For 22 years, K-Way SkyRun have been putting up a “hell of a run” for avid local and international endurance runners. In a bid to introduce even more people to this spectacular race, race organisers, Pure Adventures, have added a new 38km route to the entry mix. Known as the toughest race in Africa, they aren’t letting an “easy” route slip in, the shorter route will stay true to the SkyRun ethos by being an unmarked, self-navigated and self-supported route. “The route is tough, but we have given competitors a cut off of 13hours to complete the distance, which should be doable for most prepared athletes,” says race organiser Mike de Haast from Pure Adventures.

What makes this route different, is that unlike the 100km and 65km routes it will start at the picturesque Wartrail Country Club, and will only begin once the winner of the 100km route has crossed over the finished line. “The SkyRun 38km is an event where athletes have the ability to enjoy and test the nature of a SkyRun event, slowly moving up to possibly completing the infamous 100km event” states De Haast. “It is a great stepping stone for those wanting to experience the thrills of mountain running.”

“We are thrilled to add a 38km route to the fold, it will allow keen trail runners to test the waters before signing up for the treacherous 65km and iconic 100km route, what a great race to test the waters for the iconic SkyRun 100km,” says Caitlin Doney, Public Relations Coordinator for K-Way. She continues “We urge those that have always had SkyRun on their bucket list, to gear up and get out, taking the opportunity of being amongst the first runners to ever run the inaugural SkyRun 38km.”

Entries are limited to only 100 participants. Make sure you get yours in to take part in the brand new SkyRun 38Km, tailored for athletes looking to enjoy not only the beauty of Wartrail country but also develop their training and endurance whilst being immersed in one of South Africa’s most beautiful playgrounds. The races will be taking place on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 November 2017.

Website – skyrun.co.za
Facebook – SkyRun
#Hellofarun
#SkyRun
#Gearupgetout
ENDS

After setting a fastest known time in the Himalayas earlier this year, Ryan Sandes will be lining up for what many are calling the World Championships of Trail Running at this year’s Ultra Trail Mont Blanc on Friday 31 August in Chamonix. 2018 sees the “who’s-who” of trail running taking part with names like Jim Walmsley, Kilian Jornet, Luis Hernando and Tim Tollefson to mention a few all looking to take the title of King of the Mountain.

“UTMB is a race that has never gone well for me and I think in the past I have put too much pressure on myself. It was really refreshing to pre run the UTMB route over a few days with a group of friends earlier this year,” says Ryan. “It was a pretty unplanned disaster style lap of the Mont Blanc. On the first night we ended up sleeping in a cow shed to take shelter from a storm as all the accommodation was fully booked, but we had an awesome few days on the mountain with lots of laughs. I have so many good memories from the trip and I will take that positive energy with me into the race.”

“Running the Great Himalaya Trail earlier this year took a lot more out of me both physically and mentally than I initially thought,” explains Ryan. “I took quite a long break from training to properly recover, but I have started feeling a lot better over the past few weeks and I am really looking forward to lining up at the start line of UTMB.”

UTMB will see roughly 2300 of the toughest runners in the world to taking on the French, Swiss and Italian Alps over 100miles. Known as one of the most difficult foot races in Europe, the 170km loop race, has more than 10 000m of positive altitude change before it ends - a total climb which is higher than Mount Everest.

The race loop around Mont Blanc follows the Tour du Mont Blanc hiking path that normally takes hikers between 7 to 9 days to complete, but the lead runners will complete this course in just over 20hrs, with the final cut off time after 46hrs30min. The race is termed semi-self-sufficient, with 10 food/ drink posts situated on the course where the participants can take whatever food and drink they need.

For more information on the race please visit www.ultratrailmb.com, and follow Ryan live on his Facebook Page @Ryan.Sandes.Ultra.Marathon.Runner, Twitter and Instagram account @RyanSandes. For live coverage of the race on race day please visit http://www.ultratrail.tv/en

Just over one month to go until the start of the annual Trappers Bloemfontein 4 Peaks Mountain Challenge presented by Bloemfontein Courant and once again the race promises to be a nail biter with previous race champions Lucky Miya and Thabang Madiba returning to fight for the crown. Although only 24km, the race is known throughout the trail running community as one of the toughest mountain runs in South Africa!

“Only a few entries still remain for this year’s event,” says race organiser Mike de Haast from Pure Adventures. “We only allow 200 runners to experience the magic of this event and preserve the pristine nature of the mountains.”

“The 24km race is self-supported and self-navigational and as the route is circular it makes it a good entry level event for those that are looking for something more challenging than running on the trail. The 24km, though, should not fool you into a false sense of security as this is Extreme Mountain running and is the equivalent to an ultra-marathon. Trust us you will never think of 24km in the same way,” says Mike.

“4 Peaks is a real adventure race, it’s not simply trail running,” says Douw Raimondo from Trapper Bloemfontein. “As a proper adventure store, we are always so excited to be associated with this proper adventure of a race!”

The race, which has a vertical ascent of 1800m will take runners through the picturesque Moolmanshoek Private Game Reserve on Saturday the 22nd of September 2018.

For more information on the race and to find out what additional activities will be available on the weekend, please visit http://4peaks.co.za/.

Follow the race live on Facebook on @4PeaksMountainChallenge

 The NFB Great Zuurberg Trail Run(GZTRun) is excited to announce that Merrellis on board for a second year as a support sponsor.  

Adventure seekers taking part in the 2019 NFB Great Zuurberg Trail Run will be able to do so in a pair of Merrell trail running shoes. Merrell is partnering with GZTRun and product-sponsoring its trail-running footwear to each participant. 

David Palmer from Medicus Shoes, the authorised distributor of Merrell brand footwear remarks on the partnership, saying, “We would like to offer participants the opportunity to hit the trail and live the real moments and experiences, in Merrell trail-running footwear. 

“We are true believers in the brand's product features and technical specifications, with its out-of-the-box comfort. Partnering with GZTRun provides the opportunity to express our passion for the brand by putting Merrell trail-running footwear onto participant's feet. This opens channels to explore, express, and do, what these enthusiasts adore in the outdoors, and allows us the opportunity to identify true brand influencers.”

Siska van der Bijl, NFB GZTRun race director is excited for the second race saying: “The NFB Great Zuurberg Trail Run embraces trail running’s pioneering and adventurous spirit. So the partnership with Merrell sings to both brand values.

“Our passion for the region drives us. Runners pass a cycad, estimated to be around a 1,000 years old, run through a beautiful alley of yellowwood trees, and navigate some technical trails. The route is diverse. And our races are unique. We believe our differentiators are our prestigious trails, high-end partners and discerning athletes. Plus our unashamedly luxurious twist.” 

About the NFB Great Zuurberg Trail Run

Taking place May 31stto June 2nd2019, the NFB GZTRun is a boutique event taking participants through South Africa’s most majestic trails. The route includes exclusive tracks in the untamed wild of Addo, traverses the Zuurberg mountains, and crosses remote sections of SANParks’ Addo Elephant National Park. 

Limited to 70 teams of two, the exclusive three-day trail run bases itself at the Zuurberg Mountain Villagewhere participants benefit from luxury hotel or tented accommodation, and fine dining at the race village.

There are three options for teams entering the trail run; both include access to exclusive trails that traverse the Addo/Zuurberg region, three stages and three nights accommodation, three delicious meals a day (excluding the bronze package, see below), race apparel, on course nutrition and all park and conservation fees.

The platinum packagecosts R14,000 for a team of two staying in luxury hotel accommodation at the Zuurberg Mountain Village. The gold package costs R10,000 per team for accommodation at the race village in luxury tents, and for those with their own accommodation the bronze package is R7,000 per team and includes three lunches.  

Entries are allocated on a first come, first served basis and will close once the limit of 70 teams is reached. Find out more, and enter online at www.gztrun.co.za.

They say South Africans are the toughest of the lot, and if that is true then the 2018 SkyRun will undoubtedly be tougher than ever before, as it has it partnered with South Africa’s most technical outdoor gear brand, becoming proudly known as the K-Way SkyRun!

“Our team at K-Way are thrilled with our partnership with SkyRun!” Beams Caitlin Doney, Public Relations Coordinator for K-Way. “We believe there is perfect synergy with K-Way being a proudly South African brand, partnering with an authentically South African race. Athletes have to endure extreme elements and it’s going to be tough – but we are confident that our gear will make the journey easier.”

In previous year’s many of the K-Way athletes have dominated the podium positions at SkyRun, with Lucky Miya taking the crown in 2017 and running phenomenon Nicolette Griffioen maintaining a top 10 overall position until the 65km mark where she had to pull out due to health problems. “Lucky will be back to defend his title this year as will Nicolette and we are hoping for #1 podium positions for both of them,” says Caitlin. “After last year’s health scares, AJ Calitz, will also be back to prove he still has what it takes and we know he would love to be on the podium with Lucky!”

“We are honoured to have a brand like K-Way along on for our SkyRun journey,” says event organiser, Mike de Haast from Pure Adventures. “SkyRun is a super technical event and we have complete faith that the K-Way brand will be able to stand up to all of the tests and challenges that the SkyRun elements have to throw at it.”

To add to the excitement, this year’s K-Way SkyRun will now also be featuring a 38km night mountain run that will be the perfect entry level event for anyone who has a 100km SkyRun race on their bucket list. “We are limiting entries to 100 competitors and are very confident that we will be “running” a waiting list for this route as we do for our other routes over the SkyRun weekend,” says Mike de Haast. “But don’t be fooled by the distance, entrants will have 12 hours to complete the 38km, and will be running on the parts of the same route as our 100km runners.”

The races will be taking place on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 November 2017.

Website – skyrun.co.za
Facebook – SkyRun
#Hellofarun
#SkyRun
#Gearupgetout

Taking place May 31stto June 2nd2019, there are three options for teams entering the boutique trail run, both include access to exclusive trails that traverses the Addo/Zuurberg region, three stages and three nights accommodation, three delicious meals a day (excluding the bronze package, see below), race apparel, on course nutrition and all park and conservation fees. 

The platinum packagecosts R14,000 for a team of two staying in luxury hotel accommodation at the Zuurberg Mountain Village. The gold package costs R10,000 per team for accommodation at the race village in luxury tents and for those with their own accommodation the bronze package is R7,000 per team and includes three lunches.  

“The second NFB Great Zuurberg Trail Run will be start on May 31st2019 and will see the three-day exclusive trail run build on from last year’s,” remarks Siska ver der Bijl, Managing Director of Hayterdale Trails  and race director for the NFB Great Zuurberg Trail Run.  

About the race

A boutique event, the Great Zuurberg Trail Run takes participants through South Africa’s most majestic trails. The route includes exclusive tracks in the untamed wild of Addo, traverses the Zuurberg mountains, and crosses remote sections of SANParks’Addo Elephant National Park. Limited to 70 teams of two, the exclusive three-day trail run bases itself at the Zuurberg Mountain Villagewhere participants benefit from luxury hotel or tented accommodation, and fine dining at the race village. 

Van der Bijl remarks about the race saying, “The NFB Great Zuurberg Trail Run is the sister event to the PWC Great Zuurberg Trek (a three day mountain bike stage race), and embraces trail running’s pioneering and adventurous spirit. “Our passion for the region drives us.

Runners pass a cycad, estimated to be around a 1,000 years old, run through a beautiful alley of yellowwood trees, and navigate some technical trails. The route is diverse. And our races are unique. We believe our differentiators are our prestigious trails, high-end partners and discerning athletes. Plus our unashamedly luxurious twist.”

Enter, what has been dubbed the toughest 24km mountain run in South Africa with a vertical accent of over 1800m, the 2018 Trappers Bloemfontein 4 Peaks Mountain Challenge presented by Bloemfontein Courant.

The race takes place on Saturday the 22nd of September 2018 in the picturesque Moolmanshoek Private Game Reserve. The self-navigation, self-supported race follows a circular route around the iconic Witteberg Mountain Range and promises to challenge you in ways you never thought mountain running could.

For more information on the race, to enter and to find out what additional activities will be available on the weekend, please visit http://4peaks.co.za/

//

The 4 Peaks is arguably the toughest 24km in South Africa with a vertical accent of over 1800m.The route is unique as it takes you in a circle around the Main Lodge, which is the hub of activities during the weekend. This event is a Family affair and the location allows us to cater for all, with a kiddie’s treasure hunt to game drives and Horseback riding for those that are not participating in the race. This is a self-supported and self-navigational race and as the route is circular it makes it a good entry level event for those that are looking for something more challenging than running on the trail. The 24 Km should not fool you into a false sense of security as this is Extreme Mountain running and is the equivalent to an ultra-marathon.

This is a great weekend for the entire family and the event is always evolving to create more fun and entertainment for the entire family and is a must for your race calendar.

The NFB Great Zuurberg Trail Run took place this weekend, and adventure seekers looking to explore the Addo/Zuurberg region enjoyed perfect conditions for the inaugural event.  

A full field of runners stood on the start line of the exclusive three-day trail run and enjoyed the hand-picked route designed to challenge any runner, with some serious climbs, single tracks and hard-core routes.  

Speaking about the route, race director Siska van der Bijl remarked: “The route and what we are able to share with athletes is magical, and we’re delighted that everyone enjoyed the region’s trails. This time of year is ideal for stage racing, and we’re delighted the weather played its part in the event’s success.” 

Support sponsor Merrell, and accommodation sponsor Zuurberg Mountain Inn helped race organisers create a comfortable race village for competitors to unwind after a full day on the trails. Van der Bijl adds, “We’re proud to add a luxurious twist to our events and give our guests a memorable experience.” 

The NFB Great Zuurberg Trail Run 2019 entries open on July 1st, 2019.

Visit www.gztrun.co.za or follow us on Facebook and Instagram, @GZTRun,to find out more and enter.  

Johannesburg City Parks & Zoo together with the Hollard JURA & JUMA team have put in some serious work to ensure the Braamfontein Spruit is nice and clean before the race.   Taking all the feedback from previous years the Hollard JURA & Hollard JUMA team, together with Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, have taken steps to improve the sections of the route that were a little less than fragrant.  

“Our aim is to maximize the participants experience and together with Johannesburg City Parks we came up with using Effective Microbes (EM) as a water cleaning and odour busting solution to the problem. Now riders and riders can enjoy everything the route has to offer and have fresh, clean fun along the way,” explains Event Organiser Mark Castel. 

Ben Masalesa, Senior Training Facilitator, Johannesburg City Parks & Zoo, hails the Bokashi balls as an excellent water cleaning solution. “The balls are created from a mixture that includes bran, wheat bran, molasses and a combination of various bacteria endemic to South Africa. The balls sink to the riverbed, where they slowly release effective microbes (EM) for up to a month, improving water quality as the ‘good bacteria’ eats away the ‘bad bacteria’.” 

Over 1 000 EM Bokashi Balls were released into waterways along Killarney Golf Course, Wynberg, Emmarentia, Alberts Farm and Innesfree Park. Each Bokashi Ball can clean approximately 1000 cubic metres of water over its lifespan. The naturally beneficial microbes in EM act to biologically consume odour-causing toxins and break down waste and they are 100% eco-friendly. 

Louis Gordon, General Manager: New Business Development for Johannesburg City Parks & Zoo comments: “The Johannesburg City Parks team of Region E and Region B assisted in cleaning some of the areas that the race runs through, collecting over 150 bags of litter along the way. The team were also tasked with releasing the Effective Microbe (EM) based Bokashi Balls as part of their entry fee, it was a fantastic team building exercise and we can’t wait to participate in the race this weekend. “Huge improvements have come from the partnership with Hollard JURA & Hollard JUMA events, it’s a race that raises awareness of the environmental issues we face and encourages the use of the beautiful public parks we have in Johannesburg.” concludes Gordon.    

Entries are still open! Entry fees for the Hollard JURA are R249 ex VAT for the 6km Fun Run, R299 ex VAT for the 12km Adventure and R330 for the 18km Adventure ex VAT. Visit www.joziadventure.co.za for entries and more information. Entry fees for the Hollard JUMA are R399 (ex VAT) for the 54km and R299 (ex VAT) for the 22km. Enter now at www.juma.co.za.

Remember when you were a kid and you used to run around outside with your friends running, climbing, jumping and just plain having fun? Well the Hollard Jozi Urban Run Adventure, taking place on the 27th May 2017 at Marks Park, is the ultimate adult version of that.  Urban is the new trail and the Hollard JURA turns Johannesburg into one big obstacle course for you, your friends and family to enjoy. If that’s not enough to get you all laced up and ready to go, there are over R50 000 worth of prizes up for grabs for both the fresh-off-the-couch potatoes to the more athletically inclined. 

For those feeling competitive and looking to add to their “new running shoes” fund. We have a total of R24 000 waiting at the finish for the top three men and women for all three distances – from full 18km adventure to 6km fun run.   

For those running with their family, BFF or boyfriend, feel free to dress to express. The Best Dressed Family, Best Dressed Ladies or Best Dressed Mixed Team stand a chance to win up to R3500 each with the total of R19 500 just one crazy wig away. 

For those who want to break free from the ties; suits and pencil skirts and do some good while they’re at it. The Best Dressed Corporate Team stands a chance to win R5000, a commemorative Trophy and R5 000 to the charity of their choice.  If you feel, like we do, that sweat just adds that extra glow. Then strike a pose, upload your selfie to the Hollard JURA Facebook page and stand a chance to win your slice of R6 000 for the Best Selfie of the Day.  

For those who want to document their Hollard JURA experience on, whether it’s Chariots of Fire style or a even a little more Forest Gump why not enter it into the Best Runners Video category. Just Upload it to our Facebook page and you could stand a chance to win R7 500 and a brand spanking new GOPRO - Hero 5. What are you waiting for - Run Forest, Run!  For those who just want to enter for the experience…

Think awesome, yet optional obstacles from water slides to reed tunnels, hay bales to rock climbs and much more. Choose a distance from 6km fun run, to 12km or 18km adventure and celebrate with a cold one and some festivity at the Hollard Adventure Weekend Race Day Village at Marks Park. The Hollard Adventure Weekend Race Day Village features a mini obstacle course for kiddies, an SAB beer garden and “Gig Rig”, Joburg’s top food stalls and much more. Follow all the latest news and announcements via social media by following us on Facebook. 

Entries are open. Entry fees are R249 ex VAT for the 6km Fun Run, R299 ex VAT for the 12km Adventure and R330 for the 18km Adventure ex VAT. Runners, fitness fanatics, and adventurous spirits unite! Visit www.joziadventure.co.za for entries and more information.