New 16km trail opens virgin Overberg territory

A new route, recently cleared by The Overstrand Municipality and Cape Nature that includes the Brodie Link area of the Kogelberg, Pringle Bay, will be included in the selection of races offered at The Tru-Cape Windgat Festival and Kogelberg Marathon on Saturday, September 7.

According to Tru-Cape’s Quality Assurance Manager, Henk Griessel, the man who with Dougie Engelke of Betty’s Bay and Mark Johns of Cape Nature first discovered the route, this is the first time this route will be available to runners.

“There will be no medals, no water stops, no marshals and no more than 50 people running it”, Henk says adding, “Just free running on an annotated route map. If you get lost, it might be a long day.”

The 16km of pristine fynbos reaches a peak at a challenging 353 meters which, running at an average 8.3km should take just over an hour to complete. “If you are tough enough”, Henk says, “do the 21km timed race at 07h30 and then start this race at 09h45. Snag is that you have to finish the 21km in 2 hours 15 minutes to be in time for the start!”

Henk says the route starts from the Tru-Cape Starting Arch between Pringle Cove Centre and 365 Restaurant then heads towards Pringle peak and the circle route back to the path. “Next take Brodie Link onwards through Watsonia and Delport in Betty’s. Turn Right at Porter Road, left at Drivers, right at Lakeside, left at Compactum and cross the R44.  There is a path from Compactum that goes over the tar road and back into Pringle Bay to snake behind the reservoir to finish where you start,” he says.

For information please email Sandy Kei, Hangklip Athletics, sandykei@sonicmail.co.za or phone 079 413 6610 or Henk Griessel on 082 652 1828.