Excited runners and willing adventure seekers are lined up at the Constance Epopelia Hotel in Mahe, Seychelles, for the highly expected second version of Seychelles Nature Trail.
In the morning, it arrived on August 23, 2025 to cool and cloudy conditions, bringing welcome to the runners. Light rain all night and until morning made for ideal tropical conditions.
International field
With 169 participants from all over the world, including 52 international athletes, with 10 from South Africa, The registration of the hotel was enthusiastically and a truly cosmopolitan feeling, such as people from different cultures and countries-as far away as Pakistan gathered for information before the race.
With the numbers of races collected and nailed, the runners were ready to explore the natural beauty of the Seychelles on foot.
Connection to nature
With the aim of promoting the natural beauty of the area, The idea of the race is about connecting people with nature. The 22km lesson turns through the virgin beaches, the natural forest and the mountain passages.
The runners of Mass Start from the hotel under cool and cloudy conditions. Starting from the concrete streets, the rhythm was fast, taking the field to the first kilometers before the first technical section.
Challenging route
The first stern test comes after the 4km signal, with concrete giving way to a technical ascent on rough rocks and a steep path. Runners were rewarded for their efforts with spectacular ocean views and a picturesque area along the graphic coast of 6-9 kilometers.
The large climb of the day began on the 10km sign as the runners entered the Morne Seychellois National Park. Climbing over 400 vertical meters below 2 kilometers, the runners were greeting from a dense rainforest.
While it is very welcome to mitigate the heat, Persistent rain turned parts of the path in slippery mudmaking an already technical path even more difficult.
However, the spectacular natural beauty of the surrounding forest, indicated by bird calls, the sound of the running water and the cheer of encouragement by the friendly support crew along the way it ensured that even the hardest sections were manageable and unforgettable.
Stretching in 16 kilometers puts the runners deep in the wild, with Runners who collapse the highest point of the route to 500 meters above sea level.
As climbing gave way to steep and technical backgrounds, the runners took their way through the Rock Gardens and the Welling Forest Trails, enjoying a spectacular view of the rivers, the rich biodiversity of the area and the flashes of the ocean, as they finished in the Grande.
Impressive results
Overall, The runners won 1210m in an increase in lifting compared to the provocative but extremely rewarding 22km. course.
The winner of the inaugural Trail Nature Seychelles, Isabelle Lamy from reunification, returned to defend its title, crossing the line in 3h05m05s.
Aisha Adwan from Seychelles ended the second in total at 3h27m14s, With South African Shaundre Jacobs ending the day in third place at 3h32m28s.
South African women also took place on the podium in the age categories, with Jacobs winning second place in the Senior Women 24-39 years.
Capetonians Kim Woolrich and Georgina Peters also secured trim on the podium in their age categories. Woolrich was the first in the category of Masters Women 40-49 and fourth. Peters was the second in the category of Masters Women 50-59 and the ninth overall. 
Caption: image here from left to right Kim Woolrich, Shaundre Jacobs, Georgina Peters
- Isabelle Lamy (Reu) 3:05:03
- Aisha Radwan (Sey) 3:27:14
- Shaundre Jacobs (RSA) 3:32:28
- Kim Woolrich (RSA) 3:33:15
- Marjorie Edme (Reu) 3:41:16
- Fantine Soulat (Sey) 3:42:05
- Isabelle Joseph (MRI) 3:42:30
- Vanessa Sinon (Sey) 3:49:18
- Georgina Peters (RSA) 3:54:34
- Zoe Bargis (Sey) 3:58:52
For more information about Seychelles Nature Trail and to close your spot at 2026 and plan your trip, visit Ilop sport and Live Seychelles.
Thanks to Tourist council for the hospitality of the author and other media in the event. Accommodation provided by Avani+ Barbarons Seychelles.
Author: Pedro van gaalen
When he does not write about sports or health and suitability, Pedro is probably out of training for the next marathon or the super-marathon. He has worked as a fitness professional and as a marketing specialist and comms. He now combines his passions in his role as a manager at Fitness magazine.
