Races
Karkloof
South Africa, September. 100 mi on 75% trail. +1,789 ft of climbing. 36 hours cutoff.
- Start3,330 ft
- High3,682 ft
- Low3,330 ft
- Finish3,553 ft
Geometryderived
The cruxHeat, vert, and remote ridgelines with thin aid (near mile 65)
Course DNA
The Course
Karkloof runs 100 mi through South Africa. +1,789 ft gain and -1,566 ft loss. Surfaces skew 75% trail / 20% dirt road / 5% paved. Heat, vert, and remote ridgelines with thin aid. High point near 3,682 ft. Low near 3,330 ft. September temps run 55°F to 95°F. The course rewards patience early and punishes rushed descents after mile 50.
The Work
Train for 1,789 feet of climbing across 100 mi. Back-to-back long runs on trail. Practice power-hiking grades above 15 percent. 36 hours total means limited margin: rehearse fueling every 45 to 60 minutes and downhill eccentric work weekly. Technicality 5/10. Build a block that simulates the crux near mile 65.
Kit
September in South Africa: plan for 55°F to 95°F. Mandatory shell if rain is in forecast. Headlamp with spare batteries if 36 hours pushes past dark. Poles help on sustained climbs above mile 25. Vest capacity for 2 liters minimum. Shoes matched to 75% trail: lugs for mud, rock plate if the course turns technical after mile 50.
Race Day
Hold effort through mile 25. The field often splits on the first big climb after mile 50. Heat, vert, and remote ridgelines with thin aid near mile 65 is where time is won or lost. Walk the steep pinches. Run the flats and gentle downhills. Crew at major aids: socks, calories, ice if hot. Transitions under 5 minutes when possible. Final third is 33 miles of fatigue management. Finish with reserve for the last descent.
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