What is the PUFFER?

General Information

The CAPESTORM Peninsula Ultra Fun Run, originally inspired by the lack of a challenging ultra trail run in the Western Cape, is now in its 9^th year. The run capitalises on the scenic beauty of our Peninsula mountain range. This year's run is scheduled for Saturday 30th August 2003. 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. The run is organised by Fish Hoek Athletics Club and sponsored by Falke and CapeStorm..

Philosophy

This is a no-frills, not-for-wimps ultra for runners who run for the fun of it. There is NO prize money, NO sponsorships, NO big media coverage, NO fame. If you want to run it we expect you to be independent, self-sufficient and environmentally aware i.e. you don't need to be told not to throw away any rubbish along the route, you know which mountain stream water is safe to drink and how to survive if things go wrong.

You run this because you love running, you love the mountains & nature, and you love distance.

However, the run is not made `tough' just for the sake of it: we picked (more or less) the shortest possible route with the best running tracks and views, hoping to provide seconding points wherever it is practical. Although it is rated more difficult than e.g. Comrades, it isn't meant to be a macho thing or `the ultimate killer ultra'.

Qualification

1. Because of the terrain and reserve restrictions, this cant be a mass run. Entries are limited to 100.
2. You undertake to provide one seconding person to the organisers whom we will assign responsibility for (wo)manning a fixed checkpoint/water table along the route. Details of the seconding arrangements (± 2 hours duty) will be sent to accepted entries.
3. You have run a least one ultra in the last six months.
4. You have considerable mountain running experience e.g. you know how to survive if the weather turns bad; if you sprain your ankle on top of a mountain; or if a seconding point is unmanned.

Disqualification

You will be disqualified from this run (& any future PUFfeR) if:

• Your second doesnt turn up on time at the place assigned by the organiser.
• Either you or your second does not attend the pre-race briefing evening at the Fish Hoek Athletics Club House.
• You leave any piece of rubbish (be it as little as a sweets wrapper or squeezy sachet) along the route.
• You wilfully disturb/destroy any animal or vegetation (excepting mosquitoes and Port Jackson)
• You disobey any official, warden, traffic officer, or the organisers.
• You don't buy the organisers a drink at the finish J
• You obstruct, verbally abuse or are obnoxious to other trail or road users or any member of the public.
• You flagrantly ignore the normal rules of conduct in the mountains (and road), especially the rules relating to safety, waste, erosion & hygiene.

 Route

Route descriptions will be sent to all accepted entries. You can also view the proposed route at the FHAC club house. Some parts of the route are still under negotiation with the relevant authorities. In summary, the route will be Cape Point through the Cape Point nature reserve, Red Hill Pass, through the Simon's Town Water Catchment Area to Black Hill, via Ou Kaapse Road across Fish Hoek Valley to Silvermine Nature Reserve, through Tokai Forest Plantation (top forest track) and the Vlakkenberg footpath to Constantia Nek, over Table Mountain (along the jeep track past all dams to Maclear's Beacon, then down Platteklip Gorge) to Kloofnek, via Signal Hill to the Waterfront.

Training Runs Organised by CRAG

CRAG traditionally organises training runs over sections of the Puffer route to introduce novices to the route. They also serve as training runs to refresh the memory of or point out route changes to veteran runners. The following training runs have been planned for 2003:

• 5-July: Rod Prodgers to lead the run from Top of Red Hill to bottom of Wapad (Silvermine Retirement Village/Ou Kaapse Road) with an early opt-out (for wussies) at top of Blackhill / Glencairn Freeway .
• 19-July: Christo Steyn to lead the run from Wapad (Silvermine Retirement Village) to Constantia Nek
• 9-August: Guy Meredith to lead the run from Constantia Nek to Ferryman's (V&A Waterfront) with an early opt-out (again: for wussies) at the lower cable car station .

Other Information

• The exact starting time is still being negotiated, but we are hoping to start at 5:30 am.
• The official cut-off time will be sunset (the real cut-off time is when the race organiser(s) leave the Pub which acts as finishing point). There is a strictly enforced 13:00 cut-off time at Constantia Nek to prevent runners from being stranded in the dark on Table Mountain. Runners finishing at the Nek are considered having completed the "Fun Run".
• The run is normally oversubscribed so enter early. Entries are processed on a first-come, first-serve basis according to the rules detailed below.
• Water and Coke will be provided at road accessible points approximately every five to seven kilometres. Runners will be able to leave their own provisions for Silvermine,  Constantia Nek & Lower Cable Car Station at the pre-race information/briefing/registration evening.
• Please deposit directly into account or send cheques only, no postal orders, credit cards or cash.
• Entries close early in June. Map and detailed route description will be sent on 17th June to accepted entries.
• In case of foul weather, the race may be re-routed or postponed by one or two weeks, possibly at the last minute. If the weather is merely bad, the organisers reserve the right to alter the route as circumstances dictate, or even cancel the race midway.
• Unless the weather conditions are absolutely ideal, you will be required to have (your own) compass, map, raingear and emergency rations with you at Constantia Nek before being allowed to proceed with the Table Mountain "leg". All refreshment and checkpoints close at 18:00

The TUFFER PUFFER 100 miler

This year the Tuffer Puffer will be organised for the fourth time. It will start from Ferryman's on Friday 29th August at 10:00. Runners will make their way to Cape Point and back to Ferryman's via the Puffer route, for a total of 100 miles. Full provisional details here. 

Contact the Tuffer Puffer organiser Paul Vorwerk at one of the following addresses: pvorwerk@iafrica.com or Wild Books Ink wildbooks@iafrica.com or best of all at work: Paul.Vorwerk@capetown.gov.za

The RUFFER PUFFER

As a new, somewhat experimental addition, we hope to organise a special "Ruffer" Puffer in conjunction with Adventure Village. The idea is to spice up the Puffer with some water event, some abseiling, some rope work and more fun things along the route. Details to follow with your confirmation . Contact Trevor Ball for additional suggestions about what to include in the rougher puffer.

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR THE RUNNER

1. Do not underestimate the challenge of this run. Ensure that you are fit and strong. Do not take this run lightly - it is tough, it will be tough on race day and it will push you to your limits - the onus is on you to ensure that you are ready for the run.
2. You must have your PUFFER race number visible at the front of your clothing. Two numbers are provided so you can use the other on your back or on your backup gear. You don't need to run in club colours.
3. The route will NOT be marked. You should have familiarised yourself earlier with the terrain and route. If not, stick with others - especially if you're an up-country runner or novice. Even veteran PUFFER runners loose their way at times - some novice runners have lost the track completely and ended up miles away from the route on previous occasions. We don't want to have to call out Mountain Rescue!
4. A medical doctor may be on standy at Constantia Nek or Woodhead reservoir (checkpoints 9 or 10). Should it be his/her opinion that you should retire from the race, you must accept that decision.
5. This cannot be a race - the reward is to reach the finish line. Do not attempt to run in areas which are extremely steep and/or rocky. Keep your wits about you - this is especially important on Table Mountain (e.g. Platteklip) where your legs will be tired TAKE IT SLOWLY where necessary.
6. If you retire from the run, you MUST inform the nearest checkpoint. Failure to do so could result in a rescue being launched for no reason (you may be liable for any costs - helicopter rental may amount to several 1000s per hour!)
7. You can supply THREE bags with provisions and other personal stuff for use along the route. The bags are for the checkpoints numbers 7 (Silvermine Dam), 9 (Constantia Nek) and 12 (Lower Cable Car Station/Tafelberg Road) respectively. The bags must be marked clearly with your name, race number and the checkpoint number. You can deposit these bags at the RACE BRIEFING meeting on Thursday. Stuff you might want to consider for the bags are energy drinks, vaseline/plasters/deepheat, spare shoe-laces, corn syrups, bars, chocolates, sandwiches, dry T-shirt/socks, toilet paper etc. Note that we will endeavour to get your bags back to the finish but they may get lost (or get there very late) so don't have anything of value in there. Any bag not reclaimed by 22:00 of race day will be donated to the closest bergie. Your bag for checkpoint 9 (Constantia Nek) should contain raingear, gloves, hat, compass and map. There will be a compulsory kit check for everyone: all must have adequate rain & cold weather gear and emergency food. Novices are required to carry a map or cross Table Mountain with a veteran Puffer runner.
8. Although all efforts are made to have seconds at each scheduled station, we cannot guarantee that seconds, refreshments or your bags will be there: we are dependent on volunteers. Make sure that you'll be able to survive at least on stretch without checkpoint.
9. Energy drinks will be available at checkpoints (except at the points off-road i.e. 8, 10 & 11 may be without energy drinks though there is water nearby). Chocolates and other refreshments will be offered at checkpoints 7, 9 and 12.
10. Pinned to your shorts, you must have a bank bag containing the following details:

• Name & Age
• Person to contact in emergency
• Doctors name, tel number
• Medical aid name & number
• Possible allergies / medical conditions / current medications
• Blood group
• R 1 coin for phoning + R20 note for other emergencies (taxi, coke)
• Car registration number

1. Seconds will be allocated a specific checkpoint and time along the route.
2. The second must ensure that he/she knows exactly where to stand and arrive at the checkpoint well in advance. Failure to arrive will not only result in automatic disqualification of your runner, but means that 120 runners are without seconding!
3. Seconds must make sure that they have the provisions (drinks, energy bars and, where applicable, runners' bags) required for their duties. Seconds can organise between themselves who will co-ordinate the pickup of provisions (on the pre-race briefing).
4. At each checkpoint (except the first two) ALL runners must be signed in and out of the register. These registers must be dropped off at the finish as soon as possible but definitely before 18:00 of race day to facilitate possible search & rescue operations.
5. When all runners have passed through a checkpoint, the seconds must ensure that no litter whatsoever remains.
6. Seconds should be aware that runners may be pushed to their limits, low on blood sugar and may be fairly rude. Be sympathetic to runners needs.
7. Seconds must accompany their runner to the briefing session.

Some Other Rules (subject to change without prior notice)

Permanent numbers:

Permanent numbers are allocated after three successful completions of the race. If you dont wish to keep your current number, you will be given the next available one.

If you have entered the PUFFER and been accepted but cannot run for any reason, you canNOT nominate another runner to run in your place. Acceptance is based on personal criteria, not like the lottery or ticket system used in other races. Any entry fees paid will be forfeited but, provided that you give early notice of your withdrawal, you will enjoy a "preference entry" in next years PUFFER (see below).

Entry allocation: The following priorities (order) are used in accepting entries:

1. Previous PUFFER winners, founder members (PUFFER95) and VIPs (e.g. SA president, FHAC chairperson, Comrades winners, Bill Gates, martians etc.).
2. Runners who successfully completed 2 or 1 PUFFER(s) during the last 5 years.
3. Runners who were accepted the previous year but gave early notice of their inability to participate due to circumstances beyond their control.
4. Novices (to the PUFFER) - the criteria in allocating entries are personal runners details as per entry form. Priority will be given to people who were on the waiting list for previous races.
5. Any other runner with a permanent PUFFER number.
6. Entries received after closing date.

For life: infringement of one of the safety or ecology rules e.g. not assisting a fellow runner in trouble, pollution, disobeying a marshal. Your name will also be passed on to the organisers of other trail runs.

For a shorter time: minor infractions (e.g. failing to buy the race organiser a drink when meeting him in a pub will result in a mere 99-year suspension J )

Runners can choose their own race numbers. Race numbers should be three (ASCII) characters or less (more only on special motivation, with a maximum of 6). Examples of current race numbers are: -1, , , 10810 ("one ou ate one ou"), l0l0l (binary), MCXLV, NL, EZ , -17, A3, 6x10²³, 3.25, 007, etc. Previous runners who dont enter for a PUFFER, may loose "their" number to another runner who applies for the same number (except for permanent numbers; these remain "yours" in eternity).

When in doubt: JP rules, OK! J

Your PUFFER not only serves as an ornament, it has functional utility, too. It is much more reliable than the Cape Town Weather Bureau in assessing the weather outlook for your next Trail Run.

Place trophy in your hand and hold it out of the window for a few minutes.

• If rock is wet its raining
• If rock is dry its fair
• If rock is hot its sunny
• If rock is cold its freezing
• If rock is white its snowing
• If rock blows out of your hand its a hurricane south-easter
• If you cant see the rock its dark