The Essence
of Wildrun
Who we are
The heartbeat of the Wildrun® is exploring & experiencing truly wild places on the run. Be it on the Wild Coast of South Africa, the remote mountains of Lesotho, the geologically & botanically rich Richtersveld desert or the bushveld of Mapungubwe, each Wildrun® is unique and will be sure to leave an indelible impression on your life.
No markers. No massive crowds. Just you, your sense of adventure and a truly wild place. Be prepared to experience a run like no other.
The Story of
Wildrun(ner)
What we're about
Three or more days of wilderness trail running through some of the most rugged and beautiful scenery in Southern Africa. This is the backbone of a Wildrun®.
The Wildrun® is organised by Wildrunner, premier trail running event organisers in South Africa. We focus on pure trail running with a heartbeat born from a lifetime's passion of exploring wild places on the run.
Wildrunner was established in November 2007 and has held over 200 trail running events in seven South African provinces, as well as Internationally in Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
With this comes a wealth of trail and mountain running event management experience that is unmatched in Africa.
The Wildrun
Management Team
Who runs the world
Owen Middleton
Founder & Managing Director
Trail running, sailing, mountaineering, adventure racing, orienteering, surfing, paddling, kloofing, rock climbing, fly fishing, scuba diving & mountain biking are the life-blood of what makes Owen tick.
Tamaryn Middleton
General Manager
The Real Boss. She is the backbone of Wildrunner and will put a smile on your face any time of the day. Her passion is people, with a healthy dose of scuba diving, trail running and general adventure-seeking thrown in!
Marion Siebrits
Chief of the 100 acre wood (and damn good at catering to!)
Marion's ability to cook up a feast in the middle of nowhere is a gift. She is never short on laughter or practical jokes, but when it comes to delivery always the consummate professional, and when you taste her food you will no doubt agree!
Jason Sharrock
Hospitality & logistics
When not organising events Jason can be found smashing the waves on his surfboard or cruising the cattle trails on his Momsen mountain bike. From entertaining guests to making a plan with broken trailers, Jason is the wild asset working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep operations moving ahead smoothly.
Wildrun
Testimonials
What people are saying
"The decision to do the Wildrun was one of the best I have made in my life! The past four days have been exciting, nerve-wrecking, challenging, hilarious and uplifting…all-in-one. I realised how blessed we are to be healthy, fit and strong; what the true meaning of being a ‘running partner’ and friend is; how fulfilling it is to run in silence along the long stretches of beach (with the sound of the waves in my ears); how good it feels to be tired at the end of a fulfilling day; how wonderfully our bodies get restored after a decent meal and a good night’s rest… Many fond memories were made, which I will still be telling my great-grandchildren when my running days are long past."
Maryke Neizel
Wildcoast Wildrun® 2013
"This was the most astounding experience ever. The bush, the route, the experience, just unreal."
Bryan Mulliner
Safari-on-the-Run™: Mapungubwe 2017
Thanks again for an AWESOME Lesotho Wildrun! I really enjoyed it, and think it was a huge success. The remoteness and solitude, even if you run with a couple of friends, was awesome – it beats most runs I’ve done, and as an overall experience rates very high on my scores. I think both overnight venues were super – great hospitality and it was very cosy to go and sit in the bar area on day 2 when it was cold and wet outside. Having finished such a tough event is obviously why it feels more rewarding than most other trail runs – hopefully it remains tough, and everyone comes better prepared. There are a lot of runs if you are looking for an “easy” run, and I think the toughness and “out there” factor should remain part of the appeal of the Lesotho Wildrun. Thanks for all your hard work and well done on a super event.
Louis vd Walt
Lesotho Wildrun 2011
I can't put into words a thank you big enough for the unbelievable few days you gave us last week! The Wildrun has been the highlight of 14 years of running and frankly it has been a life changer for me too! Its all too easy to come home and rave about the event without actually acknowledging the people that made it all a dream come true! So thank you and congrats on such a winning formula!
Tamara MacMillan
Wildcoast Wildrun® 2014
Rwanda is truly remarkable. From the cleanliness, litter free streets to the warm and friendly people - you are left with a sense that the country works as one. Then you have the diversity of landscapes. When you first see the Volcanoes rising out of mist, clad in towering montane forests, it will take your breath away. Set foot in those forests, the smells, the sounds. Then Lake Kivu, edged by intricate bays and towering hills clad in rural fields and hard working Rwandans. Then Nyungwe Forest and the chance to run the largest, best preserved montane tropical forests in Africa, and not only that but the ridgeline that seperates the Congo and Nile river basins. It's experiences like this that gives reason to run!
Owen Middleton
Rwanda Wildrun® recce 2018
We had the most fantastic time. It was profoundly the most astounding experience ever. I had to pinch myself daily to be sure I wasn’t dreaming. The organization just brilliant – tents, exquisite meals, cold beers, G&T on the hill at sunset with spectacular views, staff just going out of their way to be helpful. The logistics behind getting an event such as this to run without a hitch must be mind-blowing and you guys pulled it off. Not to mention the wildlife, fascinating history and incredible community involvement.
Bryan Mulliner
Safari-on-the-Run™: Mapungubwe 2017
"A heartfelt thank-you for a truly magnificent seven days in the Ai-Ais Richtersveld National Park. What a special experience it was to run through such a uniquely exquisite part of our beautiful Africa, and made all the more so by being in the unbelievably capable hands of the Wildrunner team. Everyone on the event marvelled at how slick your operation is – quite honestly, I don’t know how you do it! I can only imagine the degree and depth of forward- and on-the-ground planning that has to go into not only creating a wilderness baby like the Richtersveld Transfrontier Wildrun®, but making it happen so smoothly and in such a fun atmosphere that it all looks so simple, so stress-free. That’s definitely an art, and you guys have mastered it! I can say without hesitation that the RTW was the best organised race I’ve ever done. And at risk of sounding corny, I loved every minute."
Linda Doke
Richtersveld Wildrun® 2016
"3 years ago I took on what I thought at that stage was the biggest challenge of my life - the Wildcoast Wildrun - 112km of trail running over 3 days. Little did I know that would ignite my passion for trail running. And 3 years later I completed 3 Wildcoast Wildruns in 2016, 2017 and 2019 and in return was awarded my “Nguni” trophy in celebration of those 336km spent on the most beautiful coastline in South Africa. And the cherry on top - my PB for the race in 2019.
Thank you Owen Middleton, Tamaryn Middleton and the rest of the #wildrunteam for hosting this special event. I wish every runner out there can experience it one day!"
Nicolette Koch
Wildcoast Wildrun 2019
It’s been about 36 hours since I finished the Lesotho Wildrun and I am ready to go again. Thank you so much for that incredible event. It was an amazing experience which I absolutely loved. Meeting all those incredible people and seeing those beautiful trails, really were awesome. Your team were fantastic. Especially Robbie, he always put a smile on my face when I saw him out on the trails. Thanks again, hope to see you guys soon.
Andrew Lowndes
Lesotho Wildrun 2012
"Absolutely loved it and have recommended it to many people already. Although Initially I felt it was quite expensive for a running race, by the time I left, I felt it was worth every cent - saw the logistics involved. Also loved the people I met and the race crew were awesome."
Janel van Schoor
Wildcoast Wildrun® 2014