The story of the Otter Terrex Trail, presented by EasyEquities, is often told through the lens of two men: the Collins brothers. But no great adventure is built by just two sets of hands. From the very start, two women, Christine and Belen Collins, played a pivotal role in shaping the race’s foundation. Both were pioneers, strategists, and driving forces behind the Otter, their impact woven into every part of the event. This is the story of Belen, an adventure lover, an avid racer, a trailblazer, and, of course, Mark Collins’ wife.

But her story didn’t begin with the Otter. It began in Spain, where she first discovered her love for the fast-paced world of sports events. It wound through remote jungles and deserts, across rally checkpoints and Formula One paddocks, through years of relentless travel and a life spent chasing adventure. And eventually, it led here—to the rugged cliffs of the Tsitsikamma, where she would help shape one of the most iconic trail races in the world.

So how did it start? Growing up in Manresa, Spain, Belen’s town played host to countless events, with rally driving and motocross often taking centre stage, with the roar of Formula One just a stone’s throw away in Barcelona. As a teenager looking for extra pocket money, she jumped at every opportunity to get involved. Whether it was handing out race bibs, assisting as a PA, running a media room, working in the race office, or even marking the route – if there was a job to be done, Belen did it, learning as she went. “I absolutely fell in love with eventing through casual jobs and volunteering. I actually studied fashion and that’s what I have a degree in, but I never followed it after I found my passion here,” says Belen.

Alongside this, she carved out her own path in sport, exploring multiple disciplines and was drawn to adventure in any shape or form. At the time, she was a particularly skilled mountain biker with a passion for downhill racing, always chasing the thrill of technical descents. In the late ’90s, Belen went international and participated in the legendary Camel Trophy, often referred to as the ‘4X4 Olympics,’ becoming the first woman from Spain to do so. She considers this one of her defining moments. More than just a personal milestone, it opened doors and cemented her place in the sports event world. The following year, she joined the organizing team, bringing events to Mongolia, Turkey, Tonga, and beyond.

With her foot firmly in the world of eventing, she co-founded Yeti Club in 1996, growing it into one of Spain’s leading events companies. It was a relentless, exhilarating life. “I lived out of a suitcase, hopping from one country to the next, only coming home to pack my bag again,” says Belen. “I was young, single, and not tied down. I loved the adventure and the pace,” she adds. But after six years of back-to-back events, the pace began to take its toll. Burnout was creeping in.

It was around this time that Belen met Mark through Camel Trophy—a meeting that would change the course of her life. Their shared love for adventure and the outdoors sparked something special, and despite living in different countries, they made it work, traveling to meet whenever they could.

In 2000, they married, beginning a new chapter together. At first, they settled in Spain, but after a few years, the call of a different kind of adventure pulled them south. “Mark was much happier in South Africa, and I absolutely loved it when I had visited so it made sense for us to move,” says Belen, who constantly raves about the diversity and awe-inspiring natural beauty of South Africa. It was this decision that would ultimately set the stage for one of Belen’s most defining ventures yet: the Otter African Trail Run, as the event was originally dubbed.

Of course, Belen didn’t arrive in South Africa looking to build another race. If anything, she was ready to slow down having just given birth to her two daughters, Carla and Andrea. She opened an outdoor gear shop at the Knysna Waterfront, content to offer quiet strategic input, while Mark and his brother John, along with John’s wife Christine, launched Magnetic South – a company that would go on to found the Otter.

But experience like Belen’s doesn’t stay on the sidelines. She understood sponsorships, logistics, and the high-stakes game of turning a dream into a world-class event. When the team needed key partnerships, it was Belen who helped find them—most notably, an early deal with Hi-tec that played a crucial role in the Otter’s rise. “Because of my gear shop, I had direct contact with many of the big brands in running, and of course trail running,” says Belen. “I was able to leverage these relationships to help Christine secure our first sponsors and help establish the event.” 

While John, Mark, and Christine became the public faces of the race, Belen remained in the background, acting as a consultant—out of the limelight, yet increasingly vital to the running of Magnetic South. Over time, her role expanded to include logistics, merchandise, and later on the critical negotiations with SANParks management, ensuring the race not only survived but thrived. And yet, for all her work behind the scenes, her connection to the Otter wasn’t just professional—it was deeply personal.

She watched the race grow, just as she watched her daughters Andrea and Carla, grow up alongside it. From being just four and six years old respectively when the race started, to joining the registration team, both acting as the podium flower girls, and handing out medals, Belen’s daughters were always involved. Then, last year, when Carla crossed the Otter finish line as a 21-year-old participant, it was more than just another runner completing the course. It was a full-circle moment, a living, breathing reminder of the legacy Belen had helped build. “I shed a tear when she came over the line. It was the most nervous I have ever been for an Otter,” says Belen. 

Today, Belen may still prefer the background, but her impact on the Otter is undeniable. From connecting the team to its earliest sponsors to navigating the complexities of race logistics, she played a vital role in shaping the event into the world-class race it is today. Now, as the last remaining founder still involved, she is stepping back from many of her responsibilities, marking the end of an era. But while her time behind the scenes is winding down, a new chapter awaits—one on the other side of the start line. Having run the route countless times during race recces, Belen now has her sights set on something she’s never done before: racing the Otter. And after dedicating so many years to making the event what it is today, there may be no one more fitting to take on the challenge.