FEEDBACK: Saturday 05 April 2014: - SLANG KOP LIGHTHOUSE TO KLEINPLAAS DAM – OUT AND BACK

16 turned up to try out this new route from Kommetjie lighthouse to Kleinplaaasdam and back.

Quite tough and a little longer than anticipated but an enjoyable outing which we can do again.

Faye took the photos and a tumble on the way back, and banging her head hard but was cheered up by the realisation that she had finally achieved ten sorties which gives her access to the speed check in.t

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FEEDBACK: 29 March Noordhoek Long Beach run

A fine cool morning, calm seas and just a whisper of a breeze, what more could we ask for?

19 turned up for our flat beach run, no hills, no rocks or slippery rocks just plain firm damp sand for 90% of the sortie anyway
Probably our most runnable route which was fun in a different kind of way.

12 kms for the Main Group and 10kms for the Recovery Group.

Thanks to Julian who led out the Main Group and 

Congratulations to Lanesse Collins who completed her 25th sortie this morning. 

Noordhoek Long Beach at sunrise

Setting out

Examining the boiler in the wreck of the Kakapao

The turning point at Kommetjie 

Main Group

Recovery Group

Chantal putting her shoes on again after the river crossing

Gregg and Alex putting in some speed-work!

FEEDBACK: 22nd March: Two Oceans 10km Trail route

Lorraine reports:

This morning's run was well attended with many new faces who'd heard we were going to do the Two Oceans 10km route and were keen to do a recce of it before their big day next month. The weather was perfect: warm enough to leave our outer layers of clothing in the cars, cool enough to run comfortably without too much sweating. 

Despite pouring over GPS on-line tracking, Mr Slingsby's well-detailed map and OMTOM's route description, I was a little worried as I watched the crowd gather on the Jammie Steps, and was rather hopeful that one of the faster runners would know exactly which paths to take, as this route has so many options, twists and turns through the forest that it's hard to know which way is up. My fears were calmed by the fortunate arrival of Chris Goldschmidt (Celtics and WPA) who had, he happily admitted, finalised the course of this year's 10km trail with the organisers of OMTOM and Table Mountain National Parks a few weeks beforehand. Chris gladly took the lead and off we headed.

Main Group Photo

The gate out of UCT from the tennis courts was locked so we took a slight detour to get up to the Rhodes Mem approach through the old zoo. It was interesting to see the old cages and enclosures in disrepair. As we climbed up from Rhodes Mem, the mountain was bathed in glorious golden sunlight which distracted the trailers from the arduous task of that first ascent.  Reaching the beginning of the Silvertree trail, we ducked into the shade of the forest. The leaves underfoot formed a soft gold and green carpet, and the dawn rays filtered through the trees, lighting our way in an ethereal glow.

Recovery Group

Soon we reached the Woodcutters Trail and the forest became a movie-set faerie playground. Streams both dry and flowing criss-crossed our route. We noticed a newly built rock dam over one river crossing, but for the most part, nature takes its course in this area of the mountiain, and left to its own devices, creates an inimitable work of natural art. Pine needles, leaves, fallen branches, tree roots and rocks make up the patchwork quilt of path which one has to remain alert to navigate.

Just after the 6km mark, we heard the sound of traffic as we turned down towards Union Avenue and marvelled at the beauty we have available to us just a few hundred metres from one of the city's busiest roads. Another slight incline took us past the Newlands Fire Base, the reservioir and back up to the Old Zoo. All too soon, we were home.

Thanks to Chris, Julian and Richard for their feisty leading; thanks to Gaeleen for sweeping. Thanks to everybody for their cheerful good company. Good luck to the lucky 500 runners who managed to secure an entry for the formal race. I, for one, will be back to do this route again in the not-too-distant future.

Lorraine Nevin

And a big thank you to Lorraine for managing the sortie, a job well done.

And to Kerry congratulations on having completed 25 sorties and can now wear her Red tee with pride.

FEEDBACK:15 March; Glencairn-Kleinplaas dam circuit

Small group today what with African X and the West Coast half marathon being attractive alternatives.

Beautiful crisp cool late summer dawn and a good run along a scenic route although the sandy trail did make for tough going in places.

Was nice to see Natalie back after a full recovery from her injury and and  congratulations to Tamsyn-Leigh who completed 25 sorties today and thus becomes eligible to wear the Table Mountain Trailer's  Red tee shirt

At Kleinplaasdam

Main Group

Recovery group taking a break

Thanks to Randolph for planning and managing today's sortie.

Route Profile

Route followed by Main Group

The Main Group covered just over 14kms and the Recovery Group 10kms

FEEDBACK: Saturday 1st March 2014: Kalk Bay two Valleys

FEEDBACK: Saturday 22nd February 2014: Constantia Green Belts

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23 turned out on a beautiful cool morning of which 11 were newcomers.    An easy run up through the verdant Alphen and Klassenbosch trails up to the remains of Cecilia Forest where the main group continued up to the upper track and then followed that through to just before Constantia nek where they turned down to take the Diep river trail back.   

The Recovery group took a slightly shorter route across to the top of Southern Cross drive before running down the Diep River trail.      11.5 Kms for the Main Group and 10 kms for the Recovery Group both taking about 1hr 40 mins. 

 A very runnable route 80-90% for a change and one with lots a shade and two water fountains!

Thanks to Richard and his team of Navigators for leading over a new route which we can use again in the January heat next year. 

Dawn start up the green belt towards the mountain

Tranquillity

Run profile

Route taken by the Main Group

FEEDBACK: Sat 15 February: Constantia Corner

SAT 15 FEBRUARY : CONSTANTIA CORNER/DAMS/CECILIA RIDGE

As dawn crept over Constantia Nek the air was humid and sultry, an omen of what was to come.

Gregg led us out to the long hot climb up to Eagles Nest followed by a seemingly endless scramble up to the top of Belle Ombre.   Then it was over to Camel Rock .   By this time the Main Group were a distant flash of colour to us in the Recovery Group.

For both groups it was a hot tough run but never the less a worthwhile achievement.   Despite the fact that the Recovery Group took a wrong turn and ended up slogging along the non-ash valley through thick dead undergrowth to come out above the Victoria Dam.

About 13 kms for the Main Group and 9kms for the Recovery Group.

Thanks to Gregg for managing and leading the run and congratulations to Julian who completed his 50th sortie

Hout Bay from Constantia Corner

Looking towards Muizenberg from the top of Belle Ombre

Camel Rock

Alex, Tamsyn, Dawn, Geoff, Richard, Liz, Julian and Tom with Gregg's shadow!

Alexandra Dam

Gae and Megan crossing the dam wall

FEEDBACK:8 February: Hunt for Red Disa Constantia Nek

Allison's report back:

A perfect overcast morning for running with 23 hauling themselves out of bed to enjoy it. Unfortunately we lost a few going up the steep climb and some had to turn back early at the top. Those that stayed were rewarded with more disas than you could shake a stick at. There were clumps of them at every stream and waterfall we passed.

We enjoyed truly spectacular running along Smuts Track and detoured a little, instead of running under the Hely-Hutchinson dam wall we scaled the ladder (shh don’t tell anyone) and ran along the vertigo-inducing dam wall. The dam was mirror still and too inviting for Faye, Paula and Mel who enjoyed the time-honoured SA tradition of a broekie swim.

I think this is my new favourite route and one we should make an annual event! 
Thank you to Richard for leading and Gae and Randolph for sweeping. Those that took the short cut down the steep path to Constantia Nek ran approx. 12.53kms in a little under 3 hours and those that took the contour path down ran approx. 14kms. 

Congratulations to Gregg on his 50th run with the Trailers!

And well done to Allison for a well managed sortie.

Photos taken by Gae and Alex le Roux