Do you love extreme endurance running in magnificent locations? Then this is the perfect challenge - five days of awesome trail running, beautiful beaches, stunning mountain and coastal scenery, refreshing forests and orchards, exhilarating descents and river crossings. The Cape Odyssey is here for the second time, brought to you by the Absa Cape Epic dream team who also organise the highly successful staged mountain bike race.

Dash past frolicking whales and through a land flowing with earthly delights The route starts in Hermanus where the whales frolic about and follows the fynbos coast to the pretty village of Kleinmond, situated on the edge of the unique Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, one of the planets few botanical “World Heritage Areas”. The trail will eventually take runners through one of the richest fruit growing regions in South Africa. From there the route descends into the picturesque vineyards of the Franschhoek Valley, a land flowing with good food and wine. The last stage finishes at the legendary Boschendal Wine Estate, guarded by the Groot Drakenstein and Simonsberg mountain ranges. It is one of the oldest wine producers in the New World with a French viticultural heritage dating back to 1685.

*odyssey n. 1. An extended adventurous voyage 2. An intellectual or spiritual quest

Who will be there? World record holder Mimi Anderson is one of the top world-class athletes participating in this year’s Cape Odyssey. She recently improved the ladies world record, running from John O’Groats at the top of Scotland to Lands End at the bottom of England.
Why do it? Just ask Mimi! To the question of whether participating in a strenuous event like this is punishment, she responds without hesitation. “Running is quite simply the best feeling in the world – when I took up running in 1999 it was like being given a pair of wings and my freedom! How could it possibly be a punishment when we’re given the opportunities of running in some of the most beautiful parts of the world and meeting great people who will inspire you along the way – it’s a privilege and an honour!”
Need to know? http://www.cape-odyssey.com/
Where to stay? Book a bed in Hermanus, Kleinmond, Grabouw, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch.