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in Hamilton, New Zealand, 1 Jan 2000.My running goes back to January 1992, when Eva commented: "maybe you should go out from behind your PC and do some exercise ... why don't you go running or something like that?" Two weeks later, I ran my first half marathon. Another three weeks later I ran the Peninsula marathon which was the last qualifier for the glorious Two Oceans 56km. After running that one, I had just a week left to send off my entry form for the Comrades Marathon...
A year later, a storm resulted from the high-pressure area created by a euphoric sub-four hour Two Oceans 56km Marathon on Easter Saturday and the low-pressure created by receiving my April payslip whose only redeeming feature was the balance of accumulated leave which, unlike my net disposable income, was a three-digit positive number: I got the crazy, insane idea to run across Europe. Less than five months later, on the 13th September 1994, we stood at Nordkapp (Norway). 129 days later or 5459 kilometres further, we arrived in Gibraltar, south of Spain. I did the easy part: runnning two half marathons daily. Eva had the tougher job: public relations, runner's second, mother/baby-sitter (we took our two kids along!), cook, navigator, driver, manager, biographer, psychiater, ... Read all about it in Eva's diary/ manuscript/ unpublished book or check just the summary report of the trans-Europe run or check out some of the pictures we took. As far as we know, no one else has been crazy enough to repeat our adventure.
After a couple of magnificient trail runs in Europe and here, I decided in 1995 that the time was ripe to establish trail running in the Cape. Thus the Puffer or Peninsula Ultra Fun Run was born. Originally inspired by the lack of a challenging ultra trail run in the Western Cape, it is now in its 7th year. The run capitalises on the scenic beauty of our Peninsula mountain range. It is scheduled for a Saturday in August. The course starts at Cape Point, runs through the Peninsula's various mountain areas and nature reserves, to the Waterfront. The total distance is about 80km. You may still find some information on the old Puffer website, though I am busy building a new information site here.
The Moonlight Hell Run is an ultra run that combines elements of endurance, adventure and mental toughness. It poses extreme physical challenges: it features more than 70 kilometres of dirt track as well as the infamous descent down "die Ladder", about 1500 metres of climbing and descent, a temperature range from about 20 at the start to (probably) sub-zero from the halfway mark onwards and no seconding i.e. runners carry all their food and survival gear with them. However, the toughest challenge is mental. Imagine running in the middle of the night, tens of kilometres away from any other light and civilisation, with the full moon throwing haunting shadows. Your body is already fatigued by more than a marathon's worth of running, your blood sugar is low, despite many insulating layers of clothing you are cold. Your mind starts playing tricks on you; your subconscious takes you back to the places of your worst nightmares. Welcome to Hell!
Brief Route (full details from Jean-Paul): The Moonlight Hell Run starts at the top of the Seweweekspoort, follows the Bosluiskloof track to drop down into "Die Hel" via the notorious "Ladder", a very steep zigzag path. The route traverses the Hell (Gamkaskloof) in a west-to-east direction following the access road all the way to the top of the Swartberg pass. The run thus connects two of the most beautiful (and roughest!) roads (Seweweekspoort & Swartbergpass). Traverses one of the least visited and most remote places of the Cape. The most special running experience around. Click for more details about the Moonlight Hell Run. There's also the nice "objective" 1999 race report written by Pam Newby who maintains got the loveliest Cape Runners Against Gravity web-site. You can also check the 2000 race report by Caroline Brawner. Both reports have got pictures courtesy of Pam!
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in Hamilton, New Zealand, 1 Jan 2000.Since joining the Cape Peninsula Speleaological Association (previously SASA - Cape Section) in 1983, I have spent some great times in dark holes deep underground. Some of my more memorable moments are the listed below.
My very first cave was Cango I, II and III. The latter, with its incredible ice chamber, has now been closed for access for at least 10 years - a tiny victory for conservation! This was just the first of many caving trips to the Cango area (Efflux, Conflux, Reflux, Glittering Grotto, Stroomwater, NW Streampassage, Fred's Cow, Marcus' Mudcrawl etc.) - many of these were by means of Steve Craven's trusty landrover and a wonderful way to see (and learn about the history of) the Klein Karoo. On my last trip with Jaap and Steve, Caroline took some photographs of the fabulous Cange II Cave.
The many times I've taken friends through the sandstone caves above Kalkbay, including the easy Boomslang cave, the fun Oread Halls and the more sporty Robin Hood system. I've compiled a little photo album of the Kalkbay caves - with the pictures courtesy of Caroline Brawner.
The expedition to the "Dragon's Breath Cave" where
we were the supporting team for the 
divers exploring the world's second
largest underground lake. The cave is in Northern Namibia and its lake is
reached from an entrance at the top of the chamber, after a long
near-vertical descent. One cannot forget the 100+ meter deep crystal clear
water that had been lying undisturbed for thousands of years. My main
memories of the event are my solo journey inside whilst the press was above
ground, me feeling very ill in the heat, the macho army ranking officer
getting stuck (scared?) halfway down the rope ladder and the rush 24 hour
(2500 kilometre) non-stop drive in a 4x4 bakkie home - narrowly missing some
big wildlife crossing the N7.
I must make special mention here of Wayne Clausen, with whom I explored many caves including the furthest push ever down North-West Stream Passage and the discovery of the upper system in Efflux, which contained the pristine "Wedding Chamber" - a tiny low chamber full but oh-so-full of the most magnificent pretties. (There is this one completely freestanding 100 x 15 x 15 cm block of the purest milky white crystal adorned on top with the most crazy helictites.) Unfortunately I was also there on the rescue/retrieval call-out when he died while free-diving the sump in Stroomwater.
I am proud to have done quite a few adventure races - the last ones as part of Team Energy.
In May 2000 I did my first multi-day adventure race: a very tough 280 km in the Garden Route with Caroline, Kim and Dougie. Check out the Old Mutual Adventure Race report as seen through the eyes of our ever faithful, ever biased and oh-so gullible Dougie R. but don't believe everything he says! There is also a photographic report
In Jan 2001 we (Caroline & myself) did the Western Cape Adventure Race in Porterville and finished 4th overall (3rd pair team).
Team Energy came second overall in the Hi-Tec Discovery World Series Adventure Quest in Kwazulu-Natal - August 2001. Read the Race Report by Caroline Brawner, UCT Monday Paper Press Report and check out the Pictures.
Team Energy also did the Mazda Drifter in Dec 2001 Adventure Race: check out Caroline's Race Report & Pictures
But to prove that we can do better than coming second, check our WIN of the Swartberg Challenge Feb 2002, which we consolidated with another win in the Eden Challenge in October.
Links to check out (some feature copies of the reports above): the Old Mutual World of Endurance web site, Zirk Botha's page or, last but not least, Lisa's famous adventure racing page.
Are you bored with your hiking / running routine? Take on the 30 Peaks challenge! Here's the details (route & FAQ)
And now for something completely out of the ordinary: I am organiser of this unique Festival, incorporating a 3, 10, 21 and 42 km run as well as the famous Jacobs Ladder. All info on the festival website: www.festivalofrunning.com
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