The Umhlanga Easter Carnival trail run was a great success, with more than 150 runners and walkers taking part.
Welcomed to Umhlanga’s stunning shoreline by a cracker of a sunrise on Sunday, April 24, more than 150 intrepid runners and walkers hit the road for the Salomon Umhlanga Easter Carnival trail run, the second such event after a very successful summer carnival run held in December.
In the picture: Former Comrades Marathon winner, Tilda Tearle, Melanie Van Grunen, Jan Meyer, Paul Mannix and Debbie Mannix.
A jovial and smiling bunch of competitors were soon gritting their teeth, however, as they immediately got stuck into a vicious climb up to Umhlanga Ridge, before cutting across through cane fields in the general direction of the Blackburn Bridge (via numerous S-bends and further nasty climbs).
A relatively flat middle sector followed when runners started to feel the burn but also were able to tick off the kilometres as the end goal drew nearer. This runner, in fact, definitely had one of those “Why am I here” moments, before a group of fellow strugglers came through, and he latched on to the train to head through the middle kilometres at a decent clip . . . great “gees” and camaraderie shown in these stunning surrounds.
More than a few runners added to the length of their runs during this period by missing the red markers and taking an unplanned detour . . . before turning around to find the official trail (but all seemed to be taken in good humour).
The competitors were treated to some gorgeous scenery, culminating in a run down towards the lagoon north of Umhlanga and a tortuous 2km run home on soft sand, the high tide meaning there was not a metre of hard sand to be found. The lure of hot breakfast and an ice cold beverage kept legs pumping as the field ground their way to the finish at Breakers.
The race catered for various levels of runners and walkers and included a 16km run, a 10km run and a 10km walk.
Joining the 16km race was Tilda Tearle, who has been mixing trail runs in with her Comrades training. Tilda is a former Comrades winner (1992) and has three gold medals plus a trail of silverware to her credit. She and her husband Clive love the outdoors and are now hooked on trail running.
Race organiser Buzz Bolton, of the Riverside Sports Trail Section, said the trail runs in Umhlanga offered tourists and holidaymakers added value when they visited the “coolest” place in KwaZulu-Natal. “The trails give locals and visitors the opportunity to see for themselves what good work the UIP of Umhlanga, Tongaat Hulett Developments, WESSA and the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife are doing to preserve the environment alongside the rapid development taking place.”
He continued: “One of the highlights in the run was crossing the new N2 pedestrian bridge. It was also nice to involve residents of the nearby Blackburn Township, who did marshal duty at strategic points.”
Anyone wanting to begin trail running or walking can contact Bolton at 031 562 1153 – By Garth Johnstone
Results
16km men:
1st: Nzwahandla Zondi; 1 hour and 8 minutes
2nd: Grant Harper;1 hour and 11 minutes
3rd: Mike Gowar; 1 hour and 18 minutes
Women 16km
1st: Kim Watchurst; 1 hour, 21 minutes, 4 sec
2nd: Jeanette Davidson; 1 hour, 21 minutes, 38 sec
3rd: Rentia Denissen; 1 hour, 25 minutes, 4 sec
Men 10km
1st: Trevor Mitchell; 47 minutes, 6 seconds
2nd: Brian Wright; 51 minutes, 2 sec
3rd: Naaim Jaffar; 51 min, 36 sec
Women 10km
1st: Maureen Slack; 52 min, 51 sec
2nd: Blake Dale; 54 min, 36 sec
3rd: Kate Schoombee; 56 min, 52 sec
Entries included 71 entries for the 16km event, and 80 runners and walkers in the 10km event. Both races had a river crossing where the Umhlanga Lifesaving Club assisted anyone needing help.
Summer Carnival Trail run: See pics and report