Local trail star AJ Calitz, fresh from his victory at the Verdon 100k Canyon Challenge in France, recently travelled to KwaZulu-Natal to participate in one of the local short course races near Pietermarizburg, hosted by KZN Trailrunning. Afterwards, we got the chance to hang out with him and chat to him about the upcoming Lesotho Ultra Trail:
Lesotho Ultra Trail [LUT]: It’s been a big start to the year AJ what with a challenging run at the Zegama SkyMarathon(® in Spain and that incredible maiden 100km win at the Verdon Canyon Challenge in France. How has this experience geared you up for the second half of the year, especially as we head towards Africa’s first Ultra SkyMarathon® in Lesotho in November?
AJ Calitz [AJC]: It has been a mixed year to be honest, I didnt have a great start - 2nd at the Two Oceans Trail Run and third at both African X and SA Ultra champs in Stellenbosch - so its been rather dissapointing actually - but europe was great, very happy with the win at Verdon. I had to take it easy with the knee for a couple of weeks [after a heavy fall at Zegama] so now I have to do the hard graft all over again! Lesotho [Ultra Trail] is still quite a while still so I'm going to be focussing on the local races, specifically the Otter African Trail Run for now.
LUT: We understand this is going to be your first time competing at such a high altitude. Tell us a little more about what you’re expecting from the Maluti Mountains come race day?
AJC: After those pics and videos you showed me, my immediate thoughts were it looks AMAZING, I cant wait to have a go, but I will be doing some more research closer to the race. From the little that I've seen we are in for quite a ride! Some beautiful and fast runnable trails to epic climbs and descents...
LUT: Living at sea level in your home town of Melkbos down in the Western Cape, what kind of preparation are you going to be doing ahead of the race? Are you going to get a chance to do some high altitude running before the race?
AJC: Yes, I'll be doing some training on the route in October and spending a lot of time around Matroosberg (2300m) and the Karoo in preparation
LUT: Having recently run shoulder to shoulder with Killian Jornet in Zegama, what impact do you think it has for SA trail and skyrunning that some of the top American and Canadian ultra runners are headed here to toe the line with you and the rest of the South African guys in November?
AJC: its great, it will give us a yardstick to see how good we are, and how much work we have left! Also, it will put SA skyrunning on the world stage to have the top athletes racing - perhaps we can even scare one or two of them... [hahahaha]
LUT: And finally AJ, what’s your message to aspirational skyrunners who want to up their game and achieve more on the dirt?
AJC: Mmm that's a tough one - if you live at the coast like me, do the best with what you have. if you are more fortunate to live at altitude - do the hard yards, your body will thank you in the end. but mostly we are incredibly blessed to be able to run in the mountains - SA has incredible biodiversity - a couple of hours can take you into pretty much any climate nature has to offer - thats awesome!