Overview

About this event

The 2027 MERRELL Hobbit Trail Run takes place from Friday, 30 April to Sunday, 2 May 2027, from 06:00, at Hogsback Inn in Hogsback, Eastern Cape. Distances are 90km, 42.2km, 21.1km, 16km, 10km, 8km and 5km. Online entries are open. Details for this event have been verified by RunningCalendar.

Races

Distances & fees

Distances, start times, cut-offs and entry fees.

Friday 30 Apr 2027 2 races

Distance	Entry Fee	Type	Start	Cut-off	Details
90km Trail Run	ZAR 4,950	Trail	06:00	18:00
Minimum age 18 years
8km Trail Run	ZAR 240	Trail	18:30	—

Saturday 1 May 2027 3 races

Distance	Entry Fee	Type	Start	Cut-off	Details
42.2km Trail Run	ZAR 1,400	Trail	07:00	—
Minimum age 18 years
16km Trail Run	ZAR 500	Trail	09:00	—
5km Trail Run	ZAR 220	Trail	10:00	—

Sunday 2 May 2027 2 races

Distance	Entry Fee	Type	Start	Cut-off	Details
21.1km Trail Run	ZAR 650	Trail	08:00	—
10km Trail Run	ZAR 330	Trail	09:00	—

Goodies

Merchandise

T-Shirt

Hobbit 90km Nonstop T-shirt earned by finishing, included in race entry.

Free with entry

Entry

How to enter

Information on how to enter this event.

Online entries

Enter Now

Closes 28 Apr 2027 · or when sold out

Design your own stage race with a 20% discount if you book online for two or more races for the same person, in the same online booking, before the 31 Jan 2027.

Fees include VAT

Entries on the day will have a late entry fee added

Hobbit 90km entries are done directly on hobbitrun.co.za

Entries open 15 Sep 2026

PRE ENTRIES ONLY and subject to application being approved

Applicants for the Hobbit 90km must submit proof of relevant experience and motivation before acceptance

Late entries will be available on the morning for all races with a R50 added fee.

Deposit R1,500, remainder due 31 Jan 2027

Refunds

Refunds: 70% refund of total entry fee is possible up until 30th January 2027 (3 months before event).

Substitutions

Substitutions are possible up to 12h00 Friday 16th April 2027 (2 weeks before the event) with a fee of R400.

Pre-race

Number collection

Collection venues, dates and times.

Hogsback Inn, Hogsback

Thu, 29 Apr 2027 · 17:00–19:00

Fri, 30 Apr 2027 · 17:00

Sat, 1 May 2027 · 06:00

Race-morning collection

Available from 06:30

A Drop Bag will be issued at registration and this is the only bag that will be transported to Mnyameni Hut (55km)

On the day

Race Day Information

Practical information for race day.

Start Hogsback Inn, Hogsback Click for directions

Finish Hogsback Inn, Hogsback Click for directions

Lucky Draw

lots of Lucky Draw prizes open to all participants.

Handouts

Finisher's medal and freshly made meal

Medical

Paramedic team on site in 4 X 4 vehicle

Refreshments

Food stalls will be available.

Showers

Warm shower from a donkey boiler

Walkers

Walk it, race it, jog it - all in the shadow of the famous Hogsback Hog.

Tog Bag

Tog bag and gift items included in race entry are only for those who compete in the event and will not be handed to third party recipients should you withdraw before the event.

Water Points

Water points every ~3 km along the route.

Refunds

Refunds: 70% refund of total entry fee is possible up until 30th January 2027 (3 months before event).

Substitutions

Substitutions are possible up to 12h00 Friday 16th April 2027 (2 weeks before the event) with a fee of R400.

Where

Location

Where the event starts and how to get there.

Hogsback Inn

Hogsback Inn, Hogsback, Eastern Cape

Get directions

Contact

Contact the organiser

Entries are open.

You enter online, not through this form.

Enter now

Organiser

Graham Bird

[email protected]

Anything else? Send the organiser a message and they'll reply to the email you give.

Your name

Email

Message

Send message

Stay

Accommodation

Places to stay near the start. Booking through this map supports RunningCalendar at no extra cost to you. Affiliate

Train

Training programs

Hand-picked training pathways to get you to the start line ready.

Coach Parry

Structured, app-delivered plans for every distance from 5 km to Comrades — daily workouts, pace targets, Strava sync and a South African coaching community.

Affiliate · disclosed Join Now

OwnMyRun · Gerda Steyn

Free, self-guided training plans built by Comrades & 2 Oceans champion Gerda Steyn — a great starting point if you want structure without a subscription.

View plans

Energy Lab

A South African running community with a built-in training app — adaptive plans whose paces recalculate as you get fitter, plus club runs, results and event RSVPs. Free while in beta.

Join Energy Lab

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