🗺️ Route / venue info: We’ll be running the Blue Route, marked with blue arrows and Canicross markers. The route is roughly 6km, but we’ll cut past the field to finish at 5km back at the parking area.
The run starts just past the parking, heading into the bush. The first section is quite gravelly, so take it easy. From there, we move through lush jungle terrain, loop around the dam, then back through the bush. The final stretch takes us through grassland, onto the road, past the open field, and back to parking.
If you encounter off-lead dogs, please give them and their owners space before continuing.
The park is open to mountain bikers and runners although they generally don’t start as early as we do, so please be aware you may encounter them on the trail.
The restaurant will be open for breakfast as well and dogs are allowed only 1 rule no dogs allowed on the table haha.
📊 Attendance
Please ensure to click to link to website and add your details to RSVP for the run.
⚠️ Important reminders
- Runs are postponed if temperatures exceed 25°C or if there is lightning nearby
- Please arrive slightly early; we run together as a group and share key info before departure
- Reactive dogs (yellow collars) go ahead, please give them a wide berth
- When overtaking, call out “passing left” or “passing right” clearly
- Reinforce the “on by” cue and praise your dog
- Allow dogs to settle before the start
- Redirect fixation calmly; avoid dragging your dog backwards on the leash
- Dogs must not interact in Canicross mode; keep two leash lengths between teams
- Water bowls will be available at the finish; bring a fold-up bowl if needed mid-run
- I will have first aid, extra water & sunscreen and will stay at the back
- Please advise me of any medical updates, injuries, or if your bitch could be in heat
- Ensure vaccinations and tick prevention are up to date 🕷️
- Warm up properly, start slow, and cool down well
- No food and limit water 1 hour before running; offer small amounts post-run
- Bring poop bags and clean up after your dog
💡 Top tip:
Arrive with your dog in a normal walking collar or harness. Change into Canicross gear at the venue and remove it after the run. This helps signal working mode versus social mode.
🐾 Canicross guidance
In any Canicross activity, your dog should be running happily ahead of you. If your dog falls behind and you end up pulling them along, it’s instant disqualification. You’re a binomial team, you need to move together at the pace of the slowest teammate. If your dog lags, stop immediately and check why. If it’s unusual, or you notice tiredness, injury, or illness, get your dog checked by a vet before Canicrossing again. If it’s a fitness gap, slow down and build your dog’s fitness up more gradually.
And to address the more common issue in this regard, to our enthusiastic four-legged teammates: we ask that you please follow this rule closely too. Listen for the ‘steady’ cue or your human’s cues, and be gentle with your human. You will need to gradually increase your human’s fitness levels over time.
🐾 Social run reminder
This is a social run, not a race. Enjoy the pack, practice skills, and condition your dog in a relaxed, supportive space. Go at your own pace.
We do track team PBs and times, please add your run to Strava as a Canicross South Africa Club run ⏱️
Really looking forward to seeing you all!
LLLLEEEETTTTTSSSSSS GGGGOOOooooooooooo… 🐕🦺🏃♀️