Howick – Former social tri-athlete turned mountain biker and trail runner, Andrew Tarpey is thrilled by the news that 21km, 10km and 5km trail running races have been added to Saturday’s programme of this year’s Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival, which takes place at Karkloof Country Club on 4 and 5 June.
The 42 year-old Durban North resident is a keen adventure enthusiast and regular presence at mountain biking and trail running events throughout both KwaZulu-Natal and the rest of the country alike.
Having tackled the 40km aQuellé Karkloof Half Marathon in 2014 and last year’s 60km Sappi Karkloof Marathon, Tarpey is an experienced Sappi Karkloof Classic campaigner who wholeheartedly backs the festival’s introduction of trail running races to the already comprehensive mountain biking schedule.
“Having taken part in events all over the country, in my view the Karkloof Classic is one of the best events to be a part of,” explains Tarpey.
“The single track speaks for itself, the course is so well marked, the water tables are great, the race village is top class and the general organization is awesome – it is everything a participant could ever want and the addition of trail running races this year is really exciting.
“Not everyone can cycle so the trail events now cater for those that want to run, or even walk, through the region and be part of the festival and also gives the whole family a diverse array of events to choose from.
“Given the success of the mountain biking-focused festival previously, as well as the incredible trails and scenery that the area has to offer, the inclusion of trail running seems like such a natural progression for the event to have made.
“I’m just amazed it has taken the event so long to make this decision,” he chuckled.
Regular recreational MTB and running visits to the area have also seen Tarpey develop a wealth of experience on the region’s trail with the endless kilometres of single track a major draw card.
“My folks live in Howick so we head up from Durban once a month to visit them but I always manage to sneak in a run or a cycle through the Karkloof region before visiting family.
“The scenery up here is just amazing but the single track is what everyone absolutely loves the most.
“We’ve been really spoilt during previous festivals with the amount of incredible single track that has been included and I’m sure the routes for the new trail runs will be very similar in nature, which I’m really looking forward to enjoying again.”
Tarpey and his girlfriend, Mandy Walters, are in for a full dose of trail enjoyment come next week’s festival with both having entered Saturday’s 21km trail run as well as Sunday’s 60km Sappi Karkloof Marathon and 40km aQuellé Half Marathon respectively.
“Mandy and I certainly won’t be racing; we’ll really just be out there to enjoy each day and absorb the area’s scenery and the event’s fantastic atmosphere,” says Tarpey.
“We’ve experience the great trails by bike previously and now we’re really looking forward to getting out there and taking it all in by foot as well!”
The 2016 Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival takes place at Karkloof Country Club on Saturday, 4 and Sunday, 5 June. The event offers 21km, 10km and 5km trail running races, 60km, 40km, 20km and 10km mountain bikes events as well as an Enduro. Entries can be submitted via www.roag.co.za while more information can be found at www.karkloofmtb.co.za.
News supplied.