A race like no other

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 have 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 had young Chris Strydom of Bloemfontein throw down
the gauntlet with a blistering 6:29,1 up a route that would make most mountain
goats blanch. 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 had a long, broken line of headlights
wind its way through the plantations. Strydom dominated from the outset, but a
navigation error around the 7km mark had 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 had 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 marked well. After a short prayer, runners kept it steady and
easy, and