The Sudwala Screaming Monster Half-Marathon is a race with a difference.

Not only does the 21,1-kilometre race take the runners through the oldest known cave in the world, but with a record entry of 785 runners and walkers conquering the monster, one thing became clear when the race was held on Wednesday – this one-of-a kind race is without a doubt making a name for itself.

What surprised the organisers, Legogote Villagers, even more were the lightning-quick times recorded by the champions on this challenging course.

The race started and ended in the Sudwala resort. After an innocuous first two kilometres, there was a steady climb out of the valley basin to the top of the pass, about 1 500 metres above sea level.

Penryn clash with their rival Uplands at first derby

Amply stocked water points awaited runners on the climb out of the valley.

At around nine kilometres, and not too soon, the route turned back, and it was then downhill back to Sudwala.
Upon the descent, the scenery was breathtaking before the real sting started. As runners entered the resort and passed the 17-kilometre mark, the Monster turned nasty and the 1,8 kilometre climb up to the cave tested runners’ reserves.

After the climb, runners entered the mouth of the cave and followed a candlelit path to meet the Screaming Monster, an ancient dolomite formation in the oldest dolomite caves in the world.
Runners had to slam on the brakes as they descended to the finish line.

Those who wanted a shorter distance or wanted to test their fitness levels, took on the The Sudwala Flat-Fast-Furious 10-kilometre race. The route left the resort with the 21-kilometre runners but continued along the R539 instead of going up to the pass. It was a scenic run, with only a 40-metre difference between highest and lowest points.

Also read: Slimkoppe maak al die regte skuiwe by skaak interhoër

Winners of the 21,1-kilometre race
Open
First male
Samuel Mathabatha – Lowmed Club – 01:18:17
First female
Chantal Middel-Bovee – DAC – 01:47:35
Winners of the 10-kilometre race
Open
First male
Abednico Mashaba – Born to Win – 00:30:34
First female
Manda Gomes – Nedbank
LVCC – 00:41:07

Here are the full results:

10km Results Sudwala Screaming Monster – 01 May 2019

21 km Sudwala Race Results – 01 May 2019

Here are some photographs of the event, captured by Stefan de Villiers.