Rave Run Brand se Baai somewhere on the West Coast.

BRAND SE BAAI, WEST COAST

THE LOCATION

Brand Se Baai, a salt pan which marks the start of a series of great camping spots for many kilometres along the West Coast.

WHEN TO RUN

Evenings are a good time to head out of camp, as the sun sinks into the sea and the rocks take on a golden hue. Although the sun can often be relentless above this barren coastline, there is also a substantial haze to cool things down much of the time.

WORDS

Ryan Scott

PHOTOGRAPHS

Greg Miller

RUNNERS

Ryan Scott & Michael Arbuthnot

TERRAIN

Sand is the order of the day. Thankfully, most of these flowing stretches of beach are sturdy, hard-packed sand, with not much camber. There are rocky sections that join one beach to the next, and these also have to be run over, around or through, if you can find a natural path. Often the petite paw prints of small wild cats will show you the most efficient way through the rocky bits.

CONFIGURATION

Every run is an out-and-back affair. The beaches run north-south, and you can keep going for hundreds of kilometres if you want to. It’s mostly government land, and even the land that’s private is mandated to allow access to the coastal sections – a ruling which suits runners perfectly. There is also a long jeep track which runs the full length of the coastline, if you need a break from the beach.

THE RUN

The simple beauty of lacing up and running out of camp is liberating. At first glance, the starkness of this flat, relentless coastline seems as though it could be monotonous. But with every step, the abundance of life around you becomes more noticeable; and the reliability of the seemingly endless path ahead is comforting. Camp life complements the simplicity; there were occasions when we would run three times a day.

THE WEST COAST

The vast stretches of coastline as you head towards the Namibian border are magnificently uncomplicated and lacking in man-made structures. The continued allure of diamonds and precious metals means there is still mining in places, unfortunately; but for the most part you have just the roaring ocean, seagulls, and breaching whales for company.

PLANNING A RUN-CATION? FOR MORE INSPIRING PLACES TO RUN, VISIT RUNNERSWORLD. CO.ZA/TRAVEL.