Although I love adventure racing and the navigational aspect that makes our sport what it is, a good multisport event goes down a treat too. Two events are coming up in October and November that are well worth diarising.
The first is the Energizer Night Relay on the night of Friday, 15 October at Teak Place. Although this event has been around for some time, this is the first time it is coming up to Jo’burg. There are three events. Each member of the four-person run team does a 5km lap; the three-person bike team does 10km laps (one lap each person) and the two-person walk teams each walk a 5km lap.
An Energizer headlamp, with batteries, is supplied to each team, participants get goodies bags and there’s a festive vibe, music, bar and catering. Think ‘Friday night p.a.r.t.y’ !
Entries are already open (R150 – R200pp) and there is even prize money! Event website is www.nightrelay.co.za
Triple Challenge is another multisport event that has been around for ages. It’s an off-road run-bike-paddle (or run-bike-run) event that allows for a combination of entries. You can do the whole event on your own or you can race in a pair and do everything together. The relay options allow for one person to run, one to bike and both to paddle together or a third to paddle. The date for this year’s event is Sunday, 7 November, which is great for Gauties because we can drive down on the Saturday (registration and boat check in on Sat afternoon).
The first 20.5km trail run starts in ‘Maritzburg and 18km of the route is on jeep and single track with “nice climbs”. You’ve got 2.5-3hrs to complete the distance (depending on your entry category). Next is a 53km MTB leg that starts from Camperdown. The event website says, “the route is seriously off road – you need grip and proper mountain bike tyres”. No slicks here!
If you’re entered in the Multisport event your final stage is a 18km paddle on Inanda Dam. The route is anti-clockwise to “cover the ‘windy’ bit of the dam first so as to make the second part of the paddle a little bit easier”. There are two portage sections.
If you’re doing the MultiX (run-bike-run) option, then your last stage is a 6km run.
Multisporter Dan Hugo will be defending his title and going for a 5th win.
This will be my first Triple Challenge, with one of my Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge teammates – we’ll be drawing straws for teams.