Approximately 1 000 off-road runners took part in a series of runs along the reserve above Knysna Heads, in the process shattering the route records.
The race is run in three stages - a dawn run at 08:00; an afternoon run at 13:00 and a night run at 19:00.
The first run saw a duel between Gauteng champion Thabang Elias Madiba and Stuart Marais of Stellenbosch, with the latter turning up the heat right from the word go. Incredible climbing legs and stamina made Marais unbeatable over the 15km Coelacanth Route, finishing in a time of 55 minutes and 33 seconds.
Carla van Huyssteen dominated the women's field as expected, finishing in seventh overall position with a time of 1 hour, 7 minutes and 41seconds.
Both athletes entered the Big5 Challenge of the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival and with their victories on the Salomon Featherbed Trail managed to hold onto the yellow jerseys that they were awarded after each stage of the competition.
Running on the pristine trails of the Featherbed Nature Reserve during the annual Salomon Featherbed Trail Run, presented by GU. Photo: Jacques Marais Media.
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