OUTENIQUA TRAVERSE

The new face of the Outeniqua Traverse / Om die Berg

2010-11-18T16:36:00.001+02:00

I have some exciting news to announce, Tatum Prins will be running the show in 2011 and I am sure she will take this event to the next level. I wish Tatum all the best and look forward to seeing the new look Outeniqua Traverse / Om die Berg in 2011.

Tatum races for the Merrell Adventure Addicts and has recently won the women's section of the Skyrun (coming in 5 th overall).

The date for the 2011 run is Saturday, 6 August. Hopefully I will be lining up with other runners to 'enjoy' this tough 40 km trail run.

Who is Molly Pension

2010-09-06T17:21:00.001+02:00

I was going through some bank statements and picked up a deposit with reference 'Molly Pension'. Well I can't recall any entrants by that name so perhaps someone paid the money into the wrong account...

OR it was a generous donation, in which case, I would like to thank you for that!

If it was a mistake, please contact me and we can take it from there. You will need to prove it was from you though!

Your comments on the run

2010-08-13T21:31:00.004+02:00

Once again, thanks for a great race on Saturday. I must say I preferred the route this year – going up those switchbacks is not nice. I cant believe how hot it was on the stretch from the dam to the top of Craddock Peak, and then how cool it was going down the other side. I really suffered on that climb. - Mike van Vuuren

Thank you for the race, it was tough, but I enjoyed it. - Thea-Mari van der Sandt

Thanks for a great event I really enjoyed it.... it was a hard route and it was worth the pain - Cas van Aardenne

Thanx very much for a great run! The second leg of the 25km with all the mist was challenging and we managed to get on to the wrong side of the dam and had to run all the way round it! Lots of extra kilometres... - Liz Brash

Thanks and thanks for another great run.

I loved it.

Bunbu bash to CP 3 was a good test of the fun factor and a reminder what adventure racing is all about J- Hanlie Booyens

Thanx for a wonderful run on Saturday. - Herman Botha

After six and half hours of running we rolled into the finish line, not happy to have out run the other athletes but happy to have finished and conquered a truly hard core, full scale technical trail race - Kevin Flanagan (read the full article on Runner's World

Wil net baie dankie sê vir 'n baie lekker race! Al het ek by Saasveld die verkeerde roete gevat en op die ou end 30km gehardloop, of moet ek eerder sê gestap met bene wat nie meer wou saamwerk nie, het ek dit baie geniet... ek sal dit definitief volgende jaar weer wil gaan doen. - Bertie Janse van Rensburg

Thank you again for putting together a fab event. I am sooooooo stiff I can hardly walk, and getting down stairs poses a huge challenge (almost like the one I had on Saturday!)

Wow, what a beautiful area we live in, hard to describe to anyone. AWESOME - Alison Jordaan

Thanks so much for organising the race on Saturday. I had a bit of a rough race, but it was still good to be outdoors enjoying the views. By being out there so long I suppose I got excellent value for money. The race has a character unlike the other trail races I do, and I will continue supporting it into the future - Rob Patric

It was a really tough course but I enjoyed it thoroughly – despite the exhaustion and aches and pains - it was incredibly beautiful. Its always just great to finish something like that. - Chandre Gould

Holy cow - was stuffed! Ran the first 10km so hard!Loving the single track. HR right up at 187 to the top of tierkop, then was stuffed - Tatum Prins

It's Merrell Eden Duo time!

2010-08-13T14:18:00.000+02:00

After taking it easy for a week (kind of) I am already changing gear to help my friend from Stilbaai, Jan Heenop with some of the admin and logistics at the Merrell Eden Duo.

If you have never tried an off-road multi-sport event, this is an ideal opportunity to do so.

For the family there is a 15 km event.
For the beginner there is a 50 km event.
For the established athlete there is a 150 km event with minimal navigation.
For the guys who know they can, there is a 200 km AR with some serious navigation thrown in.

To find out more about this wonderful event, please have a look at the 24-7 Adventure website. The event takes place at the end of October so you still have some time to get in shape for the most amazing 24 hours in your life! These events unfortunately cost quite a lot so do start saving up for it if you plan on doing it. I think the MED is still way cheaper than many similar events and the guys really try and put in as much value as possible for you the athlete!

Interestingly enough, John Collins (winner of the Om die Berg for two years running) is also the currently the reigning champ on the MED (this title is shared with his forestry team-mate Hanno Smit).

I hope to see you all lining up at the start line in October!

Surf's up

2010-08-12T09:03:00.000+02:00

If you like a good internet spot / forum / online group thing, the following two sites should be of interest to you:
The Edge is general outdoor sports with an emphasis on climbing, trail running and adventure.
SA Trail Running is dedicated to trail running in South Africa.

Go have a look around, and do join in the various discussions. It is always a good way to learn and also share some of the stuff you have already learnt.

Congratulations to all the runners

2010-08-11T15:39:00.000+02:00

Well done to all the folks who took part this past Saturday, the mountains were steep and ruthless and many folks made a wise choice to scale down to the 25 km route, only to get a bit lost on the way back to the Botanical Gardens. On the southern slopes there was mist to make navigation tricky and on the northern slopes the sun was heating things up and causing some dehydration problems later on in the day.

In the main event for the day, John Collins was in fine form and caught my marshals at Tierkop having breakfast, and beat my other marshals to the Herold Wines dam. We only just spotted him heading back up to the trail. Speaking of the dam, this is a controversial thing, and in hindsight I made an mistake to move the CP from North Station to the Dam. Sorry for all the scratched legs for those who bundu-bashed across the little stream. I did eventually break open a pathway for the back markers...

Everyone got off the mountain in one piece and most people managed to pull off a victorious smile as they crossed the finish line. There were a minimal amount of DNF's. There are many stories and legends born during a race like this, and two that deserve mention are Heather Jackson upgrading from the 25 km run to the 40 km run and doing very well (Heather was the only one brave enough to upgrade). Another story of note is Rob Patrick flying in from a business trip in Brazil and still completing the race - jetlag and all!

Thanks to all my marshals and helpers who assisted with the event. Some us put up checkpoint until the wee hours of Saturday morning, others shepherded the last runners along the route, spending over 11 hours out in the mountains (good time on your feet for Skyrun!).

Thanks also to Kappikappi for the awesome T-shirts and caps (the caps were handed out at random intervals as spot prizes).

Thanks to Black Diamond for sponsoring some Icon and Sprinter headlamps as spot prizes.

Thanks also to Liberty Life for a few caps to hand out as spot prizes.

It was my last year as head-honcho of the Om die Berg here in George, but I am already in discussions with possible candidates who can take over and continue improving the event. Please do keep an eye on this blog in the near future for more details. If your company would like to come on board as an official race partner, please also let me know and we can pass on your details to whoever takes over from me.

Once again thank you for your support these last three years! See you at the starting line sometime soon!
Garth

Good buys at Kappikappi and last minute helpers

2010-08-05T21:14:00.000+02:00

The guys at Kappikappi will be available to sell you some good quality base layer tops at less 10 %. So if you need a good base layer top, bring along some cash to the Friday registration and see if the price is right for you.

Also some of my checkpoint marshals have deserted me at number 90 (not quite 99 yet) and so if you have family or friends who want to come and see you in action at the Herold Wines Dam checkpoint, then please let me know. I need no more than 2 or 3 folks, and preferably a guy in the mix as I don't want to leave two girls in the mountains on their own.

A bright move indeed!

2010-08-03T14:49:00.000+02:00

I am the VERY proud owner of a Black Diamond Icon headlamp . I have had it for about 2 years, and it's one of those pieces of gear that grows on you. I almost don't go anywhere without it! So I am delighted to say that our friends from Ram Mountaineering have decided to supply us with a few headlamps as spot prizes. Now granted, they will not be Icons, but a headlamp is a headlamp, and I am sure whoever the lucky winners are will be smiling all the way on their next night excursion!

Black Diamond also make excellent hiking poles (and a whole host of cool climbing gear if you are into that sort of thing). Did I say I have two Trail Compact Hiking poles and anyone who has been out in the mountains with me knows that I try and convert them to hiking poles by letting them use mine on tricky ascents / descents!

If you are looking to buy robust, reliable technical gear, Ram Mountain is a good place to start! If they don't stock it, then it probably isn't technical or it doesn't belong in the mountains!

Have a look at the new Sprinter light, if you plan on doing Skyrun this is all you will need in terms of lighting. It is pricey, but rechargeable batteries cost about R200 so take that off the price, because the Sprinter is has a built in rechargeable battery pack.

Running out the cold front...

2010-08-02T10:55:00.000+02:00

By all indications, there seems to be a cold front heading our way, and it looks like it will be in Cape Town on Saturday and George on Sunday / Monday.

The weather at this stage looks cool with perhaps a small bit of rain. If that's the case, make sure you have the fleece / second long sleeve top and rain coat on race day! I will post some weather updates nearer to the time.

Google Earth file for 15 km route now online

2010-07-29T19:45:00.000+02:00

At long last I have put the 15 km route on the route info page. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to download the kmz file. If you open the kmz file it should automatically open Google Earth if you have Google Earth installed. Happy virtual scouting!

Route info - Google Earth Files updated

2010-07-19T23:36:00.001+02:00

I have updated the Google Earth files on the RouteInfo page. There is now one single 40 km kmz file and one 25 km kmz file. I still need to do one for the 15 km. Have fun. The last bit of the 40 km around Witfontein takes one along the Forest Buzzard hiking trail to a small dam (actually more a weir) with a wooden walkway... watch the route info page page for an upcoming photo of this possible checkpoint...

I have also not been that accurate in tracing the routes, but it will give you a good indication of where you will be running, walking... or crawling!

Who is your money on...

2010-07-19T10:56:00.000+02:00

I am pleased to announce, John Collins will be back to defend his title as King of the Outeniqua's! However, things will not be easy for our Knysna hero! Hot on his heels will be the likes of Cas van Aardenne, Graham Bird, Nic de Beer and Dirk Cloete. The George based Jacques (2nd in 2009) and Eddie Mouton (1st in 2008) will also be gunning for a top spot. Cape Odyssey winner, Mauritz Jansen van Rensburg is also in the mix. There are always a few unknowns who will also be looking to make a name for themselves, so we will be waiting with eager expectation to see who is who in the zoo come 7 August 2010.

In the ladies race, Hanlie Booyens and Tatum Prins will be fighting things out, and Esther Lategan (winner of 2010 38 km Hell Run) will also be a lady to watch. Once again there are some unknown names, but it is anyone's guess who will be the new Queen of the Outeniqua's in 2010 - Annemien Ganzevoort will not be able to defend her title as she is working in the far east at the moment.

The 2010 route is the reverse of the 2009 route with some variations thrown in to keep things interesting. Runners will start at the Botanical Gardens in George, run up to and through Tonnelbos (a 400 m climb to get there). Then it is a long steady downhill to the Old George Dam, followed by a long climb up to Tierkop Hut. After a quick stop for refreshments, runners will head onto the wild stretch of trail between Tierkop and North Station. With very little space for overtaking on the trail, this will be the ideal oppurtunity for the runners with strong technical abilities to open up the lead. Runners will traverse a ridgeline along Dizzy Hieghts before descending along the dangerous switchbacks to the Kaaimens River (at this point nothing more than a mountain stream). At North Station runners will once again enjoy a drink and something to eat before heading out on the gruelling Craddock Pass. Some navigational decision making will be required on the Forest Buzzard hiking trail in Witfontein before runners head back to the Botanical Gardens in what could be a sprint for line honours.

What will the weather do? Will we have warm and sunny weather with Berg winds or will it be cloudy with drizzle, heavy rain or even snow on the peaks? This is trail running, and runners will take whatever comes their way come race day!

News from www.trailrunning.co.za

2010-07-16T16:34:00.002+02:00

Much of the country is FREEZING, but the trail season gets hot!

There are loads of events coming up in the next 2 months, so here is a heads up!
The Cape Winter Trail Series starts on the 25th July and runs for the following 3 Sundays. Great trails in great locations.
The Hansa Hout Bay Trail Challenge is on the 24th July. One of the toughest events on the calendar with a very strong field this year.
In KZN, the banana boys are being creative: The Fugitives Trail Run on the 21 August, near Isandlwana; Umdoni Park Challenge on 25th July and Trappers Ngoje Trail Run 31st July, all promise spectactular views and excellent running.

PE has a trail run. On the 1st of August the 2nd of the Aerosat Woodridge Trail Running Series takes place.

In Gauteng you can run the Vodacom Livetrack Dirt Festival Trail Run, on 15th August.

Back in the Cape the (snow capped) Outeniqua Traverse is up next on the 7th of August. Starting in George, runners enjoy good mountain time - be prepared.

Then, the original ultra - the Hi-Tec Puffer - is a long way to run (80km) for a beer - from Point to Pub. 21st of August.

The 28th of August brings us close enough to spring for the Namaqualand Flower Power Run.

A NEW race on the 28th of August is the Rooikat Trail Run in McGregor. Joining in with the Food and Wine festival, this is a family weekend jaunt. Entries opened today and are limited.

To view all upcoming events head over to www.trailrunning.co.za, click on EVENTS CALENDAR; Scroll to your event and view MORE INFO or BOOK ONLINE.

Trail TV on Supersport, next new show on the 28th July.

Happy Hot Trails

Trailblazer

Show me the way

2010-07-16T15:19:00.000+02:00

I have had numerous requests for maps, Garmin files, etc etc...

Check out the route info page.

I have uploaded the 40 km map, it is 6 MB so be warned. There are waypoints on the page, rounded to the nearest second (probably 50 m accuracy). I left the one from last year up as well so that you can compare routes.

YOU WILL GET A MAP ON RACE DAY, so don't stress if you can't download it.

I will work on putting some photos up as well (in the next week or two)
I will update the Google Earth files and put those up too (in the next week or so),

Kelfords comes to the Mountains

2010-07-13T09:36:00.001+02:00

Kelfords, a Ford and Mazda dealership in the Somerset West area have generously sponsored some goodies for the Tierkop Checkpoint. Runners will enjoy a refreshing glass of coke and something to nibble before setting of on the wild stretch of trail behind Craddock Mountain.

I drive a Ford Fiesta, so I was happy when Kelfords stuck up their hands to help out at a checkpoint. I wouldn't mind driving a 4x4 Ford Ranger or even better a Ford Everest, these vehicles look ideal to carry you to your next adventure. If you are in the market to buy a new car, give Tristan at Kelfords a call and I am sure he can sort you out with what you need.

First 50 T-shirts are gone

2010-07-12T08:48:00.000+02:00

The first 50 T-shirts have all been taken. If you still want a T-shirt, you have until Tuesday evening to pay and you need to pay an additional R50. I am placing my order on Wednesday, no extra-money received = no T-shirt ordered.

Well done to Spain, despite a slow start they managed to take the cup.

Scouting trips

2010-06-29T09:27:00.001+02:00

I have been up in the mountains to check the condition of the trail. I would say 90 % of the routes that I scouted is acceptable, and I have contracted in some help to tackle the very bad bits of the 10 %.

Some of the highlights were:

Seeing snow on the distant Swartberg and the nearer southern slopes of Craddock Peak whilst almost being blow off the mountain by some strong berg winds
Running through forest and expecting a velociraptor to attack at any moment
Spotting some magnificent proteas
Running through the burnt sections of the mountain and thinking I had been teleported into a desert

It is here!!!

2010-06-11T09:55:00.000+02:00

Can you believe it, the World Cup begins today. An EPIC month lies ahead of us.

To our boys in yellow, play your hearts out, and then some! We hope you do well and that you advance to at least the QUARTER FINALS!!!

Don't forget to train, or put a treadmill infront of the TV if you have decided to catch as much of the action as possible.

Woodrige (PE) Trail Run

2010-06-08T10:51:00.000+02:00

For folks in the PE and surrounds area, there are two trail runs being presented by Woodridge School.
The first event is 18 July 2010, and the second event is 1 August 2010. Both distances will be about 10 - 12 km.
Contact Christoff Oppermann for more information (christoff.oppermann at woodridge.co.za)

Applications now available

2010-05-21T13:26:00.000+02:00

At long last the applications forms are now available. If you want to come and run, please download the application form here. On the same page you will also find the latest newsletter. (You need to download the files in the attachments section).

Outeniqua Traverse Grading (according to the Wild Runner Grading System)

2009-07-24T10:45:00.000+02:00

Owen Middleton and co (Wild Run / Trail Series) have been doing some great work behind the scenes to develop the sport of trail running. They have come up with a grading system for trail runs.

Using their system, the OT would be a greenish-brown 7 b (feel free to comment on my proposed grading if you beg to differ).

What this means is that we as run organisers can give you a grading and then you can compare it with previous events you have participated in. It will then give you a good idea of what to expect.

FB anyone?

2009-07-15T08:55:00.000+02:00

One of the locals who has gotten so excited about the event he has set up a Facebook event. Go have a look, it is still early days but perhaps you can find a running partner or lift there?

Well done Hugo, I like and appreciate the initiative!

George Tourist Resort

2009-07-01T11:18:00.001+02:00

The George Tourist Resort looks like a decent option for overnight stays. Click here to go to the website and check out their rates.

Risky Business

2009-05-12T08:36:00.000+02:00

The mountains are a rugged and dangerous place to be in and runners need to be confident they can look after themselves in the mountains. You will be on your own for between 15 and 20 km at a time, so that means that rescue teams either have to hike in 10 km to find you or send in a rescue chopper (which if there is mist and rain will not be an option) if something happens. It may also mean you could be sitting waiting for help for periods of over 3 hours.

There are wild animals, these range from large predators like leopard and packs of baboons to smaller things like snakes (Puffadders), bees, scorpions, spiders and ticks. If you are allergic to bee-stings and do not have your medication with you, a sting could be lethal.

There are steep slopes that are often slippery, a fall could be lethal. Furthermore there are loose stones and roots that could trip you and you could damage your ankle. If this happens you will not be able to move as fast and you will not be generating as much body heat, a warm middle layer (like a First Ascent Firestorm Fleece) will definitely make life more comfortable.

The race is run in the heart of winter, and there could be snow on the mountain (though this is a rare occurrence), it could rain the whole day (this happened in during the 2008 run). There could also be berg winds which will warm things up a bit. It is also not impossible that you can have all 4 seasons in one day so the weather will always be a factor that will influence the event. You need to be prepared for all weather situations. You need to have sufficient water to prevent dehydration, there are mountain streams but these often dry up. You also need to have the minimum kit to help prevent hypothermia.

The terrain consists of some steep climbs and descends, your legs will burn, take it easy on the climbs otherwise you might burn out with over 20 km to go! If the weather is clear you will also experience some amazing views which I would recommend you stop for at least 10 seconds to savour. If you rush past, you will loose out on the experience. The trail itself is often overgrown at places, between Cape Nature and myself we will do our best to make it runable, but expect scratchesand the odd bush-wack from time to time.

The route will contain a few checkpoints, to qualify as an official finisher, you will need to find all the checkpoints. Between checkpoints I am pretty flexible with your route choice, but for me the challenge will be to place the checkpoints in such a manner as to greatly influence your route choice. If you find yourself hanging on a cliff then you made a wrong route choice, it will probably be safer to retrace your steps and try a better alternative. Do not expect intersections to be marked, I will be going through the route and will put some spray paint markings out, but these should be used in conjunction with your map to confirm where you are. Do not rely solely on route marking.

If you are a roadie and this is your first time "off road" you might never want run on tar again!

Of the 41 people who started last year's run all 41 were still living after the event, and apart from bruised egos, a twisted ankle and bad knee going into the event there were no major injuries. A few people did get lost, but in any good mountain run this is to be expected, especially if the weather is rainy and misty and it is their first time on the mountain. You have been warned, please do not sue me if something happens to you. You will need to pay for emergency / search and rescue costs.

Why am I organising a trail run?

2009-02-27T16:14:00.000+02:00

He who forgets the humming of the bees among the heather, the cooing of the wood–pigeons in the forest, the song of birds in the woods, the rippling of rills among the rushes, and the sighing of the wind among the pines, needs not wonder if his heart forgets to sing and his soul grows heavy. A day’s breathing of fresh air upon the hills, or a few hours’ ramble in the beech woods ‘ umbrageous calm, would sweep the cobwebs out of the brain of scores of our toiling ministers who are now but half alive. A mouthful of sea air, or a stiff walk in the wind’s face, would not give grace to the soul, but it would yield oxygen to the body, which is the next best… The ferns and the rabbits, the streams and the trouts, the fir trees and the squirrels, the primroses and the violets, the farm-yard, the new–mown hay, and the fragrant hops – these are the best medicine for hypochondriacs, the surest tonics for the declining, the best refreshments for the weary. For lack of opportunity, or inclination, these great remedies are neglected, and the student becomes a self-immolated victim.

~ CH Spurgeon, Lectures to My Students ~

Mountains of a different flavour

2009-01-06T10:46:00.001+02:00

After spending a few days in the Drakensberg's Royal Natal National Park, I managed to put in at least one "trail run" from Mahai to Tendele. However I did not end up running that much, partly because I am a bit unfit, partly because it is very steep, partly because of altitude, but mostly because the scenery was just too good to have it flash by with your eyes scanning the trail for a potential rock or root that could do serious damage to your ankle. Either way it was a good 3o -40 minute trip from Mahai to Tendele and I managed to get this photo of the Amphitheatre.

It was great to spend some time in different mountains, these mountains have a completely different texture to the Cape Fold Mountains of the Western Cape. I never got high enough to experience the true basalt of the high berg, the round black rocks in the rivers with the white speckles are about as close as I got, but it was still good fun to enjoy the grassy slopes and I am now more convinced than ever that I need to make a plan to get to Sky Run at the end of the year.

But first up, it is the Midnight Hell Run and a delightful trip to the Swartberg!

Whatever shape or size your mountains come in, hope 2009 is injury free and that you are able to get out there and enjoy them regularly!

Good news

2008-12-10T09:56:00.000+02:00

2008 is now almost a thing of the past, and the good news is, we have already starting cranking out plans for the OT 2009!

As soon as I get back from the December break, I will start sending out info regarding entries etc, but the entry fee will be between R100 - R150, and we are working on a long sleeve technical T also in the region of R100 - R150. So budget for a worst case scenario of R300 bucks (if you want a T-shirt), and hopefully we can give you the good news that it will only work out to R200 (if you still want the T-shirt).

Drive safely if you are going anywhere!

I am not a big fan of the materialistic spending spree over the Festive Season, but I do think it is good to stop and reflect about a Person who was born about 2000 years ago! What is more, His birth, death and resurrection were prophesied many year's before the event, and this is possibly the GREATEST NEWS ever told!!!

Isaiah 53:1-12

Who has believed what they heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
(2) For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.
(3) He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
(4) Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
(5) But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.
(6) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
(7) He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
(8) By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?
(9) And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
(10) Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
(11) Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.
(12) Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

YOUR comments on the run

2008-11-25T08:55:00.000+02:00

Although going about 5km off course and covering about 41k in total, I've no regrets. Running in such a beautiful location makes up for getting lost. ~ Stevie
Most of us agree it was tougher than any other trail run we’ve done. I definitely want to do it again next year. ~ Ad
I initially thought the route markings were a bit lacking, but the orienteering was actually fun. Can't wait to do it next year ~ Marc
To share the day with Gisele was an absolute highlight! Thankfully the inclement weather did not result in any injuries and everyone was able to enjoy a very special time in the Outeniquas! ~ Chris
Thanx for a great race and an awesome experience – I am still sore – something that hasn’t happened to me so long after a race, in a long time! ~ Mike

The Mad Scientist's Take on the OT 2008

2008-11-25T08:51:00.000+02:00

It is always good to get some feedback from fellow event organisers, The Mad Scientist has written a blog post on the event and if you would like to read about it, click on this link:
http://chaosinnature.blogspot.com/2008/11/inaugural-outenique-trail-run.html

And the winner is...?

2008-11-24T17:45:00.001+02:00

Well for most it is not about winning, but about experiencing nature up close and stopping to admire the view or take a photo or two. There was some talk of some folks not sticking to the hiking trail that goes through Tonelbos and around the small dam, but instead taking an easier jeep track option. I wasn't there to play policeman, but those who stuck to the hiking trail got the full value for their entry fees, those who didn't were only shooting themselves in the foot. next year I will definitely tighten up this aspect of the race with a few unmanned CP's...

Name	OVERALL TIME	COMMENTS
Eddie Mouton	05:39	1st
Rinus Wessels	05:42	2nd
Nicholas Smith	06:02	Chicken Run
Mike Ohlsson	06:03	3rd (Trail)
Mike van Vuuren	06:03	Chicken Run
Jan Heenop	06:05	Chicken Run
Michael Graz	06:09	4th (Trail)
Caroline Balkwill	06:44	5th / 1st Female
David le Page	06:44	5th
Jacques Mouton	06:55	7th
Suzaan Kruger (Willie)	06:58	7th
CJ Viljoen	-	CP 1 Start
Jeff Willcocks	07:03	9th
Erika Groetpass	07:50	Chicken Run
Martin Grotepass	07:50	Chicken Run
Geert de Decker	07:33	Chicken Run
Klaus Kassel	07:33	10th
Mary de Decker	07:41	Chicken Run
Glen Lindsay	07:44	11th
Marc Rodgers	08:10	12th
Rod Warner	08:20	13h
Amanda Williamson	08:27	14th / 2nd Female
Christine Collins	08:27	15th / 2nd Female
Andy Cox	08:50	16th
Chris Crewdson	11:49	17th (Trail)
Gisele Crewdson	11:49	18th/ 4th Female (Trail)
Jayde Butler	DNF	Did not Finish
Kevin Ewers	DNF	Did not Finish
Lee Rawlings	DNF	Did not Finish
Andrew van Blommestein	DNF	Did not Finish
Mark Wagenheim	DNF	Did not Finish
Sue Ulyett	DNF	Did not Finish
Barbara Hage	DNF	Did not Finish
Stephen Hector	DNF	Did not Finish
Bianca Grotepass	DNF	CP 1 Start
Frans Grotepas	DNF	CP 1 Start
Ad Cole	DNF	Withdrawn
Jo Mackenzie (Emily)	DNF	Withdrawn
Guy Wood	DNF	Withdrawn
Lianne Wicks	DNF	Withdrawn
Ryan Jucker	DNF	Withdrawn

Landy World comes to the party

2008-11-20T08:43:00.000+02:00

We are very grateful for the support local businesses have shown us in the race. Another George business have literal provided the proverbial bandwagon, let alone jumped on!

Landy World have loaned us a 4x4 vehicle for the weekend to transport the marshal, seconds and yummy goodies up to Tierkop Hut.

So if you are one of the privileged few to own a 4 x4 and more specifically a Land Rover, do consider taking it along to the guys at Landy World for some T.L.C. when your vehicle needs its next service. They have 13 years of experience and will put it to good use in looking after your Landy.

Heather Park Superspar

2008-11-17T08:54:00.000+02:00

A special word of thanks to Heather Park Superspar for being our official checkpoint goodies supplier. I have personally tasted their muffins, and you will not be disappointed!

Heather Park Superspar is the closest shop to Witfontein (about 2 km away) and it is a good idea to go and get your goodies for the braai there! They are open until 21:00 pm so if you arrive late on Friday from Cape Town, you could also get one or two things for the run on Saturday!

They have also supported various road running races in George and have given us a few spot prizes for the Outeniqua Traverse.

Wilderness Pharmacy Sponsors a Checkpoint

2008-11-13T17:19:00.000+02:00

Great news, Wilderness Pharmacy has come on board to sponsor a checkpoint with something to drink (Coke / Hot Chocolate) and eat (Muffins / Jelly babies etc), so runners will definately appreciate their generosity while out on the trail.

Our thanks go to the management of Wilderness Pharmacy for supporting the race!

Nitty Gritty - The Devil is in the Details

2008-11-11T16:54:00.000+02:00

2008's race will be between 35 - 40 km depends on your route choice and if you get lost or not.

You will get a map with a recommended route, the recommended route is the one that contains the most trail running and because this is TRAIL RUNNING event, the official winners of the event will be those who stuck as far as possible to the recommended route (I will have to trust the winners' integrity here as I will not be able to check up on this). All runners will need to check in with the marshals at the checkpoints.

Start is at Witfontein Forest Station,
Checkpoint 1 is at The North Station,
Checkpoint 2 is at Tierkop Hiking Hut,
End is back at Witfontein.

As a concession, those who are worried about the distance, can start at The North Station (and thus cut out about 10 - 12 km of the route), or they can form a relay team, person A does the Start to CP 1 leg, person B does the CP1 to End leg.

If you feel more comfortable with taking the chicken run route up Montagu Pass to CP 1 instead of the more tortuous Craddock Pass trial or if you go via Pepsi Pools and the railway line after Tierkop, you will still be considered an official finisher, but you will not be eligible for the overall prize (not that I have any overall prize at the moment, but I am working on it!)

Race registration is Saturday morning from 06:00. Race briefing will take place after everyone is registered (latest 06:45) and then once that is done, we can start (latest 07:00). Those starting at The North Station can drive up after race briefing and start at 07:30 or whenever their relay partner gets there.

Cut-off / short course: If you haven't reached The North Station by 11:00, then you will be told that you can either hike back to the Start via Craddock Pass or Montagu Pass, or we can make a plan to transport you back to the Start.

There is one gents and one ladies toilet at the start / end. There are also a toilets at Tierkop.

Minimum kit:

A charged cell phone with enough air time to make emergency calls in a waterproof container.
A water bottle (750 ml)
Energy bar / endurance fuels to help you go the distance
A space blanket
A whistle
Personal first aid (asthma pumps / anti-histamine etc)
First Ascent Apple Jacket or something similar.
Your laminated race map (you will get this at race registration)

Recommend kit:

A backpack to carry your stuff in,
A camera to take photos
A warm long-sleeve top (eg First Ascent Blade Runner or QuicWic Crew Top)
Sunblock
Hat
Walking Stick
Gaiters
A 2l bladder (the trail has long dry stretches)

Risks:

The trail is overgrown at places, there are steep slopes, so watch your step, a fall could result in serious injury.
You can get sunburn / heat stroke / dehydrated if it is sunny, or hypothermia if it is cold and wet.
You can get bitten by a whole host of bugs / spiders / snakes / baboons or even a leopard.
You can get stung / pricked by the organisms that don't have the teeth to bite you (wasps, bees, scorpions, itchy plants etc)
You could twist an ankle, scrape a knee, or get your eye poked by a stray branch, so be careful out there!
Lastly, you will be out of breathe and feel certain burning sensations in your legs on some of the steeper bits!

PLEASE DON'T LITTER, and if you stumble across a paper or something plastic that doesn't belong in the mountains, take it along to the next checkpoint and put it in the bin there.

If I have left anything out, please jog my memory by leaving a comment.

The Chop-Chop Story

2008-11-10T08:45:00.000+02:00

Saturday morning early, well not so early, but early enough, CJ and myself left George for a scenic drive up Montagu Pass and parked my Uno in the black wattle grove at the North Station. The idea was to hike to Tierkop, put out markers, chop open the trail and then hike back to the car...

So just after 8:00 we set off on an epic mission, the first few km went by without too much trouble, putting in markers where necessary and the day just starting to warm up.

Then after the ridge where one looks down upon the last visible signs of civilization (Herold Wine's Dam) we started going down into forests that reminded me of Jurrasic Park. Here we had to start our chopping, and in hind sight, a pruning shear might have worked better than a machete, firstly because the trail was quite overgrown and not much space to get a swing going and secondly, the plants are young and bendy, so they deflect and spring right back with minimum damage. Anyway we battled on up to the Kiaamans River, up here it was just a small pleasant stream and had a lunch break under the shade. We did not know it at the time, but this was the last place to get water, so from here, make sure your bottles are filled and that you have a good long drink!

Enjoying the Shade at the Kaaimans Crossing

Then begins what Lettuce refers to as "The Switchbacks". Lettuce is a lettuce farmer near Plett , and captained the Pennypinchers AR Team to successfully complete the Bull of Africa in 2008. He is also a member of the Southern Cape Mountain Rescue Crew, and having gone through that section in the Eden Duo (albeit in the opposite direction) I had peppered him with questions about the trail to get as much info as possible.

The Switchbacks will really test the athletes, and it is a steep climb from the valley up to the ridge. One misstep could result in quite a spectacular fall and the overgrown trail doesn't help much in that department (we tried our best to clear the worst, even resorting to breaking the plants with our hands, but it was a mere 'drop in the ocean')! However the view to the top of Craddock Peak was awesome, with clouds just forming at the summit, and we even spotted a black eagle enjoying the cool breeze! Once you reach the ridge you are itching to run again, and the path clears out a bit and you can stretch your legs. When we got here we decided we were not going to hike back to North Station, but instead press on from Tierkop to George. So off we set for Tierkop.

The Ridge after the Switchbacks

Tierkop was locked up so we could not fill our empty bottles, but I am working on Cape Nature to open it up on race day.

Tierkop Hut, A Welcome Sight for Tired Legs (but still 17 km from the end!)

From Tierkop we stuck to the old hiking trail, that goes over the old George Dam, (the dam makes me think of some futuristic movie where earth has been attacked by Aliens and mankind is now on the brink of extinction - a civilization that once was). From the dam the hiking trail winds its way along the contours through some amazing mountain forests and then drops down to the Witfontein Forestry area, we arrived back at 18:30, so we spent about 10.5 hours out on the trail.

It was an amazing day out, my legs are still a bit tender, and my closing thoughts are mixed:

This trail run has amazing views, but you will work hard to get to the best view points!
The condition of the trail is not great, your legs will get scratched so bring along gaiters if you have any.
We used blue spray paint from North Station to Tierkop, and yellow spray paint from Tierkop towards Witfontein, so keep an eye out for our little arrows. Also there are numourous hiking footprints so you should not get lost.
Water on the trail is scarce, so drink up when you get a good water source, and make sure you fill your bottle at every opportunity!
Even in the full noon sun, just stopping for 5 minutes on the ridge cools you down quickly, especially if the wind is blowing.
If you plan on walking the whole trail, bring along a headlamp just in case...
Walking at 15 minutes per km it will take you about 10 hours to do the whole route, add in about 1 hour for stops (3 x 20 minutes) gets you to 11 hours.
The total distance is probably closer to 40 km than 35 km, but we will see what the people with footpods / GPS watches report back.
If you are worried about the distance (and can't find a relay partner), I will make a concession and you can start from the North Station and miss out on the first big climb up Craddock Pass. You need to sort your own transport out to the North Station.
If we can sort out registrations quickly, and get the race briefing done with, we can start a bit earlier on race day.

How to get to Witfontein

2008-11-05T13:13:00.000+02:00

From the traffic circle at the top of York Street, take the road going to Oudtshoorn (N9 or N12).
Drive past the government Hospital and Outeniqua Rugby Stadium, continue past the Heather Park Superspar and Virgin Active.
About 800 m after the last traffic lights, there is a turn off to the right signposted "Montagu Pass / Outeniqua", turn right here. The road becomes a gravel road.

Turn Off to Montagu Pass

After another 400 m there is another turn off to the right signposted Witfontein, turn right here and go through the gates. Drive straight down this road until you get to the start area.

Turn Off to Witfontein

We are on the air!

2008-09-11T16:15:00.000+02:00

Well hello and howdy!

If you are reading this you must enjoy running and you must enjoy spending time in the mountains!

Because that is what this blog is all about!

I will hopefully be able to put useful info here that will help you in preparing for the run!