The K2C Challenge – Trail Running connecting People and Nature

By -
By Lazaro Sibaya
On 14 and 15 July, the K2C Team supported KZN Trail runners to host one of the most challenging events on the national Trail running event: The K2C Trail run.

On the first day, the runners ran from Franklin Park to Mariepskop and the second day in the Blue Canyon reserve at the foothills of the Escarpment. This annual event truly symbolises the links between the three biomes in Biosphere: the savannah, the grasslands and the Afro Montane forests and markets our landscape as a niche tourism destination.

Lazaro Sibaya, EM Programme was one of the runners that represented the K2C. “Running is my hobby. It gives me physical and mental strength. I started running with a dream to run the Comrades marathon. My dream became true when I ran my first comrades in 2017 which I finished in 11:42:44 time – big achievement for a Novice. I went on training hard to improve my qualifying time for better seeding. Shortly after joining K2C this year I went for my second comrades in June, with the aim of earning a back-to-back medal. I finished my down run with a big smile in 10:34:23 time. I earned a bronze medal.”
Lazaro running the K2C
He continued: “In July K2C afforded me an opportunity to participate in “K2C Challenge” trail run which was done in 2 days. I participated on the second day running from Blue Canyon game reserve and back to finish in Franklin Park - 19km. What an experience! The trail is the most challenging one. It started relatively flat with very steep hills and slopes after half way. It was my first trail run ever. I would like to participate fully (two days) next year if I could be afforded the opportunity again.”
The Event, supported by the K2C raised R38 800 for the Blyde Valley4 Trust, who is the new landowners of Mariepskop. “We appreciate the efforts that KZN Trail Running and the K2C Biosphere to support us” the Blyde Valley4 Trust Members said. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kukula Traditional Health Practitioners Association Bio-Cultural Community Protocols Revision Workshop & Peer-to-Peer Learning Exchange

By -
Image
Community mapping Natural Justice’s Cath Traynor together with Mina Buthelezi (SANParks BSP/K2C Data Collector & Field Assistant), and Prof. Wayne Twine (Wits University) facilitated a 3-day workshop with the Kukula Traditional Health Practitioners Association to revise their bio-cultural community protocol (BCP). The Kukula’s original BCP was finalized in 2010, and the past 6 years have seen a growth in Kukula membership, a change in their priorities plus the introduction by the South African Government of several new laws and policies which will impact the Kukula. The objectives of the workshop were to (i) finalize the BCP revision process, (ii) focused discussions concerning leveraging the revised BCP, (iii) furthering engagement around medicinal plant issues with protected areas managers, and (iv) peer-to-peer learning exchange with Ndindani Community Nursery in Phalaborwa . During the first session of the workshop the Kukula agreed on a BCP revision process, this wa...
Read more

K2C to start a blogging page

By -
Image
From the 1st Dec 2013, K2C will start a regular blog posting on this page.   Various potential bloggers will be approached by K2C to submit regular blogs on their life in the K2C, their challenges and opportunities.   If you would like to contribute and be a regular blogger on the K2C blog page, please contact info@kruger2canyons.org.   If you would like to be able to follow the regular blogs, please fill in your email address in the email block below "Follow by Email"
Read more

KNP ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CAPACITY BUILDING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORS

By -
Image
By Vulani Mabunda On the 19 th of July 2019 19x EMS from different host institutions, i.e.   Sefapane, Nourish and Letaba Ranch attended an Environmental Education workshop at Letaba Elephant Hall facilitated by KNP’s Kirsty Reedman and her team. Environmental Education (EE) connects us to the world around us, teaching about both natural built environments, EE raises awareness of issues impacting the environment upon which we depend, as well as actions we can take to improve and sustain it. The specific outcome s from the Workshop was to empower participants to be able to: Design and implement an environmental Education Programme Design and implement a children’s environmental education programme Design and implement an environmental education programme for visitors to a conservation area Through this workshop, EM's acquired a lot of knowledge and experience in terms of Environmental Education:  EM's learned how to integ...
Read more