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Trail Running in the Western Cape
Cape Town is a runner’s paradise and with kilometres of ocean side
runs and beautiful routes her roads and pavements are always populated
with runners. But there are a growing number of hardy runners who
spurn the tarmac and prefer the rugged terrain of Cape Town’s mountains
and beaches for their endorphin fix.
Trail running is a different ball game altogether to road running.
When running on tar the most you need to look out for are the Cape’s
notorious drivers, lamp posts, walkers and dog poo. But avoid those
and you can get into a rhythm and move along at a constant pace.
Trail running involves running on different, mostly uneven terrains,
walking up steep mountains, running on beaches, traversing cliffs
faces, scrambling up rocks and nerve racking, knee jarring descents.
You often need to be self sufficient, taking warm clothes, food,
first aid kit and your own water, carrying it all on your back while
you get up and personal with nature.
CRAG (Cape Runners Against Gravity)
While you often see people running the mountains by themselves,
this is not advised. Even the most experienced mountaineers can
have accidents and if there’s no one to help you out should something
go wrong; an enjoyable day out in the mountains can turn very quickly
into an unwanted adventure with nasty consequences. In the late
90’s a group of runners decided there was a need for a trail running
‘club’ of sorts. W
So CRAG was formed. CRAG stands for Cape (or as some like to call
it, Crazy) Runners against Gravity. CRAG is a vibrant highly active
trail running club with a difference. With a difference as there
are no club fees, no club colours, and just a few guidelines as
apposed to club rules. You sign up to their mailing list, receive
weekly emails on where the runs are and arrive or don’t. They run
most Wednesday evenings for anywhere from 60 to 120 minutes and
always enjoy a few drinks after to ‘rehydrate’ . There are also
sporadically
organized longer runs on weekends.
To subscribe to the CRAG emails and get with the trail running programme
send an email to crag-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
and we’ll see you on the trails.
Trail Challengers
The Cape has many superbly organised trail challenges (there are
a few highly talented, ridiculously fast and fit mountain goats
who bounce over rocks, dance up mountains and actually try and win
these runs) but for the rest of us we are happy to spend a day in
stunning surroundings pushing our bodies to the limit and being
rewarded with a cold beer and fantastic sense of accomplishment.
Puffer
The Peninsula Ultra Fun Run is the longest trail run in the Western
Cape. It starts at the Cape Point Restaurant and runners make their
way to Ferryman’s at the Waterfront running over the spine of the
Peninsula covering almost 80km of some tar, and many mountains.
Some find the distance a bit short and choose to start the day before
at the Waterfront, run to Cape Point and then all the way back (160km).
The Tuffer Puffer is for the hardiest of the hard and about ten
entrants attempt it each year. Respect!
Three Peaks Challenge
A fun and challenging, uniquely Cape Town experience. Starting at
Greenmarket Square in the city, runners (and some walkers) make
their up to the peaks of Cape Town’s three mountains, Devil’s Peak,
Table Mountain (Maclear’s Beacon being the highest point) and Lion’s
Head, returning to the square after each summit. The event is a
re-enactment of C.W Schneeberger’s feat in 1897. Go
here for more info.
Hout Bay Trail Challenge
A tough, uncompromising run on the mountains surrounding Hout Bay
and ideal preparation for those training for the Puffer. Encompassing
the Karbonkelberg, Table Mountain’s 12 Apostles, Constantia Nek,
the Vlakkenberg and a disused manganese mine ending with a run on
Hout Bay beach before reaching your much deserved cold one at the
Hout Bay Yacht Club. See www.sports4u.co.za
for more information on this and the shorter Old Fisherman’s
Trail Challenge, a good intro for any budding trail runner.
There are various other runs including the popular Table Mountain
Challenge, the magnificent and grueling Cederberg Traverse,
the Hell Run, Triple Trouble and now the multi-stage
Cape Odyssey. There are plenty options to get fit,
meet people and enjoy a running adventure on the Western Cape Mountains.
Find out about the Journey
Trails - Humble Hundred
(3
Days, 160km of stunning mountain trails and good company, all for
a good cause).
Read
more articles on at
www.livecapetown.co.za
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