Southern Storm | The Southern Storm is a full-service Duathlon set within the spectacular Garden Route National Park.

Forum

Judy, Otter Finisher 11h22min16sec

Hi Christine I want to commend you again on the organization, safely and wonderful marshals. I also want to sincerely thank you for extending the cut-off for me. As you know I only entered a week before the actual race and so did not train. The reason for this was that I remembered walking the Otter 20 years before and it was very tough. So I did not contemplate doing it when the entries first came out. (Also too lazy to train) My friends kept talking about it and I started to feel as if I was going to be missing something … and then Arthur dropped out. I took it as a ...

Joe, Otter Finisher 9h55min27sec

Hi Christine first of all congrats to Mark, Amanda and all of you on a brilliantly successful event. The Otter was simply fantastic, and everyone MOST impressed by the organization. Just one comment re cut off times (I can’t access the survey, so don’t know if this topic is covered in it). As one of the oldest Otter runners this year I realize I am biased re cut off times, but in my opinion if you are going to accept entries from older runners like us, a 9 hour cut-off, on such a technical route, is just too tough. It is worth comparing finishing and cut off times in other ultras and endurance ...

Ron, Otter Finisher 07h57min14sec

Dear Christine First of all I would like to thank you and all the other organisers for a fantastic event and also a special thanks to the safety marshals at the river crossing and the seconding team who carried all the water and goodies to the 3rd hut-it was a welcome oasis - it was an absolute privilege to be part of the race and hopefully I get accepted for your 2010 event Kind regards Ron Buissinne

Surviving the storm…

Well, what an AWESOME event! by Lauren Goulding The Southern Storm was all I hoped it would be and more. The highlight for me was running the 42km Otter trail on day 2 as I have hiked the route but not run a marathon distance before. Our weather was perfect and the atmosphere festive and alive! The day before we did a short prologue in Natures Valley to get our seeding for the start and I was happy with a mid-field placing out of the nearly 200 runners. I loved the first section of the trail which is very rocky and technical and was at the Ngubu huts (end of day 1 Otter) in about 40 mins. All went smoothly ...

Race Report

By Ryan Hodierne Six days within the month of September saw the start of the inaugural Southern Storm Duathlon event, hosted and conducted by the flawless Knysna based Magnetic South team. The event saw no less than 100 crazy mountain enthusiasts take on a traverse of the Garden route, starting from the Storms river mouth, marking the start of the African Otter trail run and ending at the sleepy coastal town of Wilderness. In all, a total of ± 100km of the most amazing trail running terrain together with just over 200km of epic mountain biking trails – a recipe for one of the most spectacular events on the continent. DAY 1 The afternoon of Saturday the 19th gave competitors the chance ...

Wake up call at the Otter Run.

by Douglas Hey 20 odd years ago, after some 50+ marathons on tar, I became a trail running junkie at a time when one could not find trail running shoes or simple essentials like lightweight headlights. The first real run was the Rhodes 70km mountain race in 1992 of which I did a further 6. The bug had really bitten and I rushed into the first 7 PUFFER 80km runs, Mont aux Sources 70km, The 3 Peaks challenge, Cederberg traverse 70km, The 70km Midnight Hell Run in Gamkaskloof and the 160km Sky Run in 1999. The next temptation was that of adventure racing and I completed the 2000 Old Mutual / Hi Tec ...

Clint, SouthernStorm Finisher

man, that is the best 60km i have ever ridden.. What a world class priviledge to be here... eish zooting 51+kmh down sweeping forest singletracks...wwooohoo.. I get goosebumps all over again.. hmm and as for that previous discussion about the adventure capital of sa... Now i know for sure.. Infact this could be the adventure capital of the planet... Clint Hardenberg

Feedback from Louis

Hi Mark, John, Christine, Amanda and the whole Magnetic South team, Thank you very much for a great event – the Southern Storm definitely ranks as one of the best events I have ever done – the concept is brilliant, the route spectacular, the organization superb – well done and thank you very much. Each day was a pleasure, (and a favorite day…) My personal favorite was probably the run in the forest, and the cycle from Diepwalle to Portland Manor, but then there are also the Robberg run, Goukamma run, and of course the Otter… Thanks to the whole team - every person we were in contact with was friendly, supportive, and helpful ...

Fiona McIntosh’s experience on the Otter Run

Dawn on 20 September 2009. 179 crazy individuals dressed in skimpy shorts and Hi-tec bibs are huddled together eagerly awaiting the start of the inaugural Hi-tec Otter African Trail Run.

Feedback from Joe – Otter Finisher 9h55min27sec

Hi Christine first of all congrats to Mark, Amanda and all of you on a brilliantly successful event. The Otter was simply fantastic, and everyone MOST impressed by the organization. Just one comment re cut off times . As one of the oldest Otter runners this year I realize I am biased re cut off times, but in my opinion if you are going to accept entries from older runners like us, a 9 hour cut-off, on such a technical route, is just too tough. It is worth comparing finishing and cut off times in other ultras and endurance events; for example in Comrades the ratio of cut-off (12 hours) to expected winners time (about 5:30) is 2.18. In the Two Oceans ...

The Otter – Pinnacle of active Lifestyle

by Iain Morshead - Otter finisher: 5h43min In more than 20 years of running, I have actively sought out and participated in the best events on offer.

Feedback from Alan, Southern Storm Finisher

To All the Southern Storm Team Well done on putting together a great event. I have no doubt his event will go from strength to strength and in future your waiting list will grow and grow. My personal objective was to achieve a new challenge. Done! To push my body beyond where I know I had trained it. Done! To get to see some of the most stunning and interesting parts of the country. Done! Enjoy the break as we will. Regards Alan

Feedback from Angi – Southern Storm Finisher

Dearest Christine, Mark, Belen, John, Chris, Amanda, Rob, Gary, ALL of you at Magnetic South which I haven’t named as well as all your willing helpers, feeders, fixers, carers, supporters + + + What an incredible team you all are! Once again producing an exceptional product which I have been so honoured to be part of… being part of the special family of Magnetic Southers! Thank-you ALL for an incredible time on the Southern Storm. I LOVED it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just back home yesterday and so sorry to have missed the survey. A bit quick for me; was recuperating at the beach. Almost back to dull human state after an incredible high. Now to ...

William – Otter Finisher 06h 46min 07sec

I just want to thank you and the team for a wonderful day. I really enjoyed the run – the route was superb (I much preferred the scenery and terrain of the 1st half-3quarters to the final section along the cliff paths, even though the view from up there was beautiful!). But it takes much more than a beautiful route to make an event successful and enjoyable and I really felt that the Magnetic South Team did a fantastic job. All the marshals and check-points on the route, safety at river crossings etc. were slick and organised. ALL of the people I came across really behaved as if it was their privilege to be there looking ...

Tessa – Otter Finisher 08h04min15sec

Dear ALL at Magnetic South This may be too soon to send as I know that most of the team will be out for the whole week on the Southern Storm, but I just wanted to take this moment now, fresh off the trail, to give some feed back on how incredible an even you put together. When I first signed up for the race I hesitated momentarily at the entry fee, thinking it was steep for a one day race. Now I'm thinking it was hugely inexpensive for all that you offered us over the course of ...