Gauteng Summer Trail Series 2011 - race 3 of 3

Event Details

Time: October 30, 2011 from 7am to 10am
Location: Ilhanti Lodge (http://www.ilhanti.com/map.htm)
Street: 7 Lincoln Field Crescent
Phone: 0724383242
Event Type: trail, running
Organized By: Wildrunner Events
Latest Activity: Nov 15, 2011

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Event Description

What: The third of four races in this popular short course trail running series. Run 3 of the 4 long/short courses to compete in the Championship/Challenge. Or, you can take part in just one or two!

Where: Ilhanti Lodge

Distance: Short 7.3km, Long 16km (for the 25km XL info click here)

Start Times: 07h00 Long, 07h15 Short (6.30am for XL)

How much: Click here for costs

Route & Profile: click here for the LONG route map & profile, click here for the SHORT route map & profile

Categories: Click here for the category breakdown

On the day entry: No

Prizes: Category, spot prizes and series cash

Medal: Series runners receive a medal (3 out of 4)

Directions to venue: Click here

Online entries are now closed

Comment Wall

Comment by Elsali Gehm on October 3, 2011 at 14:12: Anyone know of good value accommodation in the area for this race? It's over 100km from Jo'burg (1 and a half hours drive)

Comment by Ian Ashmole on October 4, 2011 at 16:45: Hi Elsali

Ilhanti Lodge (www.ilhanti.co.za) itself has reasonably priced B&B accomodation, or you could check out www.thevalleymarket.co.za for other guesthouses and self catering options in the Buffelspoort Valley (these are all within about a 5km radius of the venue). Camping and self catering is also available at Omaramba and ATKV Buffelspoort, which is about 10km away. Alternatively, you could stay the weekend at Mountain Sanctuary, the venue for Race 1 - they have camping and chalets, but they do not do single nights over weekends. It is a beautiful area though, and well worth taking a break from Gauteng and making a weekend of it.

Comment by Ian Ashmole on October 4, 2011 at 16:51: I will have final route profiles for Race 3 to Owen after the weekend, but at this stage it looks like the Short will be about 7.5km, the Long about 15.7km and the XL about 25km. The routes are however far less technically challenging than those at Mountain Sanctuary (Race 1) and ideal for beginners, and even with the longer distances, I expect faster finishing times. Nevertheless, the routes are all beautiful and scenic, and there will be several river crossings to get your feet wet.

Comment by Collin Simon on October 18, 2011 at 15:28: Good day I can not access the Ilhanti site for directions. Can you assist.

Comment by Ian Ashmole on October 20, 2011 at 9:57: Hi Collin

Ilhanti's website was down yesterday, but is running again this morning, sorry, it should be www.ilhanti.com, not .co.za.

You can take the R104 from Hartebeespoort Dam to Buffelspoort if you're coming from JHB, or the N4 from Pretoria and take the Buffelspoort offramp (the R104 has some nasty potholes and speedbumps in Majakaneng, so you could also get onto the N4 from the R104 about 5-6km from the dam wall). At the Buffelspoort Ramp, turn left and then right at the T-junction with the R104 (Caltex Garage). At the 3-way stop approximately 1km further, turn left toward Maanhaarrand (signs for Sparkling Waters, Magaliesberg Canopy Tours and Ilhanti among others). Proceed 8.9km on this road. 300m after you pass Tree Tops Farm Stall on the left, the Ilhanti entrance is on the right. The venue is 1km up this farm road.

See you there :-)

Comment by Lauren Keulemans on October 21, 2011 at 8:42: After Mountain Sanctuary, I'm scared...

Comment by Ian Ashmole on October 21, 2011 at 10:01: No need to be scared - the Ilhanti runs, although slightly longer in distance are much easier routes, both less technical as well as much less vertical elevation, and even the climbs are nowhere as steep (apart from on the XL route). They really are routes I would recommend to beginners, while the MS routes are probably the toughest on the trail series. Having two events out here in the same series, I went for a very different experience On the Ilhanti routes. They are nonetheless still quite beautiful, although there are several river crossings where you will get your feet wet!

Comment by Lauren Keulemans on October 21, 2011 at 10:03: *phew*! Lol. Mountain Sanctuary was a hell of a start to the series! Awesome course, really enjoyed it but I'm not exactly an experienced runner so I found it tricky. Not to mention tiring!

Comment by Ian Ashmole on October 21, 2011 at 10:20: Glad you enjoyed it Lauren. When we marked the course on Saturday, Tam commented that the short courses usually don't get the best of the scenery, and that the MS short course was one of the best she'd seen, so I'm super stoked about the positive feedback we've received. But yup, not exactly beginner stuff. The short course at Ilhanti is really a beginner's route, although half a kay longer, but still very pretty! The only tricky part is the first river crossing which can be slippery if you try to keep your feet dry by hopping across the rocks. Look forward to seeing you there!