FEEDBACK Sat 9 August Cecilia Forest : Part of 2nd Leg of Table Mountain Challenge

Twenty-nine pitched up for one of those champagne runs when the weather and company were superb, we ran as a pack at a comfortable pace, nobody got lost or injured, the waterfalls were flowing and we saw a very important bird. Lorraine, a knowledgeable twitcher, spotted the Rameron Pigeon (African Olive), with its distinctive yellow beak and feet, high up in the trees near Constantia Nek. Cellphones came out, lists were ticked and we trotted off back to Cecilia Parking lot after having done a lovely run along the contour path from Cecilia to Skeleton Gorge, up and down Rooikat, past Cecilia waterfall and Spilhaus Ravine. 

Around 11kms in 1hour and 50 mins for the Main Group and Recovery did 7.1kms in I hour and 40 mins. Thanks to Julian and Richard for leading Main Group, Pierro for making sure we didn’t get lost in his back yard and Gae for sweeping. Thanks to Randolph for leading Recovery and Peter for leading Walkers.

Allison

 

FEEDBACK: Sat 2 August, Vlakkenburg to Chapmans Peak

13 Trailers showed up in the semi-dark, pre-storm morning for this Saturday's one-way run along Vlakkenburg. Gregg set a cracking pace up the never-ending Vlakkenburg Neck, stopping at the first of many 'tops of the mountain', to catch our breath, take in the sunrise and for Liz to recover from a bit of dizziness. We passed another small group of runners along the single track coming from Silvermine and gave them an update on the weather conditions up ahead. When we got to the second top of the mountain, we were relieved to see the long stretch of downhill. The Manganese Mine being the technical stretch that it is, saw a few people tumble and trip with Beth grazing her knee and Vanessa her finger. Those who had seen enough tops of the mountain, took a short-cut down to East Fort, while the rest continued to the Real top of the mountain. At Blackburn Ravine the faster runners raced down the last stretch to the finish, and we ended up more or less in one piece, dry, exhilarated and ready for breakfast.

A total distance of 13 km in 2h 45min.

Storm clouds rolling in

Group shot

Julian at the top

Tamsyn

FEEDBACK: Sat 26 July, Table Mountain face

On Saturday, 13 runners braved the wet weather for a run on the face of Table Mountain. We met a the Kloof Nek car park, hoping that the rain in the suburbs would not be waiting for us here. Luckily, the rain held out for most of the run, but we did have to contend with the cold and the wind.

What was thought to be the main bunch of 10 started out up through the trees and soon became 8 when 2 dropped back to join Randolf. From Kloof Corner Gregg set a really nice relaxed pace which allowed the small group of 8 to stay together.

The contour path was (as usual) stunning with water running from every piece of the mountain and always great to run behind that one waterfall after the cableway. Lots of smiles and no complaining all the way up to the saddle where we found Tamsyn washing blood off her hand from a small fall, highly unusual for this lass. On the way to Oppelskop another stumble from another lass, luckily no blood, but definitely a bit shaken.

Meeting of the Main and Recovery groups on the contour path.

Then we were reminded that we were going very slow because one of us - Sam I think, had forgotten to record the rugby, after which followed an explanation that waking up a teenager to try to start the recording was just not worth the pain. We lost another runner to the tar road with other time constraints, so the remaining 7 of us hurried in a leisurely fashion back along the contour, down under the cable way and back to the cars where Sam dashed off to the TV and unbelievably it started to rain on us in the car park, the forecast was pretty good, well done to Accuweather. 

The main group

The main group did the 12.5 in just under 2 and a quarter hours at a really nice easy pace - thanks Gregg. Also well done to Helen who was apprehensive of the pace at the start, she never dropped back at all, in summary a really great run.with zero rain and plenty smiles

The Main group loop - 12.5 km

The recovery group did slightly different route than anticipated.  We continued along the contour path, passing the base of Platteklip Gorge and took the Groote Schuur path towards the King's Block House.  Before the Block House, we took a path to Tafelberg road, where we headed back towards the Lower cable way.  We took the lower jeep track (also a mountain biking track) which pooped out at the car park.

The recvoery group ran 14.6 km in 3 hours at a manageable pace led by Randolph.

The Recover group loop - 14.6 km

FEEDBACK: Sat 19 July, Sunbird Centre into Silvermine Reserve

We were pleasantly surprised at how many people turned up to this run.  The weather held for the duration of the run, only needing to put rain jackets on once, but the rain from the previous day meant that there were times we couldn't avoid puddles so did end up running in wet shoes.

The route worked well, as we don't often start and finish on a downhill.  All groups started at Sunbird Centre, then a gradual zig-zag up the valley before reaching the nature reserve where we crossed Ou Kaapse Weg to the start of the Old Wagon Road. The the main group did two extra loops to give a distance of 14 km and the recovery ran 11 km.

Recovery group at the top of the Old Wagon road

FEEDBACK: Sat 12 July Table Mountain reservoirs

18 runners turned out on what ended up as a sunny and warm winter Saturday. The main and recovery groups set off from the Constantia Nek parking lot to the reservoirs. The run started with a climb to the ‘Bailiff cottage’ along the short cuts and jeep track. After the Bailiff cottage, the route turned right onto the Smuts track that lead to the top of Skeleton gorge, where it turned left to the Hely-Hutchinson reservoir and back to the jeep track. Here, the lead group headed around the Woodhead reservoir, while the recovery group followed headed back to the start along the jeep track and short cuts.  The main group followed the same route down.

View to the south from the top of the first short cut.

The main group ran 13.2 km and the recovery group ran 11 km in the same time of just under 3 hours.  The team's wishes go out to our runner who was injured in a fall and a special thank you to those who helped carry her to the car.

Main group on the 'beach' at the top of Skeleton Gorge with Hely-Hutchinson dam in the back

Recovery group at the signpost

The main and recover groups met at Woodhead dam

FEEDBACK: 5 July, SE Silvermine

A total of 14 runners pitched up at Kalk Bay station on a very cold Saturday morning. The weather was crisp and cool, but otherwise really good for running with only the occasional smattering of rain (and some light hail on the top).

Clouds coming in and a rainbow towards the south (L) and the other side of False Bay on the horizon (just under the clouds, R)

The main group led the way up the Oukraal path on the orther side of Boyes drive. The route carried on straight up Echo valley through a small strip of forest, and veering right towards the Amphitheater. At the Amphitheater, we turned left onto the Crassula path to the first jeep track. Here the recovery group turned right back up to Kalk Bay peak. The main group proceeded on the 'old Fisherman’s Path' to the next jeep track and on all the way to Junction Pool and Nellie’s Pool. From there the main group followed the recovery group path up to Kalk Bay peak, past Tartarus cave and down into Spes Bona valley. All groups then turned-off at Weary Willy’s down through a bigger strip of forest.

The recovery group covered 8.3 km in 2h 30 and the main group covered +/-11, coming in at 2h 45.

The main group poses for a some pictures

The recovery group, a little wet and tired, before the decent

Congratulations to Margaret who ran her 25th sortie, and both Dawn and Richard who ran their 50th sortie.

Richard

FEEDBACK: Sat 28 June King's Blockhouse

22 runners took advantage of the glorious weather and pitched up at Rhodes Mem. A bit of a lung-busting climb to the turnstile just below Blockhouse and then glorious single track through the forest, over streams, along boardwalks, past waterfalls accompanied by all the foresty clichés – birdsong, dappled sunlight through the trees. 

The Recovery group turned back a little earlier than Skeleton Gorge and covered 11kms in a two and half hours and the Main Group ran 13.6kms in 3 hours. A splinter group decided to avoid the big climbs on the way back and came via Newlands forest, they covered 13.9kms and were back before Recovery. 

Thank you to Richard for leading and Gaeleen for sweeping and taking photos. A beautiful forest run.

Allison

FEEDBACK: Sat 21 June, Kleinplaas dam circuit

A great start on midwinters day with a strong turn out of runners. The weather was surprisingly warm with no wind and full sunshine. The circular route went around the koppies behind Glencairn and Red Hill to the Kleinplaas dam and back.




Route and elevation




Much of the trail was on sand through through shallow, wide valleys and open fynbos veld. The trail was waterlogged in many places, which made for wet and muddy shoes the whole run.

The main group and recovery group covered 13.8 km and 10 km, respectively, in just under two hours.

Thanks to Piero for organising this run.


Main group in front of the dam




Quick stop on the path




Looking west towards the sea

FEEDBACK:14 June 2014 Tokai

A number of brave runners (14 in total) turned up at the Tokai arboretum for a run.  Randolph, our run manager, gave a brief description of the route and we were soon off up the shortcuts. The main group climbed the shortcuts to Level 5 in just under an hour and continued north towards mast road and back down to the parking lot.  The wind and rain were no match for these weather-hardened trail runners as they never thought of turning back or cutting the run short.

The main group ran 10.3 km and the recovery group ran 10.5 km in just under 2hrs.

Thanks to Randolph for planning the route and to Geoff and Pete for leading the recovery and main groups, respectively. Well done to everyone who came and enjoyed the wet run.

Congratulations to Allison who ran her 50^th sortie and is eligible to wear a green tee shirt.

The main group at the start of our descent

Some sunny areas over the vineyards (looking east) 

 

Clouds blocking the top of the mountain and threatening us with more rain

FEEDBACK Sat 7 June: Atlantic Seaboard.

25 turned up in the dark on the promenade before Green Point Light House to find a chill breeze blowing with a temperature of about 5 degrees.    Our run manager Dave gave us a short brief on this new route and we were off , glad to be moving.   
Once on Signal Hill the air was a tad warmer and the long uphill slog did help warm us up.   As the sun rose it revealled a beautiful day in the offing.    The view of the mountain was crystal clear rising above the mist shrouded suburbs sprawling around its feet.

The Main Group ran 14.5 kms in 2hrs 15min and the Recovery Group did 11kms in 2hrs 20min

 Thanks to Dave and Tissa who recced this new route and set the sortie up and congratulations to Tissa who completed her 25th sortie so becoming eligible to don  a red tee shirt.

Thanks to Gae and Chantal for the photos.

Main Group Photo

Recovery Group photo