Winter Trail Series 2013

Words: Claire Davidson | Photos: Jacques Marais

Topic: 
Trail Running

Wintertime for most means hunkering indoors and foregoing one’s gym routine - unless you’re a trail runner! Wildrunner is proud to present the 6th Cape Winter and Gauteng Winter Trail Series events taking place in the months of June, July and August. Whether you like to run for fun, adventure or to race, don’t miss out on the original Trail Series action. So get your warm running gear out and prepare yourself for some slipping and sliding in the great outdoors.

Winter Trail Series 2013

These Trail Series race events are a unique combination of four stunning routes in nature reserves, game ranches and wine farms, over four event days, so runners really get to experience trail running at its best. With two distances to choose from (either Long 10-15 km or Short 5-8 km), runners of all levels of experience can participate. And for those who want even more, each Trail Series has one XL event (approximately 20 km in distance) to get the legs going! Pick your distance and either run them individually or run three out of the four to compete in the overall Trail Series. Series runners, who run three out of four races, will receive a medal and there are category prizes and spot prizes at each event, as well as series cash up for grabs!

 

Gauteng Winter Trail Series 2013 Dates and venues in June:

 

Race #1: Sunday, 9 June 2013
Venue: Groenkloof Nature Reserve, Pretoria (GP)
Distance: 11 km Long course, 5.52 km Short course
Start Time: Long 09h00, Short 09h15

 

Race #2: Sunday, 16 June 2013
Venue: Hennops River (GP)
Distance: 12 km Long course, 5 km Short course
Start time: Long 09h00, Short 09h15
Distance: 21 km XL course - This is a stand-alone event and is not scored with the Gauteng Winter Trail Series results.
Start time: XL 08h30

 

Race #3: Sunday, 23 June 2013
Venue: Segwati Game Ranch (GP)
Distance: 13.2 km Long course, 7.4 km Short course
Start time: Long 09h00, Short 09h15

 

Race #4: Sunday, 30 June 2013
Venue: Pelindaba Nature Reserve (GP)
Distance: 11.3km Long course, 6.9 km Short course
Start time: Long 09h00, Short 09h15

 

Cape Winter Trail Series 2013 Dates and venues in July and August:

 

Race #1: Sunday, 21 July 2013
Venue: Paul Cluver Estate (WP)
Distance: 16 km Long course, 9.15 km Short course
Start time: Long 09h00, Short 09h15

 

Race #2: Sunday, 28 July 2013
Venue: Tygerberg Nature Reserve (WP)
Distance: 11.4 km Long course, 6.1 km Short course
Start time: Long 09h00, Short 09h15

 

Race #3: Sunday, 4 August 2013
Venue: Taal Monument & Paarl Mountain Reserve (WP)
Distance: 15.3 km Long course, 7.8 km Short course
Start time: Long 09h00, Short 09h15

 

Race #4: Saturday, 17 August 2013
Venue: Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, Kleinmond (WP)
Distance: 13.8 km Long course, 5.6 km Short course, 23 km XL course - This is a stand-alone event and is not scored with the Cape Winter Trail Series results.
Start time: Long 09h00, Short 09h15, XL 08h30

 

CWTS12

Trail Series tips for first-timers:

1. Entries to these events are limited. The limit is dependent on the different event venues. On-the-day entries are only accepted at certain events and only if the maximum capacity of the venue is not reached with online entries. If you are worried about the entry limit, best pre-enter online at www.trailseries.co.za.
2. There will be no water points out on course, with the exception of the XL routes, where there will be a single water point at roughly the halfway mark. Please ensure you take suitable hydration with you if needed.
3. Highly recommended kit: Cell phone, 500 ml water, wind breaker and whistle.
4. Be polite! If you want to pass someone, ask! If you wear an iPod while running, please keep it low enough so that you can hear someone asking to pass.
5. Have fun and enjoy the great outdoors! With trail running, it’s about the journey and not the destination.
6. Trail shoes are a benefit, although these are beginner courses and you will get away with road shoes. Just bear in mind that in winter, the trails can be wet and very slippery (hence, the extra support and grip of trail shoes are beneficial).

 

What the Runners think

Still not convinced to give it a try? Check out what some of our Trail Series runners have to say about our races on our social media platforms (Facebook at Facebook.com/Wildrunner and Twitter @wildrunnerza)

 

Seen on Facebook

Superb event as always, guys! Really enjoyed tonight's course, and the start/finish venue is the best! Really great to see public space being put to such good use. Cape Town needs more events like this. - Hela Strez

 

I am loving the variety of the routes - long and short distances, morning and evening, weekends and midweek! I think it's brilliant and definitely caters for many more!
- Mel Binos Brown

 

Tweeted on Twitter

@wildrunnerza such an amazing experience yesterday at my 1st #TrailRun ever! I'm already hooked!!! Can't wait for the next one!! - Awie (@Awie_10)

 

Well done @wildrunnerZA on another incredible event! :) The numbers, near 1000, show what great events you produce! #TrailSeries - Robert Le Brun (@Robert_LeBrun13)

 

dinFO:

Entries are limited, so pre-entry online is advisable. You can enter online at www.trailseries.co.za, where you can also check out the route profiles, directions to the venue and get in touch with other trail runners!

 

See video
Issue: 
Issue 26 Jun '13

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