3rd July approaches with great excitement. The beanies, gloves and sherry (nice! bigger bottle than in previous years) were loaded into the ‘bus and trailer – no space for the helpers and runners t-shirts this trip. Off to Rhodes. The ‘highway’ that greeted us on leaving Barkly for Rhodes was too good to be true. Very few (if any) corrugations, the streams were clear and there was a little snow on the peaks. Things were looking good for the 2002 event.
Midday Friday 12th July – final closing for substitutions. Time to start running off reams of lists for the check points, check in lists, information for the various water stations and the all important stickers. Sunday the 14th ‘bus and trailer were once again loaded (with support from a second ‘bus and trailer - also loaded) with t-shirts, rest of the sherry, oranges, bananas, biscuits, sweets, rubbish bins, ladies gifts, check in envelopes all ready for distribution, race admin (my gosh how it mounts up) and the Laptop with extra long extension cord (for instant results this year!!). After all Rhodes has electricity.
Monday evening it started snowing – great excitement, we were going to have some snow lying around for the weekend. Perfect.
Thursday morning we had a lot more than just a little snow lying around. The cell phones started ringing, calls backed up and the same questions were being asked. Is the race still on? By mid morning we were aware that the Kloppers Hoek road leading into Mavis Bank and up to Lesotho View would be a no-no. Where to now? Plan B. The route was to go out towards Naude’s Nek and back into the village. Boring to say the least. Coke phoned to advise that the vehicle with our race requirements was stuck in snow outside Elliot.
Then an ominous call. SAPS Disaster Management in East London advised that they strongly recommend the race be cancelled. Time to take a trip to the Rhodes Police Station, and after much discussion on a suitable new course, Disaster Management were contacted and all seemed OK. More snow and still more snow fell.
Friday the Automobile Association phoned to enquire on road conditions and if the race was still on as they had heard that it had been cancelled. (Heard from who??!) The recce team out on the road trying to plot a new course was having difficulty getting up Naude’s Nek. It was only 14.5 km to the eventual turning point on Naudes Nek (back to the village would make it about 30km – not that exciting!). The road to Mavis beckoned. Even just as far as the check point. Little slippery but full of potential fun.
The ‘Road Closed’ sign was up outside Barkly. Yet the convoys of cars were coming into the village from Barkly – most of them ordinary sedans with very proud drivers who were totally pumped up having got there safely. Some 4 x 4’s were truly tested for the first time.
The postman knocked on the door – he was wearing a policeman’s uniform. This time it was a written request from Disaster Management to cancel the run. Sign with a witness and return. They advised that unfortunately SAPS would not be able to assist if anything happened as they already had 2 ships which had run aground near East London as well as the Elliot / Cala disaster area.
2am Saturday morning the check in list was scrutinized. No word or contact from about 15 runners. Were they safe? had they had an accident? was their car buried in snow? had they listened to the incorrect radio reports stating that the race had been cancelled? had the police at van Reenen’s / Kokstad / Ugie / Elliot turned them back? So many questions. So few answers.
Race day ……the rest is history. The front runners encouraged the back runners, and visa versa. Oh yes, the snow saw to it that there was no electricity so no instant results! Considering the conditions leading up to the run, we once again had a marvelous event thanks to you, the runners, who were most determined to get to Rhodes and participate. Thanks also to the Rhodes SAPS who assisted us on the day. Thank you for the many phone calls and emails after this years event.
The Rhodes Ultra Marathon is certainly not boring. Every event brings something new. What a challenge!
And yes, it did start snowing again on Sunday.
Evie Raubenheimer
Race Organizer.
