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The Kleinmond Harbour 21K 19 May
Friday night saw a storm hit the Cape coast with monster waves
hitting the coastal towns. Dawn [Dion's wife] was thinking
of staying in bed, but come Saturday morning the winds had
dropped and all seemed still.
The 120km drive out to Kleinmond went well and as the sky
lightened I lined up with 320 other runner for the start of
the first Harbour Half. I didn't want to run too hard, but
with a top 3 on the card I didn't want to throw away the chance
of a podium finish.
I went out with the leaders to see the competition, but after
a 3:06 3rd km, I backed off and let the first 3 go. We ran
through town to the Hermarnus side and then the climb started.
First up to the Caravan Park, then onto Heuningklip, a protea
farm on the side of the mountain.
With no-one behind me I had to keep an eye on the leaders.
I soon found myself taking spilts to see how far behind I
was. At 8km I was about 50sec behind 3rd, then came the 10th
km, a climb of mountaineering proportion. At the top you could
see to coastline and the wetland miles below, one of the best
views on the running circuit, I couldn't stop and admire the
view. I now had a race on my hands as I had closed the gap
to 10sec and Monk [the 3rd runner] had just started down into
the Protea fields. Running down the jeep track with the Protea
all sprouting new leafs it was 'something out of a movie'.
The 2nd half was easier as we rounded the mountain on the
way back. I caught Monk at 13km and the race for the last
Podium position was on. I went past him at full pace and thought
if I could drop him he would fade... That wasn't going to
happen as he came with me and the harder I ran the more he
just tucked in and sat behind me. We played cat and mouse
till about 19km when I tried to break him one last time. By
this time we had left the farm and had reached the coast.
My surge took us up a few stairs to reach the beach road,
but I couldn't shake him, so I slowed and left him to the
R50.00 3rd place prize and I stopped for coke at the next
water table and took an easy run back. This gave me time to
watch the 5 meter swell crashing into the rocks, WOW
!!!
Ratings: (Out of 5)
The course: 4. OK it's not the flatest of races, but
this is a goodie.
Marshals: 3. There were plenty, but with the gap at
the lead of the race a few were asleep.
Handouts: 4. The first 100 pre-entries recieved T-shirts
Cost: R30.00
Value for money: 4. The best medal I've see and a lovely
area
Other People's feeling about the race: 4. This will
grow, from what I heard the hills didn't scare anyone and
the rest of the running fraternity is going to hear about
this new race, It's one of the best new races.
Total score = 19 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 4. Loved it, and will be
back, maybe I can pick up a podium finish next year.
Next week John Korasie 21.1km WP Champs, the Pinelands Relay,
and Table Mountain 16km Race I'll be atthe Mountain Race.
The Durbanville 21K 19 May
I was still chatting to friends when the gun went off. With
this being a Sunday race, I was using it as a long run. Most
of the Comrades' runners were using the Marathon as their
long run. The marathon was 30mins before our start.
Not in any rush,we took 20 seconds to cross the start-line
and 5:30 to reach to 1km mark. Jules was moaning that he hadn't
warmed up yet, but that didn't stop him picking up the pace
and we were soon running sub 4's. Running through the back
markers we picked up a lot of flak, like: "What are you
doing back here."
As the 'kays' past we left suburbia and headed into the Winelands,
in fact at 5km we left the tarred road for a gravel farm road.
It was a perfect day, with not a breath of wind and the sun
shining brightly. At about 9km we caught the first lady and
ran with her for a bit. I don't know what had happened, but
we had picked up the pace maybe it was the down hill, but
I didn't really want to run that fast. We turned off the gravel
at 13k, and the road flattened again, luckily we slowed to
a reasonable pace.
It wasn't long before we hit the only unpleasant part of
the race a short stretch past a farm and the rather strong
smell of manure. With that behind us we crossed the road at
a rather well marked and marshaled spot. (They've had problems
with traffic before.) Jules now told me to go on ahead as
he wasn't fit enough to hold the pace. I stayed and we ran
into town together, but he forced me to stretch my legs out
over the last km.
Ratings: (Out of 5)
The course: 3. Nice area, but we have 5 other races
out there.
Marshals: 4. They were on the ball, as we've had traffic
problem out here before.
Handouts: 2. On finishing we all received medals. Nothing
exciting.
Cost: R30.00 I still think it's a bit much.
Value for money: 3. R30.00 for a medal, they are lucky
it's a great route, the best in the area.
Other People's feelings about the race: 3,5. Some people
say it's the best half, while others said it was to tough,
but all enjoyed it.
Total score = 18,5 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, a new race out at Kleinmond 'the Harbour Road
21.1km'
The Ceres 21K 11 May
Last week saw the first of the snow to fall. That was Monday,
and I had hoped that the next Cold Front would do the same.
It was due in on Thursday, but missed the Peninsula. You see
the weekend's race was the Ceres half and we had booked a
night away and with the mountains surrounding the little town,
it would have been a great sight.
The 08h00 sounded great, but with the sky clear, the air
was still crisp. I just wanted a steady run, so I didn't warm
up, hoping to warm up through the first couple of km's. I
was still chatting to the guy behind me went the gun went
off. Our conversation was cut short as I turned and ran off.
It took me far too long to catch the TV runners and to find
a group running at my pace. I don't know if I took time to
get going or if they had started off like a 'bats out of hell'.
The first 4.5km was flat, as we wove around the town. A short
climb took us to 5km and the top of the pass and with a surge
I had blown away the group I was running with. I don't know
what entered my head, but I had a need for speed, and with
a long down hill to the turning point I took off.
Km after Km I turned up the pace I wasn't getting faster,
but the other runners were getting slower as I was moving
up the field. So much for an easy run. The leaders had turned
and had started the slow climb back up the pass. I crossed
the bridge at the bottom of the pass as positions 8 & 9 headed
back over the old bridge. With gold medals till 10 I now had
to hold my place.
After running so hard down the hill my legs didn't want to
work any more, so I just settled into a tempo pace, and there
went my 10th place. The 2nd guy to pass didn't get away and
I tucked in behind him. With the time approaching 09h00 it
was still cold in the shade of the mountains and the little
head wind didn't help to warm things up.
After a few easy km's, letting the others do the work I had
recovered and decided to take back my 10th place. With the
hill getting steeper I had no problem in dropping the guys
I had been running with as well as catching number 10. 1km
from the top I was on my own and with gold in my sights I
was flying. The last km down into Town and onto the field
to finish seemed to take forever. With one of the front runners
been disqualified I finished 9th.
Ratings: (Out of 5)
The course: 4. OK it's not the flatest of races, but
Mitchell's Pass is special and Ceres is one of the prettier
Country Towns.
Marshals: 3. They did their job, not many needed
Handouts: 4. The first 400 pre-entries all recieved
a bag of Ceres apples and a small Ceres fruit juice, then
all finishers also recevied a small Ceres fruit juice. Cost:
R25.00 That's good
Value for money: 5. Apples, Fruit juice and a Half,
all for R25,00.
Other People's feelings about the race: 4. OK the start
was cold, but I don't think anyone froze they all seemed to
enjoy it.
Total score = 20 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 3. My legs are sore from
the down hill, but for a great weekend I'll be back.
Next week Durbanville Half & Marathon
The Table Mountain 10K 04 May
Saturday morning started like any other, with my alarm going
off in the dark and a search for my club vest and shorts.
The need to get to some races earlier than others is apparent
when you arrive late and you have to park miles away. We were
lucky and found an empty space not to far from registration.
So getting to the start on time was no problem. With a blow
on the whistle we were off, with the mountain to the right
and the city down to the left.
The Tafelberg Road 10km race is just a simple out and back
run along the so called flat section of the road. I was just
after a tempo run to see how my legs were feeling after last
weeks Marathon. Well, as we headed out I was going well and
with the sun about to make an appearance over the mountains
it felt great to be a runner, in fact just as I reached the
5km mark the sun rose over the mountains.
Turning my attention back to the race the lead runners were
now on their return and 2 my club mates [VOB]
were doing well. Due to the weak field, I was quite high up,
with a 4th runner we could maybe pick up the team prize? After
my turn at the end of the road I started looking for the 4th
runner. He was a long way back... but since team prizes are
worked out on time I decided to pick up the pace and keep
our chances open.
My legs held out and the last 5km was a minute faster, and
I wasn't the only one who had picked up the pace, James, the
4th club member had also been speeding up and we took the
team prize. A real bonus.
Ratings: (Out of 5)
The course: 4. Nice area, and right time of year, the
race used to be run in
the windy season.(a big mistake)
Marshals: 2. Other than at the turnaround I don't remember
seeing a single marshal.
Handouts: 2. On finishing we all received medals. Nothing
exciting.
Cost: R15.00
Value for money: 3. You don't often run on that road
and a race like this
gets you out on the mountain, and there were some great spot
prizes.
Other People's feeling about the race: 3. Some said
it was a bit hilly, but
most were 'taken aback' by the breath taking views.
Total score = 14 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 3. I won money, it was great...
OK I could
complain about the start and the fact that we had to walk
400m to get to it
and some of the field started before the line...
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