Klipspringers!
First things first. As things stand, the flow of the Orange River over the Falls is predicted to peak on the Thursday/Friday before Race weekend at approximately 3000 cumecs (cubic metres per second). For some context, those who were part of Klipspringer 2022 will remember the spectacular scenes we got to see that year, and how we had to implement a few Plan Bs. The flow that weekend was around 2000 cumecs! (Images below were from some of the route scouting a couple of days before the Race Weekend in 2022)
This means that we can look forward to experiencing the River and the Falls as few are ever lucky enough to do, but it also means we can expect some disruption to our race plans. At the moment we can advise that the Khamkirri Ferry will definitely not be able to operate next weekend, so we will all be driving ourselves over the River as required depending on where we’re staying. We will send out a dedicated Directions email for getting to the Start on Day One during the course of next week if anybody needs it.
Entries
Please note that entries are closed! However we have been receiving quite a few enquiries from runners who missed the chance to get their online entries in in time but are desperate to come and run next to a raging Orange River. We will accommodate them with late entries at Registration in the Park on Friday afternoon. If you have any of your running friends who fall into this category you can let them know that they will be able to enter in person, they will be able to pay in cash, with Snapscan or by EFT (no credit cards), and their entry will not include a race shirt.
Registration & Pre-Race Briefing
Registration will take place at the Augrabies Falls National Park Conference Centre (just before Reception) on Friday afternoon 2 May from 15h00 – 18h00, where you will register and receive your race pack and race number. There will be a small Registration facility at the Start on both Saturday and Sunday mornings for those people who absolutely cannot make it on Friday – for those planning on making use of this it is recommended that you are at the Start to register by no later than 06h00.
There will be no physical Race Briefing at the venue, but rather we will distribute a Virtual Race Briefing video in the week before the Race. This means that runners do not have to hang around the Park until 19h00 on Friday evening after they have registered, and they can watch and re-watch at their own convenience.
Race Tip #2 – Following the trail and Orientation
Following the trail and not getting lost is one of the most important aspects of trail running. Many a race, including some of the world’s biggest, have been won or lost because of a wrong turn at a critical time! Don’t let it be you! The Klipspringer trails will be comprehensively marked and nobody should get lost, but pay attention! Day One will be marked with specific highly-visible Klipspringer orange ribbon markings, and Day Two will be marked with ribbon and with traditional SANParks Hiking Trail markings (remember that Day Two is the legendary Klipspringer Hiking Trail). Please always be aware that this is a remote and inaccessible trail in extremely tough terrain. It is unlike the Otter Trail, for example, where the trail is kept clear and visible by the feet of thousands of hikers and tourists every year, and where if the ocean is not to your left, you know you’ve gone wrong somewhere. In addition, it is not just marketing when we say that the remote Northern Section of the Park has the course running through parts that have literally not seen human feet! So although you shouldn’t, there is always the possibility of finding yourself off the trail. Please note that the race maps are not navigation standard and the best advice here is that each and every runner take responsibility for their own run – do not just follow other runners, always be looking for the next trail marker, and pay attention to the actual direction of the arrows and trail markers (and Race Organiser instructions in Race Briefings). Also try and just be generally aware – if you’ve run for more than 100m – 200m without seeing a marker, the chances are that you are off the trail and should double back to the last one you saw. We will repeat this advice many times before the Race!
In view of expecting to have to make some changes to the normal routes, which we will only know closer to the time, please pay extra attention to all info and Race Briefings on routes and route markings!
Race Tip #3 – Race Nutrition
Now is the time to start planning your Race eating. Yes there will be a lot of delicious (and nutritious) stuff at the Water Tables so you will definitely not go hungry. However it always pays to think of anything in particular that you might like to glug or gobble with you on a long hard day out on the trails and have it with you. It also pays to have an emergency stash of something that can hit that spot if you do hit an energy wall in between Tables.
Enjoy this last week. Take it easy and stay injury-free, and keep your eyes on your inbox. Looking forward to special experience next weekend out out the Augrabies Falls National Park.
