19 - 21 OCTOBER, 2018 | GOLDEN GATE CHALLENGE

A Sandstone Gateway ...

The Tranquil Highlands ...

The final race on the WILDSERIES calendar takes us to Golden Gate National Park. This 3-day stage race will take you through the sandstone carved mountains of the Golden Gate, covering just over 76km.

This race weekend would be another road trip weekend, only the company for the road trip being a little different. This time round I would not only be accompanied by my dad, but also my mom and my 6-year-old niece. I guess one could call it a bit of a family break away. On the way down to Golden Gate National Park we decided to avoid the toll route, something I prefer doing anyway, and as one does with road trips, you stop at the Wimpy for a nice breakfast.

On arrival at Golden Gate National Park, we first booked my folks and niece into their accommodation as they would not be staying at the race village. We can see that the WILDSERIES team have been really busy as the race village is already all setup… Before heading to their accommodation, I complete the ever-seamless race registration, collecting my race pack which consists of a jacket and my race number. This weekend I would be #24.

From here its onto the BHAKA Village, where my folks would be spending the weekend. It’s a 20km drive from the Race Village, so a little further than what we would have liked, but with limited accommodation this was the best available at the time we decided to book my folks in. The drive to the BHAKA village is a pleasant one, as you are still within the Golden Gate National Park, and game viewing is always a winner.

I decide to take an afternoon nap, as this would be the last time this weekend I would sleep in a proper bed. Later the afternoon, I am dropped off at the race village, for dinner and the race briefing. The next time I would see my folks would be at the finish of day 1 of racing. The convenience of having my folks with, meant that I did not have to take my entire race kit with me to my tent in the race village, leaving me with ample space to move around and to be completely comfortable in my tent… This said, the tents are very spacious, and you could easily fit everything you need and more into the tent. As with my other my other race reports, we should go through the list of compulsory items:

To waste, to destroy our natural resources, to skin and exhaust the land instead of using it so as to increase its usefulness, will result in undermining in the days of our children the very prosperity which we ought by right to hand down to them amplified and developed.

― Theodore Roosevelt

The formalities at the race briefing follow the same principle as with the other WILDSERIES events, a brief introduction to what the entire weekend will entail, a really well-prepared meal, and what can be expected on day 1. As the evening draws to a close, we all head off to our tents to get an early night’s rest.

Stage 1 ...

It’s the dawn of day 1 of the Golden Gate Challenge, and the wake-up music is played. I had strategically chosen a tent close to the start so that I could laze just that little bit longer in the morning. I’m slow in dragging myself of the tent and getting ready, but finally I make my way to the start line. We set-off making our way down the main road, and turning right, heading through the main camp… The perception of the route as you see it in front of you for the first 2km is that it is relatively flat, and quite a comfortable run. It is this perception that could cost you early on in the race. Reality is that the first 7km of this stage can be very unforgiving as you climb close on 100m per km. It would be advisable to take these first few km slower, saving your energy for the downhill and flatter terrain that follows.

Having made you way to the top of the mountain at the 7km mark, your long decent now begins. For the next 10km you will be running mostly downhill descending almost as much as you have climbed over the first 7km. There are some very steeper downhill sections, that you may not be able to run at full speed, but the route does flatten out considerably providing some fast-paced running, if you have saved your energy for this section. It is also along this section that you will reach you first real aid station at roughly 14km into the race. As always, you are greeted by the small friendly crowd at the aid station, making sure that you get almost everything your heart could desire at this point 😊.

After a stop at the aid station, it’s time to continue along the way. For 3km you run on a slight downhill, and mostly very open terrain, till you reach the road you crossed earlier that morning, albeit a few km further down the road. The bad news here is that the easy downhill running now comes to an end, the good news, well just take a look up and admire the majestic sandstone mountains that surround you.

It’s starting to get as you head into the final 9km of the day, and the aid station situated at round about 20km is a very welcoming sight. After this point you are very much on your own till the end of the first stage. Over this last section of 9km you climb in the region of 350m, which may not seem like that much considering what you have done earlier in the day, but part of this climb are the infamous stairs, that you will get to at round about 26km. The stairs will drastically slow your pace, and if you at any time thought that you will be home in the next few minutes, think again. Tired legs, make climbing the stairs just that much more difficult, so don’t be surprised if it takes you more than 12minutes to cover this km.

You are now over the finally hurdle for the day, and you are on your way back to the race village, and it is only 1km to go. This last km could be a quick run into the finish if, and that’s a big if, you had saved some energy for this leg. For me, I had not preserved the energy levels, and it wasn’t the quickest of finishes for me.

Apart from the amazing views you get to experience on the first stage of the run, the one of the most rewarding things was to get to the bridge crossing into race village and to see my niece standing there cheering me on into the finish. For me it was an extremely special finish to have her running the last 100m over the finish. With that, day one of running is officially behind me and it is time to relax a little with the family.

Back at race village after spending some time driving through Golden Gate, the evening gets underway, following the regular WILDSERIES traditions of a video clip and some photos that have been snapped up by the team of Phoenix capture. Dinner is concluded, and many sore and tired bodies make their way to their tents to retire until the start of stage 2, early the next morning.

Stage 2 ...

The start to the second stage is very much the same as with the first, so morning music to get you motivated and out of bed, then dressed and off into seeding batch A for the start. It’s a much cooler morning than that of the first day, and the mist is hanging thick over the Sandstone valley. This morning’s start sees us heading out he same way as the first day, except we continue along the road for 1km before turning off into the veld.

After the first 1km we make a right turn, of off the road and onto the trails. As we make our way onto the trails, we begin climbing up the mountain. The route is masked by the think mist hanging through the valley, making it impossible to see the top. For the next 6km you constantly climbing, with just one hint of a small downhill at round about 5km. This downhill, one could argue is strategically place there, just to give you some momentum to get up the next 2km off climbing as start the 250m ascent.

It is at the 7km mark, were the route takes more downward spiral. These next 10km, albeit on tired legs, are very rewarding indeed. The open plains are filled with wildlife and the views are just breath taking. The old saying of “A photo doesn’t do it any justice” really rings true here. Looking out over the plains, it’s as if the mist has lifted, revealing a mystically hidden oasis of serenity, filled with beautiful fauna and flora. It would be wise to use these next 10km to gather your strength and to enjoy what nature has to offer, because before long, the toughest climb of the day begins.

Between the 18km and 22km mark you will be ascending 360m+ with the steepest section being a climb of 152m in the space of 1km. It’s at this point that you recall the “warning” during race briefing to not be fooled by the false summit as it can be soul destroying, especially at this point in the race when your legs are tired. At 20km, the route flattens out for a short period, creating that false illusion of having reached the top. It is at this point when a fellow trail running and I are asking each other if we think we have reached the top, it remains a mystery as the mist is now limiting our vision to some 30m. A short distance later this question is answered, when the mountain reappears out of nowhere. The good news at this point is that you only have to hold out for 1.5km and climb some 96m, and then you can unwind.

The last 6km back to the race village are downhill, with just some small “speedbumps” here and there but nothing really that should slow you down. Despite what you could describe as ideal running conditions, the mountain remains relentless making for a very challenging yet rewarding 2nd day of trail running. The welcome site of my niece waiting to run those last 100m with me as I reach the end, again quickly brings a smile to my face despite being somewhat exhausted.

Now with the second day of running done and dusted, it is again time for some relaxation with the family. An afternoon game drive, a nap, and some lunch are exactly what the doctor has ordered.

I return back to the race village later that afternoon to enjoy dinner, watch the video and photos of the day that is now almost behind us. Tonight, will be another early night, with the final day in the Golden Gate Challenge starting in the early hours of the morning.

Stage 3 ...

Its 4am and day 3 is upon us, it is the final day in the Golden Gate Challenge. With a sense of both excitement and sadness you approach the starting line for the final day in what has been a truly amazing event. It’s still dark, so headlamps are compulsory for today’s stage. Today promises to not only be the shortest day, but also the fastest day, provided you have preserved your legs a bit up until this point.

The first 10km of todays route are run along tared road and jeep track, which really allows for some fast-paced running. Over this section, you can make up a lot of time despite the route being mainly uphill. Over these 10km you gain around 405m in vertical elevation, with the biggest part of the climbing being on the jeep track between the 7km and 9km markers. In this 2km space, you will climb more than half of the 405m for this section of the route.

From 10km onwards, you will be back on the trails, and you will remain on the trails until you cross the finish for the final time at the Golden Gate Challenge. It has been a splendid morning, and temperatures have been ideal for running in the mountains. The clouds form a blanket over the mountain range giving you the feeling of being on top of the world. It is again at this point that one can on stop and admire in awe the beauty that we are surrounded by in this Sandstone Valley.

Proceeding with the route from 10km on its just a gradual climb until you top out at about 12km. Your last 6km down are all downhill, except for a little bit of a reminder of what the stairs are all about at 16km. Today though, the stairs seem to a lot easier than what they were on the first day. Now I can’t say for sure if this is because you have actually discovered how to run the stairs, or if it is because you know you at the end of the race.

It has been a tough week of racing, and although it was only 76km over the weekend, it was by no means an easy feat. This is definitely one of those events where you find yourself questioning why you are doing this, and just when all seems to be lost, you top out one of the climbs, and it is as if God unveils a canvas with a picture painted in front of you saying, “This is why you are here”...

As with the other races in the WILDSERIES, this one is a must for any trail runner. It is one of those races that will test you, and also break you, but at the same time it will reward you. If you haven’t already done so, add this race to your racing calendar for 2019, and who knows, I might just see you there at the starting line 😊.