Understanding the changes

From the traditional Trail Series® to the new Trail Series® Super League, what you need to know.  

You might or might not recall that back in November 2019 we announced that after 11 years, the traditional four race Summer & Winter Series format was being replaced in 2020 by the revised Trail Series® Super League format.  

The significant change was that instead of running the traditional four races in relatively quick succession, we would be picking the best of the bunch, adding an XL race  to every race day, and spreading them out over the year. 

The other very important change is that we have dropped the old discard system.  For those who don’t remember, since 2008 you had the option of discarding your worst result in any particular four race Series.  This meant that you could even miss a race and still win your category and take the Championship title. 

It’s worth highlighting that in context of the traditional four race Series, a discard made sense.  It’s tough to expect anyone to commit to four races in close succession.  Life, other interests, other commitments, other races. It’s also worth noting that the traditional method required anyone who wanted to compete in the Series to finish three races out of the four.  So if you ran two, you didn’t feature.

The Super League doesn’t give you the luxury of a discard, but it does allow for anyone to compete with as many races as they can make.  Naturally, the more races you do the better you will fare, but that is the way we believe it should be.  Also, unlike the traditional four races in quick succession way pre-2020, the Super League has six races well spread over the year.  So, there is room to plan around them.  

If you can’t make them all, don’t let that be a reason to throw in the towel.  There is a strong chance that your closest rivals may also not be able to make all six, putting you back in the hunt.  There will be full category prizes for the overall Super League victors, prize money and trophies…so if you like a bit of strategic competition and to see your name on a trophy, then go for it!

And if competing in the Super League isn’t for you, well just come and enjoy as many as you can and take every race as it is. Every race is both a stand-alone, as well as part of the Super League.  

Get what you can out of the fantastic portfolio of venues and routes - and whatever you do, enjoy yourself and good luck!

The full calendar of events can be found here

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We make our final COVID-19 stand in this years TSSL as planned at Oak Valley.  It's coming up fast, and you might have some questions. We’ve worked with all stakeholders and authorities to bring you a safe, enjoyable racing experience. And there will be no cardboard cutout fans, we promise!

PRE ENTRY ONLY

Entries are PRE-ENTRY only, so please don't rock up on the day to enter. This is because every participant is required to complete a COVID-19 self screening form 48hrs before (more on this below).  Entries are also limited and currently available here. 

BACK TO BATCH STARTS

We are back to the usual racing batches for Oak Valley, albeit it small COVID-19 compliant batches of 50.  The start times are indicated on the event page.  In the XL, we will place you in a batch, but if you consider yourself an ELITE or PODIUM contender, please drop us an email BY FRIDAY 3pm and we will make sure you are in the A batch start. For the Long or Short courses, you will be starting in the batch you chose during the entry process.

COVID-19 SELF-SCREENING 

Every entrant will be emailed a COVID-19 self-screening form at 7am on Friday 13th November, 48hrs before the first start.  Every entrant is required by the current regulations to complete this prior to arrival. However, if you miss this, you will be able to complete the form at the event - this will just take longer!

TEMPERATURE CHECK, DISTANCING & MASKS

Your temperature will be checked in the parking area before you enter the race village.  If your temperature is higher than 38ºC you will not be allowed to run.  Please maintain your social distancing skills during your time at Oak Valley to the best of your ability.  You are not required to wear a mask while you are running, but it is required to be on when you arrive, during registration and right up until you have started the run. 

ROLLING PRIZE GIVING

There will be rolling prize giving for the top three over the line, male and female, in each distance.  There will be a random lucky draw as we progress, so make sure you place your tear off number in the bucket soon after you finish.  After every draw the bucket will be cleared to prevent gatherings...  We will do an online prize giving for categories & the overall TSSL. 

COMMS WITH THE TEAM
For any race enquiries, please check our website at www.trailseries.co.za or email info@wildrunner.co.za. 

YES! The fourth & fifth races in the 2020 TSSL at Paul Cluver & Oak Valley Estates have been rescheduled for 11th October and 15th November respectively, albeit presented in a somewhat different, COVID-19 alert level 1 compliant, way!

But outdoor events over 500 in capacity are not allowed?

Correct, which we are not running this is in a classic event style, but rather applying a COVID-19 adapted and approved strategy was that in it's simplest terms can be understood as an 'arrive and run' policy. 

More detail on how this will work will be communicated in due course to all entrants.

Will the three routes be marked?

Yes, properly marked in the tried and proven manner that all our 350+ events that we have run have been ;-)  The marked trails will be managed and someone is on standby should you go wrong en route.

When will this be available? 

Paul Cluver: The three race distances will be available for you to race on between 6am - 12pm on Sun 11th October.  You will need to book a time slot for one of the seven hours available.  Detail on how to book your slot will be communicated to all entrants.

Oak Valley: Provisionally (pending entries) the three race distances will be available for you to race on between 6am - 12pm on Sun 15th November.  You will need to book a time slot for one of the five hours available.  Detail on how to book your slot will be communicated to all entrants closer to the time.

Can I enter on the day?

Unfortunately not, both of these TSSL races will be pre entry only.  The reason for this is that the COVID-19 protocols require pre-event screening to be carried out with all entrants prior to arrival.

Will I be timed?

Yes.  We will have a system in place that will allow all entries to be timed individually.

Will there be medals?

Yes there will be medals for all finishers.

What about COVID-19 protocols? 

We will follow all COVID-19 protocols and would require you to do your bit as well by wearing a mask (at least on arrival, registration,  start/finish).  Once you are on course you will not be required to wear a mask, as per the current gazetted detail.   

Information on how the COVID-19 protocols will be implemented will be communicated to all entrants.

And safety out on route? 

We will have a support crew managing the marked trails, which includes a direct Wildrunner emergency contact number in case you get into trouble.  There will also be course managers placed in key areas to be of assistance if needed.  We will have medics in support at the start/finish.

Will there be any facilities?

There will be a trimmed down version of a race village providing the following facilities: 

1. Portable toilets, cleaned on a regular schedule.
2. Coffee: Cuppa Joe will be on station selling coffee.
3. Food: We may or may not have a food vendor, so plan to bring your own post run snacks.
4. Merch: Yes we will have a limited supply of merchandise on sale.
5. Aid station:  there will be ONE self-help aid station on the XL route.  Details of this will be communicated to all XL runners.Other than toilets and the skeleton crew looking after the marked trails there will be no typical race village environment that you have come to enjoy at a typical Trail Series® event.

Can I order wine?

Paul Cluver - You can order Paul Cluver wines over the weekend and it will be delivered to your door within the following week (due to current COVID-19 restrictions you cannot purchase alchohol from Sat-Sun).  The good news is (especially if you read all the way to the bottom as you have...) that if you use this coupon code #TSSL2020 when purchasing wine online on https://www.cluver.com/purchase/south-africa/ you will get a 10% discount (only available during the month of Oct 2020, minimum purchase of a case required).

Please take this once a year opportunity to run on these magnificent estates and order the best wine in the Elgin Valley! 

To enter click here

Yes the fifth race in the TSSL that was due to be hosted on the magnificent Paul Cluver Estate on Sunday 19th July is still on, albeit presented in a different, COVID-19 compliant, way.  

But mass gatherings are not allowed?

Correct, which is why this is not an event, or a mass gathering of any kind, but simply a temporary offering of the three marked trails (the same we had originally planned for) made available for a limited period of time.  

Will the three routes be marked?

Yes, properly marked in the tried and proven manner that all our 350+ events that we have run have been ;-)  The marked trails will be managed and someone is on standby should you go wrong en route.

When will this be available? 

Well the three race distances will be available for you to race on between 8am - 3pm on Sat 18th and Sun 19th July 2020.  You will however need to book a time slot in one of the seven hours available each day.  Detail on how to book your slot will follow.

Will I be timed?

Yes.  We will have a system in place that will allow all entries to be timed individually.

What about COVID-19 protocols? 

We will follow all COVID-19 protocols and would require you to do your bit as well by wearing a mask (at least on arrival, registration,  start/finish and if ever you see anyone on route).  

And safety out on route? 

We will have a skeleton crew managing the marked trail offering, which includes a direct Wildrunner emergency contact number in case you get into trouble.  There will also be course managers placed in key areas to be of assistance if needed.  We will use Metro ambulance services for any serious injury that may require evacuation.

Will there be any facilities?

Other than toilets and the skeleton crew looking after the marked trails there will be no typical race village environment that you have come to enjoy at a typical Trail Series® event.

Can I order wine?

You can order it over that weekend and it will be delivered to your door within the following week (due to current COVID-19 restrictions you cannot purchase alchohol from Fri-Sun).  The good news is (especially if you read all the way to the bottom as you have...) that if you use this coupon code #TSSL2020 when purchasing wine online on https://www.cluver.com/purchase/south-africa/ you will get a 10% discount (only available during the month of July 2020, minimum purchase of a case required).

Please take this once a year opportunity to run on this magnificent estate and order the best wine in the Elgin Valley! 

To enter click here

For 12 years the Cape Summer and Winter Trail Series® have been the foundation of short course trail running in the Cape, introducing thousands of people to this wonderful, healthy sport  - from kids as young as five to our most mature runner at an amazing 83 years of age.

Over the same 12 year period the sport of trail running has evolved and grown hand over fist both locally and internationally.  From the uber tough Mountain Challenges, to the internationally acclaimed Otter Trail Run; the 5 day 200km Namibia Crossing, Ultra Trail Cape Town and the more recent craze of 100 milers that have been launched, have all brought a wonderful depth and variety to our sport.

And as we approach 2020, we felt it’s time the Trail Series® evolved too.  So, it is with great pleasure that we introduce the Trail Series® Super League, or the TSSL for short.  So what’s changed? Well we have selected seven of the favorite venues from the original eight, spread them further apart and merged them into a single, annual, Super League Series.  But by far the most exciting change is the addition of an XL route to every race day. The XL distances are all in the region of 20km, perfect for those attracted to - and/or training for -  longer distance races.

We have also been busy pimping the routes, with five out of the seven venues having brand new route variations.  Many of the short courses have been brought down slightly in distance to be more suitable and attractive to the youngsters and beginners in our sport.  Where possible, the long courses have been tuned to fall in the 10-12km range, with a few classic exceptions like Kogelberg, which is just too good to be changed! 

Our 100% recyclable medals will now be on offer at every race, with a special commemorative medal for anyone finishing all seven races in the TSSL.  Thanks to the wonderful support from our venues, kids under the age of 10 still run free - as they have done since our 10th year anniversary in 2017.

To be competitive in the TSSL rankings you need to run all seven races in the same distance class - short, long or XL.  The total accumulative race time over all seven races is what ultimately creates your final TSSL placement. Miss a race and an uncomplimentary system-generated time will be allocated for that race and added to your accumulative time, bumping you down the rankings!  

So whether you run one race, as many as you can make, or all seven to complete the TSSL, at each race you will still find the same Wildrunner organisation you have become accustomed too, the same well marked routes and the same fun and friendly atmosphere that has become the hallmark of a Trail Series®.

Enter the TSSL up front and you will receive a sponsored TSSL running top courtesy of Boldgear, not to mention the convenience of only having to register once for all seven races, thus allowing you the luxury of simply rocking up in time to race.

Entries will open on Wed, 6th November at midday, but for now check out the schedule of races

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