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The Outeniqua Marathon 42.2K 27 Apr
OK so I wasn't in Cape Town this weekend. I took a long weekend
and headed up the Garden Route for a break, and entered the
Coastal Cement Outeniqua Marathon.
The race started in George, and being a small field I took
the lead and headed into the Mountains. After a 5 km climb
I thought I was going to have a run-away victory. But a km
along the contour path, over looking the town, the chasing
group past me as if I was standing still. I was running well,
but that didn't stop a 3rd runner from flying past.
The drop back into George was quicker than I remembered,
and it was nice to get back on to tar. I wasn't the only one
who liked the tar as the next guy flew by. A couple of turns
later and he was out of sight, and I was the only one on the
road. In fact I didn't see another marathon runner.
I left town on the muddy road and headed for the dam and
the start of the half, they had started at 8h00, an hour after
us. The dam was flat and the reflection was a perfect double
of the mountain and forest. On the grassy jeep track around
the dam I almost ran into the spectators who had watched the
half start, as they ambled back to their cars. A short climb
took me away from the dam and onto the road to the Saasveld
campus.
With 17km still to go I caught the first of the Half Marathoners.
With people to chase the running became easy again. We left
the Campus and joined the old road between George and Knysna,
after 2.5km of down hill the "easy" was over as
we climbed Strawberry Hill, the shorter of the two remaining
hills. I thought I was running fast as I sped past half marathoners,
but km splits don't lie.
With the hills behind me I had 11km to go and a sub 2hr40
was still the plan, but some plans are made to be changed
and this was one of them. The run into Wilderness was just
too long and my legs gave up on the 2h40 and settled for a
2:42:30. I had lost 2:30 in the last 4km (the same time I
had lost last year over those kms)
Ratings: (Out of 5)
The course: 5. Best in SA
Marshals: 3. I ran alone the whole way and never got
lost, but I didn't see
many marshals
Handouts: 2. On finishing we all received medals. No
coke at the finish,
only Powerade!
Cost: R45.00
Value for money: 3. I'll be back. If you can get there
and stay the weekend
it's realy good value, but you must make a holiday of the
weekend.
Other People's feeling about the race: 3/4. If you
do the away races,
everyone said this is the one to do.
Total score = 17 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 4. I had a good run, loved
the scenery, but it
was a bit lonely running the whole way on my own.
Next week Table Mountain Road 10km
The Kyocera Mita 21.1K 20 Apr
One of the things about running is getting up in time for
the race. I don't really have a problem, but some people always
leave it to the last minute. Well on Saturday, the mist on
the road out to Big Bay was so thick that you lost 10min getting
to the venue. We registered with plenty of time to warm up,
and a warm up was needed.
With the mist still around, and this been a flat course,
I could sense an onslaught on PB's. With a blow of a whistle
we were off, I didn't quiet get the story as to why we were
started with a whistle, but go is go in any language.
I just wanted a solid run 77 or 78, Jacov decided to join
me and aim at his PB of 78:40. Well the first km was far too
fast, so we eased up a bit and km's 2 and 3 were just what
the doctor ordered. Then, as the lead group disappeared off
into the mist, something went wrong. I had told Jacov to run
an easy 5km in 18:30, then without stopping repeat that till
20km and then kick for home.
The running was easy and the kms flowed by, and the longer
the race got the faster we ran. (something like London Marathon
and Paula Radcliff) It felt good to be running well again.
For the first 10km I could see that Jacov was happy running
next to me and pushing the pace a bit. He just didn't know
that I wouldn't let the pace slow. He was doing the maths
for a 78 (and hoping to take the 2nd half easy) and I was
doing the maths for a 75 (and was looking to keep the pace
fast).
After two loops in Melkbos we rejoined the road back to Big
Bay. The race was going well and with 7km still to go anything
could happen, on that coastal road. Km after km I urged Jacov
to stay with me, I needed him to keep me going. Then with
3 km to go he started to slip and I was left working on my
own. Last week I had kicked with 2 km to go, so I tried again
this week. So much for a kick I had run my slowest km in the
2nd half.
With the drop into the parking lot to the finish I was able
to pick the pace up again. Jacov wasn't too far behind and
he had run a 4min PB. In fact runner after runner had run
a PB or a year's best.
Ratings: (Out of 5)
The course: 3. Flat fast, but the last 7km seem a bit
long.
Marshals: 3. With very few marshal point not much could
go wrong.
Handouts: 2. On finishing we all received medals. Nothing
exciting.
Cost: R30.00 That's a bit steep for me, the entry fee
goes up, but the prize money stays the same !
Value for money: 3. A flat half with no wind, and almost
no traffic, that's what you want.
Other People's feeling about the race: 4. The field
wasn't as big as it should have been, but the 700 runners
who made the trip enjoyed the run, and even said "I should
have gone for a PB"
Total score = 15 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 4. I liked it. I needed
that, a race I can feel good on, run hard without racing.
Next week, I take to the road and head for George and the
Outeniqua marathon.
 The
Dan Luyt 15K 13 Apr
I was in two minds about running the race this weekend, but
come 05h30, I was awake and not likely to go back to sleep.
I thought I would make the trip to Durbanville. After all
I needed to run, and lying in bed does nothing for the log
book.
The 07h00 start wasn't too late as the sun is rising later
and later, these days. I got to the sports grounds with 15min
to spare, leaving me plenty of time to enter and make my way
to the start.
All to soon the gun went off and I had to make a plan, of
how to run. James was headed out at 3:50 and I thought it
would be a good idea to join him & Paul, a low 57 wouldn't
be to hard on the legs. His watch beeped 10m after the first
1km and then 15m after the 2nd. The pace felt easy as we left
'suburbia' and headed out to the Winelands of Durbanville.
The undulating road did little to slow us, I did notice
that Paul would fall behind on the up only to catch up on
the downs. With 1.5km to the turn around we left the main
road and turned onto a dirt road for the last stretch. It
wasn't before the leaders started heading back. My club mates
were lying 2nd & 3rd while a 3rd was also in the top ten.
Seeing this I picked up the pace thinking I would be the 4th
in the team.
Lucky for me a 4th VOB
runner came running past, so after the turn I slowed and let
the others catch me. Running together again, we came across
some congestion, at the turn back onto the tar road. I enjoy
these out and back runs, as you get to see how all your friends
are doing. It always surprises me at the number of strangers
who know me.
By 11km, we had passed the last of the runners heading out,
and with only one hill left I was feeling strong. So with
2km to go I changed gears and upped the pace to 3:20/km. We
had some time in the bag, and with my fast finish I ended
up with a time of 56:09. Lets see what happens next week.
Ratings: (Out of 5)
The course: 3. Nice area, but we have 5 other races
out there.
Marshals: 2. They didn't keep us to the right side
of the road, and at the
turn we had to run through on coming runners.
Handouts: 2. On finishing we all received medals. Nothing
exciting.
Cost: R18.00 That seems to be the norm.
Value for money: 2. I drove a long way to run this
race and all I have to
show for it is a medal in a box, but the closer you live to
the start the
better value.
Other People's feeling about the race: 3. Most of the
guys I spoke to said
it was a good tester for Comrades, the legs seemed to be recovered
from
Oceans, and now it's time to log the miles.
Total score = 12 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 3. I like to get out of
suburbia, and with a
beautiful sunrise and not a breath of wind it was a pleasure
to run the race.
Next week, Kyocera Mita 21.1km. A flat fast course, lets
hope the wind stays
away.
The
Telkom 10K 06 Apr
A week after a Marathon or for that matter an Ultra, 2Oceans
one should be
resting, right !!! Well then, my question to you "is
why were there so many
runner at Saturday's 10km race" ?
Let me see if I can answer this question? Dawn, had only
run the Half last
week and this week she wanted to break 40min for the 10km,
and I had to run
with her, I should be able to run a sub 40 earlier.
With a 07h30 start and a pair of socks to all finishers,
I had no excuse not to run and I don't get to run with my
wife that often. The race is held in Wingfield, an Army base,
so traffic is no problem and few marshals are needed. A big
field lined up and the with the sound of the gun we took off.
A group of 7 of us, had our sights set on sub 4's the whole
way. I think half the field got ahead of us as we passed the
1km mark in 3:54, just fine for the first km. As the rest
of the field settled into their running we had to fight our
way threw the masses who had all set out too fast. In perfect
conditions on the flat course we reached 3km in 11:52 and
proceeded to lose 2 of our party, we were running to slowly.
At 4.5km, we pass the finish line. the cheering crowds and
the commentator spurring us on. The 2nd loop has an out and
back leg past the 5km mark, our time of 19:54 meant that we
had to work hard on the 2nd half. The road was a little less
crowded for the 2nd loop and although I was my usual vocal
self I could feel the 56km of last week still in my legs.
The km's went by and we reached 9km in 35:55, with one to
go it was just Dawn and I left in our bus, the others were
all ahead. As we headed round the last bend before the field
we were catching the backmarkers who still had 5.5km to go.
Finishing on the field didn't seem to slow us down, as we
finished with a time of 39:50.
Ratings: (Out of 5)
The course: 4. Away from traffic and as flat as a
pancake.
Marshals: 3. They did their job, not many needed
Handouts: 4. On finishing the first 350 received medals
while all finishers
got a pair of Telkom socks.
Cost: R15.00 The norm.
Value for money: 4. Sock and a well organized race,
that's value.
Other People's feeling about the race: 4. Everyone
seems to be back year
after year and I guess they'll all be back next year.
Total score = 19 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 3. I had a lot of fun and
didn't exert myself,
I think I should run with Dawn more often.
Next week The Dan Luyt 15km
This
week the The Two Oceans 56K 30 Mar
For a lot of runners in Cape Town, this race starts at midnight
as the old year ends and you make your New Year's resolutions.
I was even more dedicated and started back in October. I had
set myself a few goal on route, and things were going well.
Well, things went well till the end of January and I got sick.
Being stubborn, I only took a short break and then it was
back to the road... OK, so I still got all the work done,
and looking back at my training diary I was in shape to run
a good time. Now, as you all know, a race the length of 56km,
a lot can go wrong.
Registration started on the Wednesday, and on Thursday afternoon,
I went through to UCT to pick up my number. After finding
parking, I had to go home, I didn't have what was needed to
register. That evening, I took my Wife and the two of us made
the trip again. Registration was slick, with large numbers
of helpers making sure that all 13 000 runners could get there
numbers and goody bag. With our Champion Chip checked, we
went inside to the Expo. I was a little disappointed with
the Expo as I expected more exhibitors and specials on products,
everything seemed to be shop price.
With Friday, a holiday we slept late and on waking I though
it a good idea to get ready by pinning on my number and Champion
Chip, well I had lost my Champion Chip. To cut a long story
short, the organizing is so good, that getting a new Chip
was no problem.
Saturday morning and on to the race. With my "A"
seeding, I joined the top runners at the front of the pack.
After a traditional blow on the fishhorn, the gun sounded
the start and off we went.
The Main Rd out of Ronderbosch was well light and the support
was good. The slight climb to Wynberg (4km) was no problem
and I soon found myself on the long 'downhill' to Fish Hoek
(21km). I had lots of support from Club members, and friends
not running. My plan for the morning was to go out at 3:40
per km, a pace I should handle easily. How was I to know,
that the Virus I had picked up in Jan was to rear it's ugly
head and say, "I'm still here!!!" ? I tried hard
to ignore 'him', but once through Fish Hoek and with Ou Kaapse
Weg ahead of me there
was nothing I could do.
My race was run, I had to set new sights, a sub 4hr for
a silver. After 7km of hill, I thought I would be able to
stretch my legs a bit on the down, that didn't happen and
the leading lady flew past. With 20km still to go the race
was starting to attack the runners and I saw a friend climb
into a car,' his race was run'. This part of the race is'flat-ish'
and I pushed through Tokia to the Marathon mark, my time of
2hr49 was 10-12mins slower than I wanted. And I was now running
at 5min/km, my silver was now not going to happen.
Southern Cross Drive is the last of the real hills and is
long enough to scare the strongest of runners. At this stage
of the race the non-running supporters have come out to watch
us cramp and suffer up the hill. (I didn't disappoint). On
the first half of the hill my 'everything' was lifted as I
"ran" through a water tunnel and the ladies on the
other side flashed their sexy bikini's to us. I was now been
overtaken by many a runner, and the days of me overtaking
were numbered, but I wasn't the worst on the road and before
Kirstenbosch I had caught a few 'other' suffering runners.
With music pumping out at the watertables and the cheering
crowds I was up "Chet's Hill" at 53km and as good
as home. Karen then picked me up we ran the last km together.
It's always special when you finish a great race with a friend,
Thanks Karen.
Ratings: (Out of 5)
The course: 4. It will be really nice when we are back
over Chappies
Marshals: 5. Large numbers, Cops, and road closers
great.
Handouts: 4. On finishing we all received medals, Coke
& a Beer (That went
down well)
Cost: R80.00
Value for money: 4. T-shirt, Goody bag and one of the
geatest races
Other People's feeling about the race: 5. Every one
I spoke to said it was
great, some told stories of stopping at water / physio tables
for a massage
and 2 young first years tackling his legs, he got his money's
worth.
Total score = 22 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 4. If I had run well I would
have given it a 5.
Next week Telkom 10km
DION
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