From first sub-4 to 20th finish

First sub-4 completes his 20th Rhodes Run

There is always something magical about a 'sub-4' run. It has that special ring to it, more so for a mile but also at the Rhodes Trail Run. 

After carrying out a full reconnaissance of the route in 1990 when he finished 12th, Jannie le Roux shook the race by the roots of its rose-hip bushes the following year when he rampaged to the Finish at the Gideon Naude Bridge over the Tinternspruit with a new best time of 3:56 to become the first person to complete the course in less than 4 hours.

It was not until 1995 that anyone else went sub-4 at Rhodes when fresh from his 2nd place at the Comrades Marathon, Charl Mattheus ran 3:51

Jannie and Charl are the only two runners to run sub-4 at Rhodes. Charl's 3:51 remains the 'best time' on the old route and to date no-one has run sub-4 on the 'Ridge route'.

Jannie is also one of only four runners to go sub-2 to the top of 'Mavis Bank' His 1991 'King of the Kloof' time of 1:57:15 remains the second fastest to the 'Mavis' Check Point. Again only one person has run quicker. Dirkie Moolman with his 1995 record of 1:53:00. Dirkie was 'King of the Kloof' in 1995 when Charl went on to win.

Snowflake Permanent number 47 has been proudly carried by Jannie since 1993.

	Jannie with winner's trophy 1991

Roll on to 2016 and Jannie le Roux became the 6th person to complete the Rhodes Trail Run 20 times. 

	Jannie tackles Mavis (L) & Hooggenoeg (R) on his 20th Rhodes Trail Run 2016

Those who have completed the Rhodes Run on 20 occasions (number of finishes in brackets)

Images: 1991 - Rhodes Trail Run archives; 2016 - Craig Muller | Backyard Adventures