(NOTE: if you are looking for the video uploads scroll down …)

Last year, The OTTER African Trail run presented by Hi-Tec  took me 8h40m to complete (*For most, the Otter trail is something you book for a year in advance to hike over 5 days)  It is undoubtably 42.2km of the toughest most beautiful terrain that you can ever imagine, and the second day of 6 days of what has become the legendary SOUTHERN STORM presented by Hi-tec.

And in 2010? Guess what? I got to do it all again. This time 7h33m … nice! I love what I do, I love this event and what it does to people.  What Magnetic South put together is absolutely out of this world. I hope that what I have captured will touch your soul and will make you ask yourself just when you are going to Just push play … !  I have found myself amongst the most amazing people, in the most amazing places. it feels surreal.

The same question that I get from most …? ”Was it as tough as last year?” (Yes, I was fitter than last year but that doesnt answer the question!) It was shorter, but tougher. I had to dig deeper and considering I have done 3 ironman, and this is my second Southern Storm (and Otter)  you’ d think I’d just lace up and make it happen. Well, the truth is that it’s not that type of event … It is magical. It’s nature at its most rugged and most beautiful to be respected and to be challenged respectfully. It wants you to succeed, but more that that it demands that you respect it. So much so that you need to get there and do it for yourself. What I share here, is just a snippet of it. Will I be back for more? lol …. what do you think? Just push play.

My thanks, love and support go to Magnetic South, the crew that were up before us, there after us, fed us, cleaned us, drove us and ultimately produced something magical. Also to Kelvin Trautman (www.kelvintrautman.com) photographer extraordinare. And of course, Iain Don Wauchope (two times winner) who once again beat me and won the race (he was 9 hours ahead of me after 6 days – no wonder he won, he had an extra nights sleep!

Lastly to Lu and HB for looking after us, the massages, the 13 lifestruck legends that went out there had a jol and made me smile,laugh, dig deep and leave wanting more.  Plett, Flashbacks and Southern Storm to a whole new level.

Stu (0795029939)

JUST PUSH PLAY

SOUTHERN STORM 2010 – Presented by Hi-Tec

Southern Storm 2010 – the Day before (Otter trail marathon day for those only doing Otter) [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fGqbWkAqJ4[/youtube]

Southern Storm 2010 – Day 1. THE PROLOGUE[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDUGxp67l04[/youtube]

Southern Storm 2010 – Day 2. THE OTTER[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7N2O2TRASU[/youtube]

Southern Storm 2010 – Day 3. MTB (check) Shoes (check) mind ? (if you dont mind, it doesnt matter[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NAyrMNN8go[/youtube]

Southern Storm 2010 – Day 4 – Shatta-sore-us-rex [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz2LFsm0pS4[/youtube]

Southern Storm 2010 – Day 5 — Double Duathalon. The toughie [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znl_PSLEV54[/youtube]

Southern Storm 2010 – Day 6 – Final Day. Storm Chasin’ [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esJBrVWrrWY[/youtube]

The week before: Usually at this stage before a big event like Southern Storm, I am a mouthful of “teeff” and a dodgy “omfg” awkward smile … that says … “What have h#ll have I signed myself up for!?  This time, … I am exactly the same! – funny that …! see you in a week.  Just push play!  (this is what we got up to this weekend)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrlV5BDUKk4[/youtube]