A journey, a story, a run, getting to otter 2023

The Company We Keep is a column on the CN&CO blog that profiles some of the most interesting people in our networks. Here we share the details of the lives of people we know, showcasing the extraordinary diversity of our society and proving that people truly are at the heart of everything we do. This month’s blog is written by one of our former CN&CO team mates, Joshua Nuttall whom some of us are lucky enough to run with. Well, start with at races – Joshua normally leaves us in his dust. Enjoy.

Running.

It’s perhaps the freest and truest form of exercise we can do. It’s an uncomplicated sport, far easier to pack for than cycling, and the trail running community is packed with an awesome and diverse group of people.

If I turn back the clock and think about running during my school, the large majority of it was done as a chore not for enjoyment. The primary reason I ran was to get ready and fit for the hockey season. I also wasn’t super fast. My friends from school will laugh when they read this. I ran a few races at university and gave myself two stress fractures in my shins in 2014 when I ran the Two Oceans half marathon a little too fast.

Back in 2018, two crazy friends (Kurt Solomon and Allan Bader) convinced me to join them as the third runner in their team to participate in the charity relay run Mad2Run. We’ll have to see if we can find our application video on the internet somewhere. This adventure was so much more than just a run and many of the stories we made will continue to be told for years to come.

In early 2019 I had my second knee operation with the hope of being able to get back into running. It’s been fascinating to trust the process and teach myself to run again. In 2019, I was also fortunate enough to do the Skukuza Half Marathon that allows runners to run in the heart of the Kruger National Park.

In 2021, in October I headed through to the Otter to watch a few mates and past colleagues take on the iconic route. I think I ran the Dassie this year and it gave me a taste of trail running. Even though the event had to contend with Covid-19, the energy was remarkable and I got a sense of how special it is to run this coast line. My people in 2021 asked me when I would run it, I said some day and that I wasn’t in a rush.

In 2022, I ran my first marathon in Spain – a spontaneous decision that I took a week before. My logic was it was a great way to explore the city I was in at the time. It remains the furthest that I have ever run and it’s a memory that will stay with me for a long time. That said though, I don’t recommend trying to run a marathon with no training and don’t try run a sub-3 hour time… it’s rather difficult to walk down stairs the next day.

This brings us to 2023. This year, I made the call to start working with a coach in June and joined the team at Alpas Fit crew. The main reason for deciding to work with a coach is that I am curious to see what is possible on the running front. It’s not easy to juggle training and grafting, but it’s doable. Anything that you put your mind to is doable though, you just have to prioritise and focus.

It’s been quite a running journey to get to where I am today and who knows where the path will lead next, the first stop is Otter 2023. It’s part of a journey that began in 2019 and a decision to get my body running ready, change doesn’t happen overnight and often requires a starting point.

I don’t know if I will be ready to run Otter this year at my full potential, but sometimes when an opportunity comes knocking you just need to say yes and figure the rest out on the journey. I’m deeply grateful for this opportunity and looking forward to seeing what this run is all about. Two remarkable brands have joined forces in a multiple year partnership, thanks @otterafricantrailrun and @easyequities for all you do.

The Otter is a beautiful run along the coastline in South Africa and it’s nickname “grail of trail” means that it’s respected on a global stage. I’ll be honest and say that while I am excited about the run, I am also a little nervous. Butterflies are a good thing right?!

Sport through the years has taught me an immense amount about myself, taken me to some incredible spaces, and it’s introduced me to some remarkable people.

It’s easier to connect the dots looking backwards and I guess that you could say the current venture that I am on in Stellenbosch South Africa wouldn’t have crossed my path if I hadn’t looked at the world differently in 2018. In 2018 I was fortunate to meet some of the people that I work with today in completely different space. A spontaneous interaction you could say.

Engage with generosity and lean into moments of serendipity. You never quite know how the journey of life will turn out or where the stops along the way may take you. If you’re running the Otter this year, I’ll see you on the start line of this icon event in October. If you’re not running, I encourage you over the next few months to say yes to something that crosses your path and explore the ride of the journey.