23 - 25 FEBRUARY, 2018 | THREE CRANES CHALLENGE

Karkloof ...

Kicking off 2018 with a Bang ...

There aren’t many better ways to starting a trail running year, than with the first race out of the WILDSERIES Franchise.

This event is hosted by KZN Trail Running, in the heart of the Karkloof Valley, which is the natural breeding ground of all three of South Africa’s Crane Species.

When 2018 kicked off, I decided to enter all of my trail races for the year. This way I was able to focus on preparing myself for what lay ahead, ensuring that I was always prepared for what nature decided to throw at me.

In preparation, I did a lot of running in the Kliprivier Nature Reserve, which is located only 7km from where I stay. The reserves offers some of the best running trails in the South of Johannesburg with a fair mixture of both technical and faster running routes, one would not say that the Johannesburg CBD is a mere 10km away from this Jewel. You could easily plot a running route of 32km+ if you wanted to go out for a “Long Run”. At a later stage, I will add my personal training program, and GPX files to the blog.

With all my preparation done, and time ticking by quickly, race weekend had soon crept up on me and as with many of the trail events, travel is inevitable, but let’s be honest who doesn’t enjoy a good road trip. I work through my check list ensuring that I have everything that is needed for the race, and packed the car. With my car packed, I started on my way early Thursday morning, 22 February.

The Three Cranes Challenge is a 3 Day Staged trail race, each day starting and finishing in the same place, the race village. This would not only be the first time that I would be running more than 50km, all be it over three days, but it would also be my first stage race. I would be lying if I say I wasn’t stressing about this race as there were so many unknows. How would my body react to 3 days of strenuous running, yes, I had done a weekend “training run” where I did three consecutive runs, but the distances were not the same, and most of it was done on road.

But before we continue, lets take a look at the compulsory kit as well as some recommened items:

I arrived at the race village in the Karkloof valley, and seeing the tents all setup, the race atmosphere became instantly present. Registration was held at the club house section, and as was my experience at my first WILDSERIES event last year, the process was flawless. Check off your name, receive your race pack and special Gland Slam Garment, and finally grabbing a number to mark my selected tent for the weekend. Things are starting to get real…

Shortly after having dragged all my luggage from the car to my tent, its time to start getting ready for dinner. By now most of the other runners have also arrived and the race village is filling up nicely. Dinner and the race briefing are held in the main marque setup in the race village. I’m not entirely sure of the vibe inside the marque at this stage as although it seems as if most people are relaxed, you can sense from the conversations being had that there is a lot of anxiety as well. The race briefing takes us through what to expect for the upcoming days of trail running through the spectacular Karkloof valley… Tonight we focus on Day 1… I won’t go into detail on the race briefings as this will pretty much be the same info as in the day’s experience.

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

My First Stage Race - Stage 1 ...

Early the next morning, the race village is brought to life, by a selection great songs, motivating you to get out of bed. You start asking yourself why you are doing this, because the extra sleep would have been so welcomed right now. None the less, there is no sleeping in today, the valley awaits you 😊.

There's some scattered cloud cover, and conditions look really good for some trail running. As part of Batch A, I make my way into the starting pen, ready to get the day started. The nerves are running rampant, not knowing what to really expect from the day. Stage 1 starts, and everyone seems to be flying down the start section, do I hold back or do I go with the flow? I decide to hang back, not letting the excitement and nerves take too much control. The first 5km are relatively flat, with a few speed bumps here and there... I think to myself, "I can do this all day"...
Then the climbing begins, and everything goes pear shaped!!!

They say you can not call yourself a trail runner until you have had at least one fall, but 5 over a space of 5.5km and 500m uphill is no joke... Obviously the trail gods never received the memo that I had already had a number of falls prior to Three Cranes. By the time I had reached the first water point my confidence had been completely shattered, I was not having a good run at all, and I hate to say it was not enjoying myself. The next few kilometers would feel like an eternity as I could just not get back into it, and with it only being the first day of the event, how was I going to get through the remaining two days.

I staggered on, every step I took, felt like torture, I just wanted this to finish. At this point in time, the only thing keeping me going were the stunning views that I found myself surrounded by. By this time it had also heated up substantially and have to admit that I can not remember too much about the run along the escarpment, my only thought was getting to the Canopy Tours where I would be able to take a bit of a timeout.

Finally, I arrive at the Canopy Tours. Passing through the check point means that your "Race Clock" is stopped, until you decide to continue. You get the opportunity to relax on the grass, and stock up on some refreshments. This timeout gives you some time to relax and enjoy a slide down the zip line before carrying on with the final stretch of the race. From here on it's only 6 km to go, where I can then relax and take the rest of the afternoon off.

I set out for the final 6km, thinking to myself that I am basically there and just need to hold on for this last little stretch. This 6km final stretch is a lot tougher than it looks on any race profile. It's mostly along open grasslands, with little to no shade. This 6km is made up of the first 2km, being a down hill, which is very welcoming after a tough day out, but this is short lived as you then find yourself on a gradual 4km's of climbing until you finally cross the finish.

The day is concluded with dinner and a race debrief in the marquee. We are also spoilt with some great photos and a short video of the past day's activities on the trails. And the best part of all, we get to do it all again tomorrow...

Stage 2 ...

This is Stage 2 of The Three Cranes Challenge. Again we are greated i nthe morning with some "Wake Up, Feel Good" music. Today's conditions are very different to that of yesterday. Misty conditions would us through the first 2 hours, of the longest day out of the three with justs about 40km waiting to welcome us along the way.

Today's start is pretty simplar in profile to that of yesterday, the 5km are gradual with a few ups and down, before climbing +/- 351m over the next few kilometers. It is a tough, yet extremely scenic climb. The forest is damp, and the flora is just breath taking. Once at the top of the first climb the route because a lot more gradual with it's ups and downs and is totally runable to all level of runners. At this point, however you are exposed to the elements and the early morning mist has cleared. The day warms up quickly and soon it starts to get a little uncomfortable in the heat.

One of the most rewarding parts of this stage is at +/- 24km when you run into into a bit of shade for the first time in what seems to be an eternity. Suddenly the bush starts to thicken up again, and around the next corner you are great but one of the most sureal sights. Tall trees, bordering the pathway as you make your way into a "Magical" tea garden. This seems to be something out of the books of Alice in Wonderland, every step you take, it becomes more and more breath taking. A truly amazing reward for a hard day of running thus far.

I spend the next hour and a half relaxing in the tea garden, enjoying some cake, tea, sweets and a host of other amazing goodies. Being the timeout zone for stage two of the race it means that your "Race Clock" is stopped, until you decide to continue. At this point it becomes important to spend just the right amount of time resting as stopping to long could not only result in muscle stiffness, but could also mean that you find yourself fighting the last km's in the hottest part of the day. With this in mind, I make the hard decision to move on.

Heading out of the tea garden, there is no end to the beauty. Having had such a long break in the tea garden, I intially find it tough to get going again, but eventually find a rhythm. It has become brutally hot, and many have surrendered to the heat by walking. At this time, I tell myself that it is better to keep moving as it not only means I will finish sooner, but I also have a better chance on finding some shade.

The last 10km is mostly downhill, and with this day having gone a lot better for me that yesterday, I am full of confidence. I have had a really good run thus far and downhill running is one of my strong points so this stretch really suits me well, the only thing counting against me is that I have only every run more than 40km on two occasions, once on trail (Mont-Aux-Sources 2017) and once on the road (Kaapsehoop Marathon 2017). The last 3km are tough as it is now almost midday, and the sun is cooking, I have also finished the last of my water in my hydration pack, and it turns into a bit of a struggle. Finally as I come around the last bend, I see the finishing stretch ahead, I cross the finish both with a sense of relief but at the same time with a sense of amazement, because this what I witnessed today was definetly a lifetime experience.

With the running concluded for the day, I decide to drive into town to treat myself to a Wimpy milkshake, afterall I worked hard today and I think I more than earned it. I spend about an hour in town, before I head back to race village and get a well needed massage. As last runners come in to the finish, the day is concluded in pretty much the same way as the night before - dinner, race video, debrief and a slide show. Most people are off to bed early... Tomorrow is an early start and also the final day of running...

Stage 3 - A Muddy Slide ...

It's the start of the 3rd and final stage of the Three Cranes Challenge. Yesterday's heat has been very much cooled down by some overnight rain fall, making it very difficult to get up this very early cold morning. Looking out the tent, it is still raining meaning that today will likely be a cold day out. The rain has also caused today's start to be somewhat untraditional compared to normal, starting inside the shelter of the marquee.

As we start the final stage of the Three Cranes Challenge, we set out of the marquee and into the rain... Today is going to be a rather interesting day. Is seems as if this event was designed to give you a sense of comfort over the first 5km, leading you to believe that it would not be too tough of a route, but as with both the previous days, the steep climbs soon start after 5km. I do however think, that with today being a lot cooler and not being able to see too far ahead, was a bit of a blessing in disguise.

On reaching the top of the climb, the weather is still showing no signs of letting up. By now I am cold, and my sight is limited to 30m - 40m, I am completely soaked and can not see another runner in front of me. As I reach the very top of the mountain, and slowly begin with the decent I catch a glimpse of a few other runners, we spend the next 2km - 3km running in each other's company as we navigate the wet and slippery downhills. The route flattens out just a little bit, I aam able to return a bit of a more normal pace and break away from my fellow runners. Then with just 3km to go till the end, the trail turns into a slip and slide. I remember trying to take a bit of a cautious approach, but soon realised that the slower I go the more likely I am to fall. With this, I increased my pace a bit, but still not at optimal pace, I navigate my way through the mud bath slopes. I pass a few more runners on my way down as they are all cautiously trying not to fall.

Hearing the announcements coming from the race village, I know I am not very close to the finish, and with the trail having flattened out I am able to run at a more "normal" pace. I come around the last bend, running on the damn wall and through to the finish and claiming my finishing trophy. Without slowing, I head straight into the damn, clothing and all, and nice finish to a wet and cold day of running.

With the last stage having started earlier, as well as being shorter than that of the first two stages, the day's running is concluded early.