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Wild Coast Ultra Trail Run

Next event will be on 13th February to 18th February 2012.

The 2011 race is done and dusted, what a blast it was for all of us, runners getting pulled by currents in the river, some out and some in. Damsels being rescued by naked men and some runners feet getting the better of them.  Many new friends made and old relationships cemented. Tired runners encouraged and supported by their mates, some doing a couple of extra kilometers when their navigation let them down.  Only one person sleeping out the first night but he made it home the following morning just before the start. Needless to say he took day two off. Read all about it in the race results and report and runners comments. And then there were the three who did the "Tuf Enuf", starting at Hole in the Wall and covering 200k in 5 days.

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.

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.  Later you will encounter the never ending beaches from Cape Henderson to Yellow Sands where the final sprint to the finish at Nahoon Beach starts. 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 fourth edition, staged race from Port St Johns to East London, is a 270k, 6 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 final 18k is run in conjunction with the massively popular “Discovery Surfers Challenge”, after 5 days of solitude there will suddenly be thousands of runners and spectators and a special finish at Nahoon Beach.  The Wild Coast is a place you will never forget.

Runner’s information:

 Place:

Transkei / Eastern Cape

Date: 13th - 18th February 2012.(confirmed)

Start 13^th February 2011 at Silaka Nature Reserve, Port St Johns.

Finish 18^th February at Nahoon Beach, East London with the amazing “Discovery Surfers Challenge”.

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, 12^th 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 13^th Feb)

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

Day2 (Tuesday 14^th Feb)

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

Day 3 (Wednesday 15^th Feb)

Start 06:00 at the Haven to Kob Inn, 40k

Day 4 (Thursday 16^th Feb)

Start 06:00 at Kob Inn to Trennery’s, 40k

Day 5 (Friday 17^th Feb)

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

Day 6 (Saturday 18^th Feb)

Start 06:00 at Haga-Haga to Yellow Sands, 33k

Start of “Surfers Challenge” at Yellow Sands 14:30 to Nahoon Beach, 18k (cut off 2h 30m)

Total Day 6 = 48k (total estimated distance = 270k)

 Cost of event:

R 5600 pp 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 Kob Inn.

Accommodation at Trennery’s.

Accommodation at Haga-Haga.

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

NB. All accommodation is sharing.

Entry to “The Surfers Challenge”

Back up to transport tog bags

Permits to cross the 3 reserves

Maps

Quality t shirt

Runner’s t shirt or memento

 Excluding

Accommodation at Cremorne the night before the race

Evening meal at Cremorne

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

Energy drinks and supplements along the way

Accommodation and meals at end of the event (there is food and drinks available for sale at the finish)

Transport away from the finish at Nahoon Beach, this can be arranged for you.

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

Medical and evacuation costs.

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

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 8th December 2011. or thereabout.

 Conditions apply.

This is the last one so no matter how many entries - it will go ahead.

Entries close 8^th December.

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

Cancellation and refund.

If you withdraw before closing date a 10% admin fee will be charged.

If you withdraw after closing date you will get a 50 % refund.

If you withdraw after 1st January - no refund.

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.

The route is not marked; 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 litter.

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

One medium size tog bag per person.  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. 

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 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 (make that 7 hours now, Hendrik came in after midnight).

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

From Erica Terblanche and Gillian Banks

Hi Dave, Des and Chel,

Thank you for an amazing event. I think Mike Baker can learn from you about how to put together an event that is informal, yet still well-organised. We felt absolutely free for the six glorious days on the race and that is almost unheard of on these multi-day organised events. Gilly and I will be cycling through Asia when you have the race again next year...but, we will think of you guys and gals and raise a glass of rice wine to the Xtreme Wild Coast Ultra.

Warmest regards

Erica

From Guillaume Kambounon

Thanks a lot Dave,

A week and an event to remember...

I'm off to improve my swimming just in case I get the chance to be around South Africa during the next one.

Best of my gratitude to each one of the guys.

Missing you until we meet again,

Guillaume and Alice

From Altus Muller

Hi Dave,

 Just a quick note to congratulate you on a successful undertaking.

 Personally I believe that the arrangements with accommodation was better than the camping and “roughing” scenario.  Particularly where runners came in late in the evening.  Originally I thought that it will take some of the interaction away, but it turned out quite nice with the gatherings in the late afternoons and evenings and having dinners together.

 All in all, well done and I am already looking forward to next year.

 Kind Regards

 Altus

 From Patrick Elson

 Hi  All ,

Hope you all had a safe trip home and have all recovered well.

Once again thanks Dave& Chel it was great ,and it was a privilege to be able to spend the week with the group

Until next time train hard and look after yourselves. 

Patrick.

From Ray Weppelman

Hi Dave and Chel

 Thank you guys for a really amazing week, lets hope that we can do it next year again, I have 2 friends who are interested. To stay in the hotels is definitely the answer.

 Kind regards

Ray

From Sean Delport

Just want to thank you for the most amazing week of my life! It was as hard as I expected it to be (maybe harder). This made finishing so much more satisfying!!! Only today do I feel my strength returning! I was starting to think it was just me but now feel better that I’m not alone in that department. I would not change anything on the challenge! As far as I see it you set the challenge, and I accepted. Yes day one was long and I do know people complained, but I now know how much harder I should train to go faster on the first two days. As far as I’m concerned don’t change a thing on the wild coast run! I enjoyed surfers as the last leg. Gives the week a bit of added variety.

Once again Dave thank you very much for a very well organized event and the time of my life! If I manage to get away for a week in years to come, I will def do it again! Will send you more photo’s in the days to come. 

Thanks  

Sean

From Andre Erasmus

Hi Dave/Chel

 Thanks again for organizing Wild Coast – I enjoyed it tremendously (in between all the sweating and panting trying to keep up with Steve J). I also think that the hotels work better. You can get there and immediately relax (and have your dirty running clothes washed). A problem maybe with the hotels (for the trail runners getting there mid afternoon) is that you are hungry and the kitchen is closed. In future guys could pack something for late lunch/afternoon snack, but then you are going to have heavier bags. Maybe hotels/we should just organize some bread and cup-a-soup (a la Amatola) for when runners arrive at hotels. [reply - we will most definitely rectify this for next year, Dave].

 Yes, the week was too short. I am seriously thinking about starting at Port Edward next time!

 Thanks again for everything – I will make work of labelling my photos and then send them on to you. (I have to think about the video clips – I sound terrible !! J) Please keep me up to date on that millions of peaks race down in Cape Town. I need something to train for again (else I am going to get fat & lazy and drink too much beer).

 Cheers

Andre

From Eugene Martin

 Hi Dave and Chel

 Thanks for a great adventure.

 I can not believe we only finished last weekend. It feels like it was ages ago. I was so down this week that it shows what a great time we had last week.

 Keep Well.

Ciao

Eugene

From Simon Cooke

To Dave and Chel,

Thank you for the most "amazing" race that I have run to date - Comrades will never see me again , would be bored out of my tree. Saw picture of Dave running surfers today cant wait to see rest of photos. Will be running Addo 50 miler hope to see you there.  Once again thanks for such a well organised race.

Simon

 From Nelmarie and Nelius Rall 

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