FEEDBACK Sat 6 December Hout Bay/Llandudno/ Oude Schip

Saturday's run was the first anti-clockwise run of the inaugural Hout Bay/Llandudno/ Oude Schip run on 20 September.

The route started with a short uphill on the brick pave road, then down to the beach and we proceeded onto Llandudno.  We then backtracked to Sandy Bay and headed southwards along the shoreline path crossing the isthmus to Oude Schip.  The first climb came on gabion steps to Rocket (Mitchells) Road, before taking the left fork at the stone cairn.

This was a shorter run than usual, with the main group completing about 9.3 km in 1h 30min.

Early morning stretch along the beach.

Route info. and elevation.

FEEDBACK: Saturday 29th November, Cape Point- Olifantsbos route

A smaller group turned out this weekend for the Cape Point run.  We met at the Olifantsbos parking on the west side of the point.  However, before arriving at the start, we were greeted by a herd of bontebok and an ostrich.  

A herd of bontebok grazing.

All groups set out from the Olifantsbos parking towards the beach and to the shipwrecks.  After the shipwrecks, we headed inland and a slight up towards Sirkel vlei.  From there, we headed back to the start along the Mimites ridge, a total of 10.3 km.

Route and elevation.

The main group complete the run in 1h 30min, the recovery in just under 2h and the walking group in just under 2h 30min.

The Main group at Sirkelvlei

Some interesting rock formations.

Shipwreck!

Shipwreck!

Piece of a whale carcass.

FEEDBACK: Saturday 22nd November, Tokai Arboretum

A large turn out for a great summery Cape Town day. More than 20 runners in the Main group and fewer in the Recovery and Walking group, set out from the Tokai Arboretum at 06:30.

Up and up we go to Level 5

The many spectators to greet us along the way

All groups set off up the shortcuts to Level 5. At the jeep track, the Main and Recovery groups turned left towards Silvermine and into the mountain bike parking area.  Both groups continued along Steenberg Ridge towards Blackburn Ravine.  The Main group ran further to the HoutBay view point and then back towards the fire lookout. The Recovery group went only as far as the fire lookout before both groups headed back towards the start. The Walking group went right at the top of Level 5 and heading north before zigzagging back down to the start.

Route and elevation of Main group

The Main group completed 15 km in 2 h, the Recovery group 11.8 km in 5 h 45 min, and the Walking group 8 km in just over 2 h.

Nothing but blue sky!

The view across the Bay from the lookout

FEEDBACK: Saturday 15th November - Silvermine North-West

Small group turned out on Saturday to run the Silvermine north-west route. Heavy downpours and snow on the higher mountains in the Western Cape, resulted in a chilly breeze for the run.

All groups started at the car park, the Walking group did a walk/run loop along the gravel paths, and the Main and Recovery groups set off along the River walk. From the River walk the groups went through the mountain bike parking area, where the Recovery group took the lower gravel path and the Main group went up Steenberg Ridge. From Steenberg ridge, the The Main group headed  towards the Elephant’s Eye fire look-out before joining the cycle track leading towards Blackburn Ravine. The recovery group followed the shortcut towards Elephant's Eye along the gravel path.  Both groups entered the single track to the Crassula path. This single track provided beautiful views of the dam and tall fynbos plants that can tower over you.  

Panoramic view from the Cressula path

Finally at the bottom of the Crassula path, the Main and Recovery groups met before turning right onto the Jeep track and again right onto the stony single track on Steenberg plateau. This gravel path lead us back to the car park.

View of Silvermine dam from the back 

The Walking group covered 9 km in 1h 45, and the Main group covered 11 km and the Recovery group covered 10 km in just under 2h.

The Main and Recovery group

FEEDBACK: Saturday 8 November, Sunbird centre

A smallish group of runners arrived at Sunbird Centre on Saturday morning, 9 in the main group and 8 in the recovery group.

All runners set off from the Sunbird Centre, first downhill and flat before heading up through the Silvermine Valley via a zig zagging path. At the T-junction, both groups headed north (towards gate 2). Here the Recovery group headed towards the waterfall and the Main group did an extra loop before exiting at Silvermine gate 2. Both groups crossed Ou Kaapse Weg for the second half of the run. The Main group did an extra circular loop and the Recovery group headed south via the Old Wagon road. The Main and Recovery groups met on the Old Wagon road and headed back to the start.

Main group route

Recovery group route

The Main group covered 14 km and the Recovery group covered 11 km both in 2 hrs.

Recovery group  

Main Group