Weather, tides and historical insights shape preparations for ‘Surfers’

Long-term weather forecasts are seldom accurate, but it is as well to consider them as not.

In the past week, the humidity hit high levels and then dropped somewhat only to pick up again and then offer perfect running weather for the many Saturday parkrun events.

Sunday was steamy again for the Bridle Drift Half Marathon in Mdantsane.

This week, humidity and high temperatures have offered great opportunities to acclimatise, while the first part of next week is suggesting milder weather with some rain.

At the end of the day it is “only weather” and there is nothing runners, walkers or paddlers at the 2024 Discovery Challenge can do about it other than take precautions.

Throughout the history of the race, every conceivable weather pattern has been experienced and so too with tides.

The 2010 race was a shocker with the high tide leading to a last week change of course, adding on 1km and introducing the only meaningful hill in Surfers history. And it has not changed since.

This refers of course to the original Surfers from Kwelera Mouth. The new shorter version has no such hill to climb.

When racing a historical event, it makes a huge difference to study that history, to understand where it comes from, how it evolved and grew and make it count every step of the way. If fatigue sets in, think back to what the pioneers of this race did.

Surfers started in 1975, and sadly there are no complete records, even of all the winners, though over the years many have been pieced together.

If anyone can verify any of the missing gaps in the results, there is an offer of a place in the VIP tent at the finish, or a subsidised race entry.

The men’s results missing are from 1977/79/80/81. In respect of the women, nothing is available before 1984 when Colleen de Reuck (nee Lindeque) won it and then again it is blank from 19851999 and 2001-2005 when Hanlie Botha won her first Surfers. She is looking at a 10th win this year.

As the countdown begins, take two days of quality training, two 12 to 20km runs and as much enjoyment as possible. It will have every runner ready to tackle any one of the three races on the 49th Surfers Day with a smile on the face.