Looking back to #LUT2014: 136 runners from 9 countries started the 2014 LUT with only 10 forced to withdraw due to injury or cut-off. To have successfully executed the second edition of LUT is a very satisfying achievement for the entire organizational team. We've received many positive comments about the experience had by competitors, a true testament not only to the hard work that goes into an event like this, but also the passion of the ultra running community who support LUT and affirm its status as one of the benchmark races on the running calendar in Southern Africa. Looking ahead to #LUT2015: “Trail and mountain runners from around the world, you are invited to travel to Lesotho on the last weekend of November 2015 for the third edition of the Lesotho Ultra Trail. The 2014 edition, held less than 2 months ago, was a huge success and the anticipation of what 2015 will hold, is palpable. The official race film has been released and captures the soul of the event in the Maluti Mountains. Watch it here before you enter. No two LUT events will ever be the same, there are so many outside factors that affect the race, especially weather and running conditions at over 3000m in altitude. We aim to produce a world class running experience, and to improve the event year on year. The jump from 2013 to 2014 was big and now we have a few new exciting announcements about the 2015 race edition of Lesotho Ultra Trail” Andrew Booth, Race Director LUT 2015 Announcements 1. The LUT 50km Ultra Sky Marathon course is the final event on the South African Skyrunner Series 2015. 2. This year we introduce a 38km race. It takes place over the first 38km of the Ultra SkyMarathon. It acts as the perfect stepping stone for runners interested in attempting the Ultra SkyMarathon the following year. Finishers will receive a different medal and the podium positions will receive prizes. 3. 250 entries will be made across the two distances. 4. Entries will be available through www.kzntrailrunning.co.za at 10am on 4 February 2015 5. Maliba Lodge in Lesotho is the official venue. Accommodation and meal bookings can be made directly here. Alternative accommodation options are available, these can be found here. 6. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and visit our website to keep up to date. Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter Website Website This email was sent to *|EMAIL|* why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences *|LIST:ADDRESSLINE|* *|REWARDS|*

This last weekend Lesotho served as the playground for the second edition of the Lesotho Ultra Trail (LUT).

This year’s Lesotho Ultra Trail (LUT) was bigger, better and even more exciting than the inaugural event last year, and saw some 130 runners experiencing the challenge of “touching the sky”.

Staged in the Maluti Mountains of northern Lesotho, just 45mins from the South African border, the 50km Ultra Skymarathon® proved a high-spirited finale to South Africa’s first Skyrunner® Series, with race favourite Lucky Miya blazing the course in a record 5:31:38 to achieve his second Skyrunning win this year, and be crowned the series champion for 2014.

Miya finished the race strong, a full 33 minutes ahead of second place Gareth Wyn-Hughes (Wales) (6:04:49) and last year’s winner Andrew Hagen (6:13:04). His finishing time not only smashed the course record by 36 minutes, but made him the LUT’s first sub 6-hour finisher.

In what ended up a close contest, the women’s race was won by Trish Bahlmann (6:59:55), just three minutes shy of the women’s record. In close second was last year’s winner Tracy Zunckel (7:07:12), with Su don Wauchope in third (7:20:36).

In a close competition for the women’s 2014 series title, Don Wauchope’s third position proved sufficient to secure her enough points to take the award, ahead of Zunckel and Driekie Black, who was the series leader following the Ingeli Skymarathon® and the Matroosberg Skymarathon®.

“Lucky ran an incredible race, leading from CP2, growing the gap to 30 minutes by CP5, and then maintaining. He was in a league of his own,” says race organiser KZN Trailrunning’s Andrew Booth.

Two runners from local villages surprised everyone by finishing convincingly within the top six – the LUT was Tsokolo Moavhi’s and Munyane Musiti’s first ever race, and they achieved fourth and sixth place respectively.
The race attracted runners from around the world, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Spain, Belgium, the UK, Catalonia, Portugal and the USA.

“The top five finishers represented four countries – South Africa, Wales, Lesotho and the USA. That’s what bringing skyrunning to southern Africa is about: pitting international competition against the region’s trail running elite. International runners are always surprised when they see the fantastic mountains we have in South Africa and Lesotho. Our routes are stunning and present a surprisingly tough challenge, which levels the playing field – as Lucky has demonstrated by whipping the international competition so convincingly,” says South African Skyrunning Association (SASA) chairman James Hallett.

After a successful 2014 South African Skyrunner Series, anticipation is at an all-time high for the upcoming announcement of the 2015 championship which will be made later this month.

For more information, please visit www.skyrunning.co.za
 

Having recently just come off a record breaking win at the 2014 PUFfeR in the Western Cape, plus a successful completion of the 280km Cape Fold Trail Expedition in July, The North Face South Africa team member Ben Brimble offers his advice on some preparation techniques ahead of the 2014 Lesotho Ultra Trail.

 

1. Training principles

There are several key principles that underpin a training programme for a race such as LUT. A good programme should include a hill session, a long run and perhaps a speed session as well as some easy running or jogging during the week. Equally important is to have a set of goals with a specific objective. The mental aspect is also key, especially in the final week as you swing from the physical to the mental conditioning for the race. In final analysis, any race, and in particular a skyrunning event such as LUT, is as much about mental strength as it is about running.

 

2. Technical Descents

Technical descents are sometimes viewed with trepidation or all-out anxiety by trail runners, but with a few tips and some practice, you can turn these descents to your advantage. This is especially important in the LUT with significant ascents and descents in the race that are often highly technical and steep. The crucial thing to realise is that your eyes send signals to your feet constantly, so always look a meter or two ahead and then just back yourself! I find that longer strides that take you from rock to rock work better than smaller steps. The best way to improve at descending is to get out on the mountain and do as much of it as you can. If that is not possible then get into a gym and strengthen the ankles (one leg squats on a foam pad) and also the quads. Having said that, I do think that as athletes you should work to improve your strengths even more and then learn how to protect your weak points as best as possible.

 

3. Recovery and Nutrition

This is important to get this right before race day, and must be given attention from the beginning of a race in order to monitor requirements. The winner of the LUT 2013 took just over 6 hours, and I would recommend that for any race of that duration it is a good idea to take real food (eg: potatoes, a sandwich or perhaps a trail mix consisting of nuts, raisins, chocolate, coffee beans etc.) that can be eaten along the route. I would also recommend taking 4 or 5 GU Roctanes to give energy as required, particularly for the second half of the race. It is important to drink (and eat) constantly during the race as once you are dehydrated or hungry it is too late. Start sipping from your camelback before you get thirsty. I would say take about 70g of carbohydrates per hour during the race; this can easily be done by mixing a carb based drink with water in your camelback. Make sure it is not sweet and the taste is palatable.

During training, recovery is possibly the most crucial part of any programme. I cannot stress enough the importance of backing off when you feel a niggle; rather go to the gym or ride your bike (any low impact sport) until the niggle has gone. The other key point is that easy days must be easy; let your body dictate pace and know that a programme is not set in stone. If you are feeling tired or a little jaded then just go out for an easy jog.

 

4. Train with a full race day pack

It is important to mimic race day as much as possible. You should know exactly what compulsory gear is required and then take this with you on your long runs; this must include the required 2L of water as well as your nutrition needs. There should be no surprises on race day.

 

5. Pacing during an Ultra

Pacing during an event such as LUT (and for any ultra-marathon) is crucial, it is important to think carefully about your race plan and then execute it on the day. First off, you should study the route and work out what sections will suit you and which sections might require more effort or concentration, work out what time you would like to run and the pace you need to keep to get that time. It is often a good idea to write your splits on a piece of paper and carry that with you on race-day. Don’t get carried away with what other people are running, stick to your game plan and run your own race. The key is to run negative splits, that is to have enough in the bank to run a quicker second half. If you can do that you will go some way to reaching your goal.

 

But most importantly, realise that you are creating memories and that it is a privilege to be able to run in the high mountains of Lesotho; it is something to be enjoyed!

 

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