Expect proper trail running at its best only like the city of the Garden Route can offer. You will be shuttled to the top of Outeniqua Pass, from where you will run un-explored trail to the little town of Herold while enjoying fynbos, proteas and pano views. From here you will make your way up the Montagu pass (don’t worry it’s the easy side) and join up onto the infamous Cradock Pass which will lead you all the way down the mountain back to the finish venue.

Aid Stations

11km | Aid Station | Herold Farm | Gu Drinks, Fruit, Potatoes, Eggs, Braai, Water & Coke

20.5km | Aid Station | Cradock Pass | GU Drinks, Fruit, Sweets, Date Balls, Sarmies, Water & Coke

Fun is the key word in this route, but make no mistake it will still be a tuff route living up to its bigger brother and sister! Bring the family and enjoy an active 9km run on the bottom slopes of the mountain.

Aid Station

5km | CP 1 | The Cross | GU Drinks, Fruit, Sweets, Date Balls, Sarmies, Water & Coke

What is a Vertical Kilometre Race?

“AN UPHILL MOUNTAIN RUNNING RACE, WHICH ASCENDS APPROXIMATELY 1000 METRES WHILE COVERING A DISTANCE OF NO MORE THAN 5KM”

We will be hostingThe VK Challenge on the Sunday after the MUT. We know your legs will be shot but come join us for the fun of it, it is only 4km! How hard can it be?

Details:

• Sunday 27 June 2020
• First Batch to start at 10:00am
• Meet and Park at Ground Zero Trail Park, c/o Arbour Road and Camphersdrift Street, George.
• The VK’s official start at the top of Arbour Road.

Win a pair some  cool spot prizes!

VK Challenge

The Race venue us the Outeniqua Nature Reserve at the Witfontein Forestry Station in George.

Compulsory Gear

Because of the remoteness of the trails, they are not accessible by vehicles. Therefore, a compulsory gear list is mandatory for the participation of this event.

The trails are technical, cover high altitudes and are exposed to the elements. It can turn harsh out there, real quickly.

The MUT Lite (9km) will need to carry their (1) Race Number, (2) Own Cup, (3) Outer Shell (jacket), (4) Own Water (5) Emergency Food, (6) Space Blanket, (7) Whistle as recommended gear.

Please download each events minimum required gear checklists here:

MUT 60km

MUT Challenge 25km

MUT Lite 9km

Please study the following gear list and have it all available for registration, this applies to the MUT Challenge (25km) and the MUT (60km). Weather depended gear will be made clear at registration:

Items (including wrappers, empty Gell sachets etc.) cannot be discarded along the route and must be carried with you to the finish line. The event takes place in a Nature Reserve and littering will lead to disqualification.

Please take note of weather conditions on the day and dress appropriately.

Conservation / Environmental:

The event is taking place in a Nature Reserve – Normal Nature Conservation rules and regulations apply.

DO NOT LITTER – anyone observed littering will be disqualified and banned from future races.

Smoking or the lighting of fires is forbidden at all times during the race.

Washing of apparel and equipment in streams or lakes is forbidden at all times during the race.

Strictly adhere to the “leave no trace and take no souvenirs” policy.

Support / Outside Assistance:

No Support / Seconding /Outside assistance will be allowed.

This includes:

• Any form of mobile support along the route, eg: pacing or muling. Carrying, pulling or pushing by other racers or members of the public is prohibited.
• Not carrying on your person at all times the full set of mandatory gear. Including a 300ml reserve of water at all times.
• Switching of running packs is not allowed. Start with one pack and carry it for the full duration of your race.
• Race participants may take as much food and beverage as needed from the water station provided by the organizer. Race participants will not be allowed to take any bottles, cans or cups from these areas and should plan on carrying and refilling their own hydration systems at the stations.
• Participants may not make use of any motorized or wheeled vehicles during the race.
• If you choose to use poles they are to be carried on you at all times from start to finish. You are not allowed to discard, stash or give to officials for keeping.
• Please be conscious of those around you when using poles.

On Route:

The event takes place on very rugged, single-track hiking trails. Running on such trails comes with inherent risks that participants accept upon entering the event.

Your race number must be visible at all times on the outside of your clothing and on the front of your body. Do not cover your race number with any backpack strap or article of clothing.

Most of the course will be clearly marked (follow the marked course route) however basic trail finding skills and common sense will be required to find the route on certain sections. No taking shortcuts.

Tampering with Route Markers will lead to disqualification. Misplaced or damaged event signage must be reported to the next marshal immediately.

Yield trail by respecting other participants when passing – keep left and pass right, be aware of blind spots and slow down when you need to.

Withdrawal: Should you need to drop out of the race, inform the nearest race official. If you leave the course and fail to notify race officials, you will be banned from participating in the future (unless assisted from the course by First Aid crews).

The organisers reserve the rights to change the routing and format at any time during the event.

Vehicles to North Station:

Spectator vehicles can travel to North Station, Herold via Outeniqua pass and not Montagu pass. They are able to spectate from this point but no support or seconding will be permitted.

Compulsory Equipment:

Participants are to have their mandatory equipment with them at all times during the race.

There may be an equipment check; prior to the start, during the race or at the finish line. It is the participant’s responsibility to display all the items in order to pass the equipment check.

Any participant failing to display the mandatory gear will not be able to proceed until they arrange for the missing item to be replaced. For the sake of fairness to other runners, there will also be a penalty ranging from a time penalty to disqualification based on the severity of the breach.

Headphones are not permitted. Full awareness of one’s surroundings and the ability to communicate with other participants, race officials/volunteers is critical to everyone’s safety.

General:

The use of band performance Enhancing Substances is not permitted during this event. Event organisers reserve the right to test participants for Banned Substances. Participants failing to provide a sample on request will be disqualified from the event.

Racers wishing to make a protest must notify a race organiser within 60 minutes of finishing the race. Protests will be considered by a three-person committee consisting of the race director and two race organisers. Decisions of the committee are final.

Bad sportsmanship and abuse towards officials can lead to disqualification. As participants please show your appreciation for their efforts to help you finish the race by thanking and giving a smile to our volunteers.

Weather:

The event will take place irrespective of weather conditions unless intervened by Disaster Management.

The event organisers reserve the right to cancel the race at any time and the race can be cancelled due to any circumstances. Serious considerations will be taken before this happens and the decision will not be taken lightly.

Lost and Found:

Any personal items left after the race will be donated to a charity or to other local runners in need. We will not ship items to you.

FKT Challenge Rules

You need to register on both our website by completing an entry and joining the Strava Club. It is your responsibility to record and upload your run onto Strava for it to be considered as an attempt. You can attempt the segment as many times as you like up to the closing date. Prizes will not only be awarded to the official winners but we will have certain “spot” prizes for people that stand out as well. The winners will be announced at the MUT Prize Giving and on Social Media and the judges decision will be final. KOM and QOM winners need to comply with all the rules and requirements stated.

It is your responsibility to be safe out there and to take weather conditions into consideration before attempting to climb the mountain. Please make sure you are mountain running fit and prepared before attempting this challenge. This is a free of charge challenge and therefore not an official event and EcoBound Mountain Events will not take any responsibility for any loss or injury that may occur during your attempt.

All refund requests must be made in writing via email. The date the email was sent will determine the refund amount.

Please see below refund scale:

• 50% refund if refund requests are emailed before 1 May 2021
• No refunds will be given after 1 June 2021
• Replacements will be allowed up to 7 June 2021 but the runner will be responsible to collect the refund from the replacement runner.
• No credit towards another event will be given

Cancelling the Event:

We (the event organisers) reserve the right to cancel the race at any time and the race can be cancelled due to any circumstances. Serious considerations will be taken before this happens as the decision will not be taken lightly. If the event is cancelled, no refund will be made.

MUT Lite Results – 9km

MUT Lite Results – 2018.pdf – 9km

MUT Lite Results – 2019.pdf – 9km

MUT Challenge Results – 25km

MUT Challenge Results – 2018.pdf – 25km

MUT Challenge Results – 2019.pdf – 25km

MUT #ScruffyDog Results – 60km

MUT #ScruffyDog Results – 2018.pdf – 60km

MUT #ScruffyDog Results – 2019.pdf – 60km

VK Challenge

Come and join us by supporting the runners of both the 25 & 60km Races.

The Discovery Aid Station is halfway for the 25km and 60km Race, your support will get them moving with a smile!

• First runners expected to arrive at 07:00am
• Last runners to pass by 11:30am
• You can walk up on the route and cheer them over the hill or build the atmosphere at the Aid Station
• First 50 Spectators get a Discovery Cow Bell!

• Please drive along the Outeniqua Pass to Herold.
• Park next to the road at the Spectator Point outside the Farm.
• You can then walk down to the Discovery Aid Station or walk up the Montagu Pass to support them.
• Do not drive on the Montagu Pass please.
• Runners have the right of way.
• Right of admission reserved.

Win a Polar Vantage V!

The Segment for this challenge will be located on the Camferskloof section of the route between CP2 and CP3 on the MUT60km Race. It will be the first climb and first 5km of the 25km race!

Segment Link

The same rules and method will apply for the VK Challenge on Monday 17 June, where the entire race is the segment!

Jacques Marais Photos 2019 – Free Download

Deidre Cloete Photos 2019 – Free Download