Wild Coast Ultra

Wild Coast Ultra Trail Run

Next event will start Monday 11th February and finish Friday 15th February 2013.

Background:

We decided to stage this run along the Wild Coast when we discovered that there were quite a few trail and road runners who were keen to try something a little different. The first 2 events (2005 and 2006) were organised for a small group who arranged all their own transport and seconds, I arranged the accommodation at fishing and holiday shacks. Everyone really enjoyed both events but there were problems, runners battled to find a second who could take a week off, and a vehicle to travel through the Transkei. For the 2009 event we changed the format to take care of these arrangements, the runners only had to be concerned about taking care of themselves during the daily run and leave the rest up to the race crew. To maintain the purist trail experience we have now removed the last day and made the finish at Haga Haga thus avoiding the built up areas, people and the Surfers Challenge.

Overview:

We will travel from East London to Port St Johns by shuttle bus and stay at beautiful Cremorne Estate on the eastern bank of the Mzimvubu River on Sunday before the event starts . On the Monday we will start at Silaka Nature Reserve and get swallowed up by the lush sub tropical coastal bush of the Wild Coast. On the two long days (day one and two) runners are faced with the challenging and wild hills of Brazen Head and Rame Head, Coffee Bay and Hole in the Wall. Each day presents the runner with steep hills, coastal forest and many sandy beaches, streams and rivers to negotiate. You will pass through Hluleka nature reserve with many wildebeest, gazelle and zebra, Dwesa Nature Reserve with rhino, eland, springbuck, impala, wildebeest and zebra and if you should get lost in the mangroves you may even come across a crocodile. There is the magnificent Hole in the Wall and should you keep to the correct trail you will also see small hole in the wall. As you travel west the terrain eases up a little and there are longer sandy beaches. This event is for adventurous trail runners who will find their own way along the coast, the 7th edition, staged race from Port St Johns to Haga Haga, is a 220k, 5 day run along a pristine and truly magnificent coast line. Navigate your way along the coast, cross 27 rivers, some requiring a ferry to avoid the sharks, negotiate coastal dunes, forests and many coastal hills. Stay nights at hotels. The Wild Coast is a place you will never forget.

Runner’s information:

Place:

Transkei / Eastern Cape

Date: February 2013.

Start at Silaka Nature Reserve, Port St Johns.

Finish at Haga Haga.

No seconds required. For more information contact Dave Gassner at davegassner@live.co.za or phone 0217855911, 0768179058.

Dates and schedule

Pre race day (Sunday) 10th Feb

Shuttle from East London to Port St Johns, leaving East London at 08:00

Race briefing at Cremorne Estate at 17:00 and daily at the start thereafter

Day 1 (Monday) 11th Feb

Leave Cremorne Estate at 05:30 to start 06:00 at Silaka Nature Reserve to Anchorage Hotel, 55k

Day2 (Tuesday) 12th Feb

Start 06:00 at Anchorage Hotel to the Haven, 54k

Day 3 (Wednesday) 13th Feb

Start 06:00 at the Haven to Mazeppa Bay, 42k

Day 4 (Thursday) 14th Feb

Start 06:00 at Mazeppa Bay to Trennery’s, 38k

Day 5 (Friday) 15th Feb

Start 05:00 at Trennery’s to Haga-Haga, 30k

Day 6 (Saturday) 16th Feb

09:00, shuttle back to East London

Cost of event:

R 6400pp including -

Transport from East London to Port St Johns

A packed lunch from Cremorne, breakfast, transport to Silaka.

Accommodation at Anchorage Hotel.

Accommodation at the Haven.

Accommodation at Mazeppa.

Accommodation at Trennery’s.

Accommodation at Haga-Haga.

Dinner, breakfast and a packed lunch or lunch at each hotel.

NB. All accommodation is sharing.

Back up to transport tog bags

Permits to cross the 3 reserves

Transport back to East London

Maps

Quality t shirt

Runner’s medal

Excluding

Accommodation at Cremorne the night before the race (because of the variety of accommodation) We will book the fisherman cabins and runners can book through us, first come first served.

Evening meal at Cremorne

Beverages, drinks, pub expenses, ferries, anything bought along the way.

Energy drinks and supplements along the way

Accommodation and meals after the event

Shuttle to hotels or airport, depending on your arrangements (can be arranged for you).

Medical and evacuation costs.

Entry procedure.

Complete entry form (download from link at top of page)

email, fax or post entry to Dave with proof of payment.

Entries close 15th December 2012. or thereabout.

Conditions apply.

Entries close 15^th December.

Itinerary may vary depending on Hotels and conditions out of our control.

Cancellation and refund.

No refunds. You may substitute anytime.

Race rules.

Times will be taken daily and will be cumulative.

This is a foot race and from start to finish each day, athletes must progress under their own steam, you may be assisted by another participant.

Keep the sea on your left.

DO NOT litter.

The route is not marked, there are many options, best options will be discussed daily at race briefing. Participants may take any route they choose.

A detailed route description will be provided.

DO NOT violate any of the local people’s property nor insult anyone.

One medium size (25kg) tog bag per person. This is not a mtb race! There are very reasonable laundry services at the hotels and we will arrange for washing for you.

Other info

There are no daily cut off times

There will be a race doctor who will also be one of the crew

Your kit will be transported for you

There are no feeding stations along the way

You will have a packed lunch for each day

Have your own supplements, energy food and drinks

There are spaza type shops along the way but they are few and far between

Carry adequate water, you will have to use your initiative to get water along the way

Medical backup and emergency evacuation personnel (Alderson Ambulance & AV8) are on standby and will be called if the race doctor deems it necessary, for your own cost.

Ensure you have your medical aid particulars with you

Temporary medical aid cover is available from Discovery

Stay together in groups, this is safer in case of any emergency.

Eat well to ensure that your body stays fuelled.

Drink plenty, there are springs along the way and the occasional shop and holiday shacks.

Protect yourself from the sun and insects.

Bring an abundant sense of humour.

Keep your feet dry, this is generally the most vulnerable part of your body and most likely to take you out of the run. Remove your shoes at the rivers.

Take time to consult your map, do not make the map fit your imagination, you will be wrong.

Take time to scan the terrain ahead, pick out the best route. Tracks change all the time.

Treat the locals with respect, their culture is not the same as ours and they are insulted by some of our customs. Many of the Transkei people are still primitive but not stupid, RDP has not reached them yet and some of them are bitter because they have been promised a better life from tourism, which is delivering very slowly. You are a tourist, you are making a difference. Having said that, we have found them to be most helpful, giving directions, guiding lost runners and even supplying runners with water which they have had to carry a long way to their home. Runners have even spent a night in a hut when lost or unable to continue.

When crossing the rivers at outgoing tide, be very aware of the extreme power of the water rushing out, emptying the large volume of water stored in the lagoon. This can be very dangerous. Either wait for the surge to abate or cross upstream where there is no current. Runners can run with the sweeper who will assist with river crossings. Do not cross alone. This is a serious warning.

Having said that, this is an event to be enjoyed so that you can go home with pleasant memories so ensure you are fit and properly equipped for maximum pleasure.

ITEMS FOR RUN

The tog bag which is moved by us for you must not weigh more than 25kg per person.

1. Shorts

2. Shirt

3. Socks

4. Shoes in good condition

5. Hat

6. Small towel to dry your feet after river crossing

7. Sun glasses

8. Sun block

9. Small adventure racing pack

10. 3 liters water minimum

11. Small 1st aid pack (MUST INCLUDE ONE ROLL,50mmx 4.5m, Elastic adhesive bandage - WHITE HEAVY DUTY ELASTOPLAST)

12. Emergency blanket

13. Energy drink (Clifton, Game, GU2O or some other high energy mix)

14. Energy food

15. Cell phone in waterproof container

16. List of emergency numbers (to be supplied)

17. Map (to be supplied)

18. Money for ferry, drinks at stores or villages, only small change, they have no change for big notes. Tips for directions or guide when you are lost J

19. Watch

20. Torch, tested to last at least 5 hours

21. Whistle

22. Waterproof rain jacket to use in case of emergency

23. Tick repellant

24. Spare shirt and warm trousers (thermals) to use in case of emergency

25. Plastic bag or dry bags to put your stuff in for river crossing

26. Dry bag for map

27. Two very robust plastic bags about 1m long to wear as waders for the shallow rivers

28. Camera, very important.

Cash, there are no auto tellers.

Small tent and sleeping bag, if you are camping at Cremorne

Mosquito repellent

Allergy or chronic medicine.

These items are not all compulsory.

A first aid kit to treat allergies, rashes, blisters, cuts and bruises, sunburn. A syringe and Mercurochrome work very well for treating blisters and some good broad plaster which sticks well. I use the white elastic type. It keeps your feet together when they want to fall apart. I also recommend “IceMan” which you can get from hardware stores or vet shops that cater for the farmers, magic for sore knees and ankles. Costs about R58 for a tub, use liberally daily after and before run.

Ensure that you have made accommodation arrangements for before and after the race.

Ferries range in price from R5 to R25(Haven). There seems to be a higher price where the shark danger is greater.

See www.cremorne.co.za for rates

Cremorne has a good restaurant and a bar.

Cremorne is popular so bookings need to be done early

Runners Comments

Dear Dave,

I would like to thank you again very much for one of the most pleasant weeks I have ever experienced:

exploration of new territory for me and a most beautiful part of South Africa,

some running/ some hiking;

some risk just to give it a sense of adventure;

v.pleasant competitors/support (even Peter);

being essentially spoilt at our accommodation and not roughing it,

some degree of competition - just enough;

good organization without the over-the -top formulaic method of other staged events,

and an organiser (you) who took part and enjoyed it and not just watched.

This combination will never be repeated: I can never do this event at the same level of blissful naivete; therefore, it'll remain a unique event, the memories and photos of which I'll always cherish.

Kind regards,

AO.

Hi Dave

Thanks for yet another wonderful week on the Wild Coast. Although I suffered quite a bit more than originally planned, I still enjoyed it tremendously. It was also nice to run at the back and chat with everyone. It was a bit frustrating at times when you see the speed hounds coming past and you cannot chase, but I will keep that for next time.

Send my regards to Chel, all the behind the scene helpers and race doc Peter.

Best regards

Andre

Hi Dave

I just wanted to thank you and your whole team - Chel, Peter, Robbie and Maresa for everything you guys did and for organising such a great event. I can truly say that it has been one of the best experiences of my life and the best thing about it was that it was just to enjoy the running and one of the most beautiful parts of our country.

I know that a few of us got caught up in racing it a bit and possibly missed out a little that the others who took a more leisurely approach were able to enjoy but it was still amazing and relaxing for myself at least. I am just sad that I had not discovered it before.

Kind Regards,

Lyndon Nash

Wild Coast Ultra 2012

Well, what a fantastic week that was. Thank you to Dave and Chel for organising such an awesome event and convincing me to participate.

The terrain that we ran through is truly the best Africa has to offer. However, it is not only the beauty of the landscape but that of all the participants that I had the pleasure of meeting and sharing each day with.

To the fast guys, Hilton, Lyndon, Ralph, Rohan, Steve, Wally and Filippo, it was inspiring to see the times you all achieved over the various distances of each day and it was great to hear your tales of the day’s events. To the fast lady, Erica, who we saw quite often during the day as she toured the Transkei roads more than the rest of us. Well done, and thank you for your smiles and the entertainment you provided. Ruth, please help Erica with her navigation. Andre and Eugene, the leaders of our little group certainly made each day easier and I am thankful for that.

AO provided us with much entertainment as he swam the Kei River and I believe he even ran past the finishing point on one occasion. Cath, or shall I say Smiley, because you were so consistently happy and smiling. Thanks to Daksha and Francis, the steady girls. (Although I did see Daksha worship the ground once) They could also be counted on to relieve the hotel of some red wine every evening. Kim also decided to add some extra km’s to the route on occasion and her constant chatter kept us entertained. She also enjoyed the sweet things on offer at dinner. And Heidi your determination to finish was amazing. Heloise, your steady pace certainly paid off, well done?

And as for Donna, well here is a girl who does not know how to give up. Having spent some time with you I realised how you were battling through each day and I thought that you may not finish. You proved me wrong and your courage and guts to get through each day is certainly admirable, well done. I also had the privilege of running many km’s with Philippa and I very quickly became aware of your determination to complete each day and without any complaints. If there had been a prize for the most blisters you would have won it by a mile. While Philippa was running, Andrew was exploring the Transkei roads in his rental car and it sounds like it was as much of a challenge and as much fun as the running was for us. I looked forward to your travelling tales at the end of each day.

To Dave, David, Lukas, Patrick, Pieter, Siegfried and Peter, it was great meeting you all and hearing your stories of past runs. Thanks for all the advice and the good company. And of course I could not forget our wonderful support crew, Doc, Robert and Marese. Thanks for all your hard work and organisation.

Once again a huge thank you to Dave and Chel for a great event. I am looking forward to the next one and thanks for making my birthday a special one.

Thanks to everyone and I am sure that we will meet along the trails in the near future.

Grant Oliver

Grant, thank you for the most beautiful recap of our adventure.

All I can add is that my heart overflows with gratitude – for Dave and Chel and your incredible effort to make the race possible, for the beauty of the Wild Coast and for the privilege to have run it with people like you (and for Wally adopting Koffie). (Koffie / Coffee is a typical Transkei hound which latched onto the runners at Coffee Bay and followed all the way to East London, a distance of more than 200k, swimming most of the rivers and sneaking into a runners room at night).

Thank you for making this past Wild Coast Challenge an incredible experience to be cherished forever.

I hope we will meet again, albeit crossing some shark-infested rivers again next year or on some other far-flung trail (or on facebook at very least ;-D).

Many hugs

Erica

Ps – I am now all strapped up in a moon boot as it appears I had a fractured heel all along... mmm, those Transkei kieries are magic! Please stay in touch!

Dear Dave and Chel

Thank you so much for organising such an amazing multi day adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed both the mental and physical challenge every day. I was so fortunate to be able to share this Ultra with such an awesome group of athletes whose unique personalities added so much more to the experience. I ran with such caring and thoughtful people and loved all the chats we had along the route. The effort you and the back up team went to, made this the most memorable event I have done and I hope to do many more with you both. Andrew enjoyed navigating his way through unknown territory and meeting up with all the runners to hear about their day.

I ran on the beach for the first time this morning and I felt quite light without my pack on!

Love Philippa and Andrew

Thank you, Dave and Chel, for putting together and so seamlessly executing this unique opportunity to have a run/walk/scrabble/swim and limp “on the wildside”. It has left me with such rich memories. Thank you all for your contribution to this richness. Grant, you have summed up so eloquently each person’s identity (even got Daksha and I right!), I think you’re wasted in the building profession. But I think that Grant too has to be acknowledged for his tireless loyalty to keeping the team at the back intact and upbeat and together, thanks Grant. I too think the quiet little heroine of our adventure is “Koffie” and she epitomised for me what I saw in everyone – a confidence and joy at being part of a wonderful group that grew and grew with each day. Thanks Wally for rewarding her.

Dave and Chel – I really hope that we’ll be able to do a repeat in Feb 2013??

Love, Frances

Hello to you all.

Hope this finds you all fit and well.

What an awesome week again, thanks to every one for being a part of it. Even you Doc.

I just thought I’d drop you a line and tell you that 'Coffee' has settled in well and is going to the vet next week to be spayed. She has some new running friends now (on Wally’s farm in the Underberg).

Hope to see you all sometime sweating and bleeding on a gnarly trail some where.

Wally

Dear Dave,

I'm sitting in a noisy polluted Brazilian airport surrounded by hundreds of busy people, a far cry away from the Wild Coast.

Thank you and your team of helpers for treating me and the rest of us to some of the most beautiful and rewarding days of running and exploring. I feel physically drained and exhausted. It was an amazing experience and all the more rewarding for the fact that it is such a demanding test of physical and mental endurance. I've never been humbled by a hill before, including the infamous Polly Shortts, but day 2 of the WCU introduced me to a series of hills that had me hands-on-knees pleading for resolve.

Well done to all the runners who saw it through to the finish at Nahoon. This is a special challenge, shared by equally special people.

Filippo (yellow feet)

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need assistance regarding your arrangements or any contacts or links.