ULTRA TRAIL CAPE TOWN UTCT

Ultra-Trail Cape Town has become one of the world's great endurance events, attracting some of the biggest names in global trail running. From the mountain trails to the beaches and forests, the UTCT route is unique, and often packed with enthusiastic supporters. It's a must-do on every runner's bucket list.

-  Mike Finch

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, GRAND DESIGNS

From schoolboy acquaintances to trail-running visionaries Nic Bornman and Stuart McConnachie are aiming high for Ultra-Trail Cape Town.

Back in March 2014, former retail manager Stuart McConnachie was at a loose end. He had just left his job, and was looking for a fresh opportunity.

As luck would have it, he noticed a post on Facebook talking about the launch of a new race called Ultra-Trail Cape Town, credited to one Nic Bornman. McConnachie thought he recognised the name from his schooldays at Rondebosch Boys High, and messaged Bornman.

It turned out the two knew of each other via friends and older brothers at school; and McConnachie, an enthusiastic trail runner, was eager to learn more about Bornman's plans.

"He just admitted that he wasn't quite sure how he was going to pull it off; but he was going to give it a bash," McConnachie remembers. "And since he was working as an architect in Hong Kong at the time, and I was based in Cape Town... I said I was in, to help to get it off the ground." Bornman explained that he couldn’t pay McConnachie, but would appreciate the help.

“I told him it was fine. I just knew inside that this was my next thing,” McConnachie says.