Laurence van Blerck got scratched up and scrawled this report in blood!
BAVIAANSKLOOF TRAIL RUN
A small group of keen runners set off in cool conditions on the inaugural Baviaanskloof Trail Run on 12 September 2009.
The field included intrepid runners from Cape Town, who, having proved their ability to outrun the Table Mountain dassie, were keen to experience a new trail.
After a gentle start in a forested kloof, there was a fairly steep but undulating climb of about 12 km. Here the route became spectacular with dizzying 360 degree views.
We were treated to rolling hills and deep kloofs, the route was rocky and technical in parts, but hey, that is trail running!
There were limited route markings to guide the runners in parts where the route was unclear as we proceeded along the plateau. This only succeeded in lulling some runners into a false sense of security as the route markings disappeared when we started a steep descent through spekboom thickets, about 3km from the finish. There was, according to the organizers and a few experienced runners, such as Nic Louw, a single track section down the steep slope.
Perhaps this single track section was last used in the War of the Axe, circa 1846. Several runners were forced to battle their way through the undergrowth. There was much gnashing of teeth (by runners, not wild animals) and the odd expletive (in fact some very odd expletives) as a group of us fought our way downhill in the heat of the day and eventually found the last kilometre or so of single track leading to the finish.
The event was very well organized and there were plenty of ice cold drinks at the finish which speeded up the sense of humour recovery process.
The overall winner was Warren Petterson.
Laurence van Blerck
14 September 2009