THE GRAIL of TRAIL
THE OTTER : Classic Route
RACE DATE
Prologue: Sept 21, 2013
Race: Sept 22, 2013
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 GRAIL
Each year the athletes (male/female) with the fastest times get their names on the GRAIL
PRIZE MONEY
All prize money goes to the Otter – RUN.