The Otter Trail Run

Fast Facts
Please note: Public Entries for the OTTER are sold out!
Otter Run:             Last entry was sold within 11 minutes from opening.
Otter Challenge:  Entries were sold out within 56 minutes from opening.

Otter Run:             Prologue: 21 Sept 2013 – Race:  22 Sept 2013
Otter Challenge: Prologue: 23 Sept 2013 – Race: 24 Sept 2013

Waiting List
Persons unsuccessful in obtaining an entry online may register on the waiting list. Registration on the Waiting List costs R100 which will be donated in full to the event nominated charity. Persons listed on the waiting list will be entered into a monthly draw for any places that may become available. Winners of the draw will be contacted and be given 48 hours to enter. Failure to enter within 48 hours will lead to removal from the list.

http://www.entrytickets.co.za/eventview/OTR2013WL

What: Entries that become available through cancellation are offered on a lottery format in a monthly draw.
Who: Persons intent on doing the Otter 2013 who were unable to get an entry due to the event being sold out.
When: Waiting List will open when no further entries available.
Cost: Waiting List Registration fee R100.00
Entry Date: If notified of opportunity to enter must enter within 48 hours.

The RUN – THE GRAIL of TRAIL
Which is the harder course, the Otter Retto or the Otter Classic?

Feedback from runners who have done both courses overwhelmingly seemed to indicate that most found the Retto course the harder of the two. Negotiating the treacherous Waterfall section between Ngubu Hut and Storms River Rest Camp with tired legs seemed to be the most common reason cited for the perceived difference but the different gradients of the climbs was also suggested.

Harder it may be, statistics seem to indicate that the Retto is the more achievable race (within the time limits) and perhaps the faster course. Nine Runners finished the Retto Run 2012 in Sub 5 hours up from seven in 2011 although 18% of the field finished the 2012 Retto in sub six hours down from 19% in 2011 on the Classic course. Overall The Retto Run had a successful finisher’s percentage of 84% up from 72% in the 2011 Otter Run on the Classic course.

The Retto Challenge recorded a 93% rate of successful finishers up from 84% on the 2011 equivalent. Overall 55% of all starters on both events in 2012 ran a sub 8 hour (Run Cut- off) qualifying for coloured medals 9% more than in 2011. Statistically it would seem the Classic course (East West) is the less attainable or perhaps runners are just arriving better prepared?

The Otter Medal comes in different colour ribbons. Each colour denotes a finishing time.

RECORDS – CLASSIC ROUTE
The male record of the OTTER CLASSIC stands at 4:40:15 and is currently held by Ryan Sandes (2011).
The female record of the OTTER CLASSIC stands at 5:17:12 and is currently held by Jeannie Bomford (2010).

RECORDS – RETTO ROUTE (first attempted in 2012)
The male record of the OTTER RETTO stands at 4:23:24 and is currently held by Iain Don Wauchope (2012).
The female record of the OTTER RETTO stands at 5:24:59 and is currently held by Krissy Moehl (2012).

The CHALLENGE – Classic Route
The Otter Challenge is the event for the more social Trail Runner, who doesn’t only want to achieve to run the OTTER in 1 day only, but who also wants to enjoy him/herself out there and maybe even catch a glimpse of the stunning scenery. But don’t think it is a walk in the park. Otter Challenge athletes have no other advantage than a little bit more time – the trail starts and finishes at the same points as the OTTER Run, it covers exactly the same distance of 42 km and the same gain in altitude of 2600 meters plus!

The Otter Challenge athletes that manage to finish the Challenge in the max. 11 hours will be rewarded with either of two medals.

– See more at: http://www.alltheevents.co.za/event/the-otter-african-trail-run-2013/?instance_id=3734&ai1ec_tag_ids=4#sthash.hg7OAIcU.dpuf