Nedbank Running Club Mpumalanga - LVCC Nelspruit: Race Report

So now in its 3rd year, the Num-Num trail challenge is starting to prove itself as an incredible up and coming trail race, attracting some big names in the trail scene. And for good reason - the route profile is one of the closest to the biggest race on the calendar, the Otter African trail run. The Num-Num allows the runners to get an idea of how their training has been going throughout the year and the puts it to an incredible test. I stayed over with Landie and Christiaan Greyling at their parents’ house together with adventure racer and trail athlete Ryno Griesel. I psyched myself up for the event by learning everything I can from them, which didn't help much because they don't even Carbo-load! Their pre race meal consists of Lamb shank and veggies!

The Num-Num is a 36km / 5 day trail but we run it all in one go!

Day/Section 1 - Map

The race started early as I was seeded in the first group. My competitive spirit is always too high at these events (I can never hold back) so I naturally fell in behind and tailed Christiaan and Ryno (Salomon sponsored athletes). We covered a short stretch of tar and that was the last bit of smooth road for the rest of the race. As we hit the trail, it started with a good climb and it just went up and up and up, eventually climbing onto a plateau known as “Die Vlakte” at the 3km mark. This allowed one to turn the legs at a runners pace. At this point the eventual race winner Lucky Miya flew past me. This section is only a couple of meters long before you descend along steep cliffs, where a wrong step can really put one in a lot of trouble. It’s up and down from then on until you travel through the stone tunnel and arrive at the first check point.

Day/Section 2 - Map

The first part of this section allows you to get some running in but it is very technical, so you will only be running if you are confident. A runner that I had just passed took a nasty fall at that point and I could see that it destroyed his confidence as he fell back really quickly. But all that aside, this is a really beautiful section of the trail. You drop down to a small waterfall below and traverse along it, criss-crossing and boulder hopping along a stunning stretch of stream before you hit a super killer climb straight back up the mountain. Now when I say super killer, I mean there is no way anyone could run it! Hold onto those trees and grit your teeth until a relatively even uphill (not really) and then travel along a ravine climbing a few ladders till you get to a dirt ROAD. Now if you’re not too battered and bruised you get to run about 3 km of badly rutted jeep track until you hit the single track again and experience a quad killing decent. At this point I was a bit too brave and took my first face plant of the race after kicking a stump. Adrenaline and momentum got be going real quick again! Once you get to the bottom you cross over an incredibly thin suspension bridge and this indicates the start of the insane climb up to Bermanzi Camp. This is where the gradient lines on the map form one thick solid line…

Day/Section 3 - Map

The start of day 3 is good going. It’s a technical decent that allows one to run while grabbing onto any branches possible until you eventually travel along the river. At this stage you cross bridges and climb a few ladders and the field is so stretched out that it becomes a very lonely section of trail. The trail eventually opens up to a stunning waterfall that I really hate. Seriously! It indicates the start of a mean climb and the point at which my legs locked up and cramped for the first time. Many baby steps later you finally end day 3.

Day/Section 4 - Map

If your legs are not locked up too badly day 4 is actually the one section where you can probably run the most. It has moderate climbs, a few really steep ones, but killer descents that give your quads moments to remember. It’s where you really have to think about how long your knee caps could last. At this section’s halfway point you reach a stunning section of forest where my legs locked up and cramped for a second time. This time so badly that any movement initiated more cramping. I got going again after a good stretching session and some super slow walking just in time for some more ladder climbing and descents before the start of the final section – day 5.

Day/Section 5 - Map

At this point things got a little blurry…I know you climb and climb and climb, only to descend again and climb down the longest ladder you will ever come across. Then descend, descend, descend some more down the canyon to the river where you can splash your face in the awesome winter stream. Then climb, cramp, climb, cramp and climb back out the canyon. If you are able to turn your legs over at this point you could make up some ground, traveling along a stream criss-crossing it until out of absolutely nowhere you see a whole bunch of faces showing no sympathy at all at the finish line.

See you on the trail!

Sven Musica