Old Mutual Wild Series: Golden Gate – It’s go time!

The Old Mutual Wild Series Golden Gate Challenge is a three-day trail run through some of the most rugged yet scenic mountains of the Free State. The challenge takes place this weekend in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park.

Reigning champion of the Golden Gate Challenge Eric Ngubane says he is thrilled to be back – ready to defend his title and maybe even break his own record.

“I’m feeling really good for the race and I’m looking forward to the wonderful challenge. What I am most excited for is the goal to break my previous record of six-and-half-hours overall time. It’s also a great feeling knowing that I can make this attempt in such a beautiful setting,” says Ngubane.

The Golden Gate Challenge champion first took up running in school and has never received formal coaching or training, saying that he has developed his own training schedule and diet plan. He has since won several major marathons both road and trail.

At this year’s event, like all runners, Ngubane’s participation will aid ongoing conservation efforts for the bearded vulture. The conservation of Golden Gate National Park is critical in forming a continuous protected area corridor along the length the Drakensberg/Maluti Mountain range. This in turn provides safe and suitable habitat and food for this endangered bird. A percentage of all runners’ entry fees go towards the much-needed conservation projects.

“This is a wonderful event in an exceptionally beautiful part of the country,” says Old Mutual’s Vuyo Lee. “What makes the Golden Gate Challenge – like all Old Mutual Wild Series events – special is that every runner is able to play a part in preserving our shared heritage. At Old Mutual we have a great passion for investing in the future, and that’s exactly what runners or cyclists help us achieve when they enter a Wild Series event.”

Last year’s women’s winner, Tracey Zunckel, is also a prolific trail runner and huge fan of the Wildlands and Wild Series model; Zunckel is excited to be back racing in the Free State, this time with a mission to have fun.

“Of course last year’s result was fantastic but any race finish is a bonus for me. But Wildlands and the Golden Gate Challenge is just an amazing experience that I am humbled by. At the end of the day I am just there to finish.”

Of the event and its philosophy, Zunkel cannot praise the Old Mutual Wild Series Golden Gate Challenge enough. “I’m excited to get away and spend time in this amazing part of our country where there are such unique geological formations. I can’t thank the guys on the ground enough either; their conservation efforts are incredible and it forms a great part of my motivation to run in the event,” says Zunckel.

The three day race will traverse through restricted parts of the reserve rarely seen by the public, like Little Serengeti, Cathedral Caves and many other hidden gems within the park including ancient rock paintings and relics of past civilisations. Runners can expect to conquer big mountains and high altitudes all in the name of saving a species – the bearded vulture.

The route will incorporate mainly hiking trails and jeep track – a true off-road experience. The last day will start off with an early morning night run, which will add a new dimension and promises to bring out the adventurer in all runners.