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

Cape Town Marathon 42K 22nd February

I'm still trying to recover from the 05h30 start of Sundays Marathon, but it's a new day and live must go on... The nicest thing about a marathon is the fact that the start is never that serious even the front runners don't start off to fast.

I Like to think that I could be a front runner if I really tried, but I was planning on getting to the finish!!! I start of slow, real slow, in fact we were running so slowly that after the 1st km I had to change tactics and get into the running. By 3km things looked good and we had a group of 30ish runners flouting down the road at 4min/km.

With the Cape Doctor out and making house calls to all how was on the road I peeled of the front of the pack and slipped in at the back I didn't really want to do any more work than was needed. We snuck through 5km just over 20min, then things started to go wrong. They let the pace slow, so I decided to move back to the front and keep things on track. It wasn't 500m when the pack was back, and as we turned though Ronderbosch down a slight hill the pack went past and I found myself at the "back" again. In fact our group had split, which was OK if they wanted to go faster that was just fine.

With the wind now behind us we set off for Town, passing 10km in 39:59 (bang on target) Just after 12km we climb a nasty little hill up to freeway. I didn't slow, so I left the group I was running with and caught the breakaway group, in fact my group fell to pieces. I walked through the water table at the top to let my friends catch up. We started the long run down into Town together. Nether Stef or Gareth had yet warmed up, so they were still not running freely, which is what I wanted to do. So I left them. With the wind behind me and the down hill I put in a few fast km and caught Roger and Charles. We were now once again about 50+m behind a large bus. The km ticked away till just past half way when I had a really stupid thought...

The wind was going to be head on pretty soon, and we didn't want to fight the wind on our own, 'lets catch the bus'. Roger wanted to catch the bus in the next 200m!!! we took 1km (3:31) I think it was a good idea, but then again the wind wasn't as bad as it could have been. We entered Town for the 2nd time and Julian made a move... and the bus fell to pieces. Over the few km through town and the Gardens we around like an inch worm, coming together and stretching out. It wasn't till the wind at the start of De Waal Drive that I looked at Roger and we went for Julian, He we about to take us up the hill into the wind. Charles came with, as did a small Celtics guy. Roger is a very fair guy and wouldn't leave Julian to do all the work. After a short time at the front Julian took the pace again. I didn't want any work, I wanted to get to Pinelands feeling fresh. Then as the wind got strong and the poor Celtics guy try take the pace That didn't work, I was to slow for me so I pulled out and went to the front, only Roger came with as I upped the pace. Charles was caught off guard and as with the other didn't catch us till the downhill. The 3 of us took the downhill easy as the others started a race for the end, 8km away.

It wasn't till Pinelands that Charles got into his rhythm, it must be the fact that he's just bought a house there and thought he was running home... He didn't let us slow and we made good time over the last couple of km and finished strong, just what the coach order.

The course: 1 I would say: Come to Cape Town and ran the City Marathon... we need a new route.
Marshals: 2 I didn't have any problem with them that was the ones that were there.!! I think they seemed to have quite a few Marshals missing in what I would call important places, it wouldn't surprise me if some-one doesn't get knocked down one year soon.
Handouts: 2 Medal.
Cost: R40.00
Value for money: 3. I think a Marathon is always good value for money, but for a so called "Big City" Marathon you would expect more.
Other People's feeling about the race: 2 It sounds like people just run this race because of Oceans!
Total score = 19 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 3. I had a good run and felt strong to the end, things went well, so does it really matter that I don't like the course?
Next week: Rest or maybe another 5000m on the track, but there is a 15km out at Koeberg.