{"id":50116,"date":"2023-03-20T19:46:05","date_gmt":"2023-03-20T17:46:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/?p=50116"},"modified":"2023-03-20T19:48:37","modified_gmt":"2023-03-20T17:48:37","slug":"africanx-stage-two-delivers-a-true-trail-running-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/more-sport\/africanx-stage-two-delivers-a-true-trail-running-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"AFRICANX Stage Two delivers a \u201cTrue Trail Running\u201d experience!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cLet Nature Give You A Run For Your Money\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Stage Two, the maiden stage of the 2023 <\/strong>PICKLE JUICE AFRICANX TRAILRUN 3-Day Stage Race<\/strong> started in cool weather conditions at the picturesque Elgin Grabouw Country Club on Saturday 18 March 2023. Teams of two runners (male, female and\/or mixed) had to complete a challenging +-34km \u201ctrue trail running\u201d course before crossing the finish line at the iconic Houw Hoek Hotel aka \u201cAFRICANX basecamp\u201d.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was a shakeup in the Men\u2019s Team Category <\/strong>with Hakeem Smith and Lovemo Nyaude (Team HTRCrew Trail Taxi) claiming the Stage Two victory in a deserving time of 02 hours 46 minutes 44 seconds.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe stayed behind a little. When we got to the second water point, we decided to open it up. We overtook yesterday\u2019s leaders with about 8km to go. This was a good stage for us because we\u2019ve been training inclines and pacing at inclines. AFRICANX is great. We love rubbing shoulders withs guys like AJ (Calitz) and Nicholas (Rupanga). Even in this race they told us \u2018Well done, consistent pace guys and keep eating\u2019. It\u2019s such a great vibe and great trail running community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"AFRICANX<\/a>
AFRICANX Stage Two delivers a \u201cTrue Trail Running\u201d experience!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe finished in fifth place yesterday after Stage One, so our plan for today (and tomorrow) was to win,\u201d says Nyaude. \u201cHakeem and I make a good team. We wake up early and train together. We work well together, encourage each other and trained hard because we want to win this race. AFRICANX is special to me firstly because there\u2019s a lot of food and there are so many supporters supporting us. The support really motivates us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kyle Bucklow and Oli Morris (Team New Balance) came in second, while Oliver Stapleton-Cotton and Mike Van Der Merwe (Team Italian Jog) finished third.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leading the race in the Mixed Team Category<\/strong> the brother and sister pairing of Team New Balance #WeGotNow\u2019s Stuart Marais and Kerry-Ann Marshall secured their second stage victory in a time of 03 hours 01 minute 49 seconds.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d say today is the closest that you could come to executing a perfect race plan,\u201d says Marais. \u201cWe ran conservatively in the beginning. At about 20km Kerry and I both felt good, so we started to put the pressure on and ended up having a good run. It really was a true trail running route. There was so much beautiful single track with epic bundu-bashing sections which led to amazing trails. All in all, it was a great route layout. Well done to Alfred (Thorpe) and well done to the team. That was a great trail run. So far, the AFRICANX has been amazing. As I said yesterday it\u2019s a \u2018Party on Foot\u2019. It\u2019s a huge jol out there, everyone is so friendly and happy to be out running. A hattrick stage win tomorrow would be the cherry on top, but we\u2019ll go out, see how we feel and hopefully it all comes together on the day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cToday was amazing,\u201d says Marshall. \u201cThe routes were beautiful, fast, flowing but also some proper climbing. The views were amazing, just a lot of breath-taking moments. Stu was just strong. I refer to my brother as power. He just drags me up the climbs and along the flats. He sets a really strong pace and then goes for it. I hook onto his backpack. We had a good time together and did lots more chatting about memories today. The route included a bit of everything, and I love that. I don\u2019t want AFRICANX to end. It\u2019s been a really cool event with a cool vibe.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Melikhaya Msizi and Anna Haw (Team Harmony CX) came in second, while Kristen Heath and Jarryd Dunn (Team Nearly Dunn) finished third.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the Women\u2019s Team Category<\/strong> Team Nam Power\u2019s Alexa Rack and Julia Jansen Van Rensburg also claimed their second stage victory in a time of 03 hours 16 minutes 49 seconds.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was another beautiful day, and the light rain has been so awesome,\u201d says Jansen Van Rensburg. \u201cIt\u2019s been perfect weather for running. We were trying for the stage win. We didn\u2019t know if it would come off, but we decided to give it a go. Taking the stage win is incredible, we didn\u2019t expect this, so what a privilege. Tomorrow we\u2019re going to have fun and will have our outfits on (for dress-up day).\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe route was very nice. It was beautiful, but hard,\u201d says Rack. \u201cSo far, the two days at AFRICANX have been an absolute dream. It\u2019s been an absolute dream come true coming from Namibia to do this. I am so excited and so grateful for Julia. It\u2019s been perfect and I can\u2019t wait to do it again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nicola De Villiers and Jani Kruger (Team RIOT) came in second, while Leani Potgieter and Isel Barnard (Grimes Sisters) finished third.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Going into Stage Three<\/strong> (the final stage) on Sunday 19 March 2023<\/strong>, the Top Three positions<\/strong> in the Open Men\u2019s<\/strong>, Women\u2019s <\/strong>and Mixed Team Categories<\/strong> are as follows<\/u>:<\/p>\n

OPEN MEN\u2019S TEAMS:\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

1 Kyle Bucklow and Oli Morris (New Balance) 04:35:44<\/p>\n

2 John April and Underson Ncube (Ride along 2) 04:36:59<\/p>\n

3 Lovemo Nyaude and Hakeem Smith (HTRCrew Trail Taxi) 04:37:05<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

OPEN WOMEN\u2019S TEAMS:<\/strong><\/p>\n

1 Alexa Rack and Julia Jansen Van Rensburg (Nam Power) 05:24:32<\/p>\n

2 Nicola De Villiers and Jani Kruger (RIOT) 05:30:57<\/p>\n

3 Leani Potgieter and Isel Barnard (Grimes Sisters) 05:34:26<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

OPEN MIXED TEAMS:\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

1 Stuart Marais and Kerry-Ann Marshall (Team New Balance #WeGotNow) 04:59:38<\/p>\n

2 Kristen Heath and Jarryd Dunn (Nearly Dunn) 05:21:17<\/p>\n

3 Chantel Nienaber and Chris Visser (COWrageous) 05:25:00<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

EVENT INFORMATION<\/u><\/strong>:\u00a0 PICKLE JUICE AFRICANX TRAILRUN 3-Day Stage Race<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
DATE:<\/strong><\/td>\nSunday 19 March 2023<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DISTANCE:<\/strong><\/td>\n+- 18 km<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
START TIME:<\/strong><\/td>\n07:30<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
VENUE:<\/strong><\/td>\nStart Venue<\/u>: Houw Hoek Hotel<\/p>\n

Finish Venue<\/u>: Houw Hoek Hotel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

EVENT FORMAT:<\/strong><\/td>\n3-Day Stage Trail Run<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ENTRY FORMAT:<\/strong><\/td>\nTeams of Two Runners (male \/ female \/ mixed)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018SANET WENTZEL SPIRIT\u2019 AWARD<\/u><\/strong>: <\/strong>PICKLE JUICE AFRICANX TRAILRUN entrants are reminded to submit their nominations for the event\u2019s treasured \u2018Sanet Wentzel Spirit\u2019 Award. Introduced in the second year of the PICKLE JUICE AFRICANX TRAILRUN (2010) in honour of Sanet Wentzel, an Oudtshoorn based athlete who passed away tragically at the end of 2009, the \u2018Sanet Wentzel Spirit\u2019 Award honours the AFRICANX\u2019s most inspirational athletes, athletes who persevere irrespective of the adversity that they face. Nominations for the award can be sent to entries@stillwatersports.com<\/a> For more information, read the following article: https:\/\/www.stillwatersports.com\/news\/africanx-searches-for-the-next-recipient-of-its-sanet-wentzel-spirit-award\/<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

DRESS UP COMPETITION<\/u><\/strong>: <\/strong>The PICKLE JUICE AFRICANX TRAILRUN will once again close off on a high note with entrants vying for the coveted title of \u2018Best Dressed Team\u2019 on Sunday during the third and final stage of the event. The competition is fierce, with trail runners pulling out all the stops to secure the coveted \u2018Best Dressed Team\u2019 title. To be in the running to be crowned the \u2018Best Dressed Team\u2019 and win an entry into the 2024 PICKLE JUICE AFRICANX TRAILRUN both runners need to wear their outfits for the duration of the stage, from start to finish. Read more here<\/u>: \u00a0https:\/\/www.stillwatersports.com\/news\/dress-up-and-win-with-africanx\/<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Follow us on Facebook:\u00a0 <\/strong>@runtheafricanx\u00a0\/ @stillwatertrail<\/p>\n

Follow us on Instagram:\u00a0 <\/strong>@runtheAFRICANX \/ @stillwater_trail_running<\/p>\n

Hashtag:<\/strong>\u00a0 #MyAFRICANX #RunTheAFRICANX<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For additional information on the PICKLE JUICE<\/strong> AFRICANX TRAILRUN 3-Day<\/strong> Stage Race <\/strong>please visit www.stillwatersports.com<\/a>, contact Stillwater Sports on 082\u00a0991 0045 or email entries@stillwatersports.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cLet Nature Give You A Run For Your Money\u201d \u00a0 Stage Two, the maiden stage of the 2023 PICKLE JUICE AFRICANX TRAILRUN 3-Day Stage Race started in cool weather conditions at the picturesque Elgin Grabouw Country Club on Saturday 18 March 2023. Teams of two runners (male, female and\/or mixed) had to complete a challenging […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":50136,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-50116","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-more-sport"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50116","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50116"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50116\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50136"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50116"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50116"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/sport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50116"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}