PUFfer Trail Run

This is arguably the most scenic ultra marathon in South Africa. It is also the toughest. In addition to the harsh terrain, there may be extreme weather conditions. If so, it is mandatory to have a compass, rainwear and maps before being allowed onto Table Mountain. In the interests of safety, all participants who do not reach Constantia Nek by 13h00 will be removed from the race. This is done to ensure that no one is stranded on the mountain after dark. The first 30 kilometres are run on tar, with the balance on unmarked tracks and trails.
Starting at the Cape Point Nature Reserve, the route goes through the nature reserve, and past Scarborough. The first part of the race is run in the dark and the organisers advise you to carry a torch. The first 20 kilometres are easy and provide a good opportunity to get into a comfortable running stride.
From here the race earns its reputation as an epic. The route goes over Red Hill Pass, through the Simon’s Town Water Catchment Area and on to Black Hill, via Ou Kaapseweg. There is some dancing in the Saturday morning traffic through Fish Hoek, as the route relentlessly presses on to Silvermine Nature Reserve, through Tokai Forest Plantation taking the top forest-track and on to the Vlakkenberg footpath.
Onward to Constantia Nek, the route goes over Table Mountain running along the Jan Smuts track to Maclear’s Beacon and then down the infamous Platteklip Gorge. Legs like jelly, body beyond tired, you run on to Kloof Nek and then via Signal Hill onto the V&A Waterfront where the race comes to its welcome end. Few have done this, none are sorry.