Restless Soles

Restless Soles Restless Soles offers you a series of tailor made trail runs and walks all in the Eshowe area KZN, all based on the famous Ngoje trail.

Restless Soles is a concept that brings you the Ngoje trail run every year. As you know its a tough little gem that takes you in and around our backyard, through the valleys and overs the crests with some of the most breathtaking views in Zululand. Due to its growing popularity the Ngoje trail and its surrounding beauty is now offering weekend accompanied trails. The idea is pretty simple really,

drop me a line and hook up for a trot. We don't necessarily have to do the actual Ngoje trail, there are dozens in this area that offer similar excitement. If you are travelling from afar and want to stay the evening prior, let me know and I can hook you up with some accommodation. Camping is also an option as there is a spot with great facilities right in the middle of the trails, reachable by even a normal car. So what are the details of this crazy scheme? The routes taken range anything from 10km to somewhere around 20 to 25km and will vary according to your abilities and your requirements for the trip. We won't be flying around the region at 5 min per km, instead I want to encourage a nice meandering pace, so that we can take in the surrounding nature and still enjoy the run. If walking is on your agenda then it's on mine too. Cameras are more than welcome as there will be more than enough opportunities to snap up a pic or two. The idea of trail running on the weekends is certainly not a new one, but this way you don't have to wait for a race, or some kind of organised event, just you and your buddies out in the boonies for a morning, doing pretty much what suits you, at your own pace. Initially I try for a Sunday morning slot, but as we get chatting ideas and requirements can be molded into place. The basic rates are as follows:
1 to 2 persons R200 each
3 to 5 persons R150 each
6 to 10 persons R100 each. There is also a slack packing overnight option, but this is on request only and different rates will apply. So either drop me a line here on on [email protected]

"Carpe diem"

24/11/2014

Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaars-like-it......
Who ran the Queensborough 15km run this Sunday just passed???
I have finally discovered why alcohol and running don't mix, its not because they give us hangovers the next day that we regret around the 5km mark, but they get us to agree to silly things the night before.
Jokes aside, i was amped to find out that my sis had offered me the opportunity to get involved with her Run/walk for life crew this last Sunday. Although there was a little too much "strategic planning" the evening prior, I felt ghastly on those hills, but with the recent trip to the berg in the back pocket, they were well handled and actually served as an opportunity to make up some lost time.
Another point of contention was the lost time thing. My Garmin decided to take forever to find its satellites, and been a stickler for not starting my stopwatch without this lock on, I hung around until I was almost last to set off. Not a a bad thing really as then was no bullet like set off to get caught up in, I just relaxed unto a gentle sub 6min/per km and stayed there for the race. Been at the back also was not a bad thing, as, well you're at the back and with every race that's where the fun is.I did notice though that the average roadie is a lot more simplistic than the trail addict. Here I was in my funny tight compression shorts, famous WP running peak stashed with my 32GI chow, running shirt and the average oke/chick had a vest, shorts and shoes, and that was it. I didn't even have my hydration pack and I felt semi naked. Well done chaps...keep it simple
Maybe because on the trail, you have to lug everything with you, where as here, the water tables where like a full on Oasis outside Swakkopmunt in December. Adding to that I must comment on the marshals and water table attendants who where more than accommodating and full of cheer, even when I passed them on the way back ( that's another story altogether), so good on them. So for my first tar outing since I was a lightie, it was quite refreshing, but will be very weary for those hills next year.
Hopefully there will be some evidence served soon soon
What a lekka morning out, shotto to the Run/Walk crew, next stop Umhlanga 14th December, Riverside Chaps, here we come.

Enter, train, love it.........................

"THE BERG"Phew just got back from my trip to Mnt Splendour, lots of driving but a great adventure. After our crew was di...
16/11/2014

"THE BERG"
Phew just got back from my trip to Mnt Splendour, lots of driving but a great adventure. After our crew was diluted from four to two, then to one, I decided to fly solo for the weekend. From school exams to building farm sheds, I starting to second guess my own priorities. That took 10 seconds and I loaded my car and set off.
From Eshowe its a three hr journey and if you drive half way to Giants Castle through the land of no English and no directions, it will take you over four hrs. First stop was the race village at the resort on the way through to shakily register for the torment the next day. The camp ground was packed, like sardines on MTB's so I was in for a shock when I arrived at Monks Cowl to find that I was sharing the entire camp with one other tent. "AG NEE MAN......"
I was hoping to have the whole place to myself. The other couple were there for the same event so we shared a few nervous words before the quick hop over the next morn for the trail run.
By a brief look there seemed to more more on the trail this year than last year and the weather was a 100% improvement too. During race briefing I could feel the sweat running down my back and started to regret the two glasses of red at the fire the evening prior.
Having been present a year ago I knew that the 1st 4 or 5km are mainly uphill and in some places a walk for most, so had no delusions of grandeur when the gun went off and everyone took off at a sub 5min p/km. Slowing down to a nice pace for the climb helped in the beginning but once I reached the top was pretty much unable to do much more, fortunately I had my sons camera so spent some time trying to calm my heart rate monitor down, whilst hiding behind the lens. I kept trying to reassure myself that with only 15km ( which is actually 17km) that everything would pan out just fine, just that bloody mountain that Dave Ward refers to as a koppie, got in the way.
Once on top its just fantastic and once into the groove I could take some time sponging up the views we missed last year because of the clouds. A constant single track with the odd forest was the call of the day all the way down to the eco estate again where some very welcomed tar was there to speed things up a little so that I was able to at least catch up with some others runners, at least.
Finishing after two hours of trail running felt super fab and was ever grateful to the folks that stuck around to clap the tail enders in. Of course a breakfast of champions back at my base camp was the reward and then off back to H/Q in Eshowe for the rest of the weekend. Definitely no early Sunday run..
Shot to Dave and the ROAG team who put together such a well executed event, I will certainly be back next year to take on that "Koppie"
Check out the evidence.................

01/11/2014

Hey,shot for all the lekka feedback on the move for 2015. We are convinced that this is going to be sensational. The race village is will be a little smaller than the previous venue, but the setting is absolutely fab and with all the same facilities, so stand by for some solid trail stuff.
and of course there will still be a"pink dress" award, there is already a list of names.
to the trail then................

OK everyone, hold on to your trail laces, its all about to go ballistic for 2015. At long last we have managed, to secur...
29/10/2014

OK everyone, hold on to your trail laces, its all about to go ballistic for 2015. At long last we have managed, to secure the use of a new venue for the Ngoje 2015.
Thanks to the Lee family, they have agreed to let us trample their paths, scare the puff-adders and of course, test our bodies on their farm next August.
This has been a much anticipated move, bringing several advantages like:
-the venue is right in the center of the trails, the 45km guys from years past have been crossing the dam wall.
-no more tar roads to cross (very nerve wrecking for organizers)
-less cane roads, more bush stuff
-some new additions will have to be added to make up the distances, awesome !!!!!
-it just looks better and offers one big gigantic bath for the post run cold beer.
- a great place to camp and run
All of this, just 4km further down the road. It is on a farm so we will plaster the way with signage for you to see.
check out some snaps I took whilst a prelim scouting trip

What I cant wait for is all the scouting for new routes to start, the 45 will still be crossing the mountains and wresting with the granite fissure called "the crack" but some amendments would have to be made to the 22km and the 10 and 5 would have to be totally redesigned. Very lekka,
So just when you thought you had the Ngoje sussed out, she throws a curve ball, my favorite girl.....
So watch this space for some pics and chatter

But first off the the Berg for the Mnt Splendour event in November. If you love up hills, then this is the spot, check you's there.
Adios
RUN, TRAIN, LOVE IT.............

Yep, its coming, check out the most awesome flyer, we hope to open entries in Jan 2015 again, so keep your eyes peeled. ...
15/10/2014

Yep, its coming, check out the most awesome flyer, we hope to open entries in Jan 2015 again, so keep your eyes peeled.
I also have some surprises up the proverbial sleeve and there is some talk of a pre-cursor event perhaps in the beginning of winter, just some things been thrown around.
Until then, run, train, love it................................

14/10/2014

I'M BACK AND BAD.................
After visiting some of my "favorite" spots (like not) and nursing my 500 year old back, I have discovered that New Balance don't include "Zimmer frame walkers" in their product range, so am just sucking it up and jumped back into the training regime.
Off to the berg to do the Mount Splendour thing in a month, so watch this spot..............

A pic of the crew, just before assaulting the Zini Bush Challenge. What a great run, I am always scared of those stairs ...
10/08/2014

A pic of the crew, just before assaulting the Zini Bush Challenge. What a great run, I am always scared of those stairs in the forest, but today was just great.
Thanks to Paul Mannix and his team, 364 days to go, cant wait.
Also lekka to bump into some Ngoje survivors down there.

And that I think is the last. A big thanks to our Sponsors, Eshowe Super Spar, Cape Union Mart, East Toyota and all the ...
05/08/2014

And that I think is the last. A big thanks to our Sponsors, Eshowe Super Spar, Cape Union Mart, East Toyota and all the others who pulled together to make the trail happen.
If anyone is in the Zini area this weekend, don't forget our neighbor's trail run on Sunday, The Zini Bush Challenge.
Until the next trail opportunity, keep on the trail............

Yes, and there are more, showing the venue and the finish
05/08/2014

Yes, and there are more, showing the venue and the finish

A couple of nice pic of Prodigal been as good sport at at prize giving. Well done Chap.
05/08/2014

A couple of nice pic of Prodigal been as good sport at at prize giving. Well done Chap.

And some more. Some nice ones here of that "hill" just before the second table on the 45. Was that "hill" or "hell"
05/08/2014

And some more. Some nice ones here of that "hill" just before the second table on the 45. Was that "hill" or "hell"

OK some more pics, finally the end of the pic posting is nigh. These ones complimentary of Larry Bentley who was camped ...
05/08/2014

OK some more pics, finally the end of the pic posting is nigh. These ones complimentary of Larry Bentley who was camped out on the "G.O.L" Some nice ones of the crack, perhaps an incentive to the 22km guys for next year.
more to come

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