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The December Event Reports by
Dion Middelkoop
Table View 21K 21 Dec
Saturday saw the running of the Avbob Half, this was always
a 15km race, but being the 21st time Avbob have sponsored
the race they opted to run a 21K on the 21st...
Sue was wanting to run a PB, and Roger
wanted to run a good time. So, we left the Ladies to aim at
95min, while we took a crack at 73min. It was easy to get
into the race, Roger and I took the lead and for a short while;
I thought we would win the race, but with 20km to go the illusion
was shattered.
We lay in 3rd for a while, then I started
thinking I would have to run a tactical race in order to beat
him. At 3km, 3 more runners came past and we started to work
together to see if we could run a good time. Roger took the
km to 4k and I to 5k, with Roger leading to 6k.
I was thinking that after 5k, I would
have to slow and jog home (a long way), but we were closing
the gap on 5th place and I recovered a bit. I took the pace
as we caught him and the 3 of us ran together. I don't know
what happened to Roger, but 3:30 was just too fast for him
and he fell off the bus.
I let the other guy do a bit of work,
hoping that Roger would close the gap, but after a 3:42 he
was n't able to. So, I took the pace and picked it up to 3:30
again. I was running hard and alone, but that first 3:30 had
been no problem. I kept the pace up, but something happened
and the watch said I only managed 3:40, then a 3:46 followed
by a 3:45. The legs had, had enough and with a slight breeze
blowing into me I was running as fast as I could. A 'laatie'
from Worcester caught me so I tucked in and he dragged me
back on to pace, with 3:40, 3:37, 3:33.
I wasn't going to let him go till I
was out of the wind. With only 4km to go, I thought I could
make it home. After a slow km I noticed that some-one was
catching me. It was Roger, me being in front had kept him
going, and now that I had him behind me, it was enough to
get me going again. I held him off for the last 3km, but we
were a far cry from our aim of 73.
Amy Biehl Guguletu 10K 16 Dec
Monday was Reconciliation Day, and we headed out to Guguletu
for the 10km race. Luckily for us the heat of the past few
days was on holiday (Like the rest of us) and a light breeze
kept us cool, with out which a few of us might have melted.
My legs had been a bit heavy after last
weekend's running, so I had to set my sights on an obtainable
target, I wanted to beat the ladies (Elana wasn't running)
after been beaten last week. I didn't kill myself at the start,
I let them get away. I would soon pull up to them when I got
into my stride, then it would just be a matter running with
her, I knew I would 'out kick' her.
With a 1st km of 3:14 and the "pack"
of 3 ladies still ahead I was in trouble and I still had 9kms
to go. My 2nd km was 3:18 and I was now catching them. As
I joined the pack one of the "Girls" fell off the
pace. I say girls, because 2 of them were juniors and the
3rd is just tiny.
With the 3rd km being a 3:20 we lost
the 2nd placed girl, then half a km later I fell off the back.
I just needed a breather, and I found myself running in no-mans
land with a 15 year old girl running me down. By the time
she caught me I had my legs back and now I needed to consolidate.
The leading lady was 10 seconds ahead, and it would require
a 3:20 to catch her. I know I shouldn't have, but I took a
bit of timeout and tucked in. She was running just under 3:30,
the same as the lead lady so the gap wasn't growing, it was
only me who was growing in strength.
Then with 2km to go I went for it and
to my surprise I caught her with a 3:19, now all I needed
to do was to hang in there for 2 minutes then put in a last
spurt. My race had been run to perfection I had beaten the
ladies and run a good time.
Ratings: (Out of 5)
The course: : 3. It's flat and one of the faster course
around, but in places the traffic is a bit of a problem.
Marshals: : 3. I think they did a good job, it's just
the runners who need to listen
Handouts: 2. Medal I didn't stay for prize giving to
see the spot prizes.
Cost: R15.00
Value for money: 3. It's inline with other 10km races.
Other People's feeling about the race: 4. A lot of
us never get into the poorer areas so it's good to see where
other South African's live, while the black athletes enjoyed
racing in their neighbourhood.
Total score = 15 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 3/4. The support on the
side of the road is better then most races.
Next week Strand or Avbob Half.
Boyes Drive 15K 07 Dec
This time of the year sees the late nights and early mornings
getting to you and standing on the start line you often wonder
why. You know what lies ahead, yet you force your weary body
to get to the start and then hope memory takes over.
So, with the sound of the gun my legs
started running and I was out in front as I've set the pace
for this race for so many year before. With a 3rd and a 5th
place in recent years I know that I would be up front when
the real running started. It takes about a km to get to Boyes
Drive and by that time a whole host of runners had come past
me, and with a downhill thrown in at the start I would have
my work cut out to get back into the top places.
I didn't seem to have any pace left in
my legs, so I rolled down the hill and took the U-turn at
pace (a rather slow pace!!!). I didn't seem to slow on my
way up, so I reeled in a few of the would be front runners,
and before the road started to level I was flirting with the
top ten.
I was now in a small group and I would
need all my guile to fight them off. So I waited for the next
hill and made my move... I don't think I ran any faster, I
just think they slowed, but I was now alone and chasing the
next group. All to soon the hill was over and I turned into
the 'target' and was been run down.
My legendary downhill speed had gone
on holiday and the guys I had so easily run away from on the
up were once again breathing down my neck. They didn't catch
me before the next up so I was let off the hook this time.
I found myself working hard up the hill in order to put as
much distance between us as possible.
With the front runners now coming back, I thought I would
be turning soon so I counted the runners and found myself
lying in 8th place. After the turn I saw the chasing pack
been lead by John. He had got the better of me in the last
few races, but today would be a different story, if the legs
held out.
Trying hard not to lose anything on the downhills, I would
hammer the hills. I know it's not a good thing, but I was
looking back to see the gap. After the last hill it was still
big enough, and with only 3km to go I was now running against
the clock. A sub 55 was on the cards, 3 minutes slower than
last year, but every race is different. I turned of Boyes
Drive and headed for the track, the running was gone and the
legs were just turning over from memory. I held onto my 8th
place, but didn't break 55.
Ratings: (Out of 5)
The course: : 4. It's not the flattest course, but
it's a nice run.
Marshals: : 3. With very few turns or traffic we had
no problems
Handouts: 3. Medal and a few bottles of wine
Cost: R20.00
Value for money: 3. It's inline with other 15km races.
Other People's feeling about the race: 4. It must be
the start of the holidays, but the runners were out in force
and all enjoyed it.
Total score = 17 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 4. Maybe next year the body
will be will to run fast and I can get back into the prize
money.
Next week Strand or Avbob Half.
Sundowner 10K 06 Dec
Friday was hot and more a day for swimming than running, but
that didn't stop us heading to the Waterfront for the Sundowner
10km race.
At 18h00 it was still over 35 degrees
C so the start was delayed till 18h30. It was still hot when
the gun went off. I just wanted a hard run, so I got into
my running early and set a steady pace, but the front lady
would have none of this and she tried to pass me. I had to
speed up to stay with her as we left the Waterfront and headed
down the Sea Point Promenade. The water tables did little
to cool us as the water was all lukewarm.
I wasn't the only one struggling with
the heat as one of my club mates dropped of the pace leaving
me the 4th member of our team. At the turn I was dropped by
the leading lady and I didn't even try to fight back, I was
only running to get back in one piece now, the thought of
a team prize kept me running at a tempo pace, but not having
read the flyer before the race I didn't know that there was
no team prize.
Running into the Waterfront to finish
I pushed out my chest and lifted my knees to look good for
all the spectators who were sitting around drink beer.
Ratings: (Out of 5)
The course: : 3. I was really impressed that they had
taken us out of the Waterfront without a traffic problem.
Marshals: : 3. With very few turns or traffic we had
no problems
Handouts: 4. Beer mug and a voucher to fill it at one
of the Bars
Cost: R15.00
Value for money: 4. Just look at the handouts and the
cost is inline with other 10km races.
Other People's feeling about the race: 2/3 .Friday
was to hot to run and that seemed to be the only complaint.
Total score = 17 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 4. I don't get to the Waterfront
very often, so I had a great time.
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