FKT: Conrad van den Berg - Around Gariep Dam - 2023-02-07

Route variation
Standard route
Multi-sport
No
Gender category
Male
Style
Supported
Start date
Finish date
Total time
19h 38m 29s
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The route was broken up more or less in thirds, with three or four people in support in each section, travelling by car but with one person on occasion joining me on foot (three individuals in total). The first section was from the start at Willem se Kampie, over the dam wall and through Gariep Dam town and up to the 50km mark which is on the Bethulie road. The next change-over happened at the Hennie Steyn bridge, a short distance after Bethulie at 103km. The last section took us through Venterstad and to the finish at 149km.

Being a road run, constant vehicular support was possible.

The starting time, 16:00, was chosen with two considerations: for minimising the effect of the sun, and for making it convenient for people to see me off at the start and receive me at the finish (estimated to be 12:00 the next day).

The three people who ran/walked with me on occasion were all older than 60. Me too.

The run started off with a temperature of 35 degrees Celsius. A rain shower cooled me down before nightfall. The temperature during the rest of the run was mild with little wind. Insects were troublesome near the water.

The R58 is narrow and I had a near-miss when a car passed a truck. The road was not busy but the vehicle speeds are high. Off the R58 the roads were very quiet.