Addo Elephant Trail Runs

This year’s Addo Elephant Trail 50 Mile and 25 Mile race took place on 12 March 2011 amid mist shrouded mountains and heavy downpours. While the rain brought cooler weather and runners were happy not to be faced with the sweltering heat of previous years, they had to contend with negotiating river crossings, muddy paths and low visibility.
 
It is no wonder then that runners are forewarned that adequate mental and physical preparation is vital for a race of this calibre. Traversing the remote mountains and valleys of the Addo Elephant Park is an adventurous challenge but they can be unforgiving to the ill-prepared.
 
For the lead runners however, it was all about agility and speed. The 50 Mile event saw some of the country’s best talent arrive at the start. The men’s race unfolded with a riveting chase between 29-year-old Capetonian William Robinson, who won this race in 2010, and 42-year-old Dirk Cloete from Pretoria, who is a two time winner of the 250km Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon. Robinson took the lead to finish in a time of 7:41:41 with Cloete coming in second place in 7:45:18. Hylton Dunn, who is also a previous winner of the event, came in third with 7:58:51.
 
Mirjana Pellizer, a 48 year old pro from Croatia, came all the way to South Africa to run the 50 Miler. She was first lady home in a time of 10:01:36. Pellizer was followed by Capetonian Martha Pretorius who came in at 10:17:48, and Driekie Black, whose training ground is the Drakensberg Mountains, finished third in 10:53:57.
 
Overall, 35 of the 40 participants completed the 50 Miler, which led runners from the start at Lookout Lodge in Kirkwood, up a series of steep climbs through the mountains, down through the Sundays River valley before an almighty climb up the escarpment. Trailing across the escarpment surrounded by mist gave the runners the chance to pick up the pace until the final climb up to Zuurberg and from there it was another 20km to finish at the Addo Elephant Park Main Rest Camp. Eight check points manned by volunteers provided runners with support, allowing a quick stop to refill water bottles and stock up on energy snacks.
 
The 25 Mile event, which attracted an ever-growing field of 96 participants, followed the same trail up to the finish at the Zuurberg Mountain Village. Brad MacKenzie won this event on his first attempt in 4:29:32 and first lady home was Lisl Grobler who came in at 5:20:20.
 
The Addo Elephant Trail 50Miler & 25 Miler Run is sponsored by the Addo Elephant National Park, Aquelle and GU Energy Gel and is held annually 75km from Port Elizabeth in and around the Addo Elephant National Park. The event is organised by Nadia and Estienne Arndt of Extreme Marathons and Simon Kelly of Video Architects.  For more information email nadia@extrememarathons.com or visit www.extrememarathons.com