Four days in Hogsback with Fred and Debbie. We run our residential courses from Windrush, a self-catering property on the edge of the Hogsback forest in the Amathole mountains of the Eastern Cape, about 1,450 m up. Forest singletrack, wet rock, roots, mist and long climbs start at the gate.
Every course runs from Thursday afternoon to Sunday morning, with no more than 12 runners. Each one is timed for the races our runners are building towards.
2027 dates
| Dates (2027) | Course | Timed for | Per person | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18–21 February | Mountain Ultra | Addo, Hobbit 90, Ultra-Trail Drakensberg, MUT | R5,450 | Book |
| 15–18 April | Trail Skills | MUT’s shorter races, and runners new to technical trail | R4,250 | Book |
| 6–9 May | 200-mile | Mac Mac | R6,500 | Book |
| 29 July – 1 August | Mountain Ultra | Karkloof | R5,450 | Book |
| 2–5 September | Advanced Mountain Ultra | SkyRun and Ultra-Trail Cape Town | R5,950 | Book |
| 14–17 October | 200-mile | Longmore | R6,500 | Book |
| 28–31 October | Trail Skills | SkyRun 38 km and 65 km | R4,250 | Book |
Prices are per person, with three nights at Windrush included. A couple can book the double together. The course runs from Thursday afternoon to Sunday morning, which suits a Thursday flight to East London and the two-hour drive up the mountain.
What every course includes
- Three nights at Windrush, Thursday to Sunday. The price is per person with accommodation included. You share a cottage, and a twin room unless you book together as a couple.
- Coaching from Fred and Debbie, in a group of no more than 12.
- Pre-course material in our online course library, so time on the hill is spent on the hill.
- Sports massage with Mikki on site, booked and paid separately.
Windrush is self-catering, so bring your own food. Hogsback’s shops are small, and we send a shopping and travel brief two weeks before the course. You make your own way there; here is how to get to Windrush.
The courses
Trail Skills
For runners new to technical trail, and anyone losing time on rough ground and descents.
- Thursday evening: kit and headlamp check, then a run in the dark on easy ground.
- Friday: a filmed descent to set your baseline, climbing and power hiking, moving efficiently on course, the first downhill session, and a video review of your descent.
- Saturday: a second downhill session, work on wet rock, roots, mud and loose ground, navigation (including what to do when it goes wrong), and a run that puts it all together.
- Sunday morning: the same descent again, on camera. You leave with your before-and-after clips and a personal note on what to work on next.
The running volume is modest on purpose. Skill breaks down when you are tired, so we keep the quality high and the days sensible.
Mountain Ultra
For runners building towards a mountain ultra of 50 to 100 km. Pacing by effort on long climbs and descents, a fuelling plan for long days in the mountains, a long day out with full mandatory kit and poles, descending on tired legs, a section in the dark, and a plan for your own target race.
Advanced Mountain Ultra
For 100 km to 100-mile mountain races. Back-to-back long days, running through the night, aid-station and drop-bag systems, managing the low points, and weather and exposure decisions on high ground. You leave with a plan for your target race.
200-mile
For Mac Mac, Longmore and other multi-day races, and for 100-mile runners ready to go further. A supervised overnight, sleep strategy, foot care, crew and drop-bag routines, fuelling over several days, efficient hiking, and the mental side of days on the move. You leave with a plan for your race.
Booking terms
- Each course runs with at least 6 runners. If it doesn’t reach 6, we move you to another date or refund you in full.
- Cancel more than 6 weeks before the course for a full refund, or between 6 and 2 weeks before for a 50% refund. Within 2 weeks there is no refund, unless we fill your place.
Staying at Windrush
Windrush has three self-catering cottages: EverGreen, De-vine View and The Bird House. On a course we use all three, so the group has the property to itself. See the cottages or read about retreats and running at Windrush.
Can’t get to Hogsback?
Our online courses bring the same coaching to wherever you run, from Trail Confidence on technical ground to breathwork and fuelling your ultra.
Questions
Book a call and we will talk it through.