What started as a once off run in 2014 with his brother, has turned into a yearly tradition for Gregg Daniel who is set to return for his tenth consecutive Otter African Trail Run this year. He’s learnt a lot over the years, and sits down with us to share some of the magical moments that have kept him coming back. He even goes as far as to say, “you know even when I achieve my tenth consecutive Otter, I think I will still return. This event is just that unique and that special. No Otter is the same.”
Let’s start at the beginning
Gregg recalls his very first Otter African Trail Run, saying that it was incredibly tough, but also his funniest race to date. “I was so proud of myself for having just completed the Otter and was feeling super chuffed as I ran over the finishers bridge. What I did not know is that there’s a balance beam of sorts on the bridge. I tripped over it and went careering into the water, which was incredibly funny at the time, but even more so when I got my race pictures,” laughs Gregg.
“I opened my complimentary race photos expecting them to send through a photo running through the finisher’s arch, looking all accomplished with a smile on my face. What they sent instead was a picture of the scene I just described. It really brought me back to earth. You know you are just so proud of having completed the Otter, and then the photo is a reminder that you weren’t really in such good shape when you finished,” chuckles Gregg.
The highs and the lows of trail running
Gregg’s learnt a few fair things about the Otter since then, and makes sure to cross the finisher bridge with caution these days. For example, he knows how to pace himself for the 11 climbs to come, and to mentally prepare for the last 10kms of a Retto run. “The last 10kms of the Retto direction are super grueling. It’s so technical from Ngubu hut to the finish, and it comes when you are already exhausted. It’s moments like that in the race where experience and knowing what to expect counts for a lot,” says Gregg. Newbies, take note – you’re in for the Retto this year, don’t say we didn’t warn you!
Like any runner, Gregg has had amazing days, and tough days, with the Otter seeing both of these play out. “I had a miserable year three years ago where I went out way too fast and I started cramping 18 kilometers in. I still did my second fastest time, but it was absolute agony from half way,” recalls Gregg. “I’ve also had great days, my personal best coming being 6 hours and 32 minutes. It was one of those days where everything clicked and I had legs – I surprised myself.”
A lifetime of sport
Gregg resides in Durban, where he not only runs (of course), but enjoys surfing, swimming and cycling. When he’s not training for the Otter African Trail Run, he can be found logging miles on the bike for IRONMAN or tackling a road marathon here and there. He shares how all this cross training, as well as ten years in the UK where he took on various orienteering missions, has prepared him for that “all alone in nature feeling you get when running Otter.” He adds that “those UK adventures also prepared me for that cold rainy weather we had last year. It’s actually the only time in the past nine years where it’s rained during the race.”
We look forward to welcoming Gregg back this year, and hope the sun shines bright for this tenth consecutive race. What’s your Otter African Trail Run story? Are you going for ten, aiming to cement your name in our wall of fame and race history? Email us at raceoffice@otter.run, we’d love to hear from you.
