Runners tough it out despite the bad weather

Hearts pounding, lungs heaving, legs screaming in agony they charge up the hill, hit a hard left and scramble – desperately clawing their way up a relentless slope to the marshal under the gazebo at the turning point. And then it’s back down to the start, struggling to find purchase against gravity’s relentless pull.

Welcome to the prologue of the 2013 Sabie XTrail stage race, with an elevation of nearly 100 metres in less than 700 metres, separating the strong from the weak, the fit from the unfit, and the experienced from the inexperienced.

This is the second running of this annual event, and more than 100 trail runners gathered at the Castle Rock race village for three gruelling stages covering more than 40 kilometres of the toughest conditions that Sabie’s mountains could throw at them.

Saturday would see runners take on the 1,3km prologue, followed by an 16km run on Sunday morning, a 10km night run that same night, and conclude with the final 18km stage on Monday morning.

A shorter “lite” version comprising 8km, the 10km night run and 12km final stage was available for the less-brave or less-prepared.

Winding along single and jeep tracks up and down steep mountainsides, through pine plantations, and at times, following the Sabie River, competitors had to make sure of every footfall through rocky and slippery terrain. Tracks were muddy and mushy, clay sucked at tired and abused calf and leg muscles, and to top it off, the intense humidity sapped every last bit of runners’ strength and energy.

Overtaking opportunities were few and far between, but slower runners showed the ultimate courtesy by keeping left, allowing their quicker co-competitors through. Coming down slopes was no easy feat, as footing was uncertain and gravity tried its best to claim as many victims as possible.

Sadly, organisers had to change the programme due to the funeral of former president Nelson Mandela, moving the night run to Saturday night and cancelling the Sunday morning run.

Saturday’s 1,3km prologue saw young Chris Strydom of Bloemfontein throw down the gauntlet with a blistering 6:29,1 up a route that would make most mountain goats blanche. More than 44 seconds ahead of the second-placed Batman Mulder, Strydom made it clear that he was the man to beat.

Saturday night’s run was flat and fast along the Sabie River and saw a long, broken line of headlights wind its way through the plantations. Chris Strydom dominated from the outset, but a navigation error around the 7km mark saw him go off course and not finish the stage. Mapepane Mahlangu finished first with a time of 40:57,3 followed by Batman Mulder almost four minutes behind.

Sunday morning saw almost every competitor gather at the start line to run that morning’s route in tribute to Madiba. Although untimed and unsupported, the organisers gave the go-ahead as the route was well-marked. After a short prayer, runners kept it steady and easy, and along with the prospect of almost a full day of rest afterwards, completed the course without a hitch.

A heavy hail storm on Sunday afternoon promised to have a nasty effect on the footing of Monday morning’s stage, and that it did. This did not faze the front runners, who tore along the relatively flat route as if it was paved, charging to the top of the Bridal Veil waterfall and back to the start via single track along the Sabie River. Mapepane Mahlangu finished the course in 1:20:15,9, followed by Chris Strydom more than five minutes later and Batman Mulder a further four minutes off the pace. Mahlangu’s two stage wins saw him take the podium with Batman Mulder and Christopher McBride in third. With all podium finishers in all categories guaranteed free entry in next year’s event, the competition promises to get stiffer each year, giving race organisers Ash Winters, Jaco and Odette van Staden increased incentive to scout and prepare tougher and more demanding routes for 2014 – we can’t wait.