Ultra excitement for Ultra-Trail Cape Town 2015

Published by www.sportstrader.co.za

Ultra-Trail Cape Town (UTCT) 2015 was presented to the media last night at the Trail and Tar store in Tokai, Cape Town.

This year marks the second UTCT, which takes trail runners over and along Table Mountain. "What better way to see Cape Town?", asks Kim Stephens, who is involved with promoting and organising UTCT. In fact, some of the runners in last year's race said they'd never been to Cape Town before and enjoyed the magnificent views that the race offers.

Brand ID offers top products for a runner, says Paul Copson, brand manager for Mizuno and Skins.

It is important to align yourself with the right partners, said Tar and Trail’s Noel Ernstzen. And what partners have aligned themselves with the UTCT! The ultra is partnered by, among others, Columbia, Nathan, Mizuno, Skins (all distributed by Brand ID), Suunto (distributed by Ultimo), and PowerTraveller (Wintec Solution). Trail and Tar is also a partner and will have a drinks station on the route, which Ernstzen promises will be heard from afar so as to lift participants’ spirits.

Tar and Trail’s Noel Ernstzen and Kim Stephens.

Ernstzen himself is no stranger to the trail world. One of his achievements is being the first runner in the masters age group (50+) to run sub five hours in the Otter Trail Run.

Kim Stephens and race director Nic Bornman.

There will be between 530-600 participants this year from 28 nations, predicts race director Nic Bornman. More than a third of participants (35%) are from outside of the Western Cape. 

The race has already attracted the attention of top athletes such as Kerry-Ann Marshall (SA), Linda Doke (SA), Chantel Nienaber (SA), Gift Kelehe (SA) Sally McRae (US), Devon Yanko (US), Ernstzen (SA), Salameh al Aqara (Jordan), Andrew Hagan (SA), Jock Green (SA), Landie Greyling (SA) and Christiaan Greyling (SA).

UTCT takes place on 3 October and offers three races (100km, 65km and 20km), with nine aid stations no more than 15km apart. The 100km race covers the iconic landmarks of Table Mountain, Lions Head, Signal Hill, Hout Bay, Llandudno, the Constantia Winelands, Kirstenbosch Nature Reserve and Devils Peak. The majority of the route (90%) is on mountain trails, with runners occasionally diverted into the city to tie together Cape Town’s rich cultural, built and natural heritage.