Ryan Sandes ‘Dream Race’ attracts top-quality field to Table Mountain

by Stephen Granger

Martin Luther King’s ‘I had a dream’ speech in Washington DC in 1963 was a catalyst for a mass march for freedom and the establishment of the American civil rights movement. Sixty years later South Africa’s best known trail athlete spoke about his own dream, also connected to a mass-pedestrian event – the ‘Cape Town Trail Marathon by Ryan Sandes’.

Speaking at the forty-day launch of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon at a city hotel this week, Sandes outlined his vision and described some of the elements of the event. “We have some of the best trails in the world on Table Mountain and I’ve always had dream to showcase our trails to the world,” said Sandes.

“Seeing how Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has really grown the sport and put Cape Town on the marathon map around the world, it’s been a dream come true to partner with them. My long-term vision is to bring top trail runners around the world to Cape Town and give our own trail athletes the opportunity to race against the best in the world.

We have great landscapes, stunning scenic vistas, amazing biodiversity and perfect October spring weather. Well, last year we had all four seasons in one day!  But that’s also not a bad thing for trail running, where the conditions are part and parcel of the sport.”

The year-end Ultra-trail Cape Town has already drawn many to ultra-distance athletes to Cape Town to compete in that event in recent years and Sandes hopes that his signature Cape Town Trail Marathon will be able to do the same for marathon-distance athletes.

“Although my own focus has been on ultra-distance trail,” continued Sandes, “the best way to grow the sport is through creating iconic shorter-distance races which are accessible to more runners. And although the first half of our race is quite challenging, the second half is ‘relatively flat’ and is achievable for many runners who put in the training.

“I’m really excited that the adidas TERREX global team will be sending a strong group of runners to Cape Town for the event. The names are still to be confirmed. But we already have a strong line-up of athletes from South Africa both in the men’s and women’s field. 

“I’ve just heard that past Comrades and Two Oceans champion (and record-holder for the Comrades ‘Down’ run) David Gatebe will be running the trail marathon. It’s very exciting to see road champions coming to test themselves on trail.”

Two of the leading trail athletes in South Africa in recent years and contenders for this year’s Cape Town Trail Marathon title, Landie Greyling and Kerry-Ann Marshall, confirmed their commitment to the race at the launch while in-form Johannesburg-based athlete, Nicolette Griffioen, has also signed-up for the race.

“Last year I was just getting back to running after the birth of my son and wasn’t sure if I could race both the Otter (just seven days before) and the Cape Town Trail Marathons,” said Greyling. “But I decided to give it a go this year.

“I had a bit of a running reset after two babies and this year I’ve gone from focusing on the longer distances to racing marathon-distance races. I’m excited that Cape Town Trail Marathon will be a really competitive race.

“My preparation has gone well, as good as it can be with the inevitable ups and downs with life, kids and COVID. I’m enjoying my running and looking forward to the race. And with a choice of two distances (22km and 46km) the event is accessible for elites and novice runners and with the special running community involved for the weekend, what’s not to like about it?” 

Marshall has excelled in several disciplines of the sport, including road (she is a Comrades and Two Oceans gold-medallist), cross-country and trail but confessed that trail running currently has a special place in her life. “I love both the road and trail – mostly ultra-distance as you are taking your body to a place where you never know what’s going to happen!” Marshall admitted.

“But trail is great right now. I find that now I’m a mom, trail running in the mountain gives a lot back and I’ve been enjoying hours on the mountain with my dog Sam! Also trail is a true community sport – on the start line you’re there for each other – there’s a really cool vibe.

“Last year the Cape Town Trail Marathon was my second race after Andrew was born,” Marshall continued. “and I found it a grind from the start. But I love how Ryan has integrated all aspects into the route – some technical sections, climbs and some runnable parts. And although I run on the mountain a lot, there were a few trails I had never seen before!”

Marshall felt she had to make up for two difficult races last year. “I started the year with the goal of finding myself in running again. And I had unfinished business with two races, the George MUT marathon (which I returned to in June) and the Cape Town Trail Marathon. So, I’m going back to race it again as an important race before hopefully stepping up to the UTCT 100 miler at the end of the year.”

Griffioen has raced strongly this year, notably at the Snowdonia 165km in Wales, where she was leading before the race was abandoned. She won the South African long distance trail title in 2016 over 65km on a course which included some stretches of the Cape Town Trail Marathon, including on top of Table Mountain. Although shorter than her optimal racing distance, Griffioen is looking forward to the race. “46km is not an ultra for me!” Griffioen said from Johannesburg. “But I’m keen for a challenge and racing an event I’ve never done before.”

In the men’s race, last year’s top three, Johardt van Heerden, Kane Reilly and Collin Kanyimo will be racing again, and with experienced campaigner and past Otter champion, Christiaan Greyling, also in the field, the quality of the race is already assured.

The Gauteng-based Kanyimo set the pace for much of the race last year, jockeying for pole position with Reilly before Van Heerden came from behind to clinch the win. Kanyimo faded badly on the final hills on Signal Hill, but appears to be stronger this year having won the Two Oceans long trail race in July.

Van Heerden will again be taking on the ‘Otter-Ryan Sandes seven day double’ and will not lightly surrender his title.  “Last year I knew route would be difficult, as Ryan had planned it!” joked Van Heerden at the launch. “Given I was racing two extremely difficult marathon races within a week, my strategy last year was to go out conservatively, focusing on my nutrition in first half.

“The second half is more runnable although there is still some climbing through Newlands forest and up to Opels Kop. And there’s a slight uphill on Signal Hill that tends to catch people off-guard! I’m hoping to have fresh legs by the time I reach the contour path near the Kings Blockhouse. You can do some damage there if you’re feeling strong.

“I raced in Europe earlier this season and also in Mauritius. For the second half I’m staying local and focusing on getting in a big training block before Otter. Then it will be a week of recovery prior to Cape Town before the new 55km UTCT at end of year which I’m quite excited about.”

A cherry on the top of the trail event will be the introduction of a special ‘Vertical Challenge’ modelled on the popular European Vertical Kilometres (VK). “This year we will hold it as an elites-only event but going forward I want to open it to the masses,” said Sandes. “In Europe there a typically thousands of spectators cheering runners on along the steep mountain climbs.

“We will start at St Cyprians School in Oranjezicht and from there run through Deer Park, up Platteklip Gorge to finish at the Upper Cable Way Station.”

Bianca Tarboton, of the adidas TERREX team, will likely be racing the Cape Town VK after racing in the Skyrunning 31km World Championship in Italy this weekend and will be a strong contender in the women’s race, but will be up against a strong rival in Hayley Preen. One of South Africa’s strongest mountain climbers, the multi-talented Preen has been focussing mostly on cycling in recent years, having raced for South Africa at last year’s Olympics, but will likely push Tarboton all the way to the top.