Race reports
			Welcome to 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 June 2003 Event Reports by Dion Middelkoop

Comrades Maraton 16June

Comrades is one of those races you have to decide to run long before you get to the race line. I had made my decision in fair time and I thought/hoped that all would go well. For those of you who live in Durban half the work is done... I had to make sure that I got to the start in one piece. So my race started on Friday with the long drive up to Durb's. Saturday was spent at the expo getting registered and checking out the stalls (To be honest I think it could have been a lot better.) Sunday was spent resting for the big day, and yes rest is very important, the 05h30 start in Pietermaritzberg meant I had to get up at the time I used to get home in my youth...

With over 13 000 runners the traffic was a little busy for that time of the morning, but my chauffeur works in the little town and took us in via the back route and straight to the drop-off point. I hear that a few guys had to run to the start!!! The race is long enough without having to do that. Standing in my pen I soon found a few friends, and the wait started. With Chariots of Fire playing in the background the scene was set. The crack of a pistol and the bang of a canon set us off.

It took me a few hundred meters to get into my running. I was in no hurry 89km is a long way and you don't need to get carried away at the start. With the 05h30 start we had 30min more dark at the start and I think that was a great help. Before I knew it, I was running down Pollys and with 10km down I had settled into a pace of +_ 4min/km on the flats and whatever happened on the hills I didn't really care I just wanted to enjoy the run for as long as possible. I know I shouldn't make excuses, but even at this early stage of the race I didn't feel comfortable. Over the next 10km I tried to get into that rhythm that is needed to keep you in one piece for as long as possible. I didn't find it, but what I did find was the highest point of the race was after 20km, so for the down run you basically run up for the 1st quarter! With the sun now up, it was one of the better sunrises I've seen in a race, it was getting light and the supporters could now been seen packing the side of the road. Coming from Cape Town I didn't expect to have loads of support, but around every corner someone seemed to know me. By half way I had seen some of them 3 times... The best thing about the climb up Inchanga was the drop into Drummond and the halfway mark. With just over 3hrs of running gone I know it was going to be a long day. The 2nd half would be a fight for survival. In fact I started to look for walking places, but the running gods were cruel to me and none 'arose'. I had to run on.

With my hips hurting I pushed on, I just wanted to run for as long as possible to get this stupid race over as fast as possible. On the over hand the crowd support was amazing, as we reached suburbia and it was nice to be a part of this ever special day. In the 2nd half of the race you have some lovely downhills, making it easy to run it faster than the 1st half. That would only be so if the 2 half were run as a separate race. I was very thankful of the downhills as they allowed me to run on. I wasn't running very fast, but running was faster than walking. With about 30k to go these 'fat little girls' came jogging past me... I wasn't very impressed, but the Russian twins had a lot more left than I did, and there was nothing I could do about it. I was now in an area I knew, and would soon be running past the house I was staying. That 'soon' seemed to take forever, but Irene and her Mom were on the side of the road watching as I ran past looking as good as I could. Field Hill was great, a nice long downhill and at the bottom only 20 to go. I did the sums and decided that a silver would be easy as long as I was moving... No sooner had I come to this conclusion than I cramped, my left hamstring, it had tied itself into a little ball. I was stuck standing in the middle of the road trying to straighten my leg. With my leg straight I started walking then I moved back into running. I redid the sums and the silver was still easy in fact I even thought about a sub 7!!! Grace ran past me looking very strong, I wanted to go with her but the only real thoughts I had were survival.

I don't know how long Grace stayed ahead of me, but I past her as she was now cramping. She wasn't the only lady with problems I could now see one of the Russian ladies taking a bit of strain. With only 5 or so km's to go I started to lay a perfect plan for a great finish. I didn't want to catch her to soon, nor did I want to be to strong when I went by. I caught her in town and the crowds were amazing as I ran past and opened a bit of a lead on her. Not wanting to get too far ahead I slowed to a walk and let her catch me again, it was really difficult to walk with the crowd egging you on, so I start running again. I played this little game for almost 3km (bad I know, but we were almost running at the same speed...) I think it was well worth it the reception we got as we entered the stadium was overwhelming. (The TV coverage was also quite good and all of Cape Town knew I had made it)

The course: 4. I ran this race back in 2000 and hated it, I think the down run is a lot nicer.
Marshals: 4. I don't know how they could be faulted, from keeping on route to holding the crowds back they were great.
Handouts: 4. The medal is a bit small, but they do give you a good goodie bag.
Cost: R110.00
Value for money: 4,5. For only R110.00 you can have up to 12 hours of fun!!!
Other People's feeling about the race: 4. I don't think I spoke to anyone who didn't enjoy it...
Total score = 20,5 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 3. I enjoyed it and will be back, if my wife lets me...

Table Mountain 16k 08 June

With Comrades just a week away, I took my chances for a silver medal in my hands, when I lined up for the start of the Mountain race. But, there are something's one just has to do. With a 1st, five 2nd's and a 3rd place I had to be there. I had to run, but I also had to be careful, and careful I was.

From the gun, I took the lead and started to pull away from the other runners. Unfortunately Nkosana decided to see if he could stick with we, he couldn't, but I was a bit sluggish with the training 'mileage' of Comrades still in my legs.

I was enjoying the race, I love being out front and the best runner there... Now this is a race of 3 halves and I'm not the best of all 3... While the going was tough, I was able to keep my lead and as the road got really steep up to the bridge, I opened the gap a bit more. But that was it, the road flattens for a little before the last pull up to the King of the Mountain.

With Nkosana, a 30min 10km runner, I stood no chance as he could now run, and run he did. I was left for dead, OK not quite, I was soon catching him again, as we started the last climb for the top. I had been lazy and had allowed him to get too far away from me, so I was beaten to the top.

Once up, I just ran as I felt, keeping a good tempo. I didn't need to race, I wasn't going to win and 3rd was miles back. I must confess I was half hoping that he would twist an ankle on the rocky section before we cross the dam wall... He didn't and I didn't have to feel guilty, I saw him back on the road as I ran along the wall.

My race ended at the end of the loop, I had to take the downhill easy and not destroy my legs. At each turn on the way down I looked back and at first I thought I could hold onto my 2nd place, but Vuyani was flying. [ I bet his legs are really sore ] I let him pass me with 1.5km to go. I had lost 3min on the 5km of downhill, and it had only cost me one place, I think it was worth it. My legs feel good and now it on to Durb's and the Big "C"...

The course: 4. It's not steep enough... It's a good route and well worth the run.
Marshals: 3. They were lucky as the rain had stayed away... it could have been cold up there!
Handouts: 3. Lot's of spot prizes from the sponsor, New Balance.
Cost: R30.00
Value for money: 3. All profits go to the parks board, so that's great.
Other People's feeling about the race: 4. What do they say: "Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun", Well only Mountain Goats and want-to-be Mountain goats run this race!!!
Total score = 14 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 4. I love it !!!
Next week: Comrades

John Korasie 21k 01 June

I know this race has been around for a long time, but this was only the 2nd time that I was running it as a half, and last time they had turned us at the wrong place and the race had been almost a full km short.

With Comrades just around the corner, I lined up with my wife [Dawn] and decided to let the medal hopes race off, not that I would have kept up. Steve, who is also running Comrades, joined us and we tucked in behind her and let her set the pace.

By the first km, we had a large group and due to the near perfect condition and the 'race-ability' of the route, we moved as one through the early km without losing anyone. Dawn had told Fran that she would run with her till 10km. Fran wanted to break 90min and Dawn wasn't fit enough to go the whole way at that pace, so I knew we would fall off the back.

We weren't the first to go, as Jason fell of the pace at 6km, over the next couple of 'kays' the group started to thin. Being an out and back course the leaders were coming back and they were flying, a real pleasure to watch. Just after 10km Dawn slowed and I joined her, Steve took the turn at 10.5km with the pack we had been running with, but stopped to stretch just after the next water table.

It didn't take long for us to catch him. We ran together from then, leaving Dawn a few paces behind. While Steve and I, did the maths to see what time we would run, Dawn just quietly set the pace from behind. She wasn't racing anymore, even though we tried to get her to chase the ladies ahead of us. It had been a well paced race, the first 10 at just over 4:10/km and the 2nd half at just over 4:20/km. It wasn't till well into the last km that Dawn kicked for the finish-line and Steve and I had to hold on for dear life.

The course: 3. It's flat and one of the faster course around, and now that it was run on the Sunday the traffic wasn't too bad.
Marshals: 3. I think they did a good job, it's just the runners who need to listen.
Handouts: 3. Medal to all finishers, and there were also T-shirts for sale.
Cost: R30.00
Value for money: 3. It what you expect for a half
Other People's feeling about the race: 2. A 10km walk was also held and they shared the finish and finishing card, so we don't really know if the results will be right!!! This upset some of the slower runners.
Total score = 14 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 3/4. I enjoyed the run, the legs are starting to feel as if they might see me all the way to Durb's
Next week: UWC and the Table Mountain Race!