Finding Your Way
With only a few weeks to go until the start of the inaugural DGT Run, excitement is building amongst participants, organisers and crew alike! The majority of athletes' training has been done, all the Drakensberg camps have been successfully completed and runners have proved themselves mountain-savvy... Or so we hope! The race organisers have secured all the necessary permissions and are finalising the details of logistics and safety procedures for race week, while volunteers, medics and marshals will soon be briefed on their roles and stations up on the escarpment.
But beneath the excitement is always a level of anxiety, especially for the runners tackling this phenomenal task of a 200-kilometre footrace across the Drakensberg. To help calm their nerves and answer some last-minute questions we decided to compile a list of our top five words of advice to help them find their way as pioneers of this epic - the DGT Run! If you are one of the athletes who will be standing on that start line come 1 November, or you are keeping a keen eye on the opening of entries for next year, then read on... This is for you!
1. Navigation
Although all participants will receive a GPX file of the DGT route, only several significant peaks are compulsory check points. This means that you are free to select your own routes between CPs, which can be both a good and a bad thing. The upside of this route freedom is that clear conditions can provide relief from following the GPS track on your device - the blue line - as you can visualise a peak, saddle or destination and eye-ball a good line of approach. On the downside, you often encounter sudden rock bands and drop-offs in the 'Berg, especially when descending along ridgelines. These can result in frustrating detours and wasting of time if you decide to select your own line off high ground with a convex shape. The advantage of sticking to the proverbial blue line at all times is that you can rest assured you're on the right route. It may not always be a great trail underfoot, but it is going to your destination and every step is taking you closer to that finish line! In poor visibility conditions that blue line can be a lifesaver on the escarpment, literally. When you're surrounded by white out and can barely see your partner ten metres away, it's amazing how quickly you lose sense of direction. In these circumstances the blue line not only keeps you on course but also ensures that you don't run yourself off a cliff. The same applies for night running, of which there's sure to be plenty!
But there are disadvantages to following the blue line too. Firstly, it becomes very tiring to look at your watch or GPS device every few seconds to check that you're on the route. Secondly, you may be inclined to think that the blue line is always on or near a good trail. This can lead to zigzagging across the line in the search for an actual trail on the ground, while in reality there may not be one. So don't waste too much time micro-navigating and hunting for that amazing but elusive cattle path... The third and more dangerous element of simply following a GPS track is the potential lack of spatial and situational awareness. It's very easy to become absorbed in navigating a route but switched off to what's happening around you. Are you still eating and drinking? Is your partner feeling okay and keeping up? Is there weather approaching in the distance? Do you have stones in your shoes which should be removed sooner rather than later? These are all things to keep in mind, even whilst navigating.
One useful trick when moving in a pair is to have the "navigator" at the back. The person in front selects the best trail or line in the general direction and the navigator corrects and re-directs from the back when necessary. This shares the responsibility of navigation between both members and can prevent the navigator from becoming stressed or neglecting their nutrition and hydration. Another fact to bear in mind when following a GPS device is that if you are not 100% sure where you are (i.e., you haven't been on that exact trail and don't recognise all the landmarks around you) then you really should not deviate from the track. One of the worst things you can do, if not familiar with an area, is to try to alternate between your own route and the blue line. At some stage you will likely decide that you'd rather be back on the GPS track and you will inevitably have to slog through a bog, climb an extra ridge or cross a deeper valley in order to get back onto it...
2. Weather
Weather conditions are often a stressor for athletes partaking in mountain or trail events, especially those in remote areas and at altitude. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the factors over which you have no control. The best you can do is follow an accurate weather forecast as the event draws near and ensure that you have the right gear to deal with the expected conditions. In your preparation for DGT Run you more than likely did some “adversity training” – going out in the rain, that last brutal desert run you did, all those early mornings – so draw comfort in knowing that you’ve done your best to prepare for anything that nature throws your way during race week. Rather don’t waste your pre-race energy stressing about the weather – it’s one of those “what will be, will be” things. For a fairly reliable and location-specific forecast you can use https://www.mountain-forecast.com/ which lists all the peaks of the DGT except for Cleft. But remember, forecasts are never 100% correct, they are most accurate within 2 to 3 days of your dates, and mountain weather is unpredictable, so be prepared for anything.
3. Gear
That brings us to the topic of gear. Hopefully you read our earlier blog Gear Up! https://dgtrun.co.za/blog/17jul22 and have since been training with all your compulsory equipment. The final touches to your gear and exact packing of your bag will depend on the weather, but here are a few pointers when that day arrives. Ensure that you have sufficient dry bags and/ or Ziplocks to waterproof everything, especially your digital technology and warm clothing. Pack your food in bags designed to last a certain number of hours, for example 6 or 12 hours, or morning, afternoon and night bags. This will allow you to put different foods in each bag, have exciting options when you open a new one, and place more specific breakfast or dinner type foodstuffs into the relevant packs. When all your accessible food is finished, dig out the next suitable bag, distribute the items between your accessible pockets and there you have sustenance for the next however many hours. Just don’t forget to label your bags if they aren’t all the same.
In terms of gear, pack your bag as you do your cupboards at home. The things you’ll definitely use should be easy to reach and near the surface, with your more emergency gear deeper towards the bottom of your pack. A good idea is to pack or re-pack your bag with your partner the day before the race. If you’re familiar with your partner’s bag’s different access points, opening and closing mechanisms and gear locations you can save a fair amount of time in being able to pass them things on the go. Think specifically of gloves, buff, hat, glasses, food, water bottles, headlight and spare batteries.
Ram Mountaineering and Mountain Abandon are offering all DGT Run participants of 2022 a great once-off discount on any Ram gear, apparel or accessories that they might need for this or future mountain missions. All the brands are top quality and include Black Diamond, Vango and Jetboil, so don’t miss this opportunity! Check out this list compiled by Mountain Abandon and give Pierre and Nicolette a shout at info@mountainabandon.com by the 14th of October if you’d like to order anything.
4. Self
As an ultra-runner, adventurer or outdoor enthusiast, looking after yourself in the mountains should be something you’re already good at doing. But it is easy, especially in a partnership, to forget or consciously neglect your personal needs for the sake of the team. Do not fall into this trap – it is not better for the team. You need to be the best possible version of yourself if you are going to succeed in this challenge. That means doing all the things you normally would on an ultra-endurance activity, plus more, because small niggles and bothers tend to accumulate over miles and hours, not dissipate. So that little stone in your shoe needs to be removed, that chafing on your collar bone needs some anti-chafe cream and your burning face needs a layer of sunscreen. The difference between your standard ultra and the DGT Run is that now you have a partner to consider. Perhaps they also have a stone, chafing or need a toilet stop. If you’re getting hot, cold, or hungry, chances are they are as well. So, although you must take care of yourself, do it in a way that considers your partner too and ultimately saves time by reducing your number of stops. Plan stops for “in 5 minutes time I need to…” And remember, if each of you is in good condition, you’ll better be able to move faster, make good decisions and navigate difficulties more smoothly.
5. Teamwork
That brings us to our final but most important piece of advice. We’ve alluded to it many times already, but teamwork may be the biggest key to your success on the DGT Run. Anyone who has done an ultra before will know how many highs and lows you can go through in the space of 100km or 100 miles… But running through it alone is a little different from sharing it with somebody else, especially since that person is going to experience the same rollercoaster of emotions but seldom in tandem with yours. This discrepancy can very easily create tension in a team as one member wants nothing more than to collapse on the ground for half an hour while the other is feeling great and resenting every wasted minute. Avoiding the ups and downs completely is impossible, but you should aim for as constant a mental and physical state as possible for an event of this duration. That means pacing, drinking, eating and sleeping in a sustainable manner in order to prevent vast fluctuations in energy levels, which in turn cause greater mood swings. Sustainability in this scenario is also going to mean patience with the weaker team member at any given point in time. Pushing your partner to their limit when the end is not near isn’t going to be beneficial to your team in the long run. That said, when you are the one struggling, you cannot be selfish and just sit on a rock in self-pity. Your team needs you to give your best, whatever that looks like to you.
As with any relationship, there are a few keys to a successful partnership. Positivity, empathy, commitment, acceptance and mutual respect stand out above the rest, with proper and continuous communication underlying all the above. The DGT Run will possibly be the most mentally challenging thing you and your partner have ever attempted so maintaining a positive mindset throughout will go very far in terms of motivating you towards the finish line. Empathy means recognising and acknowledging your partner’s thoughts, feelings and issues. If you can do this in a sincere and supportive way, they will likely overcome their problems and negativity more quickly. Commitment to the team and the team’s goal is crucial to success, but this should be discussed before the event. Know that you and your partner are on the same page in terms of why you are doing this event, what you expect from the journey and what your ideal outcome is. Then accept that it won’t be plain sailing all the way, things will go wrong and neither you nor your partner is perfect. Also accept that you are going to be on the mountain for multiple days, probably sleep-deprived, hungry, bored and in pain, but that through slow, consistent movement you will reach the end. Respect yourself and respect your partner as you would have them respect you.
And finally, communicate. Share everything with your partner, but do not dwell on the negatives. Share more compliments than criticism, more jokes than sarcasm. Cry, but then smile, and then laugh at yourself. Find those clouds with silver linings - they will be there. Appreciate the beauty all around you and use it to inspire, uplift and motivate yourself and your partner. This is a once-in-a-lifetime journey. Do your utmost to enjoy every step with the person with whom you’ve chosen to share it.
There is no such thing as the perfect partnership. Make the most of the one you have! | Photo credit: Adventure lIfe SA
