Race reports
			Welcome to the introduction of event reporting throughout the Western Cape. We will provide candid short reports on events based on the personal experiences of the runner. Dion Middelkoop Time-to-Run's roving reporter

The January 2003 Event Reports by Dion Middelkoop

Wanting to log up the miles I ran the 8km to the start of the race, then lined up
with a few friends ready to take on the challenge. With the wind behind us we set
out at just under 4min/km. I don't know how it, but Fish Hoek seemed to be the
enemy. With one trying to run us down while we were running another down. He did
catch us at 6km, but wasn't going to last. Turning onto Ladies Mile we now had the
wind to contend with and poor Mr Fish Hoek was out on his own. He didn't last long
as our bus cut through the wind. I think Mike was pushing the pace, he might blame
me, but we had a nice pace going, and once we had reached the Main Road our bus grew
with Charles and Garath catching us. I don't know what came over us, but we dropped
the bus a few times and had to slow down to let them catch up. I stopped for Coke at
one of the watering tables and joined the back of the bus, but didn't feel
comfortable there, so I worked my way to the front again. At 14 we turned of the
Main Road and start heading home. Both Mike and I pulled out of the Bus and dropped
behind it to wait for Stef who had got last at the turn. We weren't racing the
others, we just wanted a steady ran. With the engine out of the bus the wheels came
off and running up the little hill with Stef, Mike and I started to pick up the
pieces. The bus tried to stay together, but we seemed to pick the pace up a bit and
people started falling of the back, in fact for the last 2km it was only Mike
Charles and Myself hanging in there, then as we reach the field.... Well I was left
behind the other sprinted off in a mad rush for the line. Charles won that little
race.

The course: 3/4. It could be a really fast race, with the only hill between 15 & 16.
Marshals: 1. I wasn't the only one complaining about the marshals, they didn't
seem to know that they are meant to stop traffic and show us the way...
Handouts: 2. I got a medal,
Cost: R25.00
Value for money: 3. I think we are spoiled in Road Running in Cape Town, other
sports are so expensive.
Other People's feeling about the race: 2/3. Very windy, and unpleasant, but since a
lot of runners used it as a long run not all moaned
My feeling about the race: 3. It was just a long run, but I had fun.
Next week: ... Top Forms 15km

Redhill 36K 25 Jan
Saturday saw us lining up for a race over 36.2km. Yes, that's a very strange distance, so we decided to take it easy, like a Sunday long run.

A group of 4 of us lined up amongst the masses. It felt good to be in the pack and not fighting for a place up front. With the first couple of km's being flat we got into a steady pace just under 4:30/k. We seemed to be in a bus, just shy of the lead ladies. Dawn and Karen had come out on their bike to support us, but all we had got was abuse about the fact that 4 ladies were ahead of us.

The abuse stopped as we climbed out of Kommetjie, we dropped Karen, but I pushed Dawn half way up the hill, putting pressure on Stef to push his wife. At the top of the hill, Dawn waited for Karen as we joined the bus we had caught. Half the bus ran away from us on the downhill, but we didn't feel the pressure, 36.2km is a long way and the next 10km were 'flattish' so we just set about catching them all.

I don't know why Dawn and Karen didn't just spend the morning in a coffee shop, because all they did was chat! We on the other hand, ran along at our steady pace singing about the place we were running through: Misty Cliffs & Scarborough. Before the climb of Red Hill, the field split and the marathoners turn left for and out and back leg, while we went up the mountain. I don't know what happened, but we seemed to be alone as we made the climb.

Stef pushing Karen, Mike pushing Stef and me pushing Dawn., while Roger was left behind. There wasn't another runner on the hill, we didn't catch anyone, and no-one was catching us. It wasn't till the road flattened and the decent started that the leading marathoner caught us.

At 24,5km we pulled into a watering table for the view and a glass of bubbly. A 3:45 break does wonders, but I struggled down the hill as the bubbles of the bubbly burst, 'felling' me. Once the jarring of the downhill finished, the running returned to us. The ladies had done the typical thing, left us on the down, and that after we had helped them up. Revenge was sweet when Karen got a puncture !!! With the sea to our right and the gentle breeze at our backs we headed home. Not at 4:25, but at a more natural 4:00min / km. We finished strong, which bodes well for the coming races.

Ratings: (Out of 5)
The course: : 4. This a not an easy course, but one doesn't race a 36.2km race, it can only be a training run and this route lends it's self to an excellent training run...
Marshals: : 3. I think they did a good job, It looked like they were preventing the cars from hitting the runners.
Handouts: 4. Potatoes, to get your energy back after a long run, and a medal
Cost: R30.00
Value for money: 4. Food! and a lovely route.
Other People's feeling about the race: 4. Better than last year, I need to get training, or I can kiss Oceans good bye! .
Total score = 19 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 3. Long runs have started, and Red Hill was a good way to start the build up to Comrades! Next week: ... Kloofnek classic

Hohenhort 15K 18 Jan
Living just over 1km from the start we decided to run through and register for the race. I don't know if that was really a good thing, because I was 'stuffed' by the time the gun went off.

Luckily I'm at that level of fitness that allows you to run no matter what, and since we had planned on an easy sub 60 I soon got into the running and started to recover.

The first few km are flat and easy. The "team" stuck together till about 3km when the hills started and I sent the youngsters off. As they pulled away, we caught the 3rd placed lady and set our sights on the next one, a pretty little girl from up-country.

We had just caught her when the hill ended, so she pulled away and left us in her dust. With Southern Cross being the next hil,l I knew we would pass her again. There was still one lady ahead, but she was 'flying' and I didn't want to run too hard.

By 8km, I was having [muscle] contraction and decided to dive into the 'green belt' to lighten the load. I lost 2 minutes on Stef and Jacov, and with only 7km left I would have my work cut out in catching them.

Luckily for me, the next couple of km are tailor make for a 'lunatic' like myself. Firstly into Ave Bordeaux a knee jarring downhill, followed by Hohenort, a hill so steep it makes Polly Shorts look flat.

I had made up most of the time, I had lost by 10km, but I still had some work to do. I think they must have stretched their legs a bit over the next couple of km's, as I only caught them with 1km to go. That last km was so easy, the change of pace from 3:10 to 3:50 made such a difference.

Ratings: (Out of 5)
The course: : 4. This a not an easy course, but after December most people don't want to run fast, they want a bit of a challenge, and this course does that..
Marshals: : 3. I think they did a good job, It looked like they were preventing the
cars from hitting the runners.
Handouts: 4/5. A race calendar and a pair of socks!!
Cost: R20.00
Value for money: 4. Great handouts and a lovely route.
Other People's feeling about the race: 4. Liz said I haven't broken 80min in years, I don't know what happen, Richard also ran a PB, while most were just out for a "fun run".
Total score = 19/20 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 3. I just wanted a solid Saturday run and Hohenort did that for me.
Next week: ... Redhill 36.2 classic

Bay to Bay 30K 11 Jan
Saturday was the tenth time I've lined up for that 30km. Now 30km, is a long way and since last year I had, had a good run I knew I would be in trouble this year.

Now I wouldn't say I was less fit than last year, but I think I'm a bit broken still from last year.

I would say the 60 odd races I ran, 25 of which were run in the past 3 months had taken there toll. The big aim for the year is Comrades, and so, I suppose, I have to get used to running on sore legs. (rest week is coming...) I was planning to take it easy till I was told it was a league race.

I didn't go with the gun, I just rolled out down the road. Lucky for me I found Graham to run with and he pushed me along. The 2nd and 3rd km were far too fast and I knew I would be in trouble. The climb doesn't really start till 5km so it wasn't till then that the pace slipped over 4min/km. It wasn't the fact that I was running over 4min/km that had got to me, it was the fact that it felt like 3:25/km.

The hill seemed to take for ever, and I might have pulled away from Graham on a few occasions, but my breaks never lasted long. It was great to crest Suikerbossie and have those downhill km's ahead of you.

On reaching the flat I don't know what happened, but we seemed to be holding quite a good pace. Running next to the beach and through the hand-over point for the two person relay, we were looking good. But 1km later it was 'all over', well Graham crumbled and I was left to take on the steep side of Suikerbossie all on my own.

It's a long way up a steep hill to run alone. Luckily for me there was a group of runners just up ahead so I aimed at them and caught them. I didn't want to have to pass them, but they were running too slowly, so I went past. I thought that one of them might follow me, but no go.

Next, I caught Sue, she was running the 2nd leg of the relay. I could then see my wife up ahead, but the gap didn't close and she crested the top. With almost 9km of downhill to follow, the Bay to Bay has a really fast finish, and Dawn had started her final finish push. It took me 2km to catch her.

Once past, I set about running down the next couple of runners. With 3km to go it got rather difficult as the downhill flattened and I had to work again. Camp's Bay beach was a welcome sight, I only wish the water was a bit warmer...

Ratings: (Out of 5)
The course: : 4. Camps Bay to Hout Bay and back, it's a good way to start your years training.
Marshals: : 3. I think they did a good job, it's just the runners who need to listen, a few runner still seem to take their life in their hands by weaving across the roads.
Handouts: 3. Medal and a few good spot prizes.
Cost: R30.00
Value for money: 4. R1.00 a km on one of the more scenic routes.
Other People's feeling about the race: 4. "I ran better than I thought I would", "30km is a long way", they all seemed to enjoy it.
Total score = 18 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 3/4. I pleased I can still run 30km on sore legs, and the pace didn't feel to fast, so I think we could be heading for a good year, I feel Bay to Bay is a good tester for the year.
Next week : Hohenort 15.