Where the coast meets the cliffs and runners test their limits over 42 kilometers of brutal and beautiful terrain, it’s easy to overlook the quiet guardians: the community that marshals the Otter TERREX Trail, presented by EasyEquities.
Covie is a settlement in Nature’s Valley, nestled less than two kilometres from the Otter Trail and straddling the border of the Western and Eastern Cape. The marshals of the Otter TERREX Trail hail from this tight-knit community and have become the backbone of the event, each one bringing something personal to their role.
While race week typically delivers a bundle of nerves and excitement for athletes, for the Covie community, the event offers a beacon of pride and hard-earned opportunity.
Marco Barnado, the Man Behind the Marshal Team
Marco Barnardo has been the architect of the Otter marshaling team for the past nine years. He has woven the Covie community’s story into the event’s DNA and watched the event grow from simple grassroots to success. Like many in the event space and trail governance, Marco’s work has held levels of stress, walking a line of responsibility and reliance on external parties. The special moments with the community have ultimately won out, and seeing the community’s empowerment has been well worth the hard work.
Marco says he could write a book about the journey from Otter’s “infancy” to where it is today: “While it may appear smooth from the outside, those of us working directly with SANParks, communities, athletes, staff, and visitors know we are walking a razor’s edge. One misstep, and everything could be lost.”
For Marco, the true success in the Otter TERREX Trail isn’t about podiums or results. It’s about the opportunity to uplift Covie. These marshals live closest to the trail, yet often receive the fewest opportunities to work within SANParks’ pristine domain. When Marco first got the chance to hire from the region, he made the vow that there would be no disappointments; for the community or the team behind the event.
Twelve Months that Unfold over a Week
Marco’s tasks are rooted in the understanding that empowerment does not happen just over event-week; it’s a rhythm that runs throughout the year. Within this, relationships exist at the core of his work. He observes, and then highlights community members who shine throughout the year and those who might need additional income amid family pressures. With these in mind, he pulls members of the community into the right roles in the event, understanding the strengths of the individuals and the needs of the particular task.
He knows that his job is not just about filling roles. Rather, it is about creating something meaningful for everyone involved. Each marshal is briefed and Marco instills a high standard, where every individual knows that there is a critical role to play.
“While the entire Covie community may not see the Otter race as a source of excitement or opportunity, the individuals selected to work on the event feel differently. For them, it is a moment of pride and anticipation.”
Eco-Tourism Reaching Beyond the Event
For the broad Covie community, the Otter TERREX Trail also acts as eco-tourism rocket fuel. The event highlights the local community as stewards of their land and it creates an honest pride in the trail that they call home.
Marco highlights how important the trail and the event is for the individuals: “Opportunities like this are rare for many of the marshals, which is why the Otter carries such weight.” For our local teams, this ‘small event’ means everything.”
The work in event-week spills into other work, and it generates opportunity beyond the race.
For many that don’t see or experience the start line, the race transcends competition and offers a lifeline. The Covie individuals on the team, empowered by Marco’s vision, often go far beyond their role and embody pride and fulfillment in looking after people running along the wild coast trail.
For Covie, Otter offers a life that promises sustainability. For Marco, it offers a living, breathing testament to resilience and the spirit of adventure.
