The Freedom Challenge
The Wheels are About to Spin
News Release / 16.06.2009
Five of the 60 cyclists will already be feeling a little sore-footed on Saturday morning. Today, the day before the cycle, these 5 crazy guys doing the Freedom Challenge ‘Extreme Triathlon’ Race will hit the Duzi Trail and run 85km from Durban to Pietermaritzburg along footpaths and cattle tracks.
The Duzi Trail Run, to be held annually in June as of 2009, forms part of a local initiative being conducted by the Freedom Challenge in partnership with the Dusi Umgeni Conservation Trust (DUCT) to develop a locally managed adventure running trail through the valleys of the Umgeni and Umsunduzi Rivers that will be open to people throughout the year.
Talking about the project, DUCT manager Andrew Booth said, “We are very excited about the initiative. We are looking to set up local community mountain bike guides as well as locally serviced overnight stops in the valley. In this way we hope to encourage adventure-tourism activities in the valley that can provide employment throughout the year.�
With the first part of the Extreme Triathlon done, the 5 runners will join their fellow ‘Race Across South Africa’ cyclists on Saturday outside the Pietermaritzburg City Hall and hit the Freedom Trail for a 2300km pedal through gloriously rugged, wild ‘n wow country all the way to the finish at Diemersfontein Wine Estate outside Cape Town.
To qualify for their Basotho blanket, cyclists must complete the ‘Race Across South Africa’ in 26 days. The Extreme Triathlon guys don’t have it so easy – they only have 20 days to make it to Paarl in time to then paddle the 2 day, 240km One Stop Berg canoe race which starts on 4th July.
All eyes will be on Tim James this year. A ‘Race Across South Africa’ veteran, Tim broke the record last year completing the race in 14 and a half days – he’s hoping to do it in 12 days this year.
For those cyclists not ready for the ‘Race Across South Africa’ let alone the ‘Extreme Triathlon’, the Freedom Challenge also offers the ‘Ride to Rhodes’ which follows the Freedom Trail along with the others but ends in Rhodes – a far more sane distance of 500km! Unlike the ‘Race Across South Africa’, the ‘Ride to Rhodes’ is supported.
“It’s an exciting time for all of us,� says David Waddilove, founder and director of the Freedom Challenge. “The communities along the Freedom Trail are ready with food and shelter for the cyclists which provides the locals with a real boost of much needed income. The cyclists are using their last few days of ‘normal life’ to ready themselves for the massive physical and mental test they’re about to embark on. It’s a wild adventure – not for the faint-hearted but once you’ve done it you’ll never be the same again – and that’s a good thing.�
To follow the progress of the riders or to track their movements with Netstar's Guardians visit www.freedomchallenge.org.za
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