The Otter TERREX Trail, presented by EasyEquities, begins long before the start gun fires. You see, each year, as hundreds of runners line up to take on the Otter, a small army of people works behind the scenes to make this journey possible. Among them is Marco Barnardo, someone whose name might not appear in race reports, but whose steady presence and deep knowledge of the route has helped shape the event over the past decade.
Marco first became involved with the Otter in 2009, when the idea of running the full length of the protected Otter Trail was still new and, to many, unthinkable. At the time, he was working for SANParks, and like others, had concerns about what an event like this might mean for a trail traditionally reserved for hikers. “We thought it was a crazy idea,” he laughs now. “But by the end of that first race, we realised it could work, if it was done properly.” But what does “properly” mean?
Rooted in Community and Conservation
Born and raised in the small Covie community just outside of Nature’s Valley, Marco Barnardo has always understood something few others could: the complex relationship between local people and protected land. Covie is not a wealthy place, but it is rich in heritage, surrounded by coastline, forest, and conservation areas. For many residents, these landscapes are both home and resource; places for fishing, harvesting, and cultural connection. Yet access to these spaces has often been restricted, and the benefits of tourism or conservation have not always reached the people living closest to them.
Marco has spent much of his career quietly working to bridge that gap. He knew that without local support, the Otter TERREX Trail, presented by EasyEquities, would not only lose access to the trail that gives it its name, but also the goodwill of the communities around it. In the early years of the Otter, he helped guide conversations between Magnetic South, the event organisers at the time, and SANParks. Over time, his role expanded. He worked on the ground as a marshal and runner liaison, and later became a participant himself, completing the Otter six times. Eventually, he joined the safety team and now leads it with calm professionalism and deep-rooted knowledge of the area.
But his contribution goes beyond logistics. Marco has always looked for ways to involve and empower surrounding communities, from training and employing local marshals to building a trusted safety crew who understand both the terrain and the athletes. Many of these team members come from Covie, Knysna, and Plettenberg Bay. “It’s about finding people you can trust,” he says, “who share the same values and know how to respond when things get tough.”
Opening the Door to Local Participation
Marco also played a pivotal role in developing the Dassie, the Otter’s shorter, more accessible race. “Not everyone can afford to run the Otter,” he says. “The Dassie gives people from the community a chance to be part of it. It’s something to be proud of.” For several years, he acted as race director, fine-tuning the route to make it both safe and special, while helping secure entries for local youth and aspiring runners.
For someone who has seen the Otter evolve from a fledgling idea to a world-class event, Marco remains remarkably grounded. He speaks about the event as a shared effort, a patchwork of people, each playing a different but important role. “Things change every year,” he says. “Sponsors, staff, even weather. But what stays the same is the way we work together. Everyone’s input matters.”
His is not a spotlight role. In fact, many runners won’t know his name. But when they see Marco out on the trail they’ll know they’re in good hands. Sometimes, he says, they’ll smile with relief when they spot his team approaching. “But if they see me running,” he adds with a grin, “then they know something’s really going on.”
Behind every smooth Otter event is a whole team making it happen. Marco is one of those people: steady, humble, and deeply rooted in the landscape and community the race moves through. He’s a reminder that some of the most important roles are the ones that happen quietly, just out of view.
