SkyRun

100KM

SkyRun 100

SkyRun 100 is for those with Mountain Running experience and who embrace running or hiking through the night, under extreme conditions, in very remote areas and are capable of being self sufficient. Traverse the Witteberg Mountain Range and become a SkyRunner.

Route Description

Terrain Notes: SkyRun 100 starts in Lady Grey. Crossing a stream early on, it’s a sharp climb out of Lady Grey. There is a combination of hiking trails and mountain running to CP 1 – Tower (7 km). Climbing to the Tower, the majestic landscape unfolds in front of you, and already there is a feeling of being on top of Africa.

Segment Distance: 6.6 km
Elevation Gain: 799 m
Elevation Loss: 86 m
End Altitude: 2,371 m
Total Distance at CP: 6.6 km

Terrain Notes: The route now consists of narrow weaving cattle trails, leaving you to choose low or high over and over again. Make your way along the ridge line to CP 2 – Olympus (18.7 km).

Segment Distance: 12.2 km
Elevation Gain: 573 m
Elevation Loss: 539 m
End Altitude: 2,404 m
Total Distance at CP: 18.8 km

Terrain Notes: Taking in the view of layered mountain ridges straight in front of you, follow a runnable 4×4 track leading to CP 3 – Snowden (30.3km).

Segment Distance: 10.9 km
Elevation Gain: 423 m
Elevation Loss: 246 m
End Altitude: 2,582 m
Total Distance at CP: 29.6 km

Terrain Notes: The natural spring Old Faithful comes up next and is a great place to fill your water supply before the challenging climb up to CP 4 – Avoca (40.3 km). Avoca Peak is the highest point on the route (2,756 m), and the climb up is challenging because of the steep gradient and rough terrain.

Segment Distance: 10.2 km
Elevation Gain: 444 m
Elevation Loss: 304 m
End Altitude: 2,723 m
Total Distance at CP: 39.9 km

Terrain Notes: The Dragons Back is a feature that needs to be traversed to be believed – a ridge line about 3 meters wide with steep descents on either side. It’s a spectacular viewing point on a clear day, and very exposed when the weather is bad. The route flattens out for a little while as you move towards CP 5 – Skidaw (47.8km).

Segment Distance: 7.3 km
Elevation Gain: 208 m
Elevation Loss: 541 m
End Altitude: 2,389 m
Total Distance at CP: 47.1 km

Terrain Notes: A technical descent into the valley, you’ll follow the river leading you to CP 6 – Balloch (57.3 km). Balloch is an oasis, but be warned that spending too much time with friends and family here can be detrimental

Segment Distance: 9.2 km
Elevation Gain: 152 m
Elevation Loss: 652 m
End Altitude: 1,890 m
Total Distance at CP: 56.3 km

Terrain Notes: Balloch is an oasis, but be warned that spending too much time with friends and family here can be detrimental

Segment Distance: 0.3 km
Elevation Gain: 15 m
Elevation Loss: 28 m
End Altitude: 1,877 m
Total Distance at CP: 56.7 km

Terrain Notes: The Wall is next (a vertical ascent of over 400 m in around 2.5 km).

Segment Distance: 2.5 km
Elevation Gain: 402 m
Elevation Loss: 31 m
End Altitude: 2,248 m
Total Distance at CP: 59.2 km

Terrain Notes: On the other side, is the well known temptation to go straight to the Wartrail Country Club, but you must keep your wits about you and head towards CP 7 – Edgehill (66.7 km)

Segment Distance: 7.3 km
Elevation Gain: 223 m
Elevation Loss: 599 m
End Altitude: 1,872 m
Total Distance at CP: 66.4 km

Terrain Notes: No specific notes for this section.

Segment Distance: 6.8 km
Elevation Gain: 544 m
Elevation Loss: 60 m
End Altitude: 2,356 m
Total Distance at CP: 73.2 km

Terrain Notes: A steady climb up the pass takes you along the ridge line to CP 8 – The Turn (82.9 km).

Segment Distance: 9.1 km
Elevation Gain: 571 m
Elevation Loss: 242 m
End Altitude: 2,685 m
Total Distance at CP: 82.3 km

Terrain Notes: No specific notes for this section.

Segment Distance: 3.4 km
Elevation Gain: 17 m
Elevation Loss: 121 m
End Altitude: 2,581 m
Total Distance at CP: 85.8 km

Terrain Notes: A few undulating kilometres until one final climb up to CP 9 – Halston Peak (94.1 km) – the final checkpoint on the route. Descending from Halston’s is technical and made more difficult by the inevitable exhaustion, but it’s literally all downhill from there

Segment Distance: 8.2 km
Elevation Gain: 300 m
Elevation Loss: 526 m
End Altitude: 2,355 m
Total Distance at CP: 94.0 km

Terrain Notes: The finish line is waiting at Wartrail Country Club

Segment Distance: 5.2 km
Elevation Gain: 189 m
Elevation Loss: 742 m
End Altitude: 1,803 m
Total Distance at CP: 99.2 km

Initializing Map...

Accommodation

Pre-Start (SkyRun 100 & SkyRun 65): Lady Grey has a wide range of accommodation options walking distance from the start line. The Mountain View Country Inn is right next to the start line, and many other B&B’s and Backpackers in the area can be found at:
www.ladygreytourism.co.za.

Post-Start (SkyRun 100 & SkyRun 65): The only seconding point on the route is at CP 6 – Balloch, and accommodation options are available at Balloch Caves. An overnight stop here is a great way to feel part of the race, and has some of the most remarkable scenery in the area. For bookings, visit: www.ballochcottages.co.za.

Post-Finish (SkyRun 100 & SkyRun 65): There are accommodation options at Wartrail Country Club and in the area, for more B&B options and activities in this truly beautiful part of our country, visit: www.wartrail.co.za.

Directions

SkyRun 100 & SkyRun 65 race registration:
Lady Grey Country Club

SkyRun 100 & SkyRun 65 race start:
Mountain View Country Inn

SkyRun 38 race registration & race start:
Wartrail Country Club

Lady Grey can be accessed through all the major road networks in South Africa:
Bloemfontein – Lady Grey: 2 hours 45 minutes
Durban – Lady Grey: 8 hours
Johannesburg – Lady Grey: 6 hours 30 minutes
Cape Town – Lady Grey: 11 hours 30 minutes

Schedule

Pace Chart

100km Pace Chart				Record Pace			Sub 18Hrs			Sub 24Hrs			Sub 30Hrs			CUT-OFF - TIMES
Checkpoint	Location	CP distance (KM)	Total Distance (KM)	CP Split Time	Real Time	Overall Time	CP Split Time	Real Time	Overall Time	CP Split Time	Real Time	Overall Time	CP Split Time	Real Time	Overall Time
Start	Lady Grey	-	-	-	4:00 AM	-	-	4:00 AM	-	-	4:00 AM	-	-	4:00 AM	-
CP 1	Tower	7	7	1h 2m	5:02 AM	1h 2m	1h 13m	5:13 AM	1h 13m	1h 26m	5:26 AM	1h 26m	1h 47m	5:47 AM	1h 47m	6:00 AM
CP 2	Olympus	11.7	18.7	1h 22m	6:24 AM	2h 24m	1h 46m	6:59 AM	2h 59m	2h 3m	7:29 AM	3h 29m	2h 33m	8:19 AM	4h 20m	9:00 AM
CP 3	Snowden	11.6	30.3	0h 59m	7:23 AM	3h 24m	1h 26m	8:25 AM	4h 26m	1h 41m	9:10 AM	5h 10m	2h 7m	10:26 AM	6h 27m	11:30 AM
CP 4	Avoca	10	40.3	1h 9m	8:32 AM	4h 33m	1h 48m	10:13 AM	6h 14m	2h 4m	11:14 AM	7h 14m	2h 44m	1:10 PM	9h 10m	2:00 PM
CP 5	Skidaw	7.5	47.8	0h 43m	9:15 AM	5h 16m	1h 16m	11:29 AM	7h 30m	1h 33m	12:47 PM	8h 47m	1h 55m	3:05 PM	11h 5m	4:30 PM
CP 6 - IN	Balloch (IN)	9.5	57.3	0h 49m	10:04 AM	6h 4m	1h 20m	12:49 PM	8h 50m	1h 38m	2:25 PM	10h 26m	2h 9m	5:14 PM	13h 14m	7:00 PM
CP 6 - OUT	Balloch (OUT)	0	57.3	0h 8m	10:12 AM	6h 12m	0h 14m	1:04 PM	9h 4m	0h 31m	2:56 PM	10h 57m	0h 49m	6:03 PM	14h 3m	8:00 PM
CP 7	Edgehill	9.4	66.7	1h 30m	11:42 AM	7h 42m	2h 10m	3:14 PM	11h 14m	2h 53m	5:49 PM	13h 50m	3h 44m	9:47 PM	17h 48m	12:00 AM
CP 8	Turn	16.2	82.9	2h 27m	2:09 PM	10h 9m	3h 24m	6:38 PM	14h 39m	4h 51m	10:40 PM	18h 41m	6h 27m	4:14 AM	24h 14m	6:00 AM
CP 9	Halstone	11.2	94.1	1h 19m	3:27 PM	11h 28m	2h 14m	8:52 PM	16h 52m	3h 25m	2:06 AM	22h 6m	3h 27m	7:40 AM	27h 41m	8:00 AM
Finish	Wartrail Country Club	4.9	99	0h 38m	4:05 PM	12h 6m	1h 8m	10:00 PM	18h 0m	1h 54m	4:00 AM	24h 0m	2h 19m	9:59 AM	30h 0m	10:00 AM
	Mens Record - 12:06:21 - Iain Don-Wauchope	Ladies Record - 14:21:23 - Ragna Debats

Destination

The Witteberg is a South African mountain range just off the south-west corner of Lesotho. The range, which rises to 2408 metres, stretches for about 60km from Lundin’s Nek in the east to Lady Grey in the west. The range lends its name to the Witteberg Series, the uppermost fossiliferous sequence of the Cape System of sedimentary rocks in South Africa. The race starts in the town of Lady Grey which is famous for its annual Nativity Play and its quaint houses and incredible scenery. Discover the wonder of Balloch cave along the route with it bushman art and idyllic setting nestled between some of the highest peaks in the Witteberg.

The Witteberg range is one of the most picturesque places in South Africa with some distinctive peaks like Avoca and Halston Peaks dominating the skyline.

Terrain

The Witteberg range is one of the most picturesque places in South Africa with some distinctive peaks like Avoca and Halston Peaks dominating the skyline..