42km Mountain Marathon

Proper trail, proper mountains, proper hard!
(Don’t try use this marathon time to qualify for Comrades)

42km / 1811m elev gain / 1811m elev loss / Record 4hrs 25min

Sat 27 April 2024 - 07h00

The Hobbit 42km Mountain Marathon should not be underestimated! No-one has yet managed to complete it in under 4 hours.
It’s an exploration of the mountains, forests, valleys and your own level of grit and it’s so worth the effort!

Good to Know

  • Record times: 4hr 25 Male Jade Muller 2015
    5hr 10 Female Jane Rebecca Pretorious 2022

  • Back runners finish in the dark!

  • Minimum age: 18 years on race day

  • 4 Watertables

  • No seconding

  • Route is well marked

  • There are checkpoints and kit checks

  • There are cut off times, after which emergency routes must be followed

  • There is a sweeper

  • See previous results  

  • Starting at Arminel Hotel with a few kilometres downhill on dirt road to spread the field, after which the route climbs steeply through plantations, up the mountain and behind The Hog.

    From here there is a steep descent and rock scramble down to the Wolf River where the trail joins up with the Merrell Hobbit 90km trail, negotiating two river valleys and then contouring along the top of the cliffs of the Zingcuka Valley forests.

    A very steep descent and a cool forest path leads to the Zingcuka hikers’ hut and the forest road. A little further and the long arduous climb to get up and over the Hog begins from where it is “all downhill” to the finish back at the Arminel Hotel.

  • At 8km, 20km, 26km and 33km
    Drinking water can be collected from rivers between 10km-20km

    Expect fresh seasonal fruit, ButtaNutt products, Nuun hydration and perhaps some homemade brownies or boiled potatoes to keep you going but ultimately you are responsible for your own race nutrition.

  • Thursday 25 April 2024

    17h00 – 19h00 90km Hobbit Journey Registration and briefing

    Friday 26 April 2024
    06h00 90km Hobbit Journey Start at Maden Dam

    Saturday 27 April 2024
    05h00 90km Hobbit Journey Start at Cata Hut
    06h00 Registration opens Arminel Hotel
    07h00 42km Mountain Marathon Start
    09h00 16km Forest Start
    10h00 5km Fun Start
    Prize-giving once most participants of each race have finished
    19h00 – 90km Hobbit Journey Prize-giving at Arminel

    Sunday 28 April 2024
    06h30 Registration opens Arminel Hotel
    08h00 21km Half Start
    09h00 10km Start
    10h00 5km Start
    Prize-giving once most participants of each race have finished

  • Click here for compulsory kit list

42km Entry fee: R850
(incl VAT)

20% Discount
when you pair with any of
Sunday’s races - 21km /10km /5km

*Online, pre- entries only. Same booking, same runner.
Online entries close at 18h00 on Wednesday, 24th April
Late entries will be available on the morning for all races with a R50 added fee.