FEEDBACK: Sunday 5 October, Grape Run helper's run

There was a great turn out on a very summery Sunday for the Grape Run helper's run.

All runners met at the Constantia Sports complex for either a 21km, 14km or 10km run through the vineyards.  The run started with a stretch along the tar road to the entrance of Groot Constantia followed by long stretches of farm roads.  The route undulated along the slopes of the mountain but there were no big climbs.  Lastly, there was a tar road finish back to the club.

Route and elevation map of the 14 km Grape run

Dam on Groot Constantia

In front of the vineyard section we had just left

Our early morning effort was rewarded with coolish summer weather and spectacular views.

The main group completed 14.8 km in 1h 50min.

FEEDBACK: Saturday 27 September 2014: Silvermine South East through the Spes Bona forest to Nellie's pool, Junction pool and St James peak

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FEEDBACK: SAT 20 September Houtbay/ Oude Schip/ Rocket Road

This was a new route which turned out to be a great success.  Thanks to Randolph who went to a lot of trouble to pioneer it beforehand.     

Nothing really to report other than in the customary manner of TM Trailers the leaders of the main group took a wrong turn and ran full pelt into Sol Kerzner's guarded estate.  As best as I can work out is that Boris an Albanian ex bouncer from one of Cape Town's Gentlemen's club though that his day was about to be made.  On duty guarding Sol's version of Nkandla and having been alerted to an imminent threat he came hurtling down the hillside on his armoured quad bike to confront this horde of brightly dressed invaders led by a bearded fiend.   In his best anglo-albanian he let it be known that their presence would not be tolerated etc etc.  despite the protestations of innocence he escorted them off the property . 

 Unfortunately Hein,a law abiding citizen together with his sister Aneen who had taken an alternative wrong turn missed this excitement but were well on their way to Suikerbossie before they realised they where way of course so ran an extra few kms

All in all a good outing for the 27 runners

Some comments from Randolph

Thank you for letting me organize the race and trust all enjoyed including those who were chased. Just some observations:

• 1     I agree that run is better is run anti-clockwise i.e.  in reverse
• 2.       The main group can then do 1km to Llandudno and back – the others can go 100 metres towards Llandudno to see the a charming small bay.
• 3.       Parking can be problematic as there are only 17 demarcated bays with some space for a couple of cars in the parking area and if cars are only occupied by a driver and if the route gains popularity.          

Congratulations to Angela as this was her 25th sortie so now she is eligible to wear a Red tee 








Saturday was a big milestone for Gae as this was her 125th sortie.   This means that she has trail run some 1500 kms and can now can wear her Red and White Tee shirt with pride.   Hearty congratulations 

Starting out by ploughing through soft sand

Looking down on Oude Schip Island from Rocket Rd

On Oude Schip Island

Climbing up away from Oude Schip

Sam and Mike stop to greet Neil

Rock pool

Group photo of Main Group

Looking back

Felicity "brisk-walking"

FEEDBACK:Sat 6 September: Part of 3rd Leg of Table Mountain Challenge

Despite some heavy cloud and a spittering of drizzle   altogether 22 turned up to run in the different groups.

The Main group after car shuttling to Suikerbossie covered 13 km in just over 3hrs, the Recovery group did km 11 kms and the Walkers 8.5 kms

Main group starting up

Main Group Photo

Walking Group

Recovery Group

FEEDBACK: Saturday 30 August, Rhodes Mem.-King's Blockhouse-Newlands Forest

It was a stunning morning weather-wise, crisp, sunny and dry on Saturday, the last run of winter. The start was a good warm-up up the jeep track towards town to link up with the end of the first leg of the Table Mountain Challenge.  The on to Heartbreak Hill which was as heartbreaking as ever but the waterfalls were stunning. Followed by a climb almost up to the King's Block House and then from the turnstile it was downhill. Some single track before the boardwalks that lead through the towering trees, passing the still abundant waterfalls and luscious verdant winter forest. The dappled sunlight through the trees and boardwalks was food for the soul.  Once past the round table picnic spot, we meandered again on the jeep track towards Constantia Nek, but turned back towards the start.

There was a total of 20 runners, with two walkers and six in the recovery group.  The main group consisted of only 12 runners - one of whom was a newbie we scooped up on the way! We were lead by the stalwart team of nifty navigators: Geoff, Gregg, Piero and Richard, and there was not one but five fearless sweeps: Dawn, Allison, Theresa, Cathy and Lorraine. Entertainment was provided in the form of interviews with Tom and the scooped-up Boodi.

The main group ran 12 km in 2h15.

FEEDBACK: Saturday 23 August, Constantia Nek-Kirstenbosch

Saturday 23 August was the 4th anniversary run of the Constantia Nek to Kirstenbosch route, and included Veronica Barnes our first recruit.

The new tee shirts were handed over to those who had ordered them and from now on our runs will be brightened by trail runners sporting green TMT tees indicating 50 sorties as well as the more familiar red tees indicating 25 sorties.

The main group

The walking, recovery, and main groups set out from Constantia Nek up the Eagle's Nest shortcut through Cecilia, Spilhaus and Rooikat ravines to the top of Kistenbosch Gardens.  The main group went as far as Skeleton Gorge, the recovery group to Nursery Raving, and the walking group to Fourways.  All the groups returned via Cecelia forest and the low route above Rhodes drive back to the start.

The main group covered 11.7 km, the recovery group 8 km and the walking group 7.8 km.

The recovery group

Except for Richard who collided with a rock and injured his knee forcing him to turn back, all three groups had an uneventful runs/walk.  

Congratulations to Piero  Granelli who completed 50 sorties and our blog editor Nicole Meyer who ran her 25^th sortie.

In conclusion we Richard a speedy recovery

--Peter

FEEDBACK: Saturday 16 August, Tokai Forest

23 turned out on a beautiful late winter/early spring morning with the mountain illuminated by an range glow from the rising sun.

Beautiful winter's morning

We divided into the customary three groups and Julian and Gregg led off the main group for what turned out to be an almost 17km run along the trails on the flank of Constantiaberg. Neil took the recovery group over a shorter route covering 11kms and the walking group also covered 11km.

We welcomed back Mike Hart who has been absent for the best part of two years and Leslie Street who had been overseas on business.

The walking group

The main group

The route taken by the main group

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