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Race Infomation

SkyRun

100KM

Distance

99.4KM

Elevation

4445 M

Cut Off

30 Hours

Checkpoints

9

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

SkyRun 100 starts in Lady Grey and finishes at the Wartrail Country Club. 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. 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). 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). 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 (2756 masl) and the climb up is challenging because of the steep gradient and rough terrain. 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). 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, because The Wall is next (a vertical ascent of over 500 m in less than 3 km). 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). For most athletes, nightfall replaces the harsh African sun and navigating to WP 1 – Bridal Pass, is tricky. A steady climb up the pass takes you along the ridge line to CP 8 – The Turn (82.9 km). Soon after the check point is The Hut, and 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 down hill from there, the finish line waiting at Wartrail Country Club.

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 ChartRecord PaceSub 18HrsSub 24HrsSub 30HrsCUT-OFF - TIMES
CheckpointLocationCP distance (KM)Total Distance (KM)CP Split TimeReal TimeOverall TimeCP Split TimeReal TimeOverall TimeCP Split TimeReal TimeOverall TimeCP Split TimeReal TimeOverall Time
StartLady Grey---4:00 AM--4:00 AM--4:00 AM--4:00 AM-
CP 1Tower771h 2m5:02 AM1h 2m1h 13m5:13 AM1h 13m1h 26m5:26 AM1h 26m1h 47m5:47 AM1h 47m6:00 AM
CP 2Olympus11.718.71h 22m6:24 AM2h 24m1h 46m6:59 AM2h 59m2h 3m7:29 AM3h 29m2h 33m8:19 AM4h 20m9:00 AM
CP 3Snowden11.630.30h 59m7:23 AM3h 24m1h 26m8:25 AM4h 26m1h 41m9:10 AM5h 10m2h 7m10:26 AM6h 27m11:30 AM
CP 4Avoca1040.31h 9m8:32 AM4h 33m1h 48m10:13 AM6h 14m2h 4m11:14 AM7h 14m2h 44m1:10 PM9h 10m2:00 PM
CP 5Skidaw7.547.80h 43m9:15 AM5h 16m1h 16m11:29 AM7h 30m1h 33m12:47 PM8h 47m1h 55m3:05 PM11h 5m4:30 PM
CP 6 - INBalloch (IN)9.557.30h 49m10:04 AM6h 4m1h 20m12:49 PM8h 50m1h 38m2:25 PM10h 26m2h 9m5:14 PM13h 14m7:00 PM
CP 6 - OUTBalloch (OUT)057.30h 8m10:12 AM6h 12m0h 14m1:04 PM9h 4m0h 31m2:56 PM10h 57m0h 49m6:03 PM14h 3m8:00 PM
CP 7Edgehill9.466.71h 30m11:42 AM7h 42m2h 10m3:14 PM11h 14m2h 53m5:49 PM13h 50m3h 44m9:47 PM17h 48m12:00 AM
CP 8Turn16.282.92h 27m2:09 PM10h 9m3h 24m6:38 PM14h 39m4h 51m10:40 PM18h 41m6h 27m4:14 AM24h 14m6:00 AM
CP 9Halstone11.294.11h 19m3:27 PM11h 28m2h 14m8:52 PM16h 52m3h 25m2:06 AM22h 6m3h 27m7:40 AM27h 41m8:00 AM
FinishWartrail Country Club4.9990h 38m4:05 PM12h 6m1h 8m10:00 PM18h 0m1h 54m4:00 AM24h 0m2h 19m9:59 AM30h 0m10:00 AM
Mens Record - 12:06:21 - Iain Don-WauchopeLadies 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 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..

GRADING: Very Difficult to Extreme depending on the temperature and water on Mountain

DURATION: Anything from 13hrs to 30hrs

CONFIGURATION: Start in Lady Grey and traverse the Witteberg Mountain range to Wartrail Country Club

START POINT: Lady Grey

GPS COORDINATES: 30.7135°S 27.2186°E

TERRAIN: Mainly no track, Navigation by GPS

MAP: Basic map to be provided

TRAIL MARKINGS: None! Self-navigational – GPS units or GPS Watch is compulsory

FACILITIES: Camping and B&B in the area

CELL RECEPTION: Minimal coverage in the valleys, on-mountain coverage

BEWARE: Hydration is critical. Keep a look-out for snakes and loose rocks

LOCAL INFO: www.ladygreytourism.co.za

SkyRun 100 Fast Facts

  • EVENT NAME: SkyRun 100
  • VENUE: Lady Grey
  • DISTANCE : 100KM
  • TIME OF YEAR: November
  • ENTER AS : Individuals
  • CUT-OFFS: Will be enforced
  • AVERAGE DURATION : 16/30 hrs