JMC Alternative Trail Run

Our trail grading: Green 7B

Distance: 19km

Extremeness: 900m climb in 2.5km & technical single track

Location: Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Joggers: Deryck Nel, Dirk van der Merwe, Johan Fourie & me

Just before the jog started at 6:00, Andries decided to bail (apparently his bed was nice & comfy) and Leanie was forced to retire since Emma kept her up all night. So four of us started on the Pieke side of the Jonkers circular route. The idea was to run an alternative to the Jonkershoek Mountain Challenge (JMC), skipping the jog on the Stellenbosch Mountain side and adding a MTB single track or two when returning via the Pine plantations. Dirk and Johan only joined us for the circle route and after 5km Deryck and I turned onto the Panorama Jonkershoek Hiking trail. Given our past experience on this 900m climb, we decided to take it easy going up... reserving energy for the downhill. The contour route was as enjoyable as ever and a special thanks to Deryck who jogged in front and took two huge spider webs (with big-ass spiders) in the face, ensuring a hazard-free jog for me. This time we hit the Middle Canary MTB Route nice and early, ensuring 4 kilometers of awesomeness to the finish!