A fresh and clear winters morning saw the 10 and 38 kilometre athletes arrive in their hundreds at the Uitsoek Skymarathon.

Freshly brewed coffee and soup as well a fire was on offer to keep the athletes warm while there was a short delay.

The first six kilometres saw the first Skymarathon athletes arrive with Tranquil Gumbo clearing the morning cobwebs with Pedro Calderon and Stewart Chaperon hot on his heels.

In the Ladies Race, Nicky Booyens, Karine Bezuidenhout and Natia van Heerden all arrived in a group and set off to cover the heavy climbing ahead.

At the 19 kilometre mark it was Lucky Miya that had taken the lead looking super comfortable with Gumbo and Calderon about three minutes back and Chaperon shortly behind.
At the Aid Station at around 17,5 kilometre, the battle was on between Booyens and Bezuidenhout arriving with about a minute gap between them with almost all the climbing behind them, while Van Heerden was in third. The atmosphere between the midpack and backpack runners was incredible with some positive feedback and brilliant smiles.

At Aid station 3, Miya arrived as the first male with Chaperon shortly after, both looking focused. Bezuidenhout and Booyens then arrived with less then a minute gap between them. There was a slight glitch in the trail causing some athletes to get lost and run along the the road parallel to the single-track, each being of equal distance to the aid station. The athletes had another nine kilometre to go passing aid station four and a short run back down to the finish along a dirt road.

Results for the mens race

Lucky Miya 4:03.41

Stewart Chaperon, 4:33.09

Pedro Calderon, 4:46.47

Ladies

Nicky Booyens: 5:20.17

Karine Bezuidenhout: 5:24.54

Natia van Heerden: 5:43.59
View photos of the Uitsoek Skymarathon