.WHAT RACE ARE YOU RUNNING?RUNNING THE RACE OF ADVENTURE

The Noordhoek Superbowl 21 km – 4 May 2024

When most things are out of one’s control, running trails teaches one to accept whatever comes one’s way. And enjoy the race! This race was a reminder. Having only traversed the iconic peak of Chapman’s once on Ultra-trail Cape Town® 100 miles just five months earlier in midnight darkness, gale force wind and black drop offs on either side of me, I desired to experience this 593 metre Peak (and two others this race traverses of Noordhoek Peak (754 m) and Spitskop (492 m)) to enjoy its vast vistas of Noordhoek beach and Hout Bay in the day and grab some nice shots while doing what I love. It was not to be. The weather enabled a very distinct and typical outcome…

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Enjoy this somewhat truncated Tale of this beautiful mountain race that includes just over 1100 metres of accumulative ascent as it traverses the ridgeline of the natural amphitheatre that forms the backdrop of the suburb of Noordhoek in Cape Town.

Heading out of Noordhoek suburb, so its beach comes into view (above), as one ascends sharply (below) to the first summit of Chapman's Peak.

                               Traversing the ridgeline that leads to Chapman's Peak summit with the iconic Chapman's Peak Drive coming into view, so the race headed into the cloud that accompanied it for most of its distance...

With the short distance of only 21 kilometres, making the best out of the unexpected views (above), running trails in low visbility cloud and some rain evokes some nice racing for Joseph (below centre).

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The uniqueness of the route and race itself, together with the distinctive weather and the affected natural light as a result, so the vast colours of the Cape Floral Region shows itself (above), as the route descends below the cloud line (below).

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No matter the weather, trail running always enables a very distinct and typical outcome: "It's good for the soul". 

Results

"What race are you running?"

Maltese Cross – Cederberg Wilderness Area
Ultra-trail Cape Town® 100 miles – 24 - 26 Novembe...

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