Durban is brimming with a colourful group of women trail runners and walkers who are intent on letting go of everyday stress and enjoying the thrill of running or meandering wild through the woods.
If you’re desperate to get off your couch and into some kind of fitness routine; keen on taking a stroll but wish you had a gang to do it with, unable to visualize running a single kilometre, but wanting to give it a try; meet Wander Woman KZN. These fabulous, fun and energetic groups of female-only runners, joggers and walkers, gather once (sometimes twice) a week to enjoy fresh air, exercise at their own pace and each other’s company.
We took up the challenge to ramble with them through some incredible green space at Morewood Farm in Hillcrest and we had the time of our lives! Not only did we find our way back (thankfully unscathed) to the trailhead before our water bottles were empty, but we loved the experience and company so much that we’ve made plans to do it again.
Our trail was spearheaded by Shireen Hannah, an effervescent and enthusiastic woman who is no Frith van der Merwe (this was comforting) but can certainly pick up a brilliant pace when she chooses to. The group of like-minded women, aged between 20 and 70-plus, hit the trail every Tuesday at 8am, come rain, shine … or mud!
On average, it’s a 4 to 5km route, and you can run, walk, or meander and smell the flowers. While not everybody can keep up with the runners, the group is all about empowering and encouraging women of all fitness levels to feel comfortable while celebrating who they are. Whether you do or don’t have a running gene in your body, you can hook up with any one of the different fitness level groups along the trail. There’s no pressure to finish first, and it generally takes an hour (okay maybe a little more, if like us, you get lost (visually) taking in all the beauty of this luscious local reserve) to complete a trail.
Wander Woman KZN was started just over a year ago by enthusiastic sportswoman and physiotherapist Dawn Nunes, who now lives in the UK but regularly returns and joins in whenever she can. The group’s first trail, which was at Morewood, had three members.
“To date we have around 100 members of all ages, shapes and sizes and, because of this diversity, no one is ever left to ‘wander’ on their own. Many of the women in this group have made connections and built friendships while improving their health, fitness levels and lifestyles, myself included,” said Shireen.
Responsible for planning the routes and running the Wander Women KZN Whatsapp group, Shireen hits each trail at her own pace, traversing back and forth (depending on how well the route is marked) to capture a few memorable photos and check on any newcomers.
“Marinda van der Walt, one of the group’s faster runners, leads from the front, and Liz Alexander, who is in her late 60s – and a hoot a minute – runs up and down to keep her ‘brood’ in check. As a result, she’s inherited the nickname Jungle Jane.”
What becomes glaringly evident after completing only a few metres into the trail, is that trail running taps into something that road running does not – a sense of adventure that comes from rambling through the woods, trying not to trip over rocks, roots and ruts, and being surrounded by nature in all her glory.
“If we do a trail that has a waterfall, some of us stop and revive our feet in its waters and, on pet-friendly trails, little dogs go for a dip, so it really is doable at a leisurely pace and can be enjoyed by all.”
Shereen says afterwards, those who have the time to hangout a bit longer inevitably supports each trail venue’s coffee shop (or the nearest artisan one to this) by enjoying a cuppa (or an iced latte) and a catch up.
“We have the most amazing time discovering all that our area has to offer, both on and off the trail. Sometimes (or actually most of the time) there is nothing better than iced coffee and chocolate after a hot trot. During coffee, we also acknowledge the ladies who have reached any milestone runs with a fridge magnet or coaster and we capture the moment and share it to social media. It really is motivating, especially if you have never done any type of exercise before. It’s a good laugh too.”
What’s so incredibly rare about this group is that there are no membership fees (bar the occasional trail location entry fee) … you just pitch up to the venue as advertised on their Whatsapp group or Instagram feed (@wanderwomenkzn) and join in.
“On a Friday late morning, we send out the route info for the following week (it will stipulate if there is a trail charge) and come Tuesday, those who are keen and able, turn up. We’ve also started doing a Friday afternoon trail at 4pm, for those who might have work commitments and can’t make a Tuesday Morning.”
And the dress code? Whatever you feel most comfy in when it comes to exercising. Trail shoes are great if you have, but regular gym or running takkies will do just fine. A cap and a bottle of water are always a good idea, and don’t forget the sunblock.
Details: Shireen on 083 661 2770.
