Sit still and do nothing, that’s definitely not something you would do ? You're the sporty type, a thrill seeker? If over and above all of that, you like to travel and explore distant lands, we have for you the ideal destination. With its idyllic surroundings, fantastic scenery and lush green mountains, the Indian Ocean islands offer a perfect field for all adepts of racing in nature, those who do not fear obstacle races.
Many trails are now organized in the Indian Ocean islands throughout the year and whatever the type of athlete you are, there’s something out there for you. Mauritius, Reunion Island and Madagascar are the most active in this niche. For 2015, no less than 140 races, marathons, trails and other endurance sporting challenges are programmed for runners of all backgrounds and levels.
This year, the most difficult races will once again be on the calendar, amongst which , the Dodo Trail, in the south of Mauritius, which is more than 50 km long with an elevation of 3500m. Well enough to satisfy climbers... Meanwhile, the UTRB offers a 120km journey in the east of Mauritius with gradients of more than 4500m. More and more of these ultra trails are organized in all the Indian Ocean islands. While some take place on a day, others turn into obstacle races. They force the athletes participating in these races to push their physical and psychological limits. Among these events, the Sri Lankan Wild Elephant Trail offers participants six days of intensive competition, during which they cover over 210Km. In the same line, the Trail of l’Ile Rouge in Antananarivo also runs on six days over 135 km.
It goes without saying that the safety of the participants is taken very seriously and that these technical races are targeted towards seasoned athletes and those already accustomed to extreme conditions. However, beginners and average riders rest assured. The trail remains an open challenge to all. Many more relaxed and much less long runs are available for all to enjoy the wonderful environment of these islands. The Ferney Trail and the Royal Raid Mauritius offer 4km and 15 km races* for beginners.
The next trail on the calendar is the Mauritius Adventure Raid Trophy (MART). It will take place on February 7 and 8 in the "wild" south of Mauritius. This is a challenge for those who want to try a multi-sport competition and test their team spirit. In teams of three, you can share the challenge. Running, cycling, archery, water crossing and paddle, pick your sport. It should be noted however that the MART is dedicated to trail specialists. Two accommodation options are available to international athletes. They can sleep in the comfort of a Lux* hotel or in the wild, in tents installed in the Domaine Chazal.
These races allow participants to excel physically and mentally while discovering the islands in another aspect, with another eye. They draw you in fact to beautiful and fascinating landscapes on the mountain heights of Mauritius, Madagascar and Sri Lanka as well as inland areas sometimes inaccessible otherwise...
Here is a list of some trails to come in the Indian Ocean islands for 2015:
Adventure Raid Mauritius Trophy (30Km) - Mauritius: February 7-8
Marathon Eco Friendly (42Km) - Seychelles: February 22
The Wild Elephant Trail (210Km) - Sri Lanka: 6-14 March
Trail Grand Bassin (60Km) - Reunion: March 28
Trail of 2Rivières (60Km) - Reunion: April 11
UTOP (30/60/120) - Madagascar: 01-03 May
Royal Raid (15/35 / 80Km) - Mauritius: May 9
Arc en Ciel Course (63Km) - Reunion: June 27
Isalo Raid (22/42 / 80Km) - Madagascar: July 25-26
Dodo Trail (5/10/25 / 50Km) - Mauritius: July 26
UTRB Mauritius (10/42 / 120Km) - Mauritius: August 1-2
Ferney Trail (4/10/17 / 35km) - Mauritius: September 5
Trail of the Red Island (135km) - Madagascar: September 22 to October 4
Trail of Rodrigues (7/22 / 42Km) - Rodrigues: November 8
Nosy Be Trail (30 or 60km) - Madagascar: December 12
Credit Photo: Stephan Laï-Yu & Lux*Sports
