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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 ChartLocationDiscriptionCP distance (KM)Total Distance (KM)Record PaceSub 24HrsSub 30Hrs
CheckpointLocationDiscriptionCP distance (KM)Total Distance (KM)Leader CP TimeLeader Real TimeLeader Overall TimeCP TimeReal TimeOverall TimeCP TimeReal TimeOverall TimeCUT-OFF
StartLady Grey---4:00 AM--4:00 AM--4:00 AM-
CP 1Tower771h 0m5:00 AM1h 0m1h 33m5:32 AM1h 33m1h 48m5:48 AM1h 48m6:00 AM
CP 2Olympus11.718.71h 14m6:14 AM2h 14m2h 5m7:37 AM3h 38m2h 42m8:30 AM4h 30m9:00 AM
CP 3SnowdenMedical Staff11.630.31h 2m7:16 AM3h 16m1h 47m9:25 AM5h 25m2h 26m10:56 AM6h 56m11:30 AM
CP 4AvocaMedical Staff1040.31h 0m8:16 AM4h 16m2h 25m11:49 AM7h 50m3h 5m2:00 PM10h 1m2:00 PM
CP 5Skidaw7.547.81h 0m9:16 AM5h 16m1h 35m1:25 PM9h 25m2h 17m4:17 PM12h 18m4:30 PM
CP 6BallochMedical Staff, Bag Dropoff Zone, Seconding Access9.557.31h 13m10:29 AM6h 29m1h 42m3:06 PM11h 7m2h 15m6:32 PM14h 32m7:00 PM
CP 7Edgehill9.466.71h 23m11:52 AM7h 52m3h 32m6:39 PM14h 39m4h 24m10:56 PM18h 57m12:30 AM
CP 8TurnMedical Staff16.282.92h 23m2:15 PM10h 15m4h 35m11:13 PM19h 14m7h 0m5:56 AM25h 56m6:00 AM
CP 9Halstone11.294.11h 21m3:36 PM11h 36m3h 13m2:27 AM22h 27m2h 48m8:43 AM28h 44m8:00 AM
FinishWartrail Country ClubBag Dropoff Zone, Seconding Access4.9990h 32m4:08 PM12h 8m1h 34m4:00 AM24h 1m1h 19m10:02 AM30h 3m10:00 AM
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