A total of 104 runners recently took part in the first edition of ‘AdventureLisa’s Forest Run’ in its new home of the Vredefort Dome. The runners set off from the Venterskroon Inn on three course distances – 16km, 30km and 46km – which took them on parts of the Rooihaas Hiking Trail and along tracks on neighbouring farms.
While most of the participants drove through from Potchefstroom, Parys, Johannesburg and Pretoria, runners also travelled from as far away as Kroonstad, Klerksdorp, Sabie, Middelburg, Stellenbosch and Cape Town.
It took race organiser Lisa de Speville and her team two weeks to prepare the trails for the event. “Many sections were quite overgrown and seldom used,” she explains. “We’re very pleased with what we did out there to get it ready for the participants.”
Much of the event’s charm comes from the three dozen marshals who man waterpoints and checkpoints to keep an eye on the runners. Each waterpoint is festively decorated and the marshals dress up with wings, funny hats, bright colours and tutus. Some of the runners get into the fancy-dress spiri too. For Peter Ypenburg, from Johannesburg, this was his second Forest Run and he hit the trails in a red ladybird outfit, much to the delight of other participants and the marshals.
“Every water point and feed station was awesome,” he says. “From being welcomed by someone playing ‘Chariots of Fire’ on a ukulele, to marshals dressed up as fairies and with another dressed as pink flamingo cheering you on. The nature and scenery was jawdropping; running on and over mountains, in lush natural forests, even through a fairy forest and up ravines. So much beauty all in one run.”.
The event started and finished from the Venterskroon Inn. Hosts Leon Lindeque and Pearie Ujdur warmly welcomed the event and opened their doors to participants and supporters. Many runners even took to the chilly water of the venue’s swimming pool to soothe their tired legs.
After the event Potchefstroom athlete Johann Smal wrote, “ WOW! Some of the best mountain trails I’ve ever seen. I almost quit after 22 kilometres with a hamstring issue. I’m so glad I didn’t because the last eight kilometres of the 30km route was spectacular. This was a good reminder of why I run in the places I do.”
For all but a few local participants, this was their first visit to the Vredefort Dome area. Community outcomes from this event include a donation from the event to the local school and also the rejuvenation of the Rooihaas Hiking Trail. “A number of local runners have offered to help to maintain the trails throughout the year and I’m busy drawing a new map of the hiking trails in the area,” says de Speville.
The oldest runner was Bernie Shiller from Johannesburg. He recently turned 70 and he completed the 30km route in a credible 6 hours 20 minutes.
Winners from each course returned home with potted indigenous trees to plant in their gardens, a reminder of their run through the forests of the Koepel.
Results:
These times stand as the course records.
46km route
Men
1. Mike Nash & Werner Bosman, 4h51
3. Conrad van den Berg, 5h25
Women
1. Corine Gagiano, 5h34
2. Anouk Baars, 5h40
3. Lynn Biesheuvel, 6h32
30km route
Men
1. Tom Hugo, 3h03
2. Dustin Grace, 3h11
3. Mike Snyman, 3h16
Women
1. Tumi Matlou, 3h16
2. Cornia Broere, 3h35
3. Ezit Malan, 3h48
16km route
Men
1. CP Kriek, 1h50
2. Cules Kolbe, 1h51
3. Matt Longden, 1h54
Women
1. Susanne Viljoen, 2h03
2. Iselle Combrink-Groome, 2h12
3. Alma Koegelenberg, 2h17