Runners take on the Monster
The Sudwala Screaming Monster took place this past weekend and once again proved to be a challenging run.
The annual halfmarathon, hosted by Legogote Villagers of White River was held on Saturday.
According to Janine Bethwaite of the club, this is the only 21km run in the world where participants run through a cave. The “Screaming Monster” is an enormous formation inside the Sudwala Caves through which runners make a turn close to the end of the trail.
A total of 220 started the race at Sudwala Lodge, the sponsors, at 07:00 on a chilly morning, but the temperatures soon began to rise. The youngest participants were 18 years old and the eldest was 74. “They were brave enough to challenge the Monster!” Bethwaite said.
Before it is reached, however, participants start off with a scenic, five-kilometre climb from the valley basin to the top of the pass. At the top, the route descends to the turnaround point.
They face another steep 1,8-kilometre climb during which they have to pass the finish line to the mouth of the caves before descending into the bowels of the earth. After that, it is an easy trot back down to the finish line at the lodge.
Tebogo Pilusa (01:15,04) of Dwarsrivier won with Ntuthuko Maseko (01:15,40) of Nedbank close on his heels.
The third male, Reuben Malatji (01:21,07) of Nelspruit finished almost six minutes later.
Nontokozo Dlamini (01:42,18) of LVCC was the first adult woman to finish, ridding herself of her shoes sometime during the race, because she opted to finish barefoot.
Allison Hay (01:43,52) of Nelspruit was the first female master to finish, and ended second among the women overall, followed by Amanda Ligthelm (01:45,49) of Eskom.
Comrades giant, Allan Robb also participated in the race once again and afterwards handed out the prizes to the category winners.
Other results
First junior male: Donald Miamela (01:38,10) of Dwarsrivier
First junior female: Cornelia Janse van Rensburg (02:06,55)
First veteran male: Eddie McGee (01:40,60 of LVCC
First veteran female: Madeleine Whitehair (01:54,00) of Nelspruit
First male master: Johannes Nyalunga (01:42,50) of Ngodwana
First male grand master: Alan Robb (01:51,00) of Germiston
First female grand master: Kathy Reid (03:39,48) of Dosco ETC Gijimas
First female walker: Kate Hulett (02:26,06) of Nelspruit
First male walker: Raymond van der Merwe (03:09,58) of Sabie Shufflers.
