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MATES FIGURE OF EIGHT – PUFFER QUALIFIER - SATURDAY 6 JULY 2024What is this Figure of Eight?
This is essentially just a longer distance MATES club run. It’s for fun but it is not a pack run. You run your own pace and find your own way or hook up with a runner who knows the way. There is no charge / entry fee and it is totally unsupported. You are on your own from that perspective. However, because the run consists of two loops, both starting and ending at Constantia Nek, it is easy for you to arrange to leave refreshments with someone e.g. the CEO, Michael Ohlsson which will enable you to refuel after the first loop.
FURTHERMORE, if you wish to use this club run as a PUFFER qualifier you must:
a. Tell Mike beforehand that it is your intention to do so. This is so that your completion of the run can be verified for the Puffer organizers AND
b. You must complete BOTH loops consecutively; and
c. Ensure that you physically go to Mike after completion of each loop and ensure that he records your finish.
But for all other runners, you are welcome to do both or either one of the loops, starting at the appointed times (see below).
Leg 1 (25km)
Start 06h00 at Constantia Nek. Be there by 05h45 so Mike can explain the rules. YOU WILL NEED A HEADLAMP FOR THE FIRST HOUR!!!!!
Route: Start at Constantia Nek / up Vlakkenberg (behind La Parada / Harbour House) and across to the tar road / down Manganese Mine path and left onto contour into Blackburn Ravine / up Blackburn Ravine into Silvermine / down to Silvermine dam / down River Walk to Mountain Bike car park / up Steenberg Ridge / up Elephants Eye path to Constantiaberg Mast / down tar road to path to Vlakkenberg / back over Vlakkenberg to Constantia Nek.
Leg 2 (20km)
If you are doing both legs then you start Leg 2 immediately after Leg 1. If you are only doing Leg 2 then aim to start at 09h00 from Constantia Nek car park.
Route: From Constantia Nek up the short cuts to the Bailiff’s Cottage / Puffer Path and Smuts Track to Maclears Beacon / across to top of Platteklip Gorge / left and down into Echo Valley / straight over in Valley of Isolation and Valley of the Red Gods / past top of Kasteelspoort to Margaret’s Cairn (at the old railway track) / left and across to the dams / around dams to Ash Valley Path / down Ash Valley and right onto Puffer Path and back to Bailiff’s Cottage / just after Bailiff’s turn left down Cecilia Ridge / right and past Cecilia Waterfall / follow old MATES time trial route down to jeep track / turn right on jeep track and follow it back to Constantia Nek.
IMPORTANT FOR BOTH LEGS:
You need to be totally nutritionally self-supported for the entire run although you can create your own aid station at Constantia Nek to restock after Leg 1.
You must wear weather appropriate kit and carry safety equipment: space blanket, waterproof jacket with hood, fully charged cell phone with the following numbers programmed in (Michael Ohlsson - 082 319 7250, City emergency - 021 480 7700, Table Mountain National Park rangers - 0861 106 417), spare warm clothing, whistle.
You are also, very importantly, doing this run entirely voluntarily and at your own risk. You are not covered by any insurance and need to take all reasonable precautions to ensure your medical fitness and safety before starting.
If you have any questions, please call Mike Ohlsson on 0823197250. Otherwise, just be there.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Constantia Nek, 1C Rhodes Dr, Glen Alpine, 7806, South Africa,Cape Town, Western Cape
