Cairo to Cape runs draw many

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GARDEN ROUTE DISTRICT SPORT NEWS - The spectacular annual Cairo to Cape trail runs took place on the private farm, Woodifields, in Wilderness Heights on Saturday, 23 October.

A good number of runners from Mossel Bay took part.

The 8km and 21km races traverse grassy farmlands and indigenous and pine forests with breathtaking views. Woodifields is home to the famous Map of Africa - a tree-covered hill that is the shape of the African continent and skirted by road and river. One runs from "Cairo to the Cape" on that map. Despite a severe weather warning prior to the weekend and persistent rain in the morning, far more than the hoped-for 300 runners turned up for the event. They were issued with black plastic "ponchos", but the rain dried up and the race was run in pleasant, cool, cloudy conditions.

Woodifields farm is on the Seven Passes road, near the Nelson Mandela University campus outside George.

PHOTO GALLERY: Cairo to Cape trail run

The races are organised by Alewijn Dippenaar and Woodifields co-owner Bruce Jackson Many runners who had not run the course before noted afterwards how challenging it was, with steep inclines and declines, where one simply had to slow down and walk.