Not just steps: 12 000 kms of walks, runs, rides and swims, taking 1 600 hours
From dawn Blockhouse walks to after‑work runs, rides and swims — in Cape Town and wherever supporters joined — October has been one shared rhythm: moving in slow-burn solidarity with survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), logging it, and making connections as we go. Here we give a snapshot of these activities: steps, kilometres, hours, and the conversations that stitched it together.
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| A cyclist arrives at sunrise just below the Blockhouse on Devil's Peak. |
Daily Steps-for-Saartjie walks
Since 1 October there have been 356 walking ascents of the King’s Blockhouse. This was been mostly from Vredehoek, with some from Tafelberg Road and Rhodes Memorial. That’s a combined ±2 563 km on foot and around 900 hours on the mountain (at ~2.5 h per ascent). Walkers keep saying the long, steady climb is perfect for real connection and conversation.
Beyond Cape Town: Supporters have also logged activities in Kenya and further afield (including Sweden, the UK, Switzerland, New Zealand, Italy, Mexico, USA and China). Blocktober is wherever you move—together for this purpose—even if not on the same trail.
What our Strava community is doing
To build the broader Blocktober community and to make their effort visible, some supporters have joined the three Blocktober Strava sister clubs (Run/Walk/Hike, Cycling, Swimming).
Estimated collective effort (1–25 Oct): Using a sample from the Strava records, we estimate an additional ±9 541 km and 782 hours involving activities such as walking / running / riding / swimming.
Help us to count your activities in future: join the sister clubs and set Activities = Everyone in Strava Privacy controls so your distance and time appear on the weekly boards. New to Strava? See our two‑minute guide.
Sister clubs & how to join: Find and join the Blocktober sister clubs
Strava quick guide: Get Strava to record your Blocktober activities
Time‑Trial Tuesdays (the “Blockheads”)
Each Tuesday in October, the Blockhouse Time‑trial group of runners and mountain bikers dedicated their weekly dash to Blocktober. The final October ascent is Tue 28 October, leaving ~17:40 from Pin Oak × Chelmsford, Vredehoek. (For details or to join next time, contact Paul Jacobs on 0837083678 or Paul72jacobs@gmail.com.)
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| Jean du Plessis & Ruben Coetzee: work-around. |
Not everyone can walk or do mountain biking. Jean du Plessis, Blocktober co‑founder, suffered a serious accident in February 2025 when a car hit him from behind. For Blocktober 2025 he committed to daily pool swims and stationary rides instead: to date he has done ~300 km on a stationary bike (mostly with Ruben Coetzee) and 19 375 m of swimming so far this month. Same spirit, different path.
Walk with us this week (or join where you are)
Daily Blockhouse schedule & safety: Read here for meeting times, route pins and notes.
Or move wherever you are: run, walk, ride or swim where you are—then log it on Strava so we can include your effort in October’s totals.
Thank you for showing up—with your time, kilometres and conversations.
Quick links
- Please donate today – to help make the target for Saartjie Baartman Centre's income generation programme for victims of gender-based violence (you can set the tip at R0)
- More about donations
- Read other Steps for Saartjie (s4s) daily BLOGS
Next walk in Cape Town
- Date: 26 October 8am
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Duration: 3hrs, 7.5km
- Free Pizzas / Pasta afterwards at Bella Italia!
- Time: 7.55 for 8am 🕟
- Route: From the mountain end of Chelmsford Rd, Vredehoek, to the Kings Blockhouse - Starting point Pin 📍
- Difficulty: Moderate 🚶♀
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