Rhodes Trail Run
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Rhodes Trail Run : Rhodes Village, Eastern Cape Highlands
The Rhodes Trail Run is an annual trail running event held around the Victorian-era village of Rhodes in the southern Drakensberg mountains of the Eastern Cape Highlands. The event was first staged in July 1989 and has been held most years since; it was interrupted for two years during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The event is noted for a festive atmosphere before and after the race and for the local mountain setting. Temperatures at the start are often below zero, commonly around -10 degrees Celsius. In the spirit of trail running the event does not offer financial prizes; awards are limited to a small number of floating trophies and identical pre- and post-race hand-outs for participants.
Organising responsibility has changed hands several times since the early years, and partnerships for recent events have been under review. The listing for future editions includes an event date in July 2027. The race maintains a gallery of past runs and publishes results and annual records.
The event is presented as a community-centred trail run that highlights the landscape and traditions of Rhodes village and the surrounding highlands. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.