This year marks the twentieth year Evie Raubenheimer has been at the helm of the Rhodes Trail Run. Evie has been involved with the run for 27 years in total.
Twenty years "wintering in Rhodes with a few hundred good friends, what could be nicer?" is how Evie describes it. The most common question asked of Evie over the years has been "Which year stands out most?". So that is what we asked.
Without hesitation Evie replied "2002 and 2012"
"The road from Barkly East to Rhodes was a highway in 2002. Very few if any corrugations, the streams were clear and there was a little snow on the peaks. Things were looking good for the run.
It started snowing on the Monday evening. Great excitement, we were going to have some snow lying around for the weekend. Perfect.
By Thursday morning we had a lot more than just a little snow lying around. The phone was ringing non stop and the same question was asked. Is the race still on? By mid morning the Kloppershoek road to Mavis Bank was a no-no. Some of our race requirements were stuck in snow outside Elliot. Then an ominous call. SAPS Disaster Management in East London advised that they strongly recommended that 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 was contacted and all seemed OK. More snow and still more snow fell.
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| Crew accommodation turned into igloos - 2002 | Heading out to Bobbejaanskop - 2002 |
On Friday morning two 4 x 4 vehicles travelled to Barkly to open the road from Rhodes leaving tracks for vehicles coming to Rhodes.
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 turn point on Naudes Nek near Bobbejaanskop. With a loop to Mavis Bank Farm we had a route. Rather slippery underfoot but full of potential fun.
The 'Road Closed' sign was up outside Barkly and it had stopped snowing. Convoys of cars were coming into the village from Barkly – most of them ordinary sedans with very proud drivers who were totally pumped having arrived safely. Some 4 x 4's were tested for the first time.
The postman knocked on the door – he was wearing a policeman's uniform. This time it was a request from Disaster Management that we cancel the run. Sign with a witness and return. They advised that unfortunately SAPS would not be able to assist if anything happened as there were a number of disaster areas. Still the convoys came into the village. The pubs were filling up and the Rhodes Run vibe had arrived. The KZN guys were phoning every hour reporting on their progress. Others sent SMS's to say that they could get no further and were unfortunately, and with a heavy heart, turning back.
Decision made. We would run. We had a new route. We ran up Naudes Nek to Bobbejaanskop, then on the way back to Rhodes a loop to Mavis Bank Farm. Still an ultra distance, and more importantly safer even if a little shorter. New feed station positions were planned and yes it had not snowed for a few hours.
At 2am on 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 and 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 in the village. We had a marvelous event thanks to our runners, who were most determined to get to Rhodes and participate. Thanks also to the Rhodes SAPS who assisted us on the day.
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| Frozen crew at the '3-Way Feed Station' - 2002 | Postcard route - 2002 |
The Rhodes Run is certainly never boring.
And yes, it did start snowing again on the Sunday."
"Then ten years later we had another route change, and this time our runners ran in falling snow."
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| Check Point & Turn #1 - 2012 | Check Point & 'Original' Turn #2 - 2012 |
"We had created fall-back plans to ensure the race would go ahead no matter what weather was thrown at us. We had six route options available. Weather forecasts early in 'race week' indicated that the weekend would probably have severe conditions with rain and snow. Our team was fully briefed mid-week on the various route options and contingencies.
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| Route Option 'F' - 2012 | Finishing a memorable run - 2012 |
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| Not an easy day at Rhodes - 2012 | Running in falling snow is best in others photos! - 2012 |
After her run in 2012 Janine Mazery wrote "It is on a day like this where your body is overwhelmed with the elements around, that runners are reminded that winning isn’t about coming first; it’s about competing with your greatest competitor – yourself and never giving up.
The 24th Rhodes Trail Run is definitely an event which will go down in the history books as something more than just a trail run. The organisation of the event was remarkable, the complete dedication to the runners safety by the organisers was paramount and the first class support from the race volunteers, especially in such extraordinary conditions, was supreme. Runners would not have been able to have made such breathtaking memories had it not been for the race committee and volunteers."
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| A Buff® was important for all crew ... | ... and every runner in 2012 |
And the stories of Evie sending her husband and one of her sons back home as they did not have their ID with them at Registration ... totally true!
Photo credits: Craig Muller | Backyard Adventures and Rhodes Run archives
