GEORGE NEWS - Pushing boundaries and conquering new trails, Red Bull athlete and ultra-trail runner Ryan Sandes embraces the challenge and the freedom of the great outdoors ahead of the George Mountain Ultra-trail race (Mut), which is set to take place on 26 to 28 May.
Sandes is preparing to take on the challenging annual 100-Miler George Mut. The record-breaking athlete says his main reason for participating in the George Mut is to qualify for the Ultra-trail du Mont-Blanc World Series.
"The George 100-Miler Mut is now part of the UTMB World Series, and I need to get into the top-three position to qualify for the race in August."
Sandes has taken a break to recover from a pelvic injury sustained during his circumnavigation of Lesotho last year, but is back on the trail.
"I feel like I've come back really hungry and focused," he says. "At the end of last year, I brought a coach on board, Jason Koop from America. I feel like I'm gaining good momentum doing specific training for George Mountain and a better athlete overall."
The George Mut has rocky trails, technical downhills and exciting climbs with a total elevation of over 2 500m, taking runners through scenic views of the Garden Route Dam, the indigenous forest of Saasveld, nature reserves, and picturesque mountain trails. The terrain is known to test runners' mental and physical fitness.
As the first person to win an ultra-trail race on all seven continents, Sandes understands what it takes to prepare and compete at the highest level.
With over 15 years in the sport, he has achieved numerous impressive feats and is widely known for his mental toughness and ability to push himself to the limit in gruelling races. He attributes his unwavering endurance to months and sometimes years of extensive training, physical fitness, and mental focus for each 100-miler race. "In races, the guy who is the strongest mentally often wins," he says.
He does 12 to 20 hours a week of running, two to three hours of mobility and strength training, and pays regular visits to a chiropractor and a strength and conditioning coach. "There is a lot that goes into it."
After running across the globe, Sandes truly enjoys running in trails at home but has not had the opportunity to explore their magnificence, competitively.
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