Amatola race report

Dave and Chel Gassner excelled themselves again this year, putting on an event that exceeded all expectations. From first to last they went out of their way to ensure a memorable experience for all participants. This is not a formal race where the emphasis is on time and position, but rather an event where its all about taking part. To that end the logistics are splendidly organised. Runners bags are ferried to the overnight hut at Cata. Ample food and drinks is laid on for weary participants while fires are stoked to provide hot showers. Medical support is on hand for emergencies. We even had volunteer masseuses to work the cramps out of aching muscles. At the finish each runner is greeted with the enthusiasm accorded to the first one home, and believe me every one who completes this arduous course deserves the plaudits.

The concept is quite simple. Take possibly the most scenic hiking trail in the country that covers over 100km in six days of solid walking and run it. Sounds easy doesnt it ? Did I neglect to tell you of the 700m ascent that greets you at the start of the course, of the drop back down before climbing another 700m up Doornkop which of course is followed by an equal drop in the depths of Waterfall Forest before the almost vertical climb up the last waterfall to the overnight hut at Cata. And then onto the more difficult of the two days where the trail culminates with the 900m climb from the bottom of Baines Waterfall to the top of the Hog before plummeting down to Hobbiton in the hamlet of Hogsback. Safety reasons and logistical difficulties preclude running it straight through so its split into two stages of almost equal length. This though allows runners and helpers to congregate overnight and exchange war stories, pretty much as we used to in the old Dusi days before they built roads allowing easy access to the valley. The confinement adds to the camaraderie and the special atmosphere created when you share your meals from one common pot.

Out on the route youre on your own. Pack your own lunch, carry your own water, take emergency gear in the weather turns, and make sure you follow the right set of footprints to guide you to the finish. Some like myself are very happy running in splendid solitude while others form small groups to lend mutual comfort and support. However you choose to do it, Amatola remains a test of character and endurance.

I suppose Id better say something about this years run after that preamble. Forty-odd runners gathered from all corners of South Africa to celebrate Amatola 2000. As happened last year nobody wanted to take up the early pace so once again I found myself at the head of the pack climbing up McNaughtons Krans. Seasoned trail runner Jean Paul van Belle of Puffer fame passed me half way up while this years surprise, Jenny Corser caught up to me and we ran together until in turn we reeled in Jean- Paul. Jenny, we discovered, is a young intern working in East London and a novice trail runner who pronounces herself to be game for any challenge. I felt hypoglaemic as we commenced the steep ascent from Dontsa hut so I paused to rest while the other two pushed on. A short sharp lightning storm and shower over the head of Doornkop only served to spur Jean-Paul on as he picked up the pace on the descent to Escata. He did confess afterwards that fear might have had a little to do with the injection of speed. To her credit Jenny kept pace with him and they crossed the line together at the end of day one. I followed them home half an hour later in third place. Much of the talk overnight revolved around whether Jenny could repeat her first day heroics the next morning on the more taxing climbs. Last year in miserable weather, the last runners reached the overnight stop at Cata well after dark, but this year everybody came in before sunset.

During the night, the wind blew at near gale force and runners slept apprehensively not sure what theyd have to face in the morning. While not perfectly clear first thing in the morning, the sun came out and treated us to a very pleasant day. Pleasant, that is, until you have to slog up the Hog with the sun baking down. When Dave gave the signal to depart at 5:00am, I rushed off determined to see if I could cut into Jean-Pauls lead. The catch was Id changed my shoes and this proved to be a big mistake as I slipped and fell very early on, injuring my leg in the process. I was reduced to shuffling and definitely not in contention. A fairly large pack formed up front, including amongst others Jean-Paul, Jenny, John Michael Tawse, Caroline Brawner and Pieter du Preez. A strategic error at the top of Geju peak saw this group deviate from the trail and head in a straight line over the next hill, rejoining the trail just before the zigzag descent to Myumeni. This allowed them to open up a 10 minute gap on the chasing group. Pieter broke away on the Hog section, cutting down to the jeep track while the rest followed the trail in the lee of the Hog. This allowed him to make up sufficient time to be promoted to third place overall on total time. The day however belonged to Jenny and Jean-Paul as they finished together in joint first place. Ann Trason had better look to her laurels as it seems East London has its own emerging trail running star. While there were a few DNFs and a couple of people who took the road home rather than the trail, a surprisingly high number of runners went home with glad hearts, knowing that this year at least theyd survived the Amatola.

Dave and Chel Gassner and their team of helpers put in a wonderful effort in organising this event. For them theres no glory in media coverage nor any financial gain (rather the opposite), but only the heartfelt gratitude of a small bunch of diehard mountain goats who are proud to count them as friends.

Paul Mitchell, 2000.