We were by far the youngest team to line up at the start of the Ystervark en Lekker club race. This being our first “Dark Zone” race we did not know what to expect. We did however hope to at least finish. Although we were nervous before the start, we were actually really excited to be taking part in a senior level race, ‘old school’ style.
With the Little Queen Ant unable to take part, being worried she would hurt herself before the Cape Epic, it was time for the worker ants to go out and play. How fortunate we were to come across the Ystervark & Lekker AR to rid ourselves of our pent-up energy having not needed to earn our keep this time round!
Desert runner Ryan Sandes won Atacama Crossing this weekend, completing the seven-day foot race in just under an accumulative 24 hours. For Ryan, this race was a clean sweep; he won all six stages.
Occasionally teams encounter misplaced or missing controls at races; they get to where the control should be, but find that it isn’t there. What to do? Stay and hunt for it or continue on the course and speak to the race organiser later? I’m in favour of the latter. Go. Continue with the race.
Lessons learnt. 1) Even in a relatively short race you can fight your way back to the front of the field after setbacks.
2) Anyone can lose a map. 3) Race organiser is human as evidenced by no CP7. 4) Finding a nonexistent CP is impossible even with a brilliant navigator…
Trail runners Wouna and Gerry le Roux are currently on a three-week unsupported endurace walk through the Klein Karoo from J-Bay to Yzerfontein. Now 14-days into their journey, they’re halfway through their expedition, named ‘Walking for Water’.
Ray Chaplin, who has been walking from Cape Town to Beit Bridge towing a trailer loaded with his kit and water, has just under 270km to go to Beit Bridge. He should be there by this time next week. Ray has made steady progress since he set off from Cape Town at New Year.
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