UTCT 2016

Route

So this was a serious run - Check the route out

The 35km Trail has two major climbs in Table Mountain (first half) and Devil's Peak(second half), the middle of the race consists mainly of technical decents with some flat runable sections- take note along the Newlands contour of the climb known as the 400 stairs.

The race starts at 7am with a climb from Gardens Tech Rugby Club to Kloof Corner, a trail that puts runners midway up Table Mountain's north face. With the city at your feet you run along the contour to Platteklip Gorge, the longest vertical ascent of the race- a notorious route with gradients exceeding 35 degrees, up Table Mountain. The climb is a long grind and loads the legs very early on in the race- after 7km an elevation of 900m will have been covered.
Reaching the top you run the famous table top ridge with Cape Town at your feet to Maclears Beacon, the hightest point of the race- 1086m.

It is then on to Echo Valley, the Valley of Isolation and onward to the Scouts Hut next to the dams where the first Aid Sation is located at 12km- A2 Woodhead. The 35km split from the 100km & 65km races at the end of Woodhead Dam where they make their way to Nursery Ravine which sees them rejoin the 100 & 65km races along the technical sections of Newlands forest followed by a steep drop down into the University of Cape Town's upper campus(A9-25km). The final 10km, often into a strong headwind (the infamous 'Cape Doctor'), requires digging deep with an intense climb to get up to the Blockhouse and lower traverse of Devils Peak. Reaching it marks the home stretch, with the reward of incredible views of the City, the Atlantic Ocean, Table Mountain and Lions Head.

Running here above the City Bowl gives runners a moment to reflect, by retracing their footsteps along these famous landmarks.

Position: 164 of 500 odd
Checkpoints:
Km 7 Table mountain , position 88 at 01H32
Km 18 Kirstenbosch , position 139 at 03H28
km 26 UCT , position 139 at 05H12