TRAIL RUNNING
15 October – Day 6 , Peak 6
Toringkop ( Gauteng )
( 8 minutes , 550m , 21m of elevation gain )
Chi : “ That ’ s a peak ?” A very quick and easy ( being relative at this stage ) run up , take a picture and run back down .
15 October – Day 6 , Peak 8
De Berg ( Mpumalanga )
( 1 hour 15 minutes , 8.6km , 200m of elevation gain )
Chi : What an awesome stretch out of the legs after all the trekking ! Last peak ... we are coming for you !
Terence : With the big 5 out the way , our celebration lap consisted of Toringkop , Nooitgedacht and De Berg . We kept things simple , light , and even raced some !
15 October – Day 6 , Peak 7
Nooitgedacht-West ( North West )
( 51 minutes , 3.5km , 115m of elevation gain )
Chi : Hot and sore feet , but we keep on keeping on . Two peaks to go !
16 October – Day 6 , Peak 9
Iron Crown ( Limpopo )
( 1 hour 13 minutes , 4.3km , 190m of elevation gain )
Chi : We finished our final peak just after midnight with a total of 5 days , 13 hours and 37 minutes , having done 144.8km , 7699m of elevation gain and 51 hours on the legs . Blessed to experience SA by foot , learning what surrounds me and what lies within me . Travelling , exploring and discovering new routes always reminds me that we go where we need to go , and then we try and figure out what we are doing there .
Terence : 9 Peaks Challenge done ! What an incredible experience , seeing SA ‘ smoothest ’ and best views . We topped out Iron Crown in Limpopo last night in a total time 5 days , 13 hours and 37 minutes .
Meet the Author and Photographer
Chi Ingledew ( her name is pronounced like Chai tea ) graduated with a BA Honours in psychology , drama and education from Rhodes University , and while there also qualified as a BASI ( Body Arts and Science International ) Pilates and Gyrokinesis Instructor . She has studied and taught in Dubai , the USA , Italy , France , Spain , as well as in South Africa . An enthusiastic and competitive athlete , Chi has represented South Africa twice in the Ironman 70.3 World Champs , and podiumed in the Expedition Africa 120 Drakensberg Adventure Race and War Trail multisport event . Based in Johannesburg , she has done an online sports coaching course through Ironman University , and offers both Pilates and coaching guidance at www . enerchifitness . com .
Terence ‘ Actionman ’ Vrugtman is a Joburg-based professional outdoor , lifestyle and sport photographer , working both under his own name as well as forming part of the AdventureLife Media Services team . Besides shooting many events in South Africa , including the Otter African Trail Run and K-Way SkyRun , he has covered events in various other countries , including the Lesotho Ultra Trail and Expedition India , the world ’ s highest adventure race , where he had to deal with altitude sickness at 5400m above sea level while running alongside the athletes . You can find out more about him at www . adventurelifesa . com .
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