The Swellendam Hiking Trail was revered in South Africa's as the number one wilderness mountain trail, a true six-day mountain wilderness experience through the magnificent Swellendam Mountains. The hallowed ground is now the setting for this iconic and brutally tough trail run. This is your chance to experience pure mountain running nirvana.  87% of the epic 55km race is on remote mountain hiking trail and, with 3 494m of vertical height gain over the entire distance, is not for the inexperienced solo mountain runner.

The 55km Marloth Mountain Challenge Ultra Mountain Marathon is a qualifying race for The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc® and will give you four points toward qualification. 

MMC Ultra runners need to have completed one of the following events to qualify to run the MMC Ultra. This does not apply to MMC Extreme or MMC Lite runners.QUALIFICATION

Limited Edition Marloth Mountain Challenge 2018 T-Shirt - R295 each  

 Wildrunner is a proud member of the International Trail Running Association. 

Directions to MMC:

All routes will be fully marked with signboards at any junctions and marker tags/flags between, but runners should familiarise themselves with the route beforehand as unforeseen circumstances may cause the markers to be damaged (extreme weather) or hard to see (fog, rain).

MMC Ultra Mountain Marathon
Start: Old Drostdy Musuem 06:00
55km
3 550m of ascent
3 550m of descent
WTG: GREEN 8B (What's this?)

Click here for 55km Route Profile

MMC Extreme
Start: Goedgeloof 08:00 - Transfer leaves Old Drosdty Musuem at 06:30 Sharp.
Goedgeloof to Swellendam
35km
1 675m+ of ascent
2 243m of descent
WTG: GREEN 9B (What's this?)

Click here for 35km Route Profile

Leaving the beautiful Goedgeloof hiking trail hut, one descends gently initially before making the 300m ascent to Warmwaternek.  Thereafter the route follows a spectacular traverse into the Proteavallei, ringed by magnificent peaks like Misty Point at 1 710m. 10km into the stage you will arrive at the Proteavallei hiking hut and checkpoint 3. From here the route turns onto the Kruispad heading south towards Wolfkloof. Using the natural features of the Kruispad ridge, the route very soon begins to drop rapidly towards the valley below and the trail brings you into Wolfkloof hiking trail hut (as well as checkpoint 4). This is also the location of the King & Queen of the Mountain hot spot.

From here here you are on a 300m hiding up towards Eenuurkop before traversing along in an easterly direction. Kliprivier and Hermitage Kloof force the first 300m descent, before another 350m ascent over three tiers takes you back up and behind Doktersbos, Koloniesbos and Duiwelsbos, before descending the Koloniesbos ridgeline and running the final 4km into the finish. For those who have given the whole 60km a go, running back into a busy town will be quite the change from the peace and tranquility of the Swellendam mountains!
 

MMC LITE
Start: Old Drostdy Musuem 06:00
Finish: Goegeloof, transfer takes runners back to start.
Swellendam to Goedgeloof
24.5km
1 668m of ascent+
987m of descent
WTG: GREEN 8B (What's this?)

Click here for 24,5km Route Profile

Starting at dawn in the town of Swellendam, where the South African Free Republic was declared in 1795, runners will make their way through the sleepy streets initially, before starting the slow and steady ascent towards the towers of Tienuur and Elfuurkoppe and up between the forests of Duiwelsbos and Wamakersbos. An easterly traverse follows before the climb up onto the ‘Hoek’ ridgeline and ‘Hoekrus’. An easy traverse takes you north towards Boskloof River, before making the ascent to the first checkpoint at the site of the former Boskloof hiking trail hut. Leaving here, the path gets steep quickly before once again traversing east along Drosterspas to Vulture rock. Lastly, the route turns back into the Zuurplats valley before the final ascent up and past Knuckle Rock and the steep technical rocky descent to Goedgeloof Hiking hut at checkpoint 2 and the end of the stage.

ENTRY & REGISTRATION

• Entries will open at Midday on 27 June 2018. 
• You do not need to be a member of an athletics club to compete in MMC.
• Runners need to adhere to the minimum age limit as indicated in the Event Details.
• To enter the MMC Ultra you have to complete one of the listed qualifying events below.
• Online entries will close on 2nd October 2018, or when capacity is reached.
• Once all entries have been sold you will be placed on a waiting list and receive an automated email as and when space becomes available because of cancellation.
• Upgrades and downgrades are allowed as long as the race to which you want to move has not sold out yet. I.e. if you entered the MMC Ultra and want to downgrade to the MMC Extreme or MMC Lite but this race has sold out already, you will not be able to downgrade.
• No on the day entries will be accepted. 

ENTRY FEES & AVAILABILITY

• The entry fee INCLUDES the following:
  • All Cape Nature permits and associated fees
  • Your transfer to the start of the 35km MMC Extreme.
  • Your transfers back from the finish of the 24.5km MMC Lite
  • A pre-event dinner on Saturday 6 October
  • Checkpoint timing through FinishTime

For full series entry fees click here.

PRE-RACE REGISTRATION

Compulsory pre-event registration and number collection 

• Compulsory pre-registration will take place on Saturday, 6th October 2018 from 12h00 - 18h00 at the Drostdy Museum in Swellendam (directions).
• All runners must have their kit ready for checking when they register on Saturday afternoon.
• The compulsory kit check will be for all participants. There will also be spot kit checks during the event once en-route for the runners. 
• There will be a compulsory race introduction and briefing at 19h00 on Saturday. 
• It is your responsibility to arrive in time to find parking and complete registration/kit check.
• Race briefing will include a dinner, this is included in your entry.

PLACES TO STAY IN SWELLENDAM

• Impangele Guest House
• De Oude Pastorie
• Aan de Oever Guest House
• Arumvale
• Hermitage Huisies
• Marula Lodge
• Aanhuizen Guest House

ACCOMMODATION OUTSIDE SWELLENDAM

• Brakenhills
• Umshanti
• Kwetu Guest Farm

UP/DOWNGRADES

• Upgrades and downgrades are allowed within the timeline described below as long as the individual race to which you want to move has not sold out yet. For example: if you entered the 55km MMC Ultra and want to downgrade to the 35km MMC Extreme will depend on the availability.  
• Runners who wish to upgrade or downgrade can do so at Registration on 6 October from 12:00 - 18:00 ONLY.  

SUBSTITUTES:

• No upgrades, downgrades or substitutions will be allowed on the day of the race. 
• In the event a confirmed entrant is not able to make the race and they have their own substitute and wish to transfer their entry, they will need to log into their online entry (via the link on the original entrant's confirmation email) and transfer their entry to their substitute, NO LATER THAN 10h00 on Tuesday, 2nd October 2018.
• The confirmed entrant will be responsible to collect the entry fee from the substitute and the substitute will need to log into quicket, NO LATER THAN 10h00 on Tuesday, 2nd October 2018, before the substitute will be allowed to participate. This is for the substitute’s own safety and Wildrunner can not be held liable in the event of any damages that may occur directly or indirectly because of the substitute’s failure to register on our online system.
• The substitute will need to pay a R50 substitution fee at registration. 

REFUNDS:

• Due to the nature of the industry we are not required to refund entries other than for hospitalisation or death. However, refund requests will be dealt with on their own merits depending on length of notice of written cancellation received before the event and our ability to secure payment from another participant from the waiting list. Please note that we may charge a reasonable cancellation fee if the refund request is approved. 
• Any refunds made will be paid within 30 calendar days. 

EVENT GUIDE

All pre-entered runners will be emailed a copy of the event guide in the week before the event.

PRE-RACE REGISTRATION

• Compulsory registration will take place on Saturday, 6th October 2018 from 12h00 - 18h00 at the Drostdy Museum in Swellendam (directions).
• Compulsory Kit check will take place at registration from 12h00 - 18h00, you must have all your kit ready for check on Saturday afternoon.
• The compulsory kit check will be for all participants. There will also be spot kit checks during the event once en-route for the runners. 
• If you do not have all your kit you will not be given your wristbands and will not be allowed to run. 
• Wristbands are handed in at various check points on route. 
• Before the race introduction and briefing dinner is available for all runners from 18h00. To get dinner you will need a wristband which is collected at registration with your race number. 
• There will be a compulsory race introduction and briefing at 19h00 on Saturday. 
• It is your responsibility to arrive in time to find parking and complete registration/kit check.
• Race briefing will include a dinner, this is included in your entry. 

LATE ENTRIES
No late entries will be accepted, online entries close on Tues 2nd October 2018. 

UPGRADES, DOWNGRADES AND SUBSTITUTIONS
All upgrades, downgrades and substitutions will only be allowed from 12:00 - 18:00 on Saturday 6th October.
No substitutions for the 55km without proof of qualifying race.
Substitutions cost R50.

RACE NUMBERS
Make sure if you are doing the ULTRA you have BLUE number, if you are doing the EXTREME you have a ORANGE number and if you are doing the LITE you have GREEN number.
You will need a new race number if you change distance at any one of the events.
If you purchased anything online when you entered - a Limited Edition MMC t-shirt, a Buff®, socks or anything else - please remember to go to the #TrailStore (near registration) to collect your merchandise.

WEEKEND ITINERARY

Saturday 6th October
12:00-18:00 Registration and Compulsory Kit Check 
18:00 Dinner (included in entry fee)
19:00 Compulsory Race Introduction and Briefing

Sunday 7th October 
05:00 Bag drop Opens - 55km and 35km in courtyard, 24.5km at busses to be taken to Goedgeloof
05:30 55km and 24.5km Roll Call
06:00 55km and 24.5km Start
06:00 35km runners to be at busses for transfer to Goedgeloof
06:30 Last 35km bus leaves for Goedgeloof
07:45 35km Roll Call 
08:00 35km Start at Goedgeloof

09:15 First 24.5km runner expected at Goedgeloof
11:30 55km Cut off at Goedgeloof
12:30 35km Cut off at Wolfkloof and 24.5km cut off at Goedgeloof
15:15 55km Cut off at Wolfkloof
16:00 35km Cut off at Finish
18:00 55km Cut off at Finish

Prize givings will happen as soon as all 3 podium positions are in each category. 

FINSHER PRIZES
Runners who complete the 55km/35km/24.5km will get a finisher prize and medal on the finish line. 

Helpful Information

SWELLENDAM TOURISM/CAPE TRADE ROUTE 

https://www.visitswellendam.co.za/
028 514 2770
swellendam@swellendamtourism.co.za

PLACES TO STAY IN SWELLENDAM

• Impangele Guest House
• De Oude Pastorie
• Aan de Oever Guest House
• Arumvale
• Hermitage Huisies
• Marula Lodge
• Aanhuizen Guest House

PLACES TO STAY OUTSIDE SWELLENDAM

• Brakenhills
• Umshanti
• Kwetu Guest Farm