Tranquil Gumbo does hill training on tar roads because the surface is harder.
For Tranquil Gumbo, trail running is the best thing on earth.
His growing collection of trophies proves his passion.
The 25-year-old Ruimsig local thought soccer was great, until he tried a 5km fun run in Edenvale in 2011, and won.
“Then I did the Joburg 10km Cityrun and was beaten by young girls, so I decided to start training,” he joked.
Gumbo began to take running seriously and found he enjoyed trail runs the most.
“The scenery is great, you see animals as you go, and the runners are more friendly on trails. You can even walk if you want.”
Tranquil Gumbo wins the 20km Merrell Autumn Day Run at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden.
The Zimbabwe-born athlete explained that speed was not as important as power and persistence on a run in the bush, and you learn to take uphills in your stride.
Gumbo became the first person to ever complete the 12km short trail run at the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon and then run the ultra marathon (56km) the next day, which he did twice – in 2014 and 2015.
Tranquil Gumbo sometimes joins other runners in their training around Ruimsig.
Between 2014 and 2016, he won the short trail run at the Two Oceans Marathon, won the Spur Trail Series twice, and his team came second in the 90km Cell C AfricanX Trail Run.
This year he won the first leg of the Gem Trail Series, as well as the 20km Merrell Autumn Day Run at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden the following day.
Gumbo has taken trail running so seriously, he now works as a trail designer and route marker for the trail running company, My Road Less Travelled.
Gumbo’s training often involves running 9km from his home to the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, running on the trails there for several kilometres, and then running back home.
Gumbo hopes to win the long distance (24km) trail run at the Two Oceans on 14 April.
