FEEDBACK: Saturday 28 March, Kloofnek-PipeTrack-Kasteelspoort & Corridor Ravine

Many trailers turned out for a rather hot March run on Table Mountain.  All groups left from the parking lot at the intersection of Tafelberg and Kloof Nek roads and continued along the pipe track.  3 km along the Pipe track, the Main and Recovery groups went up Kasteelspoort.  Kasteelspoort is a tough, up-hill climb to the top of the Twelve Apostles.  From here, the route is flat along the top of the mountain.  The Main group continued further along the top of the mountain to Corridor Ravine and headed back towards the Pipe track.  The Recovery group had a quick look at the Old Cable Station, before heading town Woody Ravine to the Pipe track.  All groups headed back to the start along the Pipe track.

The Main group completed 13 km, the Recovery group completed 11 km and the walk/run group 10 km.

Main group route and elevation

Sunrise on the Altantic Sea board

Lion's Head catches the morning sun, and a sleepy Camps Bay

The Pipe track

The Main group going up Kasteelspoort

The Main group... almost at the top

The Recovery group at the top of Kasteelspoort

The Main group on their descent via Corridor Ravine

The Recovery group descent via Woody Ravine

FEEDBACK: Saturday 21st March: Recce of the Two Oceans 10km Trail Route

FEEDBACK: Saturday 21^st March: Recce of the Two Oceans 10km Trail Route

Those clever Norwegians were right again - we awoke to the sound of rain on Saturday morning. Despite the dawn downpour, 37 keen trailers presented themselves at the wooden gates to Rhodes Memorial for a recce of the Two Oceans 10km Trail. However, the kindly heavens smiled on us and by the time we set off, the rain had stopped and we were presented with perfectly fresh, cool forest paths to run on.

The route is a tricky one, with lots of twists and turns and zigzags, and Julian did his best to remember it from previous runs, resulting in an ‘artist’s impression’ of the route. The recovery group attempted to follow the route on Endomondo, but we still managed to take a wrong turn twice and had to backtrack. We also missed a loop at the beginning and tacked it on the end instead. It was a "creative" morning. 

The Creatives

Adding to the creativity were two injuries in the main group: Dave and Theresa P. both twisted ankles, Theresa’s resulting in a torn ligament which will unfortunately keep her off her feet for a few weeks to come. The recovery group took it very easy and the biggest injury was Quintin’s twisted ankle, which got better magically at the offer of all of the ladies in the group kissing it better. (Or perhaps it was the look he got from his wife at that idea!)

The United Colours of the Recovery Group

Thanks to Julian, who heroically led the main group of 20, which was gracefully swept by Gaeleen. Thanks also to Nicole, who kept the 17-strong recovery team in tight formation. Not a single soul was lost this week from either group. 

That we know of...

There are a couple of names not ticked off on the register: Belamie and Jeanne, are you still out there? :)

The main group did 10kms in 1h46 and the recovery group a slightly longer 10.6kms in 2 hours exactly.

Lorraine

Lorraine and Nicole, Recovery

Vanessa proves she CAN make a tick mark on the register

PS: Perhaps I should add here for the benefit of anybody still confused about the official 10km route (Mama T. & Co.), that the official first kilometre is very different from our run because the exit from varsity is usually locked on non-race day. On The Big Day, you will start on the Jammie steps inside UCT and run along University Avenue/Rugby Road towards Muizenberg, turn right as you leave the UCT grounds, run back along the top road inside UCT (Ring Road?) and clamber out over the turnstile steps into the Rhodes Mem approach road, climb the hill a little further up and join the path as shown on the below image. Or something like that.  (See below: our run in blue, the official route in red.)

FEEDBACK: Saturday 14th March, Cecelia Forest circuit

Many runners turned out for our first run since the devastating fires on the peninsula mountains. This week we did a circular route through the unaffected Cecelia Forest and Kirstenbosch area.

All groups started at the Cecelia Forest parking (corner Hohenort and Rhodes drive) and followed the cycle track, parallel to Rhodes drive, towards Southern Cross drive. From there, groups followed the steep jeep track towards Constantia Nek, before turning north along the upper contour path.  From there, runners went up the stairs to Rooikat ravine and towards the Cecelia waterfall.  The path was mainly undulating stairs along the side of the mountain, which gave great views of the valley below.  Runners carried on to the Fourways signpost above Kirstenbosch, where the Main group did an extra loop to Skeleton's Gorge and the Recovery group to Nursery Ravine.  All groups headed down the various contour paths and short cuts to the car park.

The Main group completed 12 km and the Recovery group 9 km in about 2 hrs.

Gregg Smith completed his 75th sortie so is now eligible for a Blue tee and Aneen Koch her 10th so now moves to the speed check-in on the register.

Main Group route

Panoramic shot looking south towards Eagle's Nest

Panoramic shot of the valley

Recovery Group admiring the view

Waterfall!

Main group at the waterfall

FEEDBACK: Saturday 28th February 2015 - Slangkop Lighthouse

Lovely sunny day for a run along the beach. The main group ran 7.75 km in each direction, from the Slangkop lighthouse in Kommetjie to Noordehoek Beach and back.

FEEDBACK: Saturday 21 February, Hunt for the red disa

Twenty-five enthusiastic runners ignored the pitter patter of rain overnight and pitched for the annual ‘hunt for the red disas’. We trudged up the steep path up Constantia Nek and were rewarded by the first find of a blue disa just off the contour path. Eagle-eyed Kate spotted this shy beauty that the front runners of the Main Group had sped straight past. We took Smuts track to Window Stream where we were rewarded with clumps of red disas. There were some King Proteas out and flower enthusiast Alice explained the difference between the King Protea and the um other kind of Protea (it is on a long stem). More red disas along the aquaduct where we had lots of fun jumping the steps in the wall. Then a lovely gallop along the dam wall just to impress the Japanese tourists with Hein and Aneen taking the opportunity of an empty dam to run through it. Here the group split and Gaeleen decided to take a group along the contour path back and the remainder of the Main Group took the Ash Valley route, lots of single track fun.

The Main Group did about 12 or 13kms in 2h45. Thank you to Richard and Julian for leading and Gaeleen for sweeping and photos.

The Recovery Group had some extra fun and did 14kms in 3h45. Thank you to Nicole for leading and photos.

Alison

Blue disa 

 

Some red disas at the aqueduct

More red disas, but displaying a more magenta than red colouring

A King Protea in bloom 

The Recovery group at the Overseer's Hut

The Main group on Woodhead dam wall 

A rather empty Helly-Hutchinson dam on the left, and Woodhead dam on the right

The Recovery group crossing the dam wall

Main group route and elevation

FEEDBACK: Saturday 14 February 2015, Kleinplaas dam circuit

A great cloudy and overcast start to our Valentine's Day run. Most runners turned out in red or pink for the occasion.

Both groups started at the car park in a clockwise circuit around the koppies behind Glencairn and Red Hill to the Kleinplaas dam and back.  The route was fairly straightforward and easy as the majority of the run goes through shallow wide valleys and open fynbos veld.  The trail consists mainly of sand and gravel roads.

The Main group did the larger outer circular route to the Kleinplaas dam to complete 14 km.  The recover group did a smaller circular route to the smaller Lewis Gay dam to complete 11.3 km. 

Main Group route and elevation.

Recovery Group at the Lewis Gay dam.  Three new comers too.

The Main Group.

 

Beautiful scenery and large open valleys.

FEEDBACK: Saturday 7th February 2015: Hout Bay, Scenic Traverse to Chapman’s Peak

Aaaah! Yet another stunning Cape summer morning! Not too hot and not too cold, no wind and perfect clear blue skies! Twenty-seven eager beavers signed in at the parking lot at the Chappies end of Hout Bay beach ready to explore the contour path that runs parallel to Chapman's Peak Drive. There was much persuading of the lazy/shy/injured to do more than they had intended to when their alarm clocks had gone off an hour before, and the groups were formed. We were off!

We set off up the t*r road for a kilometre or so before turning up at East Fort onto the rocky path that meanders up the zig zag below Blackburn Ravine.
A steady climb up the next 3 kilometres took us to an altitude of about 340m. Once on the contour path, we trotted along at a good pace for the next 2km. The path is rocky single track with some sandy patches but very runnable, and there are one or two patches where some of us had to clutch on to the plant life growing from the mountainside for moral support --- not to mention any names, Gaeleen and, oh, me :). This escarpment overlooks Hout Bay and we were hard pressed to keep our eyes on the path with such delicious views to our right.

Yes, up there!

The main group sped on ahead, leaving the back of the main group trailing behind, discussing various topics such as the unwritten rules of flying light aircraft, the advantages and disadvantages of being a tall man, upcoming trips, and our various general aches, pains and injuries. Perhaps if we talked less we'd keep up more, but what would the Trailers be without the camaraderie that comes with all that chat?

A sudden yelp signalled my own unexpected inspection of the dust and, just moments later, a similar fate was to befall Mariette (who was, I noted, wearing two different shoes. A story waiting to be told...) So, with bloodied knees, shins and faces, we continued on to the photo-stop and posed with beaming smiles on our faces and a stunning view of the bluest of oceans behind us.

All too soon, the path followed the ravine down and by 7,5 kms, we reached the t*r again. The last 4-5 kms were run at a fabulous pace along the road and back to the cars. One of the best things about this particular route is that there is a Vida e caffe in the parking lot, and everyone knows that a milky latte is full of protein which aids recovery. A croissant doesn't go down with too much difficulty either.
 

Pete reports that the run/walk group had a good outing with time for some spectacular views, covering 9kms in 2 hours 15 minutes. The main group did 11.7 kms in 2 hours 7 minutes.

It slipped our attention two weeks ago that Julian Tompkins celebrated his 75th sortie with the group. Congratulations wrapped up in apologies to Julian! Randolph Mort ran his 75^th sortie this week, Mike Hart his 50^th and Alex le Roux his 25^th. Well done, all of you!
 

Report by Lorraine Nevin 

Poor Mariette's face

Pete and all-cleaned-up Mariette