HOGSBACK TRAIL RUN OCTOBER 2013

HOGSBACK TRAIL RUN 11 OCTOBER 2013


FRIDAY 11TH
Adrienne has to keep up her record of competing every parkrun and also offers her time to volunteer at the event. So we start the morning with a 5k parkrun with Erna. We meet up with Ron and Lyn and Steve and Bev. After our run we have a short swim. The sunrise is amazing. Erna tells us that she supported WIllie at a Hogsback event and completed the 38k with them. First lady home.

AS ALWAYS THE SUNRISE IS QUITE BREATHTAKING

AFTER THE RUN WE HAD A SHORT REFRESHING SWIM. I HAVE THE DAY OFF AS JOHN AND I LEAVE FOR HOGSBACK LATER THIS MORNING


John and I left for Hogsback. We arrived in the village in the mid afternoon. Had a bit of an upset regarding our tent booking and opted for the Swallow Tail where I have stayed before -- last year for the Hogs back 21k. We had mistakenly booked into the Runs With Faires campsite. This turned out to be less than acceptable with the camp area located next to the rubbish dump and the ablutions quite smelly. Also no power next to the camping.

We met up with Gary, Graham and Marius amd their families. We ordered a Pizza and a couple of beers. It is always fun to meet people who have a similar interest. These chaps seemed like quite hardcore athletes who were up to taking part in any and all of the really tough events in the area. The shared Pizza we ordered was quite sufficient for supper for John and myself and was one of the best (vegetarian) filled pizza's that I can remember having.

Back at the tent we were quite well set up and were in bed early.

JESSICA AND JENNA. FRIENDS OF SVENJE. THESE TWO ADVENTURE GIRLS CAME UP HERE TO CONQUER THE HOGSBACK. WE SAW THEM AT THE START AND THEN NEVER AGAIN UNTIL THE FINISH. THEY COMPLETED THE EVENT IN AROUND 7;30.


Saturday morning; We register at the Arminel Hotel. Short race briefing and then set off at 7am. At the run we meet Paul Johnson and the two girls who came with us to the Hogsback last year Jessica and Jenna -- Friends of Svenje. We run with them for a short while but then they and John take off ahead.

THE FIRST SECTION OF THE 38K TAKES THE RUNNERS UP A LONG FOREST ROAD UP A HILL. IT IS A REALATIVELY EASY START AND GIVES YOU TIME TO SETTLE INTO A GOOD PACE.

AT ABOUT 8KAY INTO THE RUN WE FIND THE ONE AND ONLY REFRESHMENT STATION. THIS IS FOR THE 16KAY RUNNERS. THIS IS THE LAST TIME I SAW JOHN AS HE HEADED INTO THE FORREST.

At the First Checkpoint is when I last see John. He heads up into the forest and I am not far behind. I am with two other people (Bruce and Allison) and we do not see the change of direction and so are, for a while, on the wrong path.

AT THIS STAGE OF THE TRAIL WE WERE LOST. WE HAD MISSED A TURN OFF AND CONTINUED ON THE FOREST ROAD. I HAD A PHONE NUMBER AND WAS ABLE TO PHONE TO FIND OUT WHERE WE HAD GOINE WROUNG. BRUCE WAS AHEAD. WE FOUND THE TURN OFF AND CLIMBED UP TO CHECKPOINT TWO.


We realise our mistake and back track. The correct turnoff at the quarry takes us up and up to the top of this hill. We see the second check point and ask if we are last. Donovan is the sweeper and says that there are more to come. This turned out to be a mistake as the others never reached checkpoint one.

THE WATERFALLS WE SAW WERE NOT SPECTACULAR IN HEIGHT BUT MORE IN THEIR NUMBERS. LISTENING TO THE SOUND OF THE WATER AND RUNNING NEXT TO THESE WATERFALLS ADDS A SPECIAL FEELING TO THIS EVENT.

FOR A LONG SECTION AFTER CHECKPOINT TWO WE WOULD FOLLOW THIS STREAM OVER A SADDLE AND THEN DOWN INTO A VALLEY WHERE THERE WERE NUMBERS OF WATERFALLS.


We press on. Over the saddle and along a single track for a long while. Lots of this section is scrambling with hands as we navigate narrow pathways. You have to be careful all the time to watch for the next marker as it is easy to miss the pathway.

AS WE DESCENDED DEEPER INTO THE VALLEY WE WOULD HAVE TO NEGOTIATE NARROW PATHWAYS WITH A LOT OF SCRAMBLING OVER ROCKY SURFACES.

I am now basically on my own (and last) as the people in front are now too far ahead. Some of the 100k runners pass me including Chris Gedye from Achilles. This section of the trail is marked with a Bird of some kind. I am now doing a lot of walking. I find the trail tough underfoot and am unable to pick up a stride or jogging pace.

THE TRAIL IS, AT ONE SECTION, MARKED BY THIS BIRD.


There are waterfalls and we hike alongside and over the stream a number of times. There is quite a bit of muddy quagmire sections where are certain to get your feet muddy and slushy.


I had a cold during the past week and am coughing. I am not feeling strong so that when I reach the next checkpoint at 24k I decide that I have had enough. I have been running / hiking for 4;30hours and am really exhausted. I wait here for about an hour before the vehicle (Medic -- James) leaves for Hogsback. There are a small group of us who have bailed here. It is 16kays to go but this will take me at least four to five hours and that is going to be just too much for me.

Back at Hogsback I go back to the tent to find that it is blowing away -- with our kit and the stretchers inside. I pay for the campsite (R100pp) which is really a good value for money price. The owner of the campsite is Tannie Ansie. It seems that they are still trying to sell the place. I am sure that the Swallowtail was up for sale last year when we werer here.

The Swallow Tail offers an excellent grassy campsite, spotless ablutions with power. The wind is gusting strongly and has blown the tent over. fortunately none of the tent poles have snapped. Unfortunately one of the legs of Johns stretcher is damaged. I pack everything up and after a shower make my way back to the Arminel Hotel where I waited for John. He completed the event in just under 8 hours.
Just ahead of him are Jessica and Jenna. And shortly after John came in so did Paul and David (From church).

JOHN CLAIMS THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST EVENTS EVER. CERTAINLY TOUGHER THEN THE SECOND DAY OF DRYLAND. AS HE FINSIHED SO DID PAUL JOHNSON WHO HAD MEASURED THE DISTANCE TO AROUND 42KAY. CLIMBING UP AND OVER THE HOG MAKES THE TRAIL EXTRA TOUGH BUT THE ENTIRE TRAIL IS A ROUGH AND TOUGH EVENT.


Back to the campsite where John had a shower and we headed off home. For something a little different we took the road via Adelaide and Bedford. This road is around 30 or 40 kays longer but is a lot easier to drive. We are buffeted by strong winds on our return. As we approach PE we are confronted by driving rain squalls.

This evening John's family was due to go out to supper but Dianne was not feeling at her best and they cancelled. Also it was raining and not the best weather for a Braai.
It was Ingrid's birthday and by the time I got home Barbara and Lene were already at the Restaurant where they were celebrating. Country Kitchen. I joined them a little later and we had a lovely evening with some great company, music played by Ian and also an excellent supper.