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TRAIL Mail #18: Fri 15 May 2020

Next issue digital-only survey.
UTMB, Comrades cancelled.

Three new points to win Suunto 7.

In this issue (click the category to save scrolling):

  1. From the Editors. Will you switch to digital for issue 36?
  2. Photo of the week. Stellenbosch Trail Fund open for radius run.
  3. News.  UTMB cancelled, US race director exposed, and your 5km radius.
  4. Funny.  What do your blisters spell? Old shoes out the cupboard!
  5. Trail Poll. Prefer your garden or radius running?
  6. Training. Make your post-lockdown comeback with Erin van Eyssen.
  7. Gear.  Ultimate comfort: Runderwear's Men's Merino Wool Briefs.
  8. Competition. Three bonus points to win Suunto 7 smartwatch worth R8,000.
  9. TRAIL, digital. Read issue 35 online, anytime.

1. FROM THE EDITORS


DEON: I hope you're doing okay. Last week I mentioned we’d have news for you about our next issue. Turbulent times are like an earthquake and no-one is immune to their effects. We're trying to adapt, just like you.
To stay relevant, I've always tried to look down the line, to be ready for future opportunities and threats. The contraction of the print magazine industry over the past 15 years was a strong signal for change. Then came COVID-19 with a not-too-gentle kick in the pants. Science fiction became non-fiction.

A fortnight ago, Associated Media Publishing announced it was closing its titles, including Cosmopolitan, and House & Leisure. Last week, one of the bastions of publishing, Caxton, announced the closure of its magazine titles. This week, our distribution company RNA (a Caxton company) announced it was shutting its doors too. Nothing surprises me anymore.

There are other channels for us to distribute a print issue. But as much as I prefer reading print, it really is a costly luxury on the small planet we're sharing. I think the gravity of our climate challenge cannot be ignored for business as usual. I believe the scientists who are saying we have little time to turn our fragile ship around, or else it's going to shake us off like a dog does its fleas. I stole that from George Carlin, but unlike him, I think we can make a difference to our destiny.

We need new thinking to find solutions to climate issue as well as SA's economic challenges. My proposed solution? That we go 100% digital from our next issue.

But we can't succeed without you. Will you support us as a digital magazine? Yes – or no – please tell us through this 12-question survey, which will take you less than five minutes to complete.

Thank you if you complete it. Have a great Friday, and happy trails this weekend!

Deon Braun, TRAIL founder publisher

HELOISE: I'm looking forward to the digital adventure. In 2014, I joined Deon at TRAIL, and he taught me print publishing from scratch. Now we go into the new format, learning together! My focus has always been finding you the best content, and that goal hasn't changed.

I have been dutifully updating our online calendar each week, but there aren't enough changes to warrant a whole section of the newsletter this week, so we've omitted a calendar this issue.

Heloise Hunter, TRAIL associate editor

Chantel Nienaber is lucky to live within 5km of the Stellenbosch Trail Fund's trails, which are open to runners. She left home at 6am to make the most of her run.

Her photo may appear in a future TRAIL print issue – and so could yours.

View all the contributions or add your own to Monday's Facebook and Twitter posts. Use hashtags #TrailTrophies and #trailmagpix on Instagram and Twitter when you tag us. Or email us. Be sure to tell us a bit about your run for the caption. (Please note: event photographer images won't be accepted.)

Prefer expressing yourself with words? Write a letter instead. Your opinions, life-changing experiences, happy and sad memories, and reflections on our sport are waiting to be shared with the community. If your letter is published, you'll receive a pair of run-specific Feetures socks.

photo Franck Oddoux, UTMB 2019

UTMB cancelled


The world renowned Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc has been forced to cancel its 2020 races due to COVID-19 travel and event restrictions. 

We don't know how many Saffas hoped to be at UTMB this year, but over 20 ran the various events in 2019. If any of you were hoping to go, you'll be relieved to get 80% of your entry fee refunded. Read more.

Comrades Marathon cancelled

You probably saw this one coming, but maybe you hoped for postponement... The Comrades Marathon will not happen this year. The renowned road ultra was run for the first time in 1921 and has been run every year except for a four-year break during World War II. 

Run community Darren Smith says he was super-keen to see trail legends Camille Herron and Jim Walmsley take on South Africa's best ultrarunners. "Sadly, that's going to have to wait another year."

Camille tweeted "With so many races already cancelled, I felt prepared to take it in stride that Comrades could be cancelled too. It was the right decision to put our health and humanity first. Until we can safely meet again friends - stay positive, healthy, strong, and ‘dare to dream’!"

Delinquent USA race director ousted

We are pleased to see that the behaviour of Sean “Run Bum” Blanton has had consequences. The race director was found to have vengefully changed results after the fact, and harassed runners and community members. Read the Marathon Investigations report.

He was the RD of The Georgia Death Race in Georgia, USA, which was a Golden Ticket Race for the renowned Western States Endurance Race. Western States has since withdrawn Golden Ticket status, though GDR remains a qualifier.

Find your radius

Is there a park in your suburb you're keen to visit between 6am and 9am? Not sure if it's within your 5km radius? Use this website to find out.

Get out your old road shoes

Many of us don't have trails on our doorstep, so you might be back on the tar.

We hope you're not suffering too badly as you pull on your old shoes for suburban trots... Let us know on Facebook and Twitter.

Garden or radius?

This Chooseday we asked “Do you prefer garden running or radius running?”

Add your Facebook vote!

Make your post-lockdown training comeback
 
Coach Erin van Eyssen of Flat Rock Endurance explains how to adapt to training after lockdown in his new article on our website. Use his guideliens to rebuild fitness and get your mindset right, while avoiding injury.

Runderwear Men’s Merino Wool Briefs

R399 | runderwear.co.za

Runderwear Men’s Merino Briefs deliver the ultimate comfortable running experience. The unique combination of merino’s natural moisture-wicking and temperature-control properties, together with breathable mesh panels and seamless ergonomic design, ensure that Runderwear Merino Briefs are the premium performance underwear. Runderwear is designed in the UK and won GOLD at the 2019 Running Awards as the best running underwear brand.

Sizes S-XL | Colours Grey | Materials Merino Wool, Polyester Thermocool™, Polyamide, Elastane
Stockists 011 463 5849 | [email protected]

GAIN EXTRA POINTS! This week we've added a new option: Answer a question to add THREE points to your entry tally. The new Answer a question option is at the bottom of the list.

If you haven't entered yet, why not? It's easy to get points, and the draw is done randomly. You have as good a chance as anyone to win a Suunto 7 smartwatch/GPS, worth R8,000.

To enter, visit the page and scroll to click on the widget below the intro text. It might take a few seconds to load, so don't scroll too fast or you'll miss it!

If you refresh the competition page, the app will show you how many entries you have accumulated, and which entries were successful.

You're not in the draw until you enter. Why not do that right now?

Not got the latest issue yet? No stress. You can get the latest issue of TRAIL in Spar, Pick n Pay, and Clicks during your lockdown food and medical supplies shop.

But if you're preferring true isolation to flatten the curve, digital is your best bet. You can download TRAIL 35 worldwide via Amazon, App Store, Google Play, Zinio, and Magzter.
Print magazine available at 600+ stores nationally, many of which will be open during lockdown (Clicks, Pick n Pay, Spar). TRAIL 35's cover runner is Durban's Eric Ngubane.

ABOUT TRAIL MAGAZINE

Meet the team
Buy print issue from Spar, Clicks, Pick n Pay, Exclusive Books, Salomon Concept Stores, selected BP petrol stations, and specialist running stores. The lockdown has caused disruption of stock to some retailers. CNA is in the process of changing ownership and won't be stocking TRAIL or any other RNA-distributed titles with immediate effect.
Buy digital issue
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