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
"Thank you so very much for enabling us to have the privilege of running in such an amazing wilderness – the Richtersveld. It was hard, beautiful, awesome, challenging and so well worth it! Your teams - organising, logistics, kitchen, showers, water, safety, checkpoints and photography – surpassed themselves. Nothing was too much and always with a smile. The race was truly wonderful!"
Liz Brash
Richtersveld Wildrun® 2014
"This was the most astounding experience ever. The bush, the route, the experience, just unreal."
Bryan Mulliner
Safari-on-the-Run™: Mapungubwe 2017
Another massive thank you for such an incredible week in the Richtersveld. I have little doubt that this must be the top run in the country. If I never run again (which my knees & toes seem to think may be the case), I'll be satisfied that I at least got to tick Richtersveld off my list.
Amy Ebedes
Richtersveld Wildrun® 2014
"It is an experience of a life time. So well organised and you meet people from all over the world and you get to see apart of the world that not everyone gets to see and appreciate. You leave there feeling part of a second family."
Diana Tanner
The Namibia Crossing 2016
"Many thanks to you and the team for a truly wonderful experience. My soul could not get enough of the horizon to horizon beauty of the Wild Coast... at the necessary cost of a hammering to my feet!"
Mark Stone
Wildcoast Wildrun® 2014
"Thank you so much for another life-changing event. It's is truly a privilege to get to explore such a remarkable area, whilst making memories with my dad that will last both our lifetimes. If it weren't for your time and dedication to bringing incredible adventures to everyday people, we would never be able to experience something so unique. Can't wait for the next adventure!"
Janine Mazery
The Namibia Crossing 2016
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
Many thanks for a truly awesome experience. It has been one of the most outstanding adventures of my life. Right up there with travels in Tibet, climbing in Karakoram, South America and Spitskop. I thought the run was very hard and unremitting, yet possible for the person with adventure in their soul.
John Brimble
Richtersveld Wildrun® 2014
"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
"Simply the most amazing running experience I've had."
Gavin Shang
The Namibia Crossing 2016