Tru-Cape grower Orla du Toit wins the Otter African Trail Run.

The Otter African Trail Run, held on Saturday, October 8 is considered one of South Africa’s most challenging races that covers 42km of treacherous rocky coastline, including crossing the dangerous Bloukraans River and through the Tsitsikamma Forest on South Africa’s Garden Route. People typically take five-days to walk the Otter Trail.

Ceres’ Tru-Cape grower Orla du Toit, considered a veteran on account of being over 40-years of age, was the overall winner in the challenge.

Orla du Toit, business partner and wife of Tru-Cape’s Procurement Manager and apple, pear and cherry grower, Calla du Toit, is the former and undefeated Namibian junior high-jump champion . She was the fastest to finish the Otter in a mind-boggling 6:40:54.

Fellow veterans Riette van Rensburg and Lindy-Lee Folscher finished seven and 10 minutes behind the leader in second and third place.

Orla du Toit attributes her outstanding performance “absolutely to God’s Grace,” she says.

Her advice on trail running is to keep on moving, refuel and take in the beauty that surrounds you along with eating plenty fresh fruit and vegetables, apples and pears among them. “One cannot describe the beautiful nature that surrounds you when running the Otter. It really is a privilege,” she ends.