Norwich Life Rhodes Drakensberg Ultra Marathon by Darrell Raubenheimer
Article from the Rand Athletic Club newsletter
What could be more difficult than obtaining an entry to a highly desirable invitation only race with a field limited to 150 runners? It is trying to find accommodation in a hamlet with a population of seven....and when the morning temperature is MINUS 14 degrees, EVERYONE is clamoring for one of the quaint turn of the century houses.
But when the race is the Norwich Life Rhodes ultra marathon people will kill...or at least trade in their mother-in-law, for either.
To be in Rhodes for this unique event is to appreciate just how and why the run has developed the enviable reputation it has in it's brief two year existance. On arrival in Rhodes one is warned that, due to the frozen pipes, there is no running water before noon. In most races first to the finish ensures a hot shower; in Rhodes it is no use arriving home early, in fact its a good idea to stay on the road until at least early afternoon to ensure yourself a hot bath!
Rhodes has a winter temperature range (before wind chill) of between MINUS 15 degrees and 15 degrees. Anyone happening into the community centre on the eve of the run would never in their wildest dreams have thought that the shivering cheerful group were preparing for a 52-K ultra marathon. Ski hats, brightly coloured padded jackets and gloves were obligatory protection (yes, this is indoors!!!) as was the tummy warming sherry (which I gather out sold beer ..surprise surprise!) and a rather unique pre-race pasta, curry flavoured!
The race morning started at 6am with a ghostly white frost covered bakkie driving up and down ALL the streets with hooter blaring...Rhodes making sure no one over slept the seven o'clock start. This year the race started (to the crack of an old .45 Webley and the traditional pealing of the church bells) in a comparatively sweltering minus 11 degrees!
Then it was out on the roads, farm tracks, animal paths, very slippery hillside, ICY streams, very slippery stones, and bush (in fact just about everything except tar) to enjoy the solitude and exquisite beauty of the area.
The race brochure described the Mavis Bank section as - "A suitable route along foot paths and cattle and sheep trails will be marked...." - Halfway along the Mavis Bank section only the most acrobatic Klipspringers could possibly use those animal tracks. Then followed the scramble up the Kloof which is a lung searing scramble up a gradient of 1 in 3 ...compensated on the downhill part with a dizzy "afdrand" of 1 in 3,4 - talk about slip sliding away!
The race in addition to being 52-K or so long (depending on how often you fall, slew over non too smooth tracks or trot up the wrong animal path) takes you from an altitude of 1854m (5562ft) to a highest point of 2701m (8103ft) - with an average altitude "on top" of 2600m (7800ft). Of course we must not forget the eight or so ICED ice cold streams to slip and splash through.
The Norwich Life Rhodes has immense character; fortunate are those who run there. All too soon the race and the weekend was over leaving us all thoroughly spoilt.
Thank you Rhodes Runners and Norwich Life for bringing us back to earth and to running as it is meant to be run.
