3 Peaks Challenge-Johannesburg-26.07.2020

Me and Sherman run cos we were born to run.

Post lockdown regs, having maintained strength doing leg presses under the weight of the leadwood table, and chopping trees, we were chiselled like Michaelangelo’s David and ready for the At-Altitude-3-Peaks Challenge. 

Sherman had this idea to run the 3 highest peaks in Johannesburg. We hadn’t surveyed the peaks, but having trained hill repeats up Linksfield Ridge, the hard-o-meter determined it high, and having run the Easter 48, determined Northcliff Ridge as blood curdling high and having trudged the stairs with a backpack full of tuna cans, our glutes determined Westcliff, preparing-for-life high.

We ran them in no order of height, but in sequence of completion. 

We launched our journey from the ‘centre’ of the northern suburbs heading west rising up to Oxford road, before plummeting towards the base of the Northcliff Ridge. From there we scaled the ridge. 

At the pinnacle seeing the Sherman as the polkadot-jersey wearer we headed towards Westcliff Ridge but in the while we would integrate the Melville Koppies for some urban trail, great views and a shared Gu.

Making our way back to the ‘centre’, we then made an assault up the Westcliff Ridge as it was wrapped in skeletal jacaranda’s and careening seed pods. Here we took another opportunity to document our feat by asking a passerby for a photo. Click.click.Clickety click.

Once we’d regained our steel, like tumble weeds, bounced and bobbed through Forest Town, Saxonwold, Killarney and ofcourse doffed our hats, said ‘good morning and asked for ‘centre’ please sir’, as we rose up the back side of Munroe Drive past KES and St Johns. Racing to the bottom of Munroe, the sheltered tree-lined streets were grand relief from the heat of the mid morning winter sun.

No doubt tired, but amped to fulfil the dream, we beat our spurs to get us going, running eastwards towards the mighty and steep Alp ‘d huez of Jo’burg, Linksfield Ridge. I can’t give you a percentage for this climb since I wasn’t great at trig, but this ridge slow punctured me. 

We hadn’t calculated route nor distance, we simply threw on our treads and blazed a trail, and with it, establishing an FKT for an At-Altitude-3-Peaks assault...we think 

45km. 4hours 34 minutes. What an adventure, and what a way to say 'cheers' to a great mate.