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FUN RUNNERS WELCOME
HARRISMITH MOUNTAIN 15 KM ROAD & 30 KM TRAIL
DATE 17 October 2020
TIME 08h00
ORGANISERS Harrismith Marathon Club
DISTANCE 15km, 30km
PROVINCE Free State
START VENUE Harrismith Primary School,Greyling Street,Harrismith
PRE-ENTRY CLOSING DATE
RACE WEBSITE CLICK HERE
PRIMARY CONTACT
NAME Ashton West
NUMBER 082-6681664
EMAIL ashton@sparcle.co.za
FAX
HOME NUMBER
WORK NUMBER
SECONDARY CONTACT
NAME Arrie Marais
NUMBER 074-1207025
EMAIL harrismithmk@gmail.com
FAX
HOME NUMBER
WORK NUMBER
HARRISMITH MOUNTAIN 15 KM ROAD & 30 KM TRAIL

ENTRY DETAILS



Pre-entries only for the 30 kilometre race and close a week before. Late entries for the 15 kilometre race only are accepted at the start from 06h00.




HARRISMITH MOUNTAIN 15 KM ROAD & 30 KM TRAIL

DIRECTIONS

Race Start Coordinates: -28.272769310976294, 29.13495361804962 

Race Finish Coordinates: 0.0,0.0 

HARRISMITH MOUNTAIN 15 KM ROAD & 30 KM TRAIL

THE RUN



What can I say about this mountain race except that it is tough, tough, tough. The first three kilometres are run in town. From there it is a gruelling climb up the slopes of the Platberg. Stock up well at the first watering point for it is a tough climb to the next water table at ‘Bloekombos’ at the base of One-Man Pass. If you are on the hunt for a silver medal do not get caught behind the slower runners here as there is very little chance of overtaking until you reach the top of the Platberg.

Once on top there is a one kilometre run along the top before you come to the knee-jerking, quad-ripping downhill run. After the Zig-Zag the route leads to the “Klein Akkerbos” where the next water table will be. Then you will run on a single track back to the town. Your legs will take a beating here, over the tar road bridge, but the crowd support will spur you on. There are very clear directions throughout the route and the golden rule is: ‘Follow the white stones’. After you leave the town the race is run on a footpath. At the top of the mountain there is a control point where times for the first man and woman are taken. In this race the first half should be taken more slowly than the second.


FACILITES

There is a beer tent at the finish.

Type Circular
Sub Event Off-Road Running
Difficulty Rating 5
HARRISMITH MOUNTAIN 15 KM ROAD & 30 KM TRAIL

MEDIA RELEASE
Race Name Release Date Media Release
HARRISMITH MOUNTAIN 15 KM ROAD & 30 KM TRAIL

ORGANISER
NAME Harrismith Marathon Club
PROVINCE Free State
EMAIL harrismithmk@gmail.com
WEBSITE harrismithmarathonclub.co.za
ADDRESS Moths Platberg Shellhole 57 Stuart Street Harrismith

CONTACT PERSON
NAME Vusi Mazibuko
PROVINCE
EMAIL mazibukos3@xsinet.co.za
NUMBER
ADDRESS

RACES BY THIS CLUB
TYPE PROVINCE RACE DATE VENUE CONTACT NUMBER
Free State Harrismith Sterkfontein 25 km & 10 km - Cancelled for 2013 01 January 2024 Sterkfontein Dam Harrismith Pieter du Toit
Free State Harrismith Mountain 15 km Road & 30 km Trail 12 October 2024 Harrismith Primary School 64 Greyling Street Harrismith Ashton West 082-6681664
HARRISMITH MOUNTAIN 15 KM ROAD & 30 KM TRAIL

EDITORS NOTES



EDITORS NOTES

This race started in 1922 as a wager. Major A.E. Belcher bet a local inhabitant that he could scale “that small little hill of yours”, the Platberg, in less than an hour. The bet was on and the major finished with eight minutes to spare. Afterwards, Major Belcher presented a floating trophy as a prize and in 1927; the Belcher Cup was awarded to the first athlete to reach the summit of the Platberg. The late, great Wally Hayward said, ”Never again. It's the toughest obstacle in the whole world”. Dare one argue that this is one of the most difficult 15 kilometre races in the world? This race will be staged for the 99th time in 2020. The 15 kilometre race starts at 09h30.



Time Limit: 03:30

Finishers: 464

ACCOMODATION

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