Right time in the right place for a new trail race! UTPB = Ultra Trail Plettenberg Bay? Two boys organized a fantastic trail!

After taking over our new „second home“ in South Africa, Plettenberg Bay, I started more and more to explore this area. Here we ara with one of the most beautiful trail courses you can find – the Robberg Island loop. First time I came here in 2010 after the Ironman in Port Elizabeth (renamed to Gqeberha) and many more times between then and now, I run or hiked this loop and I really fell in love with this nature around Plettenberg Bay (Plett). And luckaly we bought a home. When I came here in 2010 we hiked Robberg Islands big loop, but 4 days after the Ironman, we were all still tired and underastimated the big Robberg loop, run out of food but made it back into town, where the „Spur Steakhouse“ afterwards safed our lifes! From that day on Plett was still in our heart.

A couple of weeks ago, I had to buy something in the bicycle shop in Plett and fortunately wore my UTCT Shirt from the Ultra Trail race in Cape Town last year. I guess, my shirt animated Kevin and Jonny to invite me to take part at their new upcoming 50 miler trail run. You always find crazy people, organizing great stuff.

Johnny and Kevin from the shop planted this idea in me, although I didn’t actually want to spontaneously do such a long run, I decided to run at least half of it, which was still a marathon, 5 days later. Start was 4 o’clock in the morning. Luckily I had my head lamp and trail west with me and off I run with Kevin who wanted to do the whole 50 miler.e

Pace and accompaniment were right and the first hour we run in the dark with head lamps. Stunning trail paths along the sea and with steep downs and climbs made that morning absolutely worth. Or like the locals say, it was lekker!

On the course we had gravel, rocks, steep climbs through dense forest (like a jungle), forest, sand, and a bit of road. After 42 k and 4:30 hours, I droped out and it was still morning 8:30 o’clock. Kevin run the full 50 miler (80 k), which was double what I run.

I could’t have spend the morning better than running with him together. Jonny the organizer and a great runner has supported us in various places. He was an organizer, spectator and cheerleader at the same time.

I have the feeling, that this could be a new upcoming trail race. We got Beer after the finish line. Dont proof me wrong, but I think we were in total 10 people.

Its hard to tell you, how beautiful that was. Simply put it on your list, if you are nearby and give it a try!

Results? Not al all there was none and no one needed it. All was counted was long, hard and nice trails!