A few ASICS FrontRunners tackled the iconic Ultra Trail Cape Town on 30 November.
Now in its sixth year, Ultra-trail Cape Town is the final event in the Ultra Trail World Tour and sees three trail running races of 100km, 65km, 35km take place on Saturday, and a 21km takes place on the Sunday. The 100km race traverses sections of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Signal Hill, Constantia Nek, Llandudno, Hout Bay, the Constantia Winelands, the upper slopes of Kirstenbosch Nature Reserve and Devil's Peak, finishing at Gardens Rugby Club in Oranjezicht.
Here are a few of our FrontRunner's thoughts:
BRENDAN LOMBARD
100km, 14th overall, 11:56:02
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING WHEN IT ALL GOES TO PLAN:
I ran the entire race with Matthew Healy, a friend and athlete I coach. Everything went smoothly and I still vividly recall the last section from the UCT Aid Station at 90km...
By now we knew we would finish. The job was done but we still had the climb up to Blockhouse. If anyone knows this climb, it is hell after 90km. Nausea sets in, legs don't want to move and every part of your body hurts. The sound of the announcer enticed us as we moved closer and closer to the finish. Every step hurt but every step meant closer to the sweet taste of Jack Black beer on arrival at Gardens Tech Rugby Club.
Finally we started descending from Dead Man's Tree. This jeep track is not exactly smooth and hurts like hell. Running downhill and feeling your quads completely blown is not fun. By know I was cursing and was just amped to get it done. We started moving faster actually and we entered the race village onto the finish line. Myself and Matt decided to finish together just as we had suffered together. Brothers in arms we crossed the line and took 14th and 15th place in a time of 11hrs and 56min for the 100km and 4300m of vertical gain. Man what an experience. I think we did pretty damn well considering my year of injuries and setbacks.
I am not shy to say I am proud of myself. Proud for not shying away when going into this race with little confidence. Proud for getting the job done. Proud for being one badass, hard kid with balls. Ultra running changes you. It proves to us that we are bigger than our problems and that with just a little bit of grit and determination anything is possible. The mind is so powerful and the body is capable of so much more than you can imagine. Take it from me, go into the mountains and test yourself. You will find out more about who you are than you can fathom.
ADMIRE MUZOPAMBWA
100km, 34th, 13:22:17
RUN IT FOR WHAT IT IS:
Through the first section (Signal Hill, Lion’s Head and Platteklip Gorge) I was flying on enthusiasm and confidence and was following Emily Hawgood, who eventually finished second overall in the women’s race.
I found a bit of pace at the top and pushed on to Hout Bay where I was feeling very hungry and in need of some salt. I slogged through the mid section and on to UCT where again I needed something solid and salty. Here I dumped all my supplements and ate a cheese and tomato sandwich. From there I took only water and ice and climbed the mountain slowly, I actually felt bloated, having taken on too many fluids. I ran the final 3kms with a Japanese guy and there we pushed together to the finish.
NIC RUPANGA
65km, 48th overall, 03:32:03
SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO PUSH THROUGH
I trained initially for the 100km but then received an invitation to run the 65km which was a big honour so I couldn’t refuse. I was feeling super strong and fit after my training build up and this translated in the first part of the race.
My plan was to hang no more than 300m metres behind the leaders and I managed this all the way until the descent down from Maclear’s Beacon, where I took an unfortunate tumble, crashing on my knee. At first it wasn’t so painful, so I kept on going through halfway and up to Constantia Nek. Here I realised something wasn’t right with my knee and suddenly my back also started seizing up.
The pain was excruciating, but even though some people advised me to abandon, stopping was never even an option in my mind. I told myself that I had spent half the year preparing for this race and that it was the last race of the year.
I reminded myself of all the people and sponsors supporting me. I kept thinking - the most important thing when I start is to finish, whatever position. For me winning is a bonus, at the end of the day I do these things for the love of it and to motivate and inspire other.
So from Constania Nek I alternated between running and walking and even sitting down at times to ease pain, but I kept pushing on. No matter how unbearable they pain got. In the end I managed to make it home and while the result was nowhere close to the podium I was after, I was very proud to have pushed through.
