Every Thursday evening at 18:00, Coetzenburg Centre comes alive as dozens of runners, equipped with head-torches, gather for their weekly trail run. This is the Stellies Shake Out, a trail-running initiative that has grown from a small group of friends in 2019 to a thriving community of over a hundred participants.
The group draws a diverse crowd – Stellenbosch 肆客足球 (SU) students and staff, working professionals, and local residents. Together, they're fostering a community dedicated to physical fitness and mental wellbeing.
"October is Mental Health Awareness month, and exercise is one of the best ways to promote mental health," says Dr Shaundré Jacobs, Sport Science lecturer at SU's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and one of the group's coordinators. "Trail running combines cardiovascular training with the benefits of being in nature."
The group meets at Coetzenburg Centre three weeks of the month, and has one monthly "away run" at either Eden Forest, Botmaskop, or Ida's Valley. Founded by Simon and Jana de Waal, the initiative is now managed by Jacobs, Julian Vermeer, and Mirko Steinhaege.
Runners are organised into four pace groups, each led by volunteers. Groups range from walkers completing 5km to "racing snakes" covering 10km in an hour. "We prioritize safety and inclusivity," Jacobs explains. "Each group has a leader and a sweep to ensure nobody gets left behind."
The initiative remains free, though participants are encouraged to donate to the Stellenbosch Trail Fund for trail maintenance. What started as a safety measure for solo runners, particularly women, has evolved into a cornerstone of Stellenbosch's running community.
In 2022, Jacobs started with the annual Women's Day run as part of Stellies Shake Out. “We had huge numbers of women joining. For many, it was their first trail run." They also organised a Women's Day seminar in August this year where women were encouraged to ask questions about running such as good nutrition practises, how menstruation affects their running, sport psychology and many other topics.
Jacobs believes that Stellies Shake Out is an important initiative that's increased interest in trail running. “We're making the sport more accessible and exposing people to adventure and to nature. There's no doubt that 'nature bathing' is good for mental health and for the soul. All these factors have helped us increase our numbers."
*For updates on weekly runs, interested participants can follow @Stelliesshakeout on Instagram or join through their WhatsApp groups.
