MOSSEL BAY NEWS - She's a manager and fitness coach during the week and on her weekends, she conquers mountains.
Mossel Bay local Mary-Lee Botha took on the brand-new Ultra Trail Sleeping Beauty (UTSB) trail run in Riversdale and came first in the women's 40km race, with a time of 05:01:49.
The intent to rejuvenate long-forgotten hiking trails resulted in this trail run in honour of the town's iconic Sleeping Beauty mountain, said the organisers of the run.
The 10km and 20km runs headed west in the direction of the Korentepoort Dam, winding through plantation paths before heading back to the Windhoek Guest Farm race village.
The 40km and 65km routes headed east from the race village, down a gorge and then up to Garcia Mountain Pass. After 2.5km along the pass, the routes split, with the 40km continuing straight towards Die Tolhuis, while the 65km turned east on to the Kristalkloof Trail.
"It was one of the best organised trail races I have done and I have done big races.
"This one is by far the most beautiful and definitely my favourite race to date. You could see the race organisers were on the ball, the information was given through to the athletes on time and the routes were marked really well," Botha said.
Mary-Lee Botha with her husband Charlie at the end of the trail run. Photo: Deidré Cloete
She started trail running about two years ago as a way to inspire the women who train with her. "I fell in love completely with the outdoors challenge. There is something truly humbling in pushing yourself further than the boundaries your mind has set for you."
Having a look at Botha's documentation of her day-to-day life on social media, one sees a journey of fitness, dedication to a healthy lifestyle and her religion that carries her through it all.
"A typical day consists of my first class at 05:00 and then my second class at 07:30, at work at 09:00 and then it is kids and running in the afternoon. I spend most Saturday mornings in the George mountains."
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