It’s now down to the wire, counting the days and hours, before this year’s Otter African Trail Run (Retto Route) presented by Hi-Tec & GU.

The Otter Trail is looking as incredible as ever with the safety teams having been out there frequently watching the changing conditions unfold at the many potential hot spots of this years “West to East” running of the trail.

Back at Magnetic South H/Q, Matty, Colin and their teams have been burning the midnight oil preparing SANParks Storms River Rest Camp for your arrival. To make life easier for you here is a summary of what to expect on your arrival at the SANParks Garden Route National Park, Tsitsikamma
Section, Main Gate.

All Retto and Dassie participants entered for this years events will be listed and your Retto/Dassie event entry fee allows you to pass through the gate without having to pay for any SANParks Park Fees. Anyone with you and not entered in either of the events will need to pay their Park Entry Fee so please have your cash ready (R 32.00 pp.)

Storms River: GPS    S 34 01’ 18.8”     E 23 53’ 47.9”

RETTO REGISTRATION :

Follow the clearly marked Retto Registration signs from the Main Gate to the Retto Registration Venue down at the Oceanettes. Retto Registration is open from 10h00 to 16h30 on the 12 Oct for the Retto Run and 14 Oct for the Retto Challenge.

Please note that all participants will need to bring ALL their COMPULSORY GEAR including your running shoes to registration. There will be a Gear check and a SANParks Alien Plant Control Station at which you will need to present your choosen running shoes to be vacuumed and sponged in an effort to control the spread of any invasive seed on the Otter Trail.

With the past few weeks having been much drier, we highly recommend that you include Water Purification Tablets in your race day inventory to ensure all water collected along the route at the many streams and pools does not negatively affect your day.

Goody bags will include the official SANParks Otter Map. This years Event Information Booklet will be available to you on arrival at the Storms River Rest Camp  Main Gate, and included in this will be an easy to follow Pace Chart.

RETTO PROLOGUE :

The Retto Prologue starts at the same venue as the registration and finishes some 4km later close to the Storms River Rest Camp Restaurant. Shuttles will be provided that will bring you back to the Registration & Prologue Start. A reminder that the Prologue is compulsory in order to obtain your batch start for either the Retto Run or Challenge. Anyone not able to make the prologue which is open from 10h30 to 17h00 will be automatically placed into the last batch for your Run or Challenge Race. This could be very frustrating to anyone looking to achieve a good time as overtaking is difficult on many sections of the Otter.

RETTO RACE BRIEFING & DINNER :

This will take place in the Storms River Rest Camp Restaurant with the race briefing starting at 18h00 and the pasta dinner at 19h00. It is highly advisable that ALL athletes participating in either the Retto Run or Challenge attend this very important race briefing.  Confirmation of the forecasted weather alert, timings for the following day etc (all pertinent information over and above what has been printed in our information booklet) plus any changes regarding  your race will be made available at Race Briefing.

RETTO – SOCIAL MEDIA:

If your friends and family want to follow the race on social Media, make sure you use the #ottertrailrun hash tag for your Tweets. Race Updates by @ottertrailrun and @HiTec_SA.

Facebook – Otter African Trail Run

MASSAGES :

Advanced Massage Therapy will be based close to the Storms River Rest Camp Restaurant.

There are many variables to running and managing the Otter Run & Challenge but one thing I can guarantee is that your legs will be dying for a massage after finishing the race. The Southern Cape has some of the most highly rated sports masseurs, Nicole Walder and her colleagues from Advanced Massage Therapy.  A massage can only be booked in advance (plettmassage@gmx.net or 082-6997863).

BLOUKRANS RIVER CROSSING :

Historically this has struck fear into all who have ventured onto the Otter Trail (Hiker & Runner) and again this year we expect it to show its many faces over the four days our safety teams are stationed out on the river. Based on the latest site inspection we can confirm that the Bloukrans Crossing will definitely involve a swim of aprox 30m and even on a low tide the depth of the water at your entry point will average in excess of 2m. Please ensure that your cellphone and any warm clothing taken onto the trail with you is adequately protected with a dry bag or similar. A comprehensive safety team including qualified Ropes, Water and Surf Life Savers will be positioned at Bloukrans to assist with your passage.

Updated details on all aspects of the entire route will be made available at the Race Briefings.

We look very forward to welcoming you to the 2012 Otter African Trail Run (Retto Route) presented by Hi – Tec and GU.

Best wishes and safe travels.