Sign up now for one of the Border region’s toughest 21km challenges
Near the end the course is relatively flat and fast until one reaches the sting in the tail
IF YOU’RE eager for a challenge, then sign up to run the legendary 24th annual Caltex Sole Destroyer race this Sunday.
The course, known to be the toughest 21km in the Border region, offers fantastic scenery, camaraderie and the bragging rights of saying “I didn’t let it break me!”
For those with less spring in their step, the Sole Teaser 9km route is a great opportunity to test your fitness and train for the tougher race next year.
The race is organised by Oxford Striders and was named after Chris Sole, who did most of his training on the route.

Pat Kelly of Eastern Cape Marketers, who sponsors both races and has run the Sole Destroyer a number of times, said the route included six steep hills, most of which were during the first part of the race. “Near the end the course is relatively flat and fast until one reaches the sting in the tail [the Willasdale Drive climb] with just less than 3km to the finish,” said Kelly.
Race convener Helen Pretorius said a large portion of the route was run on dirt roads up and down some tough hills. “There is prize money for the first male and female to summit the steepest hill of the race, known as Heartbreak Hill.
“They also need to finish in the top 10 male and female runners respectively,” she said.
Charl Pienaar of Old Boys said: “My favourite part of the whole course (I guess everyone’s, it’s so sublime) is on the return route, just before the downhills, where you have a view over the city with the sea in the background – it makes all the uphills and downhills worthwhile!”
Entry forms can be downloaded off the Oxford Striders Running Club Facebook page, or picked up from Oxford Striders or a number of sports shops.
Details of how to enter can be found on the form or you can visit the club today or tomorrow between 5pm and 7pm to hand in your entry form, or enter on the day from 5.30am at the Highgate Hotel (near where the race begins).
Entries cost R80 for the Sole Destroyer, which begins at 6.30am, and R50 for the Sole Teaser, which will commence at 7am.
There are 600 long- sleeved shirts for Sole Destroyer entrants and 300 short-sleeved for the Sole Teaser entrants. Runners can look forward to Caltex fuel vouchers and hampers up for grabs on the day.