SPU100

The race start’s at the race village at 02h00 on Saturday 28th September (Botswana’s Independence Day – PULA!). Yes, early. You run a circular route that takes in the pans, an island, some jeep trails, grasslands and some pebbly shores.  There may be a little mud depending on the unreliable and erratic rains. Botswana sits on a high plains plateau at about 1,000m (3,300 feet) and in October its hot!.  These altitudes are just high enough for you to notice that you aren’t running at sea level!

The first 30kms is cool, fast, flat and in the dark. You will breeze past Check Point Alpha at 15kms and Check Point Bravo at 30kms. As a special treat we have organised a full Moon to help you see. The Moon will rise at 3.30am but will only be about 20% illumination so you should have plenty of stars to marvel at.

At some points between Bravo and Check Point Charlie you will watch the Sunrise off to your right.  At Charlie you will have run as deep into the Pans as you will go and at 45kms into the race you are almost half way! Next stop is Check Point Delta on top of Khukonje Island at 60kms. You will see Khukonje long before you reach it. The old baobab tree that greets you is over 1,500 years old. Walk up to its trunk, touch it and greet an old friend for me.

Take a moment here to replenish and restHopefully,ly you made the cutoff time, and you can continue. 60kms done. Back to work.  The hard part is about to start.  As you drop off the high ground and leave the island you will join the Pans again on your way to Check Point Echo.  The edge of the Pans will hug your left shoulder and the baobab marking Echo will slowly peak out at you on the horizon.

After Echo you will now run off the Pans for a while down some old jeep tracks.  Notice the elephant dung?   After a few K’s you will drop back onto the Pans to Check Point Foxtrot.  The temperatures will be a big distraction now.  Cool down at Foxtrot.  And then just like that you are on your way home to the Finish to be welcomed by your fans, a cold Pepsi and Steri Stumpie and maybe a medal if you made the cut off.