Are you raising a mini-Warrior?

June 15, 2023

Racing Heats Up at Taroko Trail Park

Taroko Trail Park, 19 September 2026

A fresh morning greeted the Warrior Race family at Taroko Trail Park for Warrior Race #2. The sun teased competitors with the promise of warmer rays later in the day, but the wind was cool, the trails were still wet underfoot and the stage was set for another exciting day of obstacle course racing.

With the Black-Ops Elite athletes off the line, Brandon Hulley wasted no time taking control. Unbeaten in his last five Warrior Race races, Hulley’s international racing experience was evident from the start as he led the field out into the surrounding trails.

Black-Ops Elite Race

The wet conditions made the running sections slippery and technical, but Hulley remained composed. Through Potholes and onto Steel Pipe Shimmy, he made the obstacles look effortless, executing each one cleanly and extending his advantage over the chasing pack. Behind him, Mxolisi Zondi held firmly onto second, while Syanda Gwamanda, Hlelani Radebe and Louis Smit battled for position. At Mud Monster, the thick mud did its best to slow the leaders down. Hulley kept his body low and worked his way through efficiently, while Zondi fought for firmer ground underfoot as the mud sucked at every step.

There would be no catching Hulley. He crossed the line in 54:31, securing yet another Warrior Race victory. Zondi followed in 56:19, with Gwamanda completing the podium in 59:18.

The queen of Warrior Race strikes again in the Black-Ops Elite women’s race, Sabrina Daolio showed exactly why she remains such a force in South African obstacle racing. Returning from a successful international season, Daolio attacked the course from the start. Her strength was particularly evident through the long carries, including Canister Carry, where she continued to dominate. By the time she reached Mamba, Daolio was racing among the leading elite men. She took the plunge, powered through the water and up the net, even overtaking Radebe on her way through.

Daolio finished in an impressive 1:00:12, placing among the leading athletes overall and winning the women’s race by more than 11 minutes. Nerine Tecklenburg claimed second in 1:11:15, with Cindy Wills third in 1:14:12. Once again, Hulley and Daolio stood on the top step of the Black-Ops Elite podium.

Commando Elite Race

The Commando Elite women’s race came alive with some exciting and closely fought racing over the fast, free-flowing 8km course. Chizelle Benson took the victory in 58:15, with Shay-Lee Hulley hot on her heels, crossing the line just 41 seconds later in 58:56. Elizabeth Buys completed the podium in 1:04:29.

Marnu Vermaak, who had trained specifically for the event, delivered a strong performance to take the men’s title in 45:53. Kyle Fisher followed in 47:59, while only seven seconds separated him from third-placed Daniel Siller in 48:06. With more younger athletes progressing from the 5km Rookie category into Commando, the category is quickly becoming one of the most competitive at Warrior Race. At just two kilometres shorter than Black Ops, Commando provides an exciting step up for developing athletes and a clear pathway towards taking on the ultimate Warrior challenge.

Another Day to Remember

The new Taroko Trail Park venue delivered everything expected from a Warrior Race: beautiful trails, tricky conditions, technical obstacles and plenty of mud. More importantly, it brought the Warrior family back together. From elite athletes chasing podiums to competitors simply taking on the course for the fun of it, the day was filled with determination, camaraderie and that unmistakable Warrior gees. Couples, friends and families tackled the obstacles together, proving that Warrior Race is as much about the shared experience as it is about competition.

Relive the action and head over to our Instagram page and watch the Warrior Race #2 highlights, from the mud and obstacles to the moments that made race day unforgettable. With Warrior Race #2 done, the mud will wash off and tired muscles will recover, but the racing is far from over. The question now is: who will challenge Warrior Race #3 Cradle at Syringa park on 28 November 2026?

We all want our kids to grow up strong and smart – ready to take on the world. But have you ever wondered if you’re raising a mini-warrior? If your parenting methods and family activities are conducive to raising children with strong bodies and beliefs?

Let’s dive into why it’s pretty awesome and why it matters.

Getting Physical and Having Fun: Getting your little one involved in activities like sports, outdoor adventures, and regular exercise is not just good for their health but also helps them develop coordination, motor skills, and discipline. Plus, it’s a whole lot of fun!
Toughening Up Mentally: Life can be tough, so it’s crucial to teach our kids how to handle setbacks and bounce back stronger. Embracing failures as learning opportunities, solving problems, and never giving up are the qualities of a true mini-warrior.
Feeling the Feels: Mini warriors aren’t just physically strong, they’re emotionally smart too. By teaching your kids to understand and manage their emotions, empathise with others, and communicate effectively, you’re helping them build strong relationships and handle conflicts like champs.
Core Values: Mini warriors have a strong moral compass. By being role models and reinforcing values like honesty, respect, and kindness through positive reinforcement and open conversations, we’re moulding our kids into responsible and caring individuals.

Sounds familiar? This is where Virgin Active Warrior is a great opportunity to introduce your mini-Warrior to a fun but challenging course where they learn to fight their battles while having fun. Here is where they learn to endure tough situations and feel proud when they get it right. They learn that it’s OK to fail because you can try again. But most of all, they have an insane amount of fun and don’t even realise they’re training.

Mini-Warriors at Virgin Active Warrior

1. Warrior Kids Course

Our mini-Warriors are invited to brave a fun obstacle course designed specifically with our young adventurers in mind.

Age limit: 4 – 12 years

Number of obstacles: 8

Number of laps:

4 – 6 years: Min. 1 lap

7 – 9 years: Min. 2 laps

10 – 12 years: Min. 3 laps

The Warrior Kids course is located next to the Kids Area. We have two adults helping with supervision on the course, but kids normally do the obstacle course under the supervision of their parents or guardians (Parental supervision is compulsory for kids aged 5 years and younger).

2. Rookie Course

Age limit: 10 years and older

Distance: 5 kilometres

Number of obstacles: 15

If your child is already on his/her way to becoming a seasoned Warrior, they can join the adults on the Rookie course, provided they are older than 10 years.

Raising a mini-warrior isn’t just about physical strength; it’s about empowering our kids to be mentally tough, emotionally intelligent, and good-hearted. Let’s create a new generation of mini-warriors who will make this world a better place.

So, when you enter your next Virgin Active Warrior race, don’t leave your mini-Warrior behind – cheer them on as they conquer their own challenging course with their unstoppable spirit!

Let them earn their dog tag!

Warrior #2 KZN | 22 July

Warrior #3 CPT | 30 Sept

Warrior #4 GP | 28 Oct

Are you raising a mini-Warrior?

Racing Heats Up at Taroko Trail Park

Taroko Trail Park, 19 September 2026

Black-Ops Elite Race

Commando Elite Race

Another Day to Remember

Mini-Warriors at Virgin Active Warrior

1. Warrior Kids Course

2. Rookie Course

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