is well known for being difficult and the below highlights why:
 
It has a TrailFactor of 2.0

• The TrailFactor indicates the degree of increased resistance applied by the trail on a runner when compared to a flat conventional road running course. A TrailFactor of 2.0 means completing the Otter can take twice as long as the equivalent distance on road!

• There are four rivers that have to be crossed, including the infamous Bloukrans River which involves a swim. We will have safety personnel and equipment set up only at Bloukrans to assist and make sure you safely cross this segment.   

• A total gain of over 2,600m over the full route, including ±7,000 ascending steps. Steep enough to force the strongest runners to walk.
  

• There are eleven climbs of more than 50 meters elevation gain, with 3 climbs exceeding 100 meters.

In the build-up to this year’s event in October, we will be showcasing a few of our EasyEquities Otter runners athletes.
 
Today, it is the winner of the 2023 Challenge in a time of 05:15:11 - Joshua Nuttall

• Age: 30
• Height: 183cm
• Nickname: Nutts
• Pedigree – Working Class Hero
• Taking part in: Race
• Estimated Completion Time: 4:45
• Motto: Life is short; have fun. It’s not that serious.

How did you get into trail running? – Why did you choose the Otter?

Otter 2023 was my first one and my first trail marathon; it was beautiful yet brutal. I ran the challenge last year in 5:16. I can’t remember the exact time it was somewhere around there.

What is the best race you have ever had?

Last year’s Otter is definitely up there; I think I surprised myself, too. Every race has its unique memories, especially the cramps.

Are you following a training program? What races/big runs are you going to be doing in the build-up?

Yip, back training Lijan at Alpasfit. I started on the first of March after taking some time off. Looking at the Kromrivier Beast in the picturesque Cederberg in early May, as well as the Whale trail run in July. Neither are booked yet, but they are on the cards.

Do you have a specific diet?

Nope.

What are you looking forward to most on the route?

Everything. Running the route, we ran last year in reverse promises to be an interesting day out. 

What is the most daunting part of the route for you?

I didn’t look too closely at the route make-up last year; I knew there were four huts and one main river crossing. I worked to match the time that I needed to be at each checkpoint. I am not daunted by the route as long as I remember to fuel correctly this year so that I can run the last 10 km. 

What are your strengths that will help you get through the Otter?

I like to climb and learned to lean into running downhill last year, so let’s see if these pay off. Who knows!

What is your occupation, and what do you do in your spare time?

fibertime™ is my day job; we put pay-as-go fibre internet into South African townships as we seek to connect everyone to the internet. I head up the business's brand, product, and sales side.

I try to spend as much time out in nature or immersed in a book in my spare time.

What do you think sport has taught you that you can use in the world outside sport/running?

There are many things, but here are three that are at the top of my mind.

• One, the importance of stilling your mind and focusing on what needs to be done.
• Two, remembering to have fun and smile even when the going gets tough.
• Three, trust the process if your intentions are sound and you have done the work.

How would you relate running to investing?

Good question! Both require patience and good line choice. Patience because you have to spend time and effort in setting a good foundation. A good line choice (choice of which route to take down a steep hill) because that’s how you enter a flow state or a good set of returns from the markets.

To learn more about "The Otter African Trail Run," click here.

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