SPOT southern Africa will be sponsoring the tracking of the Elite Runners at the 2018 Otter African Trail Run. The elite field, including Christiaan Greyling, Marc Lauenstein, Kane Reilly and Meghan Mackenzie, will carry a small, lightweight, SPOT Gen3® satellite tracking and safety device to allow followers to track the race through the rough and out-of-cellular-range route. All runners will have the opportunity to hire a device through OtterShop : http://otter.run/product-category/tracking/ prior to the race so loved ones at home may follow their progress as well as have emergency response at the tip of their fingers should the need arise.

This year the Otter African Trail run marks the Grand Final for the 2018 Golden Series and takes place from 17 - 20 October 2018 starting in Nature’s Valley and finishing at Storm’s River Mouth. With 42 kilometres distance and 2600 meters of elevation gain, this race forces even the strongest of runners to walk and with a TrailFactor of 2.0, the Otter can take twice as long as the equivalent distance on road. Rugged, rough, off-the-grid and being beyond cellular range makes this the perfect environment to use SPOT’s satellite-based technology. As the race status was previously limited to checkpoints, SPOT devices will now enable followers to track the race at 5 minute intervals, increasing supporter experience and providing insight about the location of participants for emergency response should it be needed.

Belen Sanchez, Event Director for The Otter African Trail Run commented, “SPOT is the benchmark when it comes to race management due to its satellite based tracking in remote areas. It is a cutting edge tool for organisers to monitor the exact progress of their participants as well as track the whereabouts of their resources in terms of logistics, media and safety personal and vehicles. SPOT exponentially increases the speed and effectiveness of emergency response while significantly reducing the amount of personal required to provide a responsible level of safety and emergency support for a remote event. Being reliant on satellite coverage, not cellular, means it is nearly 100% reliable and opens up a broad range of remote areas that can be effectively managed from an event perspective. SPOT also enables the public to follow a remote event through regular coverage. This dramatically increases the level of interest that can be generated bringing sports that previously were hard to follow or understand to global audiences. This exponentially increases the value of the event property.”
SPOT is no stranger to the trail running vertical; recently having tracked Ryan Sandes and SPOT Ambassador Ryno Griesel’s adventure to traverse and beat the Fastest Known Time for The Great Himalaya Trail. Other trail ambassadors and regular contenders in the Otter African Trail Run include Rory Scheffer, Naomi Brand and Marzelle van de Merwe. Rory Scheffer, a top 10 finisher in the 2016 and 2017 races, commented. “Having SPOT on board as the tracking partner for the event is amazing! Now our supporters get to follow us along the whole route and follow the race closely. Due to the remoteness of the race and lack of access, supporters never got a chance to see the race unfold. Now they get to be a part of the action."

“We are proud to provide support to the Otter African Trail Run this year especially as it forms the Grand Final for the Golden Series. The beautiful remote and rugged terrain of the Otter Trail is the perfect playing ground for our devices which use satellite technology, which is not reliant on cellular coverage, to transmit tracking and emergency messaging to followers. Supporter’s viewing experience and runner’s safety will increase considerably,” commented Deborah Fourie, Marketing Manager of Globalstar Satellite Africa.

About Globalstar, Inc.
Globalstar is a leading provider of mobile satellite voice and data services. Customers around the world in industries such as government, emergency management, marine, logging, oil & gas and outdoor recreation rely on Globalstar to conduct business smarter and faster, maintain peace of mind and access emergency personnel. Globalstar data solutions are ideal for various asset and personal tracking, data monitoring, SCADA and IoT applications. The Company's products include mobile and fixed satellite telephones, the innovative Sat-Fi satellite hotspot, Simplex and Duplex satellite data modems, tracking devices and flexible service packages.

Note that all SPOT products described in this press release are the products of SPOT LLC, which is not affiliated in any manner with Spot Image of Toulouse, France or Spot Image Corporation of Chantilly, Virginia.

Trail runner Christiaan Greyling (Jeep Team SA/Salomon/Garmin), after his recent Top 12 result in the 110km Ultra Pirineu, is back on home soil and ready for the coveted Otter Run, a race that is considered the benchmark of technical marathon-distance trail running. The 44km Otter Trail is regarded as one of the finest ‘hikes’ in the world.  Alternating East to west and west to east each year, this year, the event will be run from East to West, starting at Storms River Mouth Rest Camp and finishing at De Vasselot Camp Site, Natures Valley.  It includes four river crossings, over 2600 metres of elevation and eleven significant climbs along a relentlessly technical coastal route. 

Greyling, who has competed in the race five times, ran his first Otter in 2011, posting a time of just under 5h30m. Since then he has run the race almost 20 minutes faster each year, and this year he is believing big! “I believe I can do a sub-4, but I’m not sure when. Based on my run last year, I am aiming for 4h10m, but that all depends on my recovery and preparation over the past few weeks abroad.

I prefer the Classic, running from Storms River to Nature’s Valley, as I love the first technical section and will be able to maintain a good position among the speedsters,” said Greyling. Greyling will have a huge fight on his hands as the field is stacked with South Africa’s finest trail champions including Kane Reilly who earlier this year achieved a top-5 finish at the Marathon de Mont Blanc in the French Alps. Other top contenders are winner of this year’s 53km Merrell Whale of Trail Challenge, Rory Scheffer, and 2015 Skyrunning African Champ, Thabang Madiba.  

In the women’s race, defending champion and record holder, Robyn Owen (Jeep Team/Best4Sports) will have her work cut out for her as she competes against the likes of two-time winner, Landie Greyling, who is in great shape and capable of a 4h30m finish this year, and the ever-improving Meg Mackenzie who won the Hout Bay Trail Challenge.  Owen is in great shape though and is now competing full time as an adventure athlete. She has come leaps and bounds since last year and is stronger than ever. Owen for Gold.  The 2017 Otter African Trail Run kicks off on Friday, 27 October 2017, with registration and the prologue, a 3.5km time-trial run to determine seeding for the main event on Saturday, 28 October 2017. 

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EDITORS NOTES 

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Photo Credit: Terence Vrugtman| AdevtureLifeSA 

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