Paul Cluver Wine Estate
4 March 2023
The African X Experience
Their motto is ‘Let nature give you a run for your money’, but it can easily be, ‘the most fun you can have in the dirt with your clothes on’.
Now, now, don’t be such a depraved creature with a filthy mind.
This has nothing to do with mud wrestling… well… technically, anyway!
In 2022 I did my first, and only (so far) African X. It was easily the best 3 days of my year.
African Who?
The African X Trail Run is a 3-day, multi-stage, annual trail running event held in the Western Cape province of South Africa.
It covers approximately 74 kilometres in total, over the period, with runners competing in teams of two.
The routes explore a variety of terrain, including forests, mountains and features challenging ascents and descents.
The event is designed to be a test of endurance and teamwork. And most importantly, fun!
The event attracts both elite and non-elite participants, and is considered one of the premier trail running events in South Africa. It’s also loads of fun. Did I mention it was FUN?
It is a unique and challenging event that showcases the natural beauty of the Western Cape while testing the limits of runners’ physical and mental abilities.
The last few years the event has been held on the Houwhoek Hotel, on the N2, over the Sir Lowry’s Pass, nestled between the Hottentots Holland Mountain range, in the town of Grabouw.
Grabouw
Grabouw is a small town in the Western Cape province of South Africa, about 70 kilometres southeast of Cape Town. It is situated in the sprawling Elgin Valley, known for its apple orchards, vineyards, and natural beauty.
The town has a population of around 11,000 people and serves as the commercial centre for the surrounding agricultural area. In addition to its agricultural heritage, Grabouw is known for its outdoor recreation opportunities and is home to the Cape Epic, the prestigious multi-day mountain bike race, which starts and finishes in the town and attracts top mountain bikers from around the world.
Grabouw is hugged by mountains and forests, and is a popular location for hikers, mountain bikers, and trail runners to explore their passions.
The nearby Kogelberg Nature Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to a diverse range of plant and animal species.
Grabouw is also known for its wine farms, and visitors can enjoy wine tasting and tours of local vineyards.
Houwhoek Hotel
The Houw Hoek Hotel, base camp for the African X trail run, is a historic hotel in Grabouw. It’s situated in the Houwhoek Valley, surrounded by mountains and forests, and is visible from the N2 National Road.
The hotel has a long history, dating back to 1779, and has played an important role in the development of the region.
It was originally a tollgate, where travellers paid to use the road through the valley, and later became a popular stopover for travellers on their way to and from Cape Town.
Today, the Houwhoek Hotel offers a range of accommodation options, including rooms in the main building and cottages set in the gardens. The hotel also has a restaurant, bar, and conference facilities, as well as a spa and outdoor swimming pool.
Stage 1 of the 2022 African X trail run started at the Houwhoek hotel with a memorable ‘walk’ up the mountains behind the hotel.
Walk, because it was a single-track of switchbacks and the going was slow, due to the number of runners, but the gees was contagious.
24 kms later, after crossing a river bridge, we finished at the Paul Cluver wine estate.
Paul Cluver Wine Estate
The Paul Cluver Wine Farm is a well-known wine estate located in the Elgin Valley. The estate is renowned for producing high-quality wines and is a popular destination for wine lovers visiting the area.
The farm was founded in 1896 and has been in the Cluver family for four generations. It is situated in a beautiful location, surrounded by rolling hills, forests, and orchards, and has a strong focus on sustainability and environmental conservation.
In addition to its wine production, Paul Cluver Wine Farm also offers a range of activities for visitors, including guided walks and hikes through the surrounding forests, picnics on the estate grounds, and concerts and events in the amphitheatre.
One of the most popular activities at Paul Cluver is the annual Paul Cluver Wines Trail Run, which takes place on the estate’s trails and attracts trail runners from around the country.
Part of the 2023 build-up to African X (17 -19 March) included a training run on the Paul Cluver wine farm. Just a shout out to the Cluver family for availing their farm for our recreation. We appreciate it more than you will ever know.
It was here we found ourselves on Saturday 4 March 2023, although Chucky and I have not entered the 2023 event, because we have a 4 day wilderness hike scheduled for that weekend.
Nevertheless, we joined the training run, partly to support Bashe and Mambi, who will participate in African X this year.
And partly because we have wonderful memories of our 2022 experience and find the trails on the Paul Cluver estate particularly stunning. We could not miss any opportunity to run those trails!
The Start
We found ourselves crossing over Sir Lowry’s Pass at 7am, to be at the training run start before 8am where there was of course, ample parking and free coffee!
Our lovely presenter, Nicola, from Stillwater Sports, the event organisers was there for the briefing. The weather was perfect for trail running.
Trail runs traditionally start much later than road races.
The latter start as early as 5am here in Southern Africa, especially in the summer. With trail running you get to sleep a bit later.
The runners were divided into groups of 4, depending on their preferred pace.
We of course, opted for the party bus, i.e. The last and slowest group. Even 4h13 Cango marathoner, Blommie, stayed in our pace group.
Although we were the slowest group, and eventually, we ended up with 3 groups, instead of 4, we were running at an average of 6.15m/km.
We had to stop several times to regroup and allow the group ahead of us to go increase the gap.
We were ably led by Rob, who had a fantastic sense of humour and kept us engaged and motivated.
The Course
At the briefing, the course designer for the 2023 African X race advised us that we would be running a relatively flat 20kms on our training run.
For a flat run, there was not much vert, but there were plenty of hills – some of them meaner than others. We started at the farm, after scoffing our coffee, and playing with one of the supporters’ dogs…going behind the main estate house and past a beautiful dam.
The farm is truly spectacular. I was glad it was a ‘no vert’ run. I had rested after the Cango Marathon but was sure I would have suffered on any hectic climbs.
Yet the pacing team leaders were true to their word and kept us together, focussed and motivated. It was nice to run into Shamila of Topform AC, whom we first met last year at African X.
Trail running is like hiking, you bond with people quickly. Maybe it’s the fresh air. Maybe it’s being surrounded by wilderness (mostly) that makes us drop our hardened city-living shells and opens us up to connecting more with people.
The best part of the run was when we had to cross a small body of water, about knee high at its highest. To be honest, I did look for a way around it. I did not relish the idea of wet shoes.
Then I remembered I was NOT wearing my own shoes, but a pair of demo PUMA trail shoes. So I went for it, dragging Bashe with me… and even got in some splashing. Not that I am a spokeswoman for PUMA or anything, but the shoes I ran in were super cushiony, especially compared to my current trail shoes.
I love the brand in hiking boots, but the trail shoes murder my toes. Possibly it’s the self-lacing technology which loosens the longer I run, causing my foot to slide forward in the shoe. On UTCT my toes were bashed by the hard toe-box as my foot slipped forward inside the shoe. Because you always buy running shoes at least one size too big.
I was quite impressed with the PUMA shoes and I can attest to the drainage. After running through that body of water, my socks (complimentary) were soaked but the shoes themselves looked much better. At least we got some of the dust off, hey! I did find the heel-well too big though, especially since my laces were quite tight at the top, and my heel kept slipping in and out of the shoe anyway.
Also, no blisters. I just ran 20kms in brand new shoes with no blisters or hot spots. (A ‘hot spot’ is the beginning of a blister, but not quite a blister yet.)
The Finish
The Finish
Back at the finish, we received some more complimentary pickle juice, this year’s headline sponsor, and watermelon.
I had one last birthday party for my 51st and thank you Roldah for my gift. I love it!
I did not have FOMO about missing African X this year, until after the training run. I can still enter, can’t I …?
To all those participating, have fun!
For me I will cherish the memories of my 2022 experience and the many highlights.
African X 2022 Highlights:
1. Chucky and I unintentionally qualified for 2022 Comrades Marathon by running our 3 stages under 12 hours. (NO, we did not enter Comrades, but I can’t think of a better way to qualify!)
2. Boeta Cassiem (supported admirably by his nephew, Saeed) making history by becoming the oldest (74) participant and finisher EVER to complete the 3-day stage race.
If I had so much fun doing this event in 2022, why, you may well ask, did I choose not to participate this year?
Paradoxically, it is precisely because I had such a truly epic time that I know it will be hard to top. To avoid being disappointed, even though I know no two years of any event are the same, I chose to sit out 2023. I want the amazing 2022 memories to fade a bit so when I do African X again, I will come with lesser expectations.
Also work commitments.
And who can resist a 4-day wilderness hike in the Cederberg???
Till we meet again, African X. Truly. Madly. Deeply.
PS: Thank you, PUMA, for the free socks 😊
Pics courtesy of:
S Fakier
R Toyer
M Abass
R Cupido
Special Thanks to Mushtaq for spending 2 days convincing me to enter this event and consequently getting me hooked on trail running. I am so grateful.