It is not about the distance. Sure, 65 kilometres is a long way - a long way to run, not just on mountain trails up and over mountains, but it is not about the distance. If anything it is all about time, time on one’s legs, for hours and hours at a time.

The Ultra-trail Cape Town® 65 kilometre was one of those great ultra trail running races. Not only because it was run on my ‘home ground’ on the very mountain I am privileged to train on each week, but just because it was about the extended time I spent on my legs doing what I like to do – simply to run, and to run on trails.

This Tale provides a bit of a backdrop of what this great day was like on and over Cape Town’s Table Mountain – one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature:

A 4:00 a.m. start ensured a long day out on my legs…

Sector 1 was relatively easy as the route took us through the city center and up and over Signal Hill and around Lion's Head.

The route follows the Contour Path on some sections, giving my legs some respite…

Making my way up Platteklip Gorge on Sector 2.

Nearing Maclear's Beacon, Table Mountain’s highest point at 1087 metres above sea level.

Sector 3 displayed the grandeur of the Fynbos and dams on top of Table Mountain.

Running with a Japanese runner – one of 40 nationalities represented.

Groot Constantia at the end of Sector 4 marked the half way point and an Aid Station.

Ensuring my electronic timing device is scanned in reaching the 42 kilometre marathon mark at the Alphen Trail, end of Sector 5.

A few last steps of Sector 6 in making my way to the University of Cape Town’s Tennis Club Aid Station.

Hand’s on legs? That’s power walking – it makes for easier uphill trail running, especially on Sector 7 to the finish line.

A day on the trail – finishing each ultra trail run is always something special!

A team effort! Behind every training run, trail run and trail completed, is my seconder without whom would not guarantee the hours spent on the trail.

Results