With less than 1 month to go to the OTTER, I hope you are feeling fit and strong and are getting ready to race. Here some final information to get ready for the race.

First of all we would like to introduce you to some new faces in our core crew – which you will all meet comes race day:

Most of you would know John and yes, he will once again be racing the OTTER and try to run it in under 5 hours. Last year he ran the OTTER in 5 hours 1 minute – No pressure!

Below you will find tons of general information to the race – once you have read this and you should still have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us on admin@magneticsouth.net.
Attached you’ll find a map with the most important venues (kmz file for google earth and pdf) These maps are only for logistics – race routes will be made available closer to the time.

Access to Nature’s Valley

Over the time period of the Otter the Western Access Road to Nature’s Valley will be closed due to Road Works. All access to Nature’s Valley will have to come via the EASTERN road. The Turn-Off off the N2 is near the N2 Toll Gate.

Airport Shuttles

For those of you, who are coming by plane or are still planning to book a flight, please see below shuttle times from and to the airport in George. Please make sure you book your flights according to this schedule. If you have not told us yet that you would like to make use of the shuttle – please let us know asap – payments for the shuttles will have to be made beforehand. (R 320.00 per one-way).

OTTER I (24+25 September):

Arrivals 24 Sept
12pm – leave from George airport to Registration at De Vasselot, Nature’s Valley

Departures 26^th Sept:
8am – leave from De Vasselot to George Airport (Arrival time at airport 10.30am)

OTTER II (26+27 Sept) and SOUTHERN STORM (26 Sept – 02Oct):

Arrivals 26 Sept

12pm – leave from George airport to Registration at De Vasselot, Nature’s Valley
and
14h30 – leave from George airport to Registration at De Vasselot, Nature’s Valley

Departures 2 Oct
7-7:30am – leave from Forest Hall to George airport (Arrival time at airport 9.30am)

Event Schedule:

Friday 24th (Otter I) or Sunday 26^th of September (Otter II):

This is the day you arrive, either by car or by plane.

As mentioned in previous emails, no overnight parking is allowed at the De Vasselot Campsite in Nature’s Valley. We had communicated that safe parking will be provided in Forest Hall. Due to the closure of the Western Access Road to Nature’s Valley we have moved this parking facility to one of 2 possible safe parking facilities closer to the race village, which is on the EASTERN Access Road to Nature’s Valley, approx. 5-8 km from Registration (we will send you the coordinates of the parking once we know which one we’ll be using).

If you arrive by car, you will have to park your vehicle at this SAN Parks Parking (safety guards will look after your cars) and from there we will provide shuttles down to registration. (this shuttle will continuously drive up and down, so please if there is no shuttle when you arrive – it will be there within 30 minutes).

If you have a friend, family or supporter driving your vehicle or if you spend the night at any other accommodation than the tented village, you can drive all the way down to registration at De Vasselot Campsite, as long as the vehicle will not stay during the night.

Once you arrived at De Vasselot Campsite, please come immediately to Registration, where you will be given your Electronic Timing Chip and your Race Bib. With timing chip and race bib equipped you can proceed to do the Prologue.

The PROLOGUE

The Prologue will be short (approx. 5 km), but technical and will give you a good idea of what to expect the following day on the OTTER. The Prologue is compulsory – as it will determine your starting time on the OTTER – with the faster runners going out in front. You can run the Prologue at any time between 11.00am and 4.30pm. Start and Finish of the Prologue will be on the beach, following the walkway from the Nature’s Valley Restaurant.

Shuttles will go back and forward between Registration and the Prologue Start/Finish Venue (approx. 3 km in distance). The Nature’s Valley Restaurant and Shop is the only place where you can buy a few things such as cool drinks or snacks or have a cup of coffee, so we suggest take some money along.

Dinner & Briefing 6.00pm

Once you finished your Prologue there is nothing else required for you to until the Briefing and dinner that same night at 6.00pm. Starting Order for the Otter- African Trail Run will be made available after dinner.

Saturday, 25th (Otter I) or Monday, 27^th of September (Otter II)

The day of the OTTER – African Trail Run.

You will be served breakfast before the sun comes up – as you will have to be ready to hop onto the provided shuttles by 4.30am. Shuttles will leave at 4.45am for Tsitsikamma. (approx. 1 hour drive). Those athletes that opted to spend the night in the Protea Hotel will be picked up at the Hotel at 5.30am to be dropped at the Start in Tsitsikamma. (Please arrange for a packed breakfast at the hotel!!!)

The next 5 – 12 hours depending on your race pace are for you to enjoy. Don’t forget that you are racing on one of the most stunning trails in the entire world. It is whale season, so if you are not on a mission to beat the 5 hours do yourself a favour and stop every now and then and enjoy the beauty of this trail!

Prize Giving Dinner

In the evening we will have a prize giving cermony and dinner. If you wish to have your partner join this dinner, please let us know before end of the month by emailing admin@magneticsouth.net. Limited space available.

Tented accommodation is provided this night.

Accommodation

Some of you might still consider to upgrade your accommodation from a tent to a nice soft bed.

We still have accommodation available at the Protea Hotel in Tsitsikamma or the Forest Huts at De Vasselot Campsite during the days of the OTTER.

Massages

Advanced Massage Therapy will be offering Massages. The massages after the Otter run will be at the de Vasselot campsite in Nature’s Valley.

If you are interested in booking massages please send an email to Nicolle on plettmassage@gmx.net with the dates you would like a massage.

We will be offering ? hour and 1 hour massages.

Half hour     R150
1hour          R300

Medals

The Otter can be run in one day – many of you have proven that last year. The Otter can even be run in under 5 hours – Iain Don Wauchope has proven that last year. In order to honour your effort and your time in which you will run the Otter this year we will give you a medal whith different colour ribbons for:

Sub 5 hours
Sub 6 hours
Sub 7 hours
Sub 8 hours
Sub 9 hours

“Otter in a day”

Nomad Trucks:

Each person will be allocated to one of the 4 Nomad trucks for your meals -  where you will then be further allocated a specific tent – to be shared with the person you’ve indicated in the survey (if you have not indicated a person we will allocate you with another competitor of the same gender). Please bring your own sheet, sleeping bag, pillow and towels.

Please feel free to bring your own alcohol – the greatest reward after a hard days racing can be a cold Beer or Cider!!

Race Buffs:

Each athlete will receive an original Otter BUFF. If you wish to purchase an additional Otter Buff for yourself or friends and family, you can do so at the normal Buff retail price of R 165.00. We don’t have a huge quantity of extra limited edition Buffs. If you would like to order one, please email quantity and Race Logo to belen@magneticsouth.net . Alternatively you can purchase at registration (if stocks last).

List to bring

Compulsory Equipment

• Space Blanket
• Whistle
• Light Outer Shell (raincoat)
• Race Nutrition
• Camel Bak, Bladder and/or Hydration Belt

Recommended Race Equipment:

• Sun Tan Lotion
• Energy sustainence for each day
• 2 pairs of Trail Running Shoes

Recommended Camp Equipment:

• Tin/plastic coffee mug
• Sleeping bag
• Single sheet
• Pillow
• Towels
• Torch/ Headlamp
• 1 heavy Fleece for the evenings
• Long pants for the evenings

Water-, Gu- & Munchie Points

The Gu- and Munchie Points are for additional support for the athletes, but will not be sufficient to sustain one’s energy levels throughout each day. Make sure you come prepared and use the Munchie Point just as an extra bit to help. We will ensure there are enough Gels & sachets available to the athletes. There will be 1 Munchie point at Oakhurst Hut (approx. 20 km into the race).

There are NO Water Points along the course. Each athlete has to be self sufficient with drinking water. We will indicate on your race maps where you will find natural water sources.

Land traversing and trespassing:

Please be advised that the OTTER Trail belongs to SANParks and is generally NOT open to trail running and athletes that trespass at any time of the year will receive a lifetime ban from participating in the Southern Storm or Otter Event. Trespassers can expect the justified wrath of landowners and the law and their names will be forwarded to the race office for us to implement this lifetime ban.