After arrival at Cape Town International Airport, we'll take you to your hotel. The days is free for you to settle in after your flight.
In the late afternoon you can opt to head out to join the world famous local running crew, Tuesday Trails. The UTCT vibe will be strong at TT this week, and there'll be lots of experienced locals to chat about the race with. Tuesday Trails is 'a bunch of mates, out enjoying the single track', with crews named Snakes, Old School, Ideas and Packers...you pick what speed you want to run. And always a cold beer at the trail head once done. This is trail running done Cape Town style.
After a shower back at the hotel, there are a host of restaurants in walking distance for a relaxed dinner.
If you have oped to join us for the Table Mountain recce run, we'll head out pretty early to get a priority cable car up to the top. Then we will take a very easy run stopping to point out the race village and first 20km of the route below us, take pictures of the city bowl, Lions Head, and Robben Island in the distance. Photographs and race insights are the order fo the day, as we make our way along the route and drop down to Constantia Nek.
Then we'll head to The Chapman's Peak Hotel for lunch, they are famous for their calamari and that is what we will opt for, for sure.
We’ll finish our recce day with a stop in at Llandudno to check out the aid station, and walk to Sandy Bay so we can check out Suther Peak far above. It is a truly spectacular setting, even if on Saturday it will be the meaty middle of the 100km route.
If you don't want to join the group run, reach out to us for some recommendations for things to do and how to organise to do them. Or just take it easy on Clifton beach, a very pleasant walk of a kilometre from your hotel.
After a hearty breakfast, we’ll head out on a tour of the Cape Peninsula. . After following the coastal road below the 12 apostles, we will drive one of the most beautiful and dramatic mountain side roads in the world, Chapman’s Peak Drive. A privilege and a rite of passage for participants in the Two Oceans Ultra, and the Cape Cycle Tour, the largest timed cycling event in the world.
Then it is over Red Hill to look down over False Bay, and the Simonstown naval base. We will without doubt take you to see the adorable penguins at Boulders Beach, before lunch at the working harbour of Kalk Bay.
We'll be back at the hotel in time for some quiet time, before we head up to the race village via the shuttle to register.
There are pop up food stalls at the Race Village, and Q&A with elites and Trails In Motion for entertainment.
For those who have been on the Peninsula Tour, we will look at an extra special Robben Island experience...more on this exciting option will be revealed later.
Today is left for you to decide how active you'd like to be. Robben Island and the District Six Museum offer experiential insight into South Africa's dark past.
Clifton and Camps Bay beaches await, the cold water will refresh as December is hot in Cape Town.
A walking tour of the city, and a visit to the Kirtstenbosch Botanical Gardens followed by lunch at Groot Constantia wine farm is another option for a low key but interesting day in Cape Town.
If you are running the 100, 65 or 35 - put your race faces on, but make sure you take a little time out every now and again to enjoy the beauty.
It is a crazy early start, and no one likes to stress so we'll get the shuttles going early, and they'll run until you're all safely there. They'll be ready and waiting again for the 35 start.
Then it’s up to you, get out there and enjoy it. We'll be waiting to welcome you at each aid station - to hand you a few of your must have bars, give you some insight into the leg ahead and then make sure you get on out on the trail again if we sense the comfort of the aid station is too appealing ;-) And when it all comes together for you as you cross the finish line, we'll be there to share the moment with you.
Once your adrenaline has settled down and a shower and bed is calling, the shuttles will be running to get you back to your room.
If you're a supporter or running the 21 then you can sleep in. but we suggest you do make it out onto the course. The aid stations are the pride and joy of UTCT, and well worth visiting to see the front runners, support friends and family running, or just enjoy the aid station energy and race atmosphere. We will assist you with a plan to make your way round the course and enjoy the finish line festivities.
21km runners, it’s your chance to shine. You won't need to get up quite as early as the ultra runners, but the same rules apply. Get down to the shuttles early to avoid stress. The race village is a pretty cool place to be before the start anyway.
Yesterday's heroes, the addition of the 21km last year has added some spice to prize giving day. The action at the front will be fast and furious, and there will be loads of new trail runners coming in behind them...full of excitement after their huge personal achievement. It is inspirational entertainment, and a great opportunity after yesterday to reflect on your own personal running journey.
Then it is time for prize giving for all the races, and the after party. Not to be missed.
The shuttles are there to get you back to your hotel when you are done. Evening at leisure.
The President Hotel has pretty easy access to Signal Hill and Lions Head, where we began our UTCT journey on Saturday. A farewell run and quick swim at Clifton can definitely be fitted in before breakfast if you are up early.
Then we head to our safari. Lions and Elephants, Birds, Bees and Botany...game drives and sundowners. This is Africa.
Early morning and evening game drives await, for a truly immersing wild life experience. Track the Big Five with our ranger and tracker team until a luxurious stop for coffee and rusks in the morning and snacks and sundowners on the evening drive.
Decadent African meals await us at each return to the lodge.
Big Day on Safari, starting with an early wake up call, then game drive and back to cmap for a big brunch. There is pelnty time for relaxing at camp in the heat of the day. We meet again for tea and snacks then off on our afternoon game drive in cluding sundowner drinks stop. Back to camp for dinner later.
A final chance to see the animals that haven't yet made an appearance, then breakfast before we check out.
It isn't a long trip back to the airport, enough time to reflect on a week in South Africa, that you'll back on with pride and the warmest of memories.
