The HI-TEC Walker Bay Outdoor, a long weekend of sporting and entertainment festivities in Hermanus, is launching a road marathon alongside its existing half marathon, in 2023. Set to take place on Saturday, 29 April, the marathon route will showcase the spectacular scenery of the seaside Overberg town. It will also act as another of the cornerstone events, along with the ocean swim, mountain bike race and triathlon.
In 2023 the eighth edition of the multisport festival will take place from the 27th of April to the 1st of May. The action will begin on Thursday with registration before Friday heralds the start of the sporting events with the LedLenser Twilight Run. The Marathon, Half-Marathon, and See & Sand Swim Run Jump take place on Saturday. Saturday and Sunday also offers athletes a selection of trail running events Fernkloof Nature Reserve. Whilst Sunday will play host to the long and short distance mountain bike races, in the beautiful Hemel en Aarde valley, as well as the Open Water Swims and HI-TEC Dash4Cash. This year the Dash4Cash will see a very great activation where the public can also get involved. Monday the 1st of May sees South Africa’s most scenic Triathlon events starting in the Old Harbour before the weekend concludes with a Junior triathlon for the future WBO athletes.
In between there will be live music performances and ample opportunities to dance late into the night. Hermanus will also be abuzz with activity as the coffee shops, restaurants and market fill to the brim with outdoor enthusiasts. Wine tastings, adventure swims, treasure hunts, hikes in the beautiful Fernkloof Nature Reserve and the potential for an early whale sighting all add to the excitement around the HI-TEC Walker Bay Outdoor.
The marathon event is a new addition to the festival, providing a bigger challenge for the avid runners. “We’re excited to launch the WBO Marathon within the HI-TEC Walker Bay Outdoor,” event director, Gerhardi Odendaal said. “It will double up on the scenic beauty of the half-marathon and ensures that the serious runners will have an event worthy of attracting them to Hermanus for the weekend. The Marathon will also serve as a last grasp qualifier and tester for the Comrades Marathon.”
“Though the marathon is a stand-alone event within the WBO, that doesn’t mean participants can’t double or triple up too though!” Odendaal pointed out. “The festival is designed so that every participant can pick and choose exactly which events they want to do. They can focus on the Marathon entirely and hopefully join the party festivities, or add the LedLenser Twilight Run as a warm-up and a Hike as a leg loosener the following day, for example. As long as they come join the fun…”
To find out more about the 2023 HI-TEC Water Bay Outdoor visit www.walkerbayoutdoor.com. Athletes and festival goers can share in the excitement, in the lead-up to the event, by liking the Walker Bay Outdoor Facebook page or following @walkerbayoutdoor on Instagram.
| 2023 HI-TEC Walker Bay Outdoor Schedule | ||
| Date | Time | Event |
| 27 April | TBC | VIP Cocktail Party |
| 28 April | 17:30 | LedLenser Twilight Run (A BIG 6 Event) |
| 29 April | 06:30 | Marathon |
| 29 April | 07:00 | Half-Marathon |
| 29 April | 07:30 | Fernkloof Hike |
| 29 April | 07:45 | Trail Run – Day 1 (A BIG 6 Event) |
| 29 April | 14:00 | See & Sand (A BIG 6 Event) |
| 30 April | 07:30 | Mountain Bike Long (A BIG 6 Event) & Short |
| 30 April | 07:45 | Trail Run – Day 2 |
| 30 April | 13:00 | Sea Swim 5km |
| 30 April | 14:00 (TBC) | Sea Swim 2.5km (A BIG 6 Event) |
| 30 April | 16:00 | Live Entertainment at Amphi |
| 1 May | 08:00 | Sprint Triathlon (A BIG 6 Event) |
| 1 May | 12:00 | Junior Triathlon |