New route for popular Washie
Roadworks force change
THIS year ongoing roadworks on the R72 have necessitated a route change for the popular Washie 100 Miler.
The roadworks started three years ago and the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral), GIBB and Murray & Roberts have supported the event during the night and the stretches under construction, even preparing separate stop&gos and personally manning them.
However, the road excavation levels have reached a point where the safety and security authorities have strict concerns regarding the safety of runners and their seconding vehicles, therefore Buffalo Road Runners (Buffs) agreed to change to an alternative route for 2018 and 2019.
The new route will start in Cathcart at the Cathcart Country Club at an
elevation of 1173m, the most significant change to previous route conditions. There will be a 17.5km out and back loop straight out of Cathcart on the R345, whereafter the runners will follow the N6 all the way along the North East Expressway, to the usual finish at the Buffs Club, in Buffalo Park Drive.
“The rest of the event details remain the same, the race start being at 5pm on Friday July 27 and runners getting a 26-hour cut-off, requiring them to finish before 7pm on Saturday July 28. They run by the light of the full moon, although added to the excitement of the new route will be this year’s lunar eclipse, making this event as special and surreal as it is,” Washie spokeswoman Tracy Mackay said.
“We told the runners how scenic this section of the country is and how they will enjoy the enthusiasm and hospitality of the new towns they will see on the route, but they are more interested in the hills, how many there are, how long or high they are, these are ultra runners who thrive on this,” said Mackay.
The Washie 100 Miler averages a field of about 80 to 90 starters with about 15% not able to finish. There is great enthusiasm for the new route as many novices feel this will be an easier version of the Washie to conquer, giving them the confidence to return when the Washie route will be from Port Alfred to East London again.
“Many of the regular runners are sad they will miss the Chalumna Cuttings, turns out it is less love-hate than we thought and maybe love-love? Either way, they seem intrigued and are plotting their training strategies to deal with this change in profile and elevation,” Mackay said.
“Current Washie record holder Johan van der Merwe is confident this route could see the breaking of the South African 100 mile record of 12 hours, 20 minutes and 28 seconds held by Wally Hayward from 1953.
“This is the road record, there is also a track record but with the Washie being the only 100 Miler still running point to point on the road, Hayward’s is the one to beat. Johan would be the first contender to break this record.
However, as he is currently struggling with injuries he cannot be certain he will be able to run Washie 2018, let alone challenge the record,” she added.
At the first hosting of the Washie 100 Miler in 1977, 12 runners finished, and there were 2623 runners crossing the revered finish line of last year’s 41st Washie.
“We expect the start at the Cathcart Country Club to have quite an esteemed line-up and we look forward to welcoming back our regulars and all the 2018 novices,” said Mackay.