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The LoFER is a collection of endurance ultra runs designed to introduce runners to the joys of ultra running in wild and beautiful areas (and believe us, the Longmore Forestry Reserve is spectacularly beautiful!)
The routes for the race are very runnable, but they are not easy! "Endurance Run" is a true reflection of what the LoFER has to offer you.
The routes are a mix of logging roads, old forestry roads and jeep tracks, with a generous sprinkling of single track trail sections and a few challenging ascents and descents. Runners on the bigger ultras will tag the peaks of Blouberg (~810m) and Elandsrivierberg (~1000m) with its infamous collection of false summits!
The LoFER Lite 50 MIle, LoFER Mini 50km, LoFER Micro 30km, LoFER Pace 18km & LoFER Fun Run 7km routes all share a small portion of the main LoFER route before branching off to establish their own unique identities as races.
Race weekend is a festival of trail running as we have distances to suit everyone.
Run the LoFER and experience true trail community vibes in an amazingly beautiful setting with our awesome trail family!
The idea for the LoFER first came about over a beer or two one evening (as these ideas usually do), when trail running mates Sian O’Keeffe (Live Adventure) and Andy Wesson were chatting about good areas to train in near Port Elizabeth.
Andy showed Sian a roughly 80km loop he had mapped out in the Longmore Forest Reserve, specifically designed to cross enough fresh water points in the area to allow for maximum self sufficiency while doing long (60 - 80km) single day training runs.
Sian said to Andy - “well … 80kms is half of 160kms … what if we did a 2 loop 100 Mile race - we run one loop in 1 direction, the second in the opposite direction - kind of like Leadville, but as a loop instead of a straight out and back?”
And so the idea for the Longmore Forest Endurance Run (aka the LoFER) was born …
For the first 2 editions this was the format for the 100 Mile race. The 50 Mile race simply did 1 loop of the course, and the 30km and 50km races also share part of the loop.
Then we started getting requests to add a 200 Mile distance in …
Which in turn led to us having to rethink the concept. (I mean … 4 loops of the same course would just get boring right?)
So together we reworked the race format, redesigned the course, and launched the new format of the LoFER in December 2023.
The 100 Mile race is now a single 100 Mile loop race. It is without a doubt a tougher challenge to finish, and is certainly going to test your endurance!
The 200 Mile race follows the old format of the 100 Mile race - 2 loops of the 100 Mile course, run in different directions. Going out for the 2nd loop will definitely test your commitment!
This race will test you to the limit both mentally and physically, but when you come out the other end of it, you will be forever changed as a runner!!
10:00 to 12:30 - 200 Mile Race Registration
13:00 - Race briefing 200 Mile
14:00 - 200 Mile Race Start
200 Mile race continues.
No specific schedule - you can arrive early if you wish - just let us know.
12:00 to 17:00 - Race Registration
17:15 - Race briefing 100 Mile
18:00 - 100 Mile Race Start
04:45 - Race briefing 50 Mile
05:00 - 50 Mile Race Start
05:45 - Race briefing 50km
06:00 - 50km Race Start
06:45 - Race briefing 30km
07:00 - 30km Race Start
07:45 - Race briefing 18km
08:00 - 18km Race Start
08:15 - Race briefing 7km
08:30 - 7km Race Start
10:30 - Prize giving 7km/18km race
11:30 - 7km final cutoff
12:00 - Prize giving 30km / 50km race
14:00 - 30km final cutoff / Prizegiving 50 Mile race
18:00 - 50km final cutoff
23:00 - 50 Mile final cutoff
10:00 - 200 Mile & 100 Mile final cutoff
10:30 - Buckle ceremony & prizegiving
12:00 - Event closed
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Runners are required to have the following with them at all times along the route.
You will be required to have all these items at registration.
The following items are recommended to be in your pack.
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Runners are required to have the following with them at all times along the route.
The following items are recommended to be in your pack.
+ M
- M
Runners are required to have the following with them at all times along the route.
The following items are recommended to be in your pack.
+ M
- M
Runners are required to have the following with them at all times along the route.
The following items are recommended to be in your pack.
+ M
- M
Runners are required to have the following with them at all times along the route.
You will be required to have all these items at registration.
The following items are recommended to be in your pack.
+ M
- M
Runners are required to have the following with them at all times along the route.
You will be required to have all these items at registration.
The following items are recommended to be in your pack.
+ M
- M
Runners are required to have the following with them at all times along the route.
You will be required to have all these items at registration.
The following items are recommended to be in your pack.
Early bird pricing will be available until midnight on the 31 March 2026, or until they sell out - whichever comes first.
Standard entry pricing is available from when early bird entries sell out / close, until 31 October 2026.
Late entry pricing is applied from 1 to 30 November 2026.
Online entries close at midnight on 30 November 2026.
There are a total of 600 slots available - 100 per distance (25 early bird, 75 standard)
We know things don’t always pan out as planned. Sometimes life (or a pandemic) just gets in the way.
As a result we have the following policies in place:
Any entry cancelled before Oct 31 2026 will get a 50% refund.
Any entry cancelled between Nov 1 & Nov 30 2026 will get a 30% refund.
Any entry cancelled after Nov 30 will forfeit the full entry fee.
Alternatively, instead of cancelling, your entry can also be deferred to 2027.
Any deferrals will incur the price difference between the 2026 and 2027 entry fees, along with a R300 deferral fee.
Substitutions will be allowed up to 30 Nov 2026. All substitutions will incur a R250 substitution fee.
In the event we have to postpone the race (for example due to fire risk), all entries will be carried over to the new date.
Should you not be able to make the new date, you will be entitled to receive a 75% refund, or a free deferral to the 2027 race.
We build an entire race village at the Longmore Forestry Station.
All races will start and end here, and we hope to have an amazing race vibe across the race weekend.
Tented accommodation for 2 people (canvas dome tent with 2 x beds, mattresses & all bedding), or empty camping site for 2 people (bring your own tent) are available in the race village.
Stay with us and immerse yourself in the race village & trail community vibe of the LoFER!
Camping options are limited, so click the button below to book yours before they are all gone!
Food vendors will be on site from Friday 18 December.
If you arrive before then, please plan to provide your own food. Controlled braai fires will be available for your use.
You must also bring your own drinking water.
There will be coffee and beer available :)
Races like this require a massive crew of volunteers to make them happen.
If you would like to volunteer to assist over the race weekend, we will reward you with a discounted entry to next years LoFER, or any of our other races.
In return for your 100 Mile sweep services, you have an opportunity to help us pre-run the route at the Helpers 100 Mile run on the weekend of the 27-29 November.
This is a no-charge opportunity to tackle the LoFER 100 miler as an unmarked, self-navigated, partially cleared route under race conditions with limited mobile support.
Expect long, lonely stretches, possible self service drop box CP’s and potentially rough/wild route sections. If the weather is wet / misty, navigation and running conditions can be quite challenging.
It is run under race conditions, ie. 18h00 start time, drop bag & pacer allowed, 40 hrs to complete and in-race cutoffs apply.
It will take place between 27-29 November - 3 weeks before LoFER 2026. If you finish you will earn a LoFER 100 Mile finishers buckle, and have your results published in the final overall published results for the event.
To get onto the volunteer list, just complete the form.
© Live Adventure (Pty) Ltd. All rights reserved. The LoFER is a Live Adventure event.