The Otter – African Trail Run
The Otter-African Trail Run presented by Hi-Tec 2011
UPDATED RACE INFORMATION IS AVAILABEL ON THE EVENT-WEBSITE: www.theotter.co.za There has been much hype surrounding the dates for the 2011 Otter – African Trail Run presented by Hi-Tec. Our office has been buzzing with enquiries since our last run in September and we realise that many of you have been on the edge of your seats in anticipation with this being classified the Holy Grail of Trail Running !
Magnetic South is extremely pleased to confirm the dates for the 2011 event having been given the necessary “green light” by the Garden Route National Park, Tsitsikama Section.
The first 280 places (out of 300) for the Otter Run and Otter Ramble 2011 have been sold out. We are finalising additional sponsor reserved entries and the balance of places will be made available to persons on the Waiting List from 12h00 on the 1st of April 2011. Thereafter entries that become available will be offered to persons drawn from the waiting list in a monthly Lottery. Persons listed on the Priority List who were not able to secure an entry have been transferred onto the Waiting List.
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PLEASE NOTE that in line with our continued support for an organisation within the Otter Trail community we will be nominating a worthy cause and 100 % of your R 50.00 will be paid over to this beneficiary during our Otter prize giving evenings.
What is the Otter-African Trail Run?The Otter is a two day trail running event featuring one of the best Trail Runs on planet earth and a shorter but no less spectacular prologue the day before to determine the starting order!! The Otter is a trail run set in the breathtaking Tsitsikamma National Park traversing the full 5-day hiking route of the Otter Trail.
The dates of the Otter 2011Two Events. Magnetic South is presenting two runnings of the Otter Run in 2011;
The course and programme for the two events is identical, however, the events differ dramatically in the cut of times and awarding of medals. 130 places are available for each event. The event organisers reserved 40 entries for overseas participants and sponsor invited athletes. The Otter Run is an event for proficient trail runners with an ambitious cut-off time of 8 hours for achieving an official finish. Five different category medals are awarded for the Otter Run;
Persons finishing outside of the 8 hour cut of will not be awarded a medal. The actual cut off times enforced at the check points on the course will be based on a 9 hour time after which runners will no longer be allowed to continue. The Otter Run will have prize money and be the focus of media coverage. The Otter Ramble is the event for the more recreational trail runners who have running the Otter Trail on their bucket list and this event will maintain the established cut-off time of 11 Hours. It is scheduled to take advantage of a more favourable low tide for the major river crossings. The Otter Ramble should in no way be underestimated however, as it follows exactly the same course as the Otter Run and in terms of endurance is comparable with any ultra marathon. Two different medal categories are awarded for the Otter Ramble;
Persons finishing outside of the 11 hour cut of will not be awarded a medal. The cut off times enforced at the checkpoints on the course will be strictly based on the 11 hour time after which runners will no longer be allowed to continue.
Timing of the Race Athletes enter as individuals and will be timed individually (Male & Female Athletes will be ranked separately). • Split times and accumulative time will be posted after the race that evening in the race village. Various safety cut-offs are effected at strategic points along the route and participants have to make sure they pass these points ahead of the cut-off times to remain on the course. The Otter Race medals will only be awarded to those trail runners who complete The Otter in under the official race cut off time. The official race cut-off time has been set at 9 hours.
Race Categories
Entry RequirementsWe recommend a high level of fitness and endurance. Athletes enter as individuals and have to be 18 years or older. Pricing & Entry Package. The Standard Race Package for the Otter Run is R2650 and the Otter Ramble is R2350. Includes:
Accommodation. The standard race packages for each event will not include any accommodation at the de Vasselot campsite which is reserved exclusively for the event. Campsites or Forest Hut accommodations at de Vasselot are available online as an Add-on to the standard entry package and charged at SANParks rates. Campsites and Forest Hut accommodation may be booked for supporters (family and friends) of the participants. One parking place is allocated with each accommodation booking. Access Wristbands, parking tags and tent tags will be provided on registration. Specially negotiated upgrade Hotel and Deluxe accommodation add-ons packages are also available online.
Event Cancellation. The Otter Run follows South Africa’s premium wilderness hiking trail. The trail is not accessible by vehicle at any point besides the start and finish. The trail traverses slippery precarious rocky sections, many parts of which are which are exposed to the ocean during high seas. It also traverses five river mouths including the Bloukrans River which even in perfect conditions involves swimming. It is thus conceivable, even likely, that severe weather could occur and dramatically affecting the organiser’s ability to safely manage the event. Should inclement weather occur or be forecast, the organisers may, in the interest of participant safety, stage the event along a Plan B route or event cancel the event. In either case there will be no refund of entry fee.
Illegal Running on the Otter Trail. The Otter Trail is South Africa’s premium hiking trail and an iconic SANParks wilderness experience. Groups of twelve hikers per day are admitted onto the trail which is hiked over five days and four nights and is booked out year round.. It is compulsory for the hiking groups to overnight in the hiking huts. Illegal trespassing on the trail impacts on the experience of the hikers and is strictly forbidden. Persons trespassing on SANParks properties for the purposes of trail running reflect negatively on the sport and have an impact on the sustainability of all and any trail running on these properties. As the opportunity for training for the Otter Run on the trail is not accessible, it is also against the ethics and rules of the event and regarded as cheating. Offenders face a life ban from SANParks, the Otter Run and will be publicly named.
Trail Management. The Otter Run is managed in accordance with a commissioned environmental impact study and, after two years of successful management of the event, is endorsed by Garden Route National Parks Management. SANParks closedown the hiking trail for the five days on either side of the Otter Events and use this time to perform vital maintenance of the hiking trail and facilities. The event thus forms an important part of SANParks’ annual management plan for the trail. |
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