KZN#17.indd

Sani Stagger
continues to
evolve with age
Underberg local and Sani Athletic Club stalwart Dave Barnett's love affair with the Sani Stagger will continue
in 2017 although he won't be running due to injury but will continue to fulfi l his role as volunteer for the popular
event on Saturday, 26 November.Supplied/ Gameplan Media
24
Kzn Lifestyle Magazine • Issue 17
Underberg – As the fi nal entry
for the 2016 Sani Stagger was
submitted, race organisers
and volunteers were well into
their preparations for raceday
as they embrace the unique challenge
that this one-of-a-kind race presents
ahead of the start of the ever-popular
event on Saturday, 26 November.
The race has come a long
way since it was first proposed
24 years ago and with a fully
subscribed entry in 2016, a stalwart
of the race and the community
Dave Barnett believes
that the new organising committee
can take the race to new
heights.
“We used to use the Sani
Stagger as a charity run for the
SAPS Widows and Orphans
Fund back in 1994,” Barnett
commented.
“It was a small race and it
didn’t really gain a lot of popularity
until it was taken over
by the Sani Athletic Club in
2003 and it was Trish and Clive
Crawly who were instrumental
in getting the race to where
it is now.
“They got everyone involved
and made the event about the
community in the same way
that Spurg (Flemmington) and
Matt (Goode) are doing now.”
The Southern Drakensberg
plays host to a number of endurance
events throughout the
year with the prestigious KAP
sani2c, the N3TC Drak Challenge
canoe marathon as well
as a handful of running events
to have a road marathon almost
completes an action-packed, allyear
round adrenalin festival.
“The Sani Stagger is such a
unique event in that not only is
it a tough marathon and Comrades
qualifier but you don’t
often get to see the same sort of
scenery you do from the top of
Sani Pass.
“The community have
become so involved in the race
and we try to make the race better
every year in how we support
the runners and make their
experience as enjoyable as possible.
“There have been runners
coming from all over the world
in the past to take part which I
think is a testament to the popularity
of the race.
“We are really hoping that
the weather is going to play its
part and give us beautiful views
from the top of the hill!” added
Barnett hopefully.
The thirteen half-marathon
veteran has had many years
to piece together the logistical
puzzle that the Sani Stagger
poses and he, along with the
rest of the marshall team, has
been able to put together a concise
plan over the years.
“It is an incredibly long day
for us and we start at around
02:30 in the morning and from
the Sani Pass Hotel, the venue
for the marathon start, set out to
set up the watering tables along
the route.
“What I have always done in
the past is meet my son at the
21km mark at the top of Sani
Pass and run the half marathon
back down but unfortunately I
injured myself and so haven’t
been able to train which has
ruled me out of this year’s race,
unfortunately,” Barnett mentioned.
The Sani Stagger serves up
a number of challenges to the
runners and despite the rigors
of running a marathon, runners
have to negotiate their way up
Sani Pass but more importantly,
navigate the 21km of gravel
road back down.
“The road surface means that
you really have to watch every
step you take on the way down
and that can be difficult when
you have already run a half
marathon up the hill!
“Altitude is another issue
as runners will be up at around
3000 metres above sea level
at the top which means the air
pressure is a challenge in itself.
“Despite these challenges the
runners are always in high spirits
and the spirit of the community
members that assist on
race day really does lift the runners
in a unique way and I feel
this camaraderie brings runners
back every year,” Barnett
explained.
For more information go to
www.sanistagger.co.za