The Prestige Trail Series #2 - She Hikes ... A lot!

The Prestige Trail Series consist of four trail runs, distances from 5 – 20kms, on 4 different wine farms throughout the Cape’s magnificent countryside.

The first race took place on Doolhof Farm in Wellington, just before the Bainskloof Pass.

Ayama Wines in Paarl hosted race #2.

Ayama Wines, located in the Western Cape is committed to sustainable practices and innovation, setting it apart in the industry, run by the extremely charming Guiseppe!

The name “Paarl,” originating from Dutch, translates to “pearl” and is named for the visual effect created by sunlight on the Paarl Mountain rock formation.

Paarl’s historical roots are intertwined with its wine production, which began in the 17th century when European settlers cultivated vineyards. This started Paarl’s thriving wine industry, which endures today – a prominent feature of the town’s identity.

Paarl was chosen as the site for the Taal (Language) Monument, a historical event in 1975 that commemorates the influential role of Afrikaans in South African culture and politics, reflecting Paarl’s significance in the history of the Afrikaans language.

Paarl also played a role in South Africa’s political history, contributing to the nation’s quest for freedom and equality during the 20th century.

We left Cape Town stupidly early, after dawn, and watched the sun not rise on another spectacularly overcast morning.

This has easily been the wettest winter (now spring) I remember. But the gees in the car was contagious on the 30-minute drive, with Chucky and I only arguing once over the GPS lady’s instructions. This is progress, people!

I am quietly amazed at the rural beauty so close to the city. What I love about these series’ is that they take me to locations and places in Cape Town I never knew existed. On my doorstep.

Ayama Wines graciously hosted us while our irreverent MC, Lans, always ready with a cheery quip, kept us entertained at the chilly start line.

The first quarter of the 21 km warms up the legs by winding through the vineyards, passing tantalisingly close to a beautiful dam. It was too cold for a swim, so not even tempted. On a hotter day maybe?

So far so good, right?

8kms in the climb began as we entered a beautiful private nature reserve to reach the top of the mountain.

Check the elevation below. It was brutal. And beautiful.

But what goes up, must come down and the down gave my toes a beating, as always. No complaints, however, because the view more than quietened the throbbing in my shoes.

Although some prankster changed the arrows on the direction boards, shortening our race by 3km, the run was over far too soon anyway.

That just meant we got to do prize-giving sooner, the best part of the day 🙂

Sadly, our Mambi could not outdance the competition this time.

Getting to the top of that peak… have no idea what it’s called, but it kicked my ass something terrible.

My heartrate was out of control, and I walked most of that hill. My run/walk strategy was nowhere to be seen. It comforted me not a whit to find out at the end of the race that almost everyone walked that ‘hill.’ Hmm.

I’m a hiker. I love hills. The only one who enjoyed the hill was Mambi but she is half goat, so she doesn’t count.

But the view was amazing and there were many blommies!

The first hurdle on the day was waking at 5am to drive to the farm, in the cold and the dark. As runners, and hikers, this is how we start most weekend mornings. I swear I wake up earlier on a Sunday morning that most weekdays.

That’s the price you pay to do what you love. And it is rarely not worth it. Today was no different. Once we were in the countryside with miles and miles of green interspersed with blooming yellow lucerne, I had zero regrets.

Of course, being with like-minded crazy people is also one of the perks.

The second biggest challenge was summiting the peak. It was one of those days I questioned my life choices. I was grumpy because I hadn’t slept well and didn’t feel rested. The older you get, the more you appreciate sleep.

Reminds me of a meme I saw recently: Dear naps, I’m sorry I was a jerk to you when I was a kid.

True story. Naps rule!

As always, it’s important to stay safe on trails, especially in the mountains, so make sure you have your hydration pack with a small first aid kit, space blanket and fully charged cell phone.

Cell phone tip: Place on flight mode to conserve the battery while taking pics 😉

I was happy to finish the race stronger than I started it. And happy for the welcome at the finish, as always. The organisers always manage to make one feel special when crossing the finish line, regardless of your time.

This was a challenging run and I confess; I missed the easy rolling hills of Doolhof! It’s a solid 3/5 for difficulty, and most of that is because of that hill in the reserve. What doesn’t kill you, right? I was mentally writing my Last Will and Testimony.

I also made a mental note that it would be a spectacular trail to hike if it were open to the public. Sadly, the owners only allow access to the reserve for these races, which occur twice a year.