Events Archives | (centre)sphere https://centresphere.com/category/events/ All In Balance Fri, 28 Feb 2020 12:25:40 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 Running across the African continent | The 20° South Run https://centresphere.com/running-across-the-african-continent-the-20-degree-south-run/ Thu, 17 Sep 2015 10:49:41 +0000 http://centresphere.com/?p=239 The post Running across the African continent | The 20° South Run appeared first on (centre)sphere.

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Running across the African continent | The 20° South Run

June-September 2015

It is not possible to encapsulate in only a few words the full story of this run. There is the 7 year period and planning leading up to the run, the event itself, the 4 countries that were traversed with the many sights and people encountered, the runners and the support team, and the aftermath.

At a certain point in Jon’s life and following a procession of synchronistic events, in June 2008, the dream was born to do something extreme to raise the world’s awareness to elephant conservation, and water sustainability, and the decision to run across the African continent was made. A colleague, Darren, accepted the invitation to run with Jon and to include the expedition as an event being run under the auspices of his company, a charity, The Goodsport Trust. Without the inclusion of Darren and his company, and the dedicated and professional work put in by the support team of Amy, Blake and Julia who accompanied the runners across Africa, this dream would never have converted into reality, which it did starting almost exactly to the day 7 years later and finishing after 2,600km running a marathon every day for 3 months.

The expedition partnered with the Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa (WESSA) and set out with many plans, hopes, aspirations and expectations – too many! The many challenges, mistakes, physical and mental hardships, as well as successes, good times and joys undergone provided a wealth of learning and experience for all.

The expedition faced many challenges. These included travelling back and forth along a dirt road for over 60km looking for a never-to-be-found campsite that was on a map; waking up in the morning to a two inch layer of ice in the water bucket; burning elephant dung to try and help fight off the Mopani flies; mosquitos; the support vehicle battery boiling; the support vehicle breaking down; helping a German traveller dig his vehicle out after he’d walked across the Makgadikgadi pans to ask for help; Mozambique police; running and camping in the rain with no electricity or fire; a variety of leg and foot aches and pains while running; running out of tea bags … and many more! The team also experienced several close-encounters with lions while running and – at these times – the two runners ensured they ran alongside each other with the support vehicle in close attendance.

Jon O’Hanlon

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]]> African X Multistage Trail Run | 3 Days https://centresphere.com/african-x-multistage-trail-run-3-days/ Thu, 03 Apr 2014 08:42:37 +0000 http://centresphere.com/?p=148 The post African X Multistage Trail Run | 3 Days appeared first on (centre)sphere.

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African X Multistage Trail Run | 3 Days


The first time I ran African X, I was invited to join my friend Heidi whose running partner had suffered an injury and had to pull out; you may only enter this race in a team of two. Heidi invited me because of my experience with other multistage trail runs, and because she knew that I exercise and keep fit daily.

But, the race was due to start on the 7th May and Heidi invited me on the 19th April! I hadn’t done any distance running for many months beyond 5 or 7 km and I had only 17 days to prepare.

It gets more complicated – at that time I was living in Johannesburg, on the 26th April I was driving to the Kruger National Park with my future son-in-law Luc, a distance of 420km, spending 4 days there and then after returning to Johannesburg I would be driving back to Cape Town, a distance of 1,430km.

Notwithstanding all these complications, which left hardly any time at all to do long distance training, I said yes and immediately prepared a training programme in my pocket notebook – I still have it, here it is:



I’m pretty sure that my major saving grace that got me through Day 1 and Day 2 of the run was the fact that I’d done most of my training, and had based my core fitness, at altitude and then the race was at sea level. Johannesburg sits on a high-altitude inland plateau 1,753 metres (6 000 feet) above sea level. This means it takes a minute longer to boil an egg there and visiting athletes must arrive a week early to acclimatise.

The final cherry on the top of this story is that the weather during the event was atrocious and in fact was so bad on the final day, with the race village and tents having been blown and washed away by storms during the night, that the final day’s run was cancelled for safety reasons.

The second time I ran African X I did train for it but only ran the second, longest and hardest day. Here’s why – I wasn’t actually registered to run the race and purely through being friends with the race sponsors and organisers I was permitted to accompany two young ladies that I had trained for the event on one of their days.

A few months previously these two young ladies, Lisa and Shirley, who I had known by association only since we ran with the same trail running club every Wednesday night, had approached me during one of our runs to ask me for some tips. They knew that I had run a few multistage races and had just entered to do their first one, African X.

I did a little more than offer a few tips – took them on an initial 3-day running test run, then prepared a 5 month training programme for them most of which I did the training with them. Really lovely ladies and I have become best of friends with them and their husbands. In fact have even provided Life Skills Coaching as well as Relationship Mediation for them.

The third time I ran African X I did just that, ran the whole way all three days. And this time the venue and route had changed which added even more spice to the enjoyment for me. And my running partner – none other than Shirley since Lisa was off having a baby.

If you are a trail runner of any sorts, or even a roadie with thoughts of getting into the endurance trail running scene, you can do no better than signing up for Africa X. It is hard but doable. It is situated in a stunning around based around the HouwHoek Inn, and you will go a long way and have to work really hard to find any fault at all with the race organising in every respect. Spending my three nights in the tent village was one of the most enjoyable long weekends I have ever had.

Jon O’Hanlon








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]]> Southern Cross Multistage Trail Run | 3 Days https://centresphere.com/southern-cross-multistage-trail-run-3-days/ Sat, 17 Aug 2013 10:49:20 +0000 http://centresphere.com/?p=225 The post Southern Cross Multistage Trail Run | 3 Days appeared first on (centre)sphere.

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Southern Cross Multistage Trail Run | 3 Days

August 2013


Race central is one of the least known South African National Parks gems in the form of the Ebb and Flow rest camp in Wilderness. The park is one of the triumvirate of Garden Route National Parks on offer in the area made up of: Knysna, Tsitsikamma and Wilderness.

Day one showcases the surrounding Outeniqua Mountains loosely translated as ‘they who bare honey’ and the panoramic views toward the distant ocean are breath taking. In this case however, runners will be left breathless due to the continual climbs and descends through the Protea strewn terrain providing 29 km of thrilling single track.

Day two offers runners one-on-one time with some of the only indigenous yellowwood forest in South Africa. Light-dappled single track, meandering through thick bush over numerous rivulets and the eerie rasping call of the KnysnaTauraco (Loerie) guide you through the 30 km route. Not as hilly as the first day but the legs will start to feel the accumulating distance.

Day three leaves the hills and forest behind giving runners the chance to get up close and personal with some of the best sandy beaches, bouldered bays and river crossings the Garden Route has to offer. Following the famous OuteniquaChooTjoe train route from George to Knysna it guarantees a unique perspective of the area after which a three-kilometre beach section adds to the accumulated pain in the legs. Finally runners head inland along the shore of the Touws River and back to the finish line, and with this leg being relatively short at only 20 km it offers a very fast finish, at least for the racing snakes.

Jon O’Hanlon







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]]> Namib Desert Challenge Multistage Race | 5 Days https://centresphere.com/namib-desert-challenge-multistage-race-5-days/ Thu, 17 Mar 2011 10:49:02 +0000 http://centresphere.com/?p=211 The post Namib Desert Challenge Multistage Race | 5 Days appeared first on (centre)sphere.

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Namib Desert Challenge Multistage Race | 5 Days

March 2011 – *photos credited to David Montgomery


The Namib Desert Challenge has been described as “hot, hard and awesome”. The race has become increasingly popular over the past six years with ultra runners from all over the world.

Participants are responsible for all their food supplies and compulsory safety/survival equipment for the duration of the race. Tented accommodation is provided in the race village/campsite. Water is provided and distributed during the race.

The race is now in its seventh year and takes place within the Namib Naukluft National Park in Namibia. Taking place over five days, the NDC is 220 kilometers long and separated into five stages of between 34km and 58km. Stages cover some of the most beautiful and diverse scenery, from rocky mountains to the famous Sesriem Canyon and the two highest sand dunes in the world, Dune 45 and Big Daddy.

The event has changed slightly over the years with the race organisers, Kinetic Events, adding to and improving all the time what is already a fantastic event. Being one of the early days competitors we had to carry all our own food, equipment and nutrition. The race village moved with us as we ran across different parts of the desert. Fortunately our tents, sleeping bags and pillows were taken care of for us.

The different distances of the 5 stages were: 42km, 44km, 43km, 58km 35km making up the 220km race, give or take – slugging your way across the soft sands of Dune 45 and Big Daddy adds considerably to the tiredness and ache in the legs so who’s counting.

Jon O’Hanlon








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]]> Cape Odyssey Multistage Trail Run | 5 Days https://centresphere.com/cape-odyssey-multistage-trail-run-5-days/ Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:36:08 +0000 http://centresphere.com/?p=190 The post Cape Odyssey Multistage Trail Run | 5 Days appeared first on (centre)sphere.

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Cape Odyssey Multistage Trail Run | 5 Days


This is an excellent endurance running event through 5 beautiful towns in the Western Cape The race will start in Hermanus and pass through Paul Cluver Wine Estate, Grabouw, Franschhoek and finally finish at Boschendal Wine Estate.

Stage 1: Hermanus to Kleinmond – 28 km

The runners start at the Old Harbour on 4km of tar past the new harbour. Then comes some dual track to Sandbaai where they join the coastal path to Onrus for a 500m beach section, a taste of what is to come. A 4km coastal path heads past Onrus and Vermont on some single track through Mudge Point Nature Reserve to Hawston. Then comes the main challenge of the day – a beautiful stretch of 11 km on the beach, finishing at Kleinmond.

Stage 2: Kleinmond to Paul Cluver Wine Estate – 57km

Almost immediately after they leave town, runners will begin following the Palmiet River. Still heading north, there is the 7km of narrow trails through Lebanon Forest with pine and blue gum trees shading them before dipping under the N2 highway for an 8km stretch through the orchards to the finish of the longest stage of the race

Stage 3: Paul Cluver Wine Estate to Elgin/Grabouw – 42km

Again the runners visit Groenlandberg. A steep and rutted jeep track with loose, fist-sized rocks will challenge tired ankles and make it a tough climb so early in the stage. The 800m altitude gain will reward runners with a superb vista of the Elgin Valley and Theewaterskloof Dam. But runners should save some strength for the rolling hills down towards the Elgin Country Club.

Stage 4: Elgin/Grabouw to Franschhoek – 44km

The day begins with a gentle climb up to Nuweberg. Then some single track meanders towards Boesmanskloof, crossing the Riviersonderend River and the swing bridge. Theewaterskloof Conservancy’s curious but timid Nyala and Mountain Zebra see runners to the foot of Franschhoek Pass. A tough 7.5km climb goes over the historical Catspad which dates back to 1819. The route ends with a steep, but fast single-track descent into Franschhoek.

Stage 5: Franschhoek to Boschendal Wine Estate – 31km

Athletes will be relieved about the relatively short 31km stage. It begins on open tarred and gravel roads leading them to the obstacle of the day – Matoppie. The tough climb is loose and stony, but the descent sees a clear and beautiful view of the Berg River Dam. Soon, the runners will navigate some out-of-service railway tracks where they’ll see the tall trees of Boschendal in the near distance before one last river crossing and the spectacular avenue up toward the finish.

Jon O’Hanlon








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