John and I had first of all entered the Merrell Hogsback event and then I suppose, just because we can, we decided to enter this event as well.
We left PE at around 2.30 on the Friday afternoon, Petrol had been short in PE due to delivery issues and so we decided to fill up at Colchester. This took a while as there was a line of cars at the pumps. Finally we were off. Today we had to contend with traffic. It may have been that there were people leaving PE after "factory shut down" or maybe it was simply a Friday afternoon. But we had traffic all the way to Fort Beaufort; trucks and cars.
The drive to Hogsback is about 270km and took us over 3 1/2 hours. To our surprise there was already a caravan and tent in "our spot". It was getting dark and misty so we set up camp on the road side. We were in a bit of a rush when we left home and I had forgotten the tent pegs which I had dried out after the camping of two weeks ago. Despite our small setbacks our camp turned out to be okay in the end.
We drove up to the Arminel Hotel and registered. Sharon gave us really good Hoody Tops as well as a Tog Bag. The last time I had done this event we were also given a small tog bag but mine had been stolen from my car. I have a hoody from 2013 when I was due to run the event but we were in East London staying with Ben (for Ally's water polo tournament) and I had not run but Cristin had collected my hoody for me.
We had supper at the Light House restaurant again; same beers and same pizza's. Boring but nice. As we sat in the restaurant it began to rain quite heavily. Back at the tent we settled in with a Movie on my Laptop. I was extremely tired and with the combination of a drive, supper and beer; I was asleep as soon as I closed my eyes.
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| I ASKED THE OWNER OF THE LIGHTHOUSE TO PUT THE FIRE ON AS IT WAS A CHILLY AND WET EVENING. |
Saturday Morning the race was due to start at 8.00am. We had an early breakfast; John brings his spare kettle and we are able to make some porridge with a cup of tea. At the start of the event we meet up with the Bartons; Benita is feeling the cold and wearing three layers. It is just 9degrees and my feet and hands are "tingling" with the cold. Duncan and Natalie join us. Mike Webb from Kingwilliamstown; who I met many years ago doing trail runs with Dave and Chel Gassner, was there . He now "sweeps" for the 100km trail run and tells me that he has done 13 of there events.
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| JOHN; BENITA; CALEY AND PETER AT THE START |
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| DUNCAN AND NATALIE ADJUSTING BENITA'S PACK. |
The race organisers inform us that the start is delayed as they are waiting for some people to arrive. And then as we are about to start there is a second delay as they are still marking the trail. Finally the race starts at about 8.20am. There appear to be over 200 participants. The Ten and 21k events start at the same time and will split after about 6km.
The course starts off across the road down the Arbortotium (forest reserve) and right up a forest road. Then we turn left into the forest through some beautiful grassy trails. Then begins one of the toughest (steep and long) climbs. It is humid, misty and we are drenched as we climb up and up. I am reminded of one of the climbs that we do on the Woodridge trail. This one must be at least a kilometer of hard slog, single track, steep climb.
John, Benita, Duncan and Natalie have gone on ahead. John meets up with Cyril; who we met in 2013 and who we have seen at various events. He runs with Cyril for most of the second half of the distance.
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| BEAUTIFUL FOREST PATHWAYS |
At the end of the climb we are rewarded by a view of the Kettle Spout where we were just two weeks ago. And again after this we make our way along more single track narrow and slippery down hill before emerging at the bottom back on the forest road. I had taken a Bum Slide fall on this section. No injury fortunately.
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| KETTLE SPOUT |
Back on the forest road we climb for a short while before the first refreshment station. At this point the 10km runners turn left. This is where the "park bench" is where I had taken a pic of Seeth and Sheena two weeks ago.
The rest of us continue up the forest road. This continues for a long way, up and up. I met Robin (a gaenacologist from East London). They had bought a property at Hogsback and she tells me that her Husband is busy working on the property as they plan to build a residence for themselves. The runners who take part in this event are mostly from EL. It is a drive of less then 150km for them.
Robin tells me she knows Lizette Owen (MPRG). Robin uses this outing as a stress reliever and soul builder. Being a gaenacologist is not an easy job; the hours are tough and the job is made even tougher by greedy lawyers suing doctors who are simply trying their best to help patients. Patients develop selective hearing and accuse doctors of all kinds of misrepresentation.
I leave her at the top of the hill where the second water table is situated. When I did this run with Svenje in 2012 this hill had been completely engulfed by mist. We had no idea where we were. Today it was slightly misty but more Humid. At least we could see across the valley and down to the dam which you drive past on your way to Hogsback. The fields and villages are spread below you. If you know what to look for, you are able to pick out the Arminel Hotel.
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| THE VIEWS AS YOU CLIMB TOWARDS THE SECOND WATER TABLE |
From the Second water table (about 9 - 10km mark) we make a right turn. This morning we were into a fairly strong breeze which made the next section quite cold as our shirts were saturated after the long climb and the damp air. But we soon started to warm up as we are on an open jeep track and in the morning sun. From up here you are able to see across the valley to where the next water table is. It will be about 4 to 5kays of running before we get there. Although there are some hills, this is the easiest section of the course. It is along forest roads and jeep tracks and reasonable easy terrain.
We pass the last water table at about 14km and descend along more forest roads. There are again some up hills but nothing too hectic. And the roads are relatively easy to negotiate. One of the difficult parts of running a trail is that you are constantly having to watch your footing or you will end up tripping and falling.
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| RUNNING ON JEEP TRACKS AND FOREST ROADS IS A LOT EASIER THAN THE SINGLE TRACK. THIS EVENT HAS TWO REALLY TOUGH SECTIONS. FIRST CLIMBING UP TO THE KETTLE SPOUT AND THEN THE SECOND IS THE FINAL TWO KM DESCENDING TO THE FINISH. |
At this stage I am more or less running with two couples and the man tells me that we have just 3km to go. We run down a shale / gravel section of road. My legs are tired and I have to concentrate to stop myself from tripping on the stones. I look across the valley and see runners climbing up a hill across to the left. We turn off the forest road down a valley and then have this long steep single track field to climb. At the top you have to be very careful to look for the markers. In 2012 Devon and other runners had turned left and had done an extra about 5km. You have to turn right and down a steep section of single track. This last three km takes me at least 30 to 40 minutes. I am not steady on my feet going down slippery, muddy trails and find myself on my bum on a number of occasions.
I grab hold of branches to steady myself and end up with thorny bush in my grip. And then even when you are at the bottom of this section there is a "never ending" trail -- up and down where you are not able to do much more than a fast walk at any stage. Windy and overgrown and slippery. At last we emerge at an old hut and onto the forest road which is familiar from two weeks ago. Past the Arbortorium.
I put my head down and determine to Not Walk over the last two hundred meters. John is waiting for me and I finish in just under four hours. He has been here for about an hour.
Back at the camp we take down the tent which is still damp, shower and leave for PE just before 13.00. The drive home is much easier than the drive to Hogsback and takes us just over 3hours. I drop John off, unpack the car, wolf down some lunch -- I am shaking with hunger -- and then go to Summerstrand to fetch Ally from her lifeguard duty. She has had a 10 hour duty shift.
Jacqui took her family to the Kragga Kamma game park and saw a multitude of animals. Safari duty done.
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| DUE TO SOME PEOPLE ARRIVING LATE AND FIXING THE MARKERS ON THE TRAIL WE START THE EVENT ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATE. |
SMALL GATHERING OF PE PEOPLE AT THE ARMINEL POOL
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DUNCAN; NATALIE AND BENITA AT THE FINISH OF THE HOGSBACK 21K SHORTLY AFTER THIS SECTION WE START THE LOOOOONG CLIMB ON A SINGLE TRACK TRAIL UP TO THE KETTLE SPOUT. AND THEN AFTER A SHORT DESCENT WE START CLIMBING AGAIN -- ON FOREST ROAD UP TO THE HALFWAY POINT. |
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