Challenging the Three Cranes

The three Zululanders who took part in the Three Cranes Challenge - Chanleigh and Bruce Mason and Cheryl Harcourt

Stunning waterfalls were just one of the many scenes encountered by the athletes on the three-day trail run

Three brave Zululand athletes, Cheryl Harcourt of the Canon Richards Bay Athletics Club, and Chanleigh and Bruce Mason of the uMhlathuze Athletics Club, tackled the Three Cranes Challenge trail stage race last weekend, and a challenge it was. The race was held in a beautiful part of the Karkloof area, nestled in the forests and rolling hills. The organisers Wildlands Conservation Trust set up tents for the 63 participants on a farm with great camping facilities. This area is the home of three endangered species of crane - the Blue Crane, Grey-Crowned Crane and Wattled Crane - and part of the entry fee is allocated to helping protect these beautiful birds. The first day was 32km, with a challenging climb up the escarpment through a cool, tranquil and natural forest. From the path above the forest, the scenery is breathtaking with a wide vista over emerald green rolling hills and many glistening dams - a photographer’s paradise. Some downhill technical running towards the end brought the runners home, weary, but keen for the next day’s challenges. The second day, being 42km, was equally character-building, with another technical climb up the escarpment. The route took runners around the Karkloof Falls, over undulating hills through the Mbona Nature Reserve to finish at a river high up in the hills, welcoming to the tired and exhausted runners, most of whom collapsed into the icy water in relief. The third day, another 32km, started at 4am. It had rained all night, so the trail was wet and slippery, but this did not deter the intrepid runners who set out with headlights into the mist. Another steep climb awaited them, but the cool weather and knowing that the challenge was nearly completed spurred them on. The final descent to the finish was through the natural virgin forest of the first day, with the finish a welcome sight for all. The organisation was excellent, the challenge was mind-strengthening, the area is awesome and the race comes highly recommended to go down in your Trail Running Calendar as a must for 2011.