Africa’s first sky marathon Africa’s first sky marathon

WELL done Greytonians, Felix Middleton, Andrew Mason and Francois van Rooyen, who competed in Africa's first sky marathon - a 38km vertical climb through the spectacular Lesotho Mountains on Saturday 26 November.
All three finished in under eight-and-half hours, and without injury, describing it as an "absolutely awesome breathtaking experience, literally and figuratively. The three thanked their boot camp instructer and trainer, Hillary Bruss.

Background to Africa's first sky marathon and the reason for selecting Lesotho: "The Maluti Mountains in the Lesotho Highlands has some of the best terrain for high altitude running in the world. Serving as the ‘veins’ of this region, an intricate network of trails exists along the valleys and mountain flanks, connecting many of the remote villages.
“Used primarily by livestock and shepherds, many of the mountain passes have been established by hand, allowing people and animals to pass through the Maluti Mountain range on foot.
“It is this ancient philosophy of man's primal need to explore and conquer his surrounding terrain that has led to the development of the Lesotho Ultra Trail, Africa's first ultra sky marathon."