Harrismith Mountain Race
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| Date: |
06 October 2007 |
| Time: |
11h00 |
| Organisers: |
Harrismith Marathon Club |
| Distance: |
15; ; |
| Province: |
Free State |
| Start: |
Platberg Stadium
Harrismith
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| Enquiries: |
Contact 1: Gaelyn
(C) 083-6197600
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| Entry Details: |
You can pre-enter up to about two weeks before the race. You can also enter at the start, at a premium. The first 500 entrants get T-shirts.
Walkers are Welcome |
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| Route Description: |
Route Type: Circular
What can I say about a mountain race except that it's tough, tough, tough?
You run the first 3km in town, and from there it’s a gruelling climb up the slopes of the Platberg. Stock up well at the first watering point, for it is a tough climb to the next water table at "Bloekombome" at the base of One-Man Pass. If you are in the hunt for a silver medal don’t get caught behind the slower runners here, as there is very little chance of overtaking until you reach the top of the Platberg. There is a watering point here, and the time is called out. Two and a half kilometres along the top and you come to the knee jerking, quadriceps ripping downhill run. Be careful! With 2km to go, the race returns to the tar road. Your legs will take a beating, but there is great crowd support. You are given very clear directions throughout the route and the golden rule is: "Follow the white stones". After you leave the town you run on a footpath. At the top of the mountain there is a control point where times for the first male and female are taken. It is certainly a race where you must take the first half slower than the second.
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| Prizes and Give-Aways: |
| The first three men and women win gold medals, those who complete the course in less than 1½ hours win silver and all who finish within the cut-off of 2¾ hours get bronze medals. The first 500 entrants get T-shirts. |
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| Course Records: |
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Name |
Time |
Year |
| Men |
Michael Miya |
01:03:25 |
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| Women |
Makhasane Maleme |
01:27:33 |
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| Editor's Notes: |
This race started in 1922 as a wager. A Major A.E. Belcher bet a local inhabitant that he could scale "that small little hill of yours", the Platberg, in less than an hour. The bet was on and the Major finished with eight minutes to spare. Afterwards Major Belcher presented a floating trophy as a prize and in 1927 the Belcher Cup was awarded to the first athlete to reach the summit of the Platberg.
This race is tough! Wally Hayward said, "Never again. It's the toughest obstacle in the whole world!" Dare one argue that this one of the most difficult 15km races in the world?
In 2002 the organising club staged the race for the 80th time, making it older than the Comrades Marathon.
For accommodation please contact:
Harrismith Inn~058-6221011
La La Nathi~058-6230282
Huize van Sandwijk~058-3729362
Grand National Hotel~058-6221060
Sir Harry Hotel~058-6222151
Sterkfontein Dam~058-6223520
Bergview Motel~058-6230255
Finishers: 928 Time Limit: 02:45 |
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