From Chris Crewdson

Stanley's Light Mountain Trail Run - when you first read this you would be
forgiven for thinking that the Run had been sponsored by some private
brewery !

However it has an even more interesting story which we are going to share
with you as having now been there, done it and got the t-shirt - much
respect is due to the man who now at 67 years old has done this route over
300 times in his life while residing in the Klien Karoo hamlet of Ladismith.

The squad travelled into the Klien Karoo on a very windy and wet Friday and
the question on everyone's minds - what was it going to be like come race
day ?

Running in MOUNTAINS when the weather closes in can be a very scary and
unwelcome experience especially if you are not well equipped.

For the Pennypinchers athletes we knew we were ready for any eventuality
being kitted out with our Helly Hansen technical wear and armed to the teeth
with our GU Brew, Chomps and Gels we had an answer for the cold and also for
the energy we would require in the process of covering 2000 m in altitude
over the 24 kms we would traverse in some pretty hardcore and spectacular
environments.

After a very sobering pre-race briefing from event organiser Ugene Nel of
Quantum Adventures on the dangers of not having the right equipment on hand
while in the mountains. (Three Trail Runners had recently died in Europe
when conditions had changed so unexpectedly) and the route we would be
following had every possibility of being just as hazardous.

Having been sent off by the 67 year old Stanley into a very chilly but clear
morning what was going to greet this band of intrepid competitors.
The first 4 kms was on farm roads and once off it was hiking track going one
way - UP, UP, UP and more UP until we could hear the "waterwheel of
Stanley's Light" turning away in its pristine mountain gorge. Ice covered
much of the route in the upper reaches and from the town resembled snow
........it was cold but no time to worry about this or even pause to enjoy
the view .....we had come to race and with conditions underfoot very
slippery in places with some major drops also lurking in the shadows it was
head down and concentration ALL THE WAY.

Knee wrenching tight downhill switchbacks soon took their toll and for those
who had taken their Rockets Compression Garments this was one sure way to
negate many of the problems other athletes were experiencing with cramp,
blown quads or stiffness. The final 6 km was a rollercoaster ride with more
tight switchbacks that created the ongoing illusion that as close as you
could see the finish line it was going to take a lot longer to get there as
the course meandered like some electrocuted snake all the way to the last
100 metres.

Excellent performances from Rhona Zonnestein and Christine Collins (who has
been off for over a year with her second child) in the ladies with Chris
Crewdson achieving a PB Top 10 position ensured that the Pennypinchers
Adventure Racing Team had continued to make their mark and most importantly
give its team members the chance to test and pass on the benefits to others
taking part in the many merits of the products worn and used by the team.

To Helly Hansen, GU, Rockets, Earth Scout, Blue Steel, CXpress and Island
Tribe THANK YOU for partnering us on yet another highly successful
adventure.