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

Red Hill 36K 24th January

By the number of people lining up at the start you might think that something big was on the card, well I think half of Cape Town is trying to get back into running for Oceans... I was lucky and got to start near the front, so once the gun had set us off I didn't have to fight my way through slow traffic.

After about 2km we had a VOB group of about 6 which grew to 10 by 4km. The group didn't stay together, with some pulling away on the flat km. At 8k, we hit the first climb and Graham set off like a bullet. I stopped to talk to Dawn, who was following the race by car. I didn't stop for to long as I didn't want to have to work too hard to catch up. At the top for the hill, Graham was stretching and waiting for us, I think we were making a lot of noise, because a couple of people sped up down the hill to drop our, not so little, bus. In fact a few km down the road, the Race Ref. cycled up to us and said that he wanted to pull us over for noise pollution!!!

We stuck together till the bottom of Red Hill about 20km into the race. Once again Graham tried to pick up the pace and work the hill, but as he got ahead, the rest of us went into "stealth mode" and picked up our pace and overtook him... he wasn't impressed. Trevor, who had left us on the down was now in our sight, so Roger lead the charge and I followed wanting to beat him to the top. We passed Trevor before the top, but then the race started, the road had flattened a bit, so my advantage had left me and a mad sprint for the top insured, he won...

On the way to the lookout, we regrouped and 7or 8 of us reached the water tables at the same time. Stef, Mike and myself stopped for a drink and to admire the view, which was made all the better as one of the helpers handed us a beer. Once it was finished we started our decent to the main road. We had lost 4min on that km, but a couple of 4min km down the hill let us catch Roger and Graham who must have been running at 6min/km down hill. (I'm impressed)

It took as a couple of km to warm-up again, but with 5km to go we upped the pace and started knocking off sub 4's. The competition stood no chance as all who stood in our way was swept aside. In fact, the pace had got so hot the Stef eased off as we passed the last km in 3:40, leaving us 200m on the grass to take us home.

The course: 4 This is 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, you can't really go wrong.
Handouts: 4 Potatoes, to get your energy back after a long run, and a medal
Cost: R40.00
Value for money: 4. Food, you get potatoes at the finish, and a lovely route.
Other People's feeling about the race: 4 Better than last year, the weather was good to us so the race went well.
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 Oceans!
Next week: ... Kloofnek classic, but I think I'll run a 5000m on the track.

Hohenort 15K 17th January

Living very close to the start of a race has its pluses and one of them is that you can sleep late (if you call 06h00 late). It was a picture perfect morning, and even the wind stayed away. (for most of the race)

Not yet ready to race, I let a few of the guys go, and tucked in with Stef. The 1st km in 3:36 felt as if I was racing, I don't think I could have run any faster, which isn't a good sign!!! By the 3rd km we hit the hills and the pace slowed and I started to feel a little more comfortable. The 5th km took us up Southen Cross Drive and although I hate to admit it, the competitive side of me had already pushed the pace a little up the hill, and I had to let Stef play catch up.

Malcolm caught us just before 6km and asked for our running time. It was 23:20 at the km marker, he had started 72 sec late and was playing catch up. At first I let him go, but as the gap grew I got edgy and thought I would run with him for a bit... Malcolm is 6 foot plus and not afraid of hills, up or down!!!

The 9th/10th km took us down Ave. Bordeaux, it's not easy trying to stay with Malcolm on the downs, for every two steps he took I took 15... I was very relieved to turn the corner and start the climb up Hohenort... Maybe I'm not in such bad shape, as I dropped him and went past a number of other guys. At the top I regrouped with a couple of club mates, but with 4.5km of mostly downhill to go I let them go ahead. I didn't really want to race. As I dropped off the pace Malcolm joined us, so I ran with him a bit. Big mistake!!! Soon we were at the front and pushing the pace and I was caught up in a race, which I had to win...

The course: 4 This is not an easy course, but with over 1000 runners were, it's what is needed
Marshals: 4. I think they did a good job, It looked like they were preventing the cars from hitting the runners and we didn't get lost even with all those turns.
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 It's just a 15km, but every year the numbers are high, the crowds like this race, they want to see how Oceans training is coming on.
Total score = 21 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

The Bay to Bay 10th January

After blowing in my last two races, I was a bit worried about running 30km, any ideas of racing were blown out the window. Yes, the wind was 'turned on' and was causing trouble. Entries had been moved and the start delayed, but with all of that out of the way the gun finally went off and the race started.

Not wanting to run further than 30km, I was right on the start line and got away down the hill into Camps Bay with no trouble. As I watched the leaders speed off, I was joined by Stef and Mike, then Graham, Charles, Dean and Gareth. It looked quite good, 7 VOB runners sitting in a bus.

With the first 6km been mostly flat the group was a lot bigger and we even had the lead lady with us. That started to change, as we started the gentle out towards Suikerbossie. At the one water table, I did stop for Coke and joined in at the back to see what was happening. I tried to convince Melody the, lead lady, to stay with us up the hill, but by the top she was gone. When running within myself I can't really sit in the pack, I always seem to find myself leading and taking the wind, I don't know why? There was quite a nice wind blowing as we crested the top and headed down into Hout Bay.

We hadn't lost a lot of time, and with the 2km of steep downhill we were back onto 4min/km. 14 to 15k, they helped us by throwing in a short km (which wasn't made up later). Half way was reached in just over 59min and we were still a group of 7 VOB runners, that was till Graham bolted for home, he likes to run the 2nd half hard. By the bottom of Suikerbossie, he was 30sec ahead, and I was chatting to Charles. That was till he dropped off the pace. The rest stayed as a group, while I just ran...

The hill is only 2km long, so there was no problem. I caught Graham and dropped him. I seemed to pass half the field ahead of us. Then at the top I stopped, well I started walking... I didn't want to get caught up in a 10km race to the finish, as it was the distance would kill me. The 90sec walk did me a world of good. With Graham now flying down the hill our bus was down to 6.

Over the next 5km we made up the lost time and got back onto pace. The last 5km seemed to last for ever and I was very please it was only a 30km and not a full marathon. In the last km and a half we strung out a bit, but we all made in under 2hours.

The course: 4 Camps Bay to Hout Bay and back, it's a good way to start your years training but I think the course is a little short.
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 I didn't stay for prize giving.
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: 3 The wind had made the start unpleasant, but it was more irritating then than slowing us down.
Total score = 16 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 2. I hope I can get fit in two weeks, because Red Hill is then and that's 36km (I was very happy to be finished).
Next week: ... Hohenort 15