18 Hour Backyard Style Ultra

About the Event

The 2026 edition of this event promises a fresh and exciting format.

Check out the 2025 event on Instagram: @ghostmilesevents

Kicking off at 18:00 on Saturday, 29 August 2026, participants will venture into the night equipped only with headlamps, determination, and the element of chance. Over the course of 18 hours, The Gauntlet will unfold one lap at a time, with each distance determined by a playing card. Every loop offers a new perspective on the course, the conditions, and the runners themselves. As night descends and the dust settles, the event will embrace the essence of The Gauntlet: unpredictability, camaraderie, shared endurance, and the quiet connections formed at checkpoints.

By 12:00 on Sunday, 30 August 2026, the final horn will sound. Some participants will have surpassed their own expectations, while others will have discovered their limits. However, everyone will leave with the understanding that The Gauntlet is less about victory and more about participation, perseverance, and the support of those who stand by you through the long hours.

The 2026 event will not merely replicate 2025. It will be more challenging, more deliberate, more atmospheric, and crafted around an experience that lingers long after the final lap.

The Gauntlet 2026 is an 18-hour backyard-style ultra with a unique twist. The rules are straightforward: complete one lap every hour, on the hour. The twist? The distance remains a mystery until a card is drawn. Each draw reveals the distance - sometimes manageable, sometimes daunting - perhaps 4km, perhaps 8km, and each hour presents a new challenge.

This event layers chance over endurance. You can't predict what's next, nor can you strategize your way out. The Gauntlet demands something more challenging: the resolve to line up repeatedly, regardless of the card drawn each hour.

At its heart, The Gauntlet serves as a reminder that running is not solely about distance or speed, but about confronting the unknown. It's a challenge designed for runners eager to test themselves in ways beyond the reach of a stopwatch.

So, the question for 2026 is clear: how far can you go when the distance is left entirely to chance?

Where? Kruistementvlei Farm, Piketberg, Western Cape, South Africa

When? Saturday, 29 August 2026

Time? 18:00 pm Start

Cost? R1450 per Runner

What's Included?

Each Runner will Receive:

• A Medal (Even if you only complete one lap)

• A T-Shirt (Only for Entries received before 31 January 2026)

• A Goodie Bag (Only for Entries received before 31 January 2026)

• 2 Nights Camping (Saturday 21 March - Monday 23 March)

The Venue

A Trail Runner's Paradise! Kruistementvlei Farm is a place that rekindles your love for trails. Winding single tracks traverse mountains, rivers, dams, and lush green grass beneath towering trees. As night falls, the sounds change - owls call, frogs sing, and silence stretches wide as a sky full of stars gradually emerges. In the early evening, satellites streak across the sky, while the surrounding rock formations catch the fading light, shimmering with changing colors and shapes. Well-marked hiking paths guide you through pristine fynbos and across koppies, where caves adorned with San paintings remind us of those who walked these lands long before us.

Getting here is as remarkable as the destination itself. Whether traveling from Cape Town or Namibia, the N7 leads you through ever-changing landscapes: rolling fields of green wheat and golden canola in spring, or stubble lands glowing with warm hues after harvest. In summer, vineyards and orchards provide unexpected bursts of green among the brown hills, each turn a reminder of the vast beauty of open country.

The climb up Versfeld Pass to Piket-Bo-Berg will take your breath away, offering sweeping views across the valley. Once at the top, you'll find a thriving farming community nestled on the mountain - apples, pears, persimmons, plums, peaches, grapes, and seasonal vegetables fill the land, nourished by cooler air and lush greenery.

It's a place of contrasts: rugged and raw, yet peaceful and restorative. A destination that's unforgettable - not just for the trails, but for the journey that gets you there.

The Logistics

Event Schedule

• Race Registration: Saturday, 29 August 2026 - from 13:00 to 16:00

• Race Briefing: Saturday, 29 August 2026 at 17:00

• Camping Check-In: Saturday, 29 August 2026 - from 9:00 onwards

• Camping Check-Out: Monday, 31 August 2026 - before 12:00

Rules

• Dogs: Friendly, well-trained dogs are welcome. Owners are fully responsible for their pets at all times. If your dog causes issues with other runners, spectators, or animals, you may be asked to leave.

• Fires: No open flames are allowed in the campsite. Fires are only permitted at designated accommodation areas. Please bring your own food and cooking equipment.

• Nutrition: While a small selection of vendors and hydration sponsors will be available, runners must take responsibility for their own race nutrition, snacks, and fueling.

• Prizes: Awards will be given to those who complete the full 18 hours. Spot prizes and special recognitions may also be awarded.

• Fair Play: Cheating, route-cutting, or any form of unsportsmanlike behavior will result in immediate disqualification and removal from the event.

• Environment: This is a leave-no-trace event. Please respect the trails, nature, and surrounding community by carrying all litter with you.

• Safety: Runners must wear headlamps or reflective gear for night laps. Listening devices (e.g., headphones) are permitted, but awareness of surroundings is essential for safety.

• Medical: There will be basic first aid available on site, but runners are ultimately responsible for monitoring their own health and knowing their limits.

• Support Crew: Supporters are welcome, but must remain in designated areas and respect event boundaries.

• Weather: The event will go ahead in all weather conditions unless it is deemed unsafe by organizers. Please come prepared for changing conditions.