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HAT is the
Highveld Altitude Training camp based in Secunda in South
Africa.
Training in the Highlands of South
Africa
In the East of South Africa is a province called Mpumalanga.
The name is Zulu and its meaning, place where the sun comes
up. In the Western part of the province is an area called
the Highveld. It is on the plateau and it's characterized
by endless grasslands with gentle sloping hills. The soil
is very rich and the area is famous for its maize and cattle
farming. It is also a place that is very rich in gold and
coal.
The population is low with scattered small towns. Unlike
Western Europe the towns are average 20km apart and in between
you only see rolling hills with cattle and green cornfields.
The area has a rich running culture. The biggest local hero
is definitely the 1996 Olympic Gold medalist in the Marathon,
Josiah Thugwane. His running career started only 30km from
where I live in the town of Bethal. Interesting enough the
same town has also produced some world class sprinters. Llewellyn
Herbert the silver medalist at the Sydney Olympics in 400m
H grew up in the very same town. Many top runners from the
100m to the marathon, both black and white have come out of
this region in the last two decades.
The Altitude
The altitude, according to opinion, is very close to perfect
for distance running. The town of Secunda where the athletes
will be based is situated at 1650m above sea level. The routes
for long runs are at 1700m. It is one of the highest points
of the plateau. 10km from the town is the watershed. All water
to our East goes into the Elephants River and eventually makes
its way into the Indian Ocean and all the water west of the
town flows eventually into the Atlantic Ocean. The above fact
makes it clear that this is one of the highest places in the
Highveld.
We also arrange 3 to 7 day trips to the mountains of the
Eastern escarpment. Although there are no tracks, athletes
can do endurance training in absolutely breathtaking scenery
at an altitude of 1800m to 2400m. This is also a tourism mecca
and chances are good that you will meet other people from
your country in the small mountain towns.
The Town of Secunda
Secunda is where you will be based during your training camp.
It is one of the bigger towns in the Highveld and has therefore
some advantages. It is a very new town and is only about 30
years old. The town started with the discovery of coal in
the area. The biggest source of income is from an
industry called SASOL. Because the town is so new it has been
designed wonderfully and is a paradise for runners. In between
the houses are "green strips" as we call them. It
is a never ending maze of natural parks with trees, ponds and
grass fields. There are gravel paths in the "green strips"
and one can easily run a 10km without running on the same place
twice and without ever getting lost. The parks are very save.
Summary :
The Highveld:
- In Western Mpumalanga
- Grasslands
- Maize and Cattle farming
- Flat or long hills
- On plateau
- Relative low population
Local Sport Heroes:
- Josiah Thugwane (Olympic gold Marathon '96)
- Llewellyn Herbert (Olympic bronze 400m H, Sydney)
Secunda:
- About 30 years old
- Sasol is main source of income Industry that refines coal.
- Altitude is 1650m - 1700m above sea level
- On watershed of Indian and Atlantic oceans
- Mainly Afrikaans community
- Maze of park areas in town. Ideal for training
Medical facilities in Secunda:
- Private Clinic (1km from Lodge)
- Private Hospital (5km from Lodge)
- Doctors
- Dentists
- Physiotherapists
- Emergency services
- NO MALARIA!
The Weather:
- Not too hot in summer.
- 23 - 30 ºC day temperature
- Rain: Thunderstorms in late afternoon. Lasts usually only
about 40min.
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