For 40 runners from Nantes Athletics Club in Athlone, Saturday 14 August will be a pivotal date in their novice trail running careers.
While they swapped out their running shoes for trail running shoes, the date brought to a conclusion the 13 Peaks Challenge, which is a trail run which starts and ends at Signal Hill.
It can be completed in 48 hours or over multiple days where runners will tag each of the 13 peaks which surround Cape Town in the following order:
- Signal Hill
- Lions Head
- Maclears Beacon
- Grootkop
- Judas Peak
- Klein Leeu Kop
- Suther Peak
- Chapmans Peak
- Noordhoek Peak
- Muizenberg Peak
- Constantiaberg
- Klassenkop
- Devils Peak
According to head coach at Nantes Mario Hendricks, the Covid-19 pandemic severely curtailed the club’s activities and they have had to look at alternative events to keep members active, hence the switch from road running to trial running.
Hendricks championed the move along with fellow coach at Nantes Marianna Mohd, who ensured the team of novices all completed the challenge by Saturday 14 August.
“What started off as a good team building exercise among club members on 29 May ended with tears of joy at the finish line with the team’s eldest member of 69 years of age actively participated in completing all 13 peaks. The Nantes AC executive are proud of all the achievements of the team as this solidified one of the objectives of the club which is to make lifestyle changes in the community through running and walking,” says Hendricks, adding that he believes this amazing feat will encourage more residents in the community, of all walks of life, to become active and to consider hiking as an alternative form of exercise amidst the pandemic.
