100 miler added to trail event

DESPITE its intimidating distance at altitude, the UTD160 100 Miler race at the Ultra-Trail Drakensberg starting on 27 April has lured a core of tough ultra-trail runners eager to test themselves against the sprawling mountains of the Southern Drakensberg and Lesotho.

Event organisers Running Man Adventures decided that 2018 would be the year to include a 100 Miler event to their repertoire and needed to add another 73km to their already established UTD100 route.

After talks with local Lesotho government representatives they were granted permission to start the UTD160 at the Highest Pub in Africa at the top of Sani Pass and take runners deep into the Lesotho highlands.

The race will scale Thabana Ntlenyana, which is the highest peak in Southern Africa and the highest point south of Kilimanjaro and tagging it will be a significant milestone for many of the runners. Sani Pass is the next obstacle as the runners have to check through the border post before they can continue as they join up with the UTD100 course after that.

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There will be a hard-core few that will be taking on the UTD160 with the race being granted six point status with regards to Ultra-Trail Mont Blanc qualification. The race, as with the UTD100 and GCU62, will form part of 2019 UTMB qualification.

On the other side of the spectrum, runners who are out for a relaxing weekend of trail running have the perfect opportunity in the shorter Rockjumper event to take in the clean air of the Maloti Drakensberg World Heritage Site.

The event is open to walkers as well as runners that might not feel confident enough to take on the longer distances.

For those looking to take on a bit more of a challenge, Running Man Adventures have decided that there will be two different events on offer under the DRJ banner.

The shorter DRJ15/12 will see athletes run 15km on the first day and then 12km on the second day with their overnight camp being set up at the Premier Resort Sani Pass. Alternatively, runners can take on the DRJ21/15 will be 21km on the first day and 15km on the second.

Visit: www.ultratraildrakensberg.com or www.drakrockjumper.co.za.

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