Addo Elephant 100Mile and 50Mile Trail Runs

With the popularity of trail running internationally, Extreme-Marathons and Video Architects have put together a 100 Mile and 50 Mile Trail Run in the vast Addo Elephant National Park, which is situated 75 km North of Port Elizabeth.

The 100 Mile route will start at Darlington Lake, about 80 km South of Somerset East, and wind it’s way over the mountains into the Sundays River Valley and then over the Zuurberg Mountains, to finish at the Addo Elephant Park Main Rest Camp.

The 50 Mile route will start at the Dagbreek Spar, Main Street, Kirkwood, and also finish at the Addo Elephant Park Main Rest Camp.

The trail will consist mainly of tracks within the park itself, with some stretches on gravel roads. Due to the remoteness and inaccessibility of the trail, the Addo Elephant Trail Runs differ substantially from other organized runs. Adequate mental and physical preparation is of utmost importance to each runner, because the mountains and valleys, although beautiful, are relentless in their challenge and unforgiving to the ill prepared.

Registration: 14:00 on Thursday, 01 May 2008 at the Lapa, Main Rest Camp
Start time: 50 Miler- 06:00; 100Miler- 07:00 on Friday

There will be 16 checkpoints along the 100Miler route and 9 along the 50Miler route stocked with bottled water/energy drinks, sweets and fruits. 100 Miler participants can arrange a pacer to run with them from Check Point 13 (100 km mark) to the finish. It is essential to run with a small pack and to carry 2 drinking bottles or a bladder. For environmental reasons, no cups or sachets will be provided at the checkpoints – water bottles will be filled. Anyone wanting their own supplies at the specified checkpoints can hand in clearly marked drop off bags containing these at registration and they will be taken to the checkpoints. The finisher’s belt buckle concept is being introduced for the 100 Miler, with a silver buckle for all finishers under 24hrs and a bronze buckle for all finishers under 30hrs.

Cut-off time is 30hrs and there will be cut-off times at various checkpoints. Participants of the 50Miler who finish in under 9hrs will receive a silver medal, and a bronze buckle will be given to all finishers. There is no cut-off times at the check-points for the 50Miler, but all participants must finish by 13:00 on Saturday, which is the cut-off for the 100Miler. Prize-giving will be at the Addo Elephant National Park Main Rest Camp at 15:00 on Saturday.