TRAIL RUNNING
therefore left the tent in search of coffee earlier than the organisers ’ plan , but Janine very kindly put the kettle on for me whilst they were still getting breakfast going .
I headed back to the tent in the darkness , with a steaming cup of coffee for my running partner . I swung open the tent flap , ripping the Velcro restraints and running the zip open with as much enthusiasm as possible , intent on making enough noise to wake her “ gently ,” but as I ducked into the tent triumphantly , coffee in hand , I couldn ’ t help noticing , by the light of my headlamp that Sabrina ’ s shoes , tucked next to the stretcher , had doubled in size overnight ! Thankfully , the snorer did not budge ... As much as my entry was flamboyant , so my exit was stealthy , and by the time I zipped the tent closed and folded down the flap , noone was any the wiser about my trespassing .
The route turned back towards the sea , and we started to descend along sandy tracks in anticipation of the only water point on route , which came substantially later than expected at just over 17km .
The route for day one was in the Gourikwa Nature Reserve , a private reserve some 25 minutes from race HQ . This area was home to the Khoikhoi , and it is believed that the fish traps still evident along the coastline , date back some 4000 years ! On the southwestern border of the reserve , the rocky outcrop called Ystervarkpunt is the home of a 51m-tall lighthouse , resplendent in its red and white paint job . The reserve itself stretches along 5km of pristine coastline and is a haven for spectacular indigenous flora , including an extremely rare Fynbos plant that has been saved from extinction by the intervention of the Reserve .
The first leg of the event started and ended at the clubhouse of the Reserve , and the day was an oddshaped figure of eight that started with a firm climb on a rocky jeep track , slowly turning away from the sea and heading inland . The area had enjoyed good winter rains and was bursting with a multitude of
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THE OYSTER CATCHER TRAIL RUN
The Oyster Catcher 2-day and 3-day stage trail run follows the famous Oyster Catcher hiking route from the Gouritz River mouth to Mossel Bay , via the St Blaize hiking route , in the Garden Route area on the Southern Cape coastline . This event is primarily designed for trail runners looking to complete their first multi-day stage race , so the distances covered are manageable and the terrain is made up mainly of single track ( hiking trails ) and beach running , with some technical areas to add variety .
ISSUE 145 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 | www . modernathlete . co . za
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THE THREE STAGES IN 2021 WERE :
DAY 1 : Gourikwa circular route – 25km with 620m elevation gain DAY 2 : Gouritz River Mouth to Boggomsbaai Golf Club – 20km with 240m DAY 3 : Dana Bay to The Point , Mossel Bay – 16km with 450m
The next edition of the event will be from Friday 23 September 2022 to Sunday 25 September 2022 , and note that due to the sensitivity of the area , a limited number of only 300 runners can enter each year , so enter early to avoid missing out .
More info and entries for the 2022 event can be found at https :// oyster-catcher . co . za
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Images : EL Rorke Photography |