"25 JUNE 1892 - Rhodes

The severity of the weather here bids fair to leave its mark in the meteorological Annals of the district for some considerable time to come.  The cold has been intense, mountains clad in snow, and the streams in the ravines are one mass of ice and are not thawed during the whole winter.”

Source: "Rhodes 100 1891-1991" compiled by Hanna Reeders

We can but hope for 9 July 2022!

Image: Rhodes Run archives

The 32nd Rhodes Trail Run will be held on Saturday 9 July 2022

The 2021 Rhodes Trail Run, which would have been our 32nd event, has been cancelled.

Arriving from all corners of South Africa the distance our runners travel to Rhodes varies.

As does the race distance!

The race distance is 52km. Well, sometimes.

The route is traditionally described as being "about 50k but will depend on the mood of the chap setting the course" as many of our more frequent visitors can attest.

Slight changes to the route through the kloof are not that infrequent, sometimes it must be said stimulated through the inadvertent flushing of a covey of Greywing. The 'Tufts of Terror' are known to change each year. Sometimes to avoid a marsh created by melted snow, possibly to by-pass a deep snow drift, maybe to take advantage of a view, or even to enable the flag team to spot a family of mountain reedbuck.

Mountain Reedbuck (above) and Greywing Francolin (below) on the route

52km is the rule of thumb, but don't get hung up on that. Depending on the satellites your wrist monitor links with you could measure your run as 50km or even 54km, and if you don't follow the flags we hope you have your passport with you!

Images: Craig Muller | Backyard Adventures and Rhodes Run archives.