Race: Reutech Solutions John Korasie 30kms, Simon's Town

Isn't it strange how things pan out; a year ago, I had absolutely no intention of doing more than possibly two half marathons this year. If it wasn't for Dave Wheeler who got me through the Landmarks half marathon last year, I probably would still have thought so. It was after that specific race that I then decided to set myself a huge challenge of the 30km Bay to Bay in January. To be honest I did think to myself that it would be back to halves and tens after that race. That was until I decided that I should get at least one marathon under the belt and ticked off the list;  no better one than Cape Town Marathon [at this stage the thinking is Cape Town marathon and at least one other one like New York or London.]. So, training for 20 September has started in all earnest. 

Running partner Graham suggested that we do John Korasie 30km as a training run, which was great as the intention was purely to get kms on the legs. I was a bit worried, because for Bay2Bay we had quite a rigorous training program beforehand; after deciding to train together when we did the AVBOB 15kms, we ran 21 kms the following weekend, 26 the next and then did the 30km.  With John Korasie, the training had not been as well planned [although Graham had just had a very successful IronMan that he completed]. 

On a last minute, Therese decided to join us, which was fantastic! Her first 30km. The three of us ran together for the majority of the way. The weather was perfect for running, cool, misty with a bit of drizzle. We cut our time a bit fine to park, register, go to the loo [the latter we did not manage to do] and lined up a couple of minutes before the race started. 

The course starts at the Naval Base (where Cape Town Peninsula Marathon ends), and veers up Red Hill. It is quite an uphill, which didn't feel quite as hectic as I thought it would be, and was quite impressed that we didn't stop.

I had my trusted Gu's that I had at 9kms and at 20kms. After 15kms we implemented the run / walk strategy of running for 9 minutes and walking for 1 minute. Jeepers does that minute fly by! There were some wonderful meandering downhills. A really beautiful race. 

Therese did really well and completed in 03:40! We came in at 03:47, I am super chuffed as it was a minute faster than Bay2Bay. 

Must admit that I was really hungry by the time we reached the finish; boy did that Boerewors roll go down well!

Race: Totalsports Women's Race, Stellenbosch 10km

10 August 2015 - A beautiful clear crispy public holiday. When I left Hout Bay the temperature was 9 degrees Celsius. When I got to Stellenbosch, it was 4 degrees!

I left a bit later than anticipated, so had 20 minutes to walk to the start, get changed and hand in my tog bag. So started a lot further back than I would have liked to, which meant a frustratingly slow start.

Unfortunately still no sub 60 minutes. Terrible time in fact of 01:18!

Beautiful race, and as far as I can remember this is the third time I've run it.

Lovey bracelet instead of a medal.

[side note, did a 15.9km run with the club yesterday up Chappies]

Boek: Brolloks en Bittergal, C. J Langenhoven

Sjoe, ek is verbaas dat hierdie 'n kinderboek is! Op bladsy een word ons vertel dat Skoonlief se ouers vermoor was deur Brolloks een aand terwyl hulle geslaap het en dat hy haar ontvoer het en in sy spelonk aan gehou het!


Dit is 'hectic'! En mens vind eers op die nippertjie uit of Bertie ooit weer terug getoor gaan word van 'n likkewaan tot 'n seuntjie. 


Hoekom het ek 'n kinderboek gelees? Ek het so 'n ruk terug  "The Happiness Project" gelees; een van die dinge wat Gretchen Rubin van geskryf het is dat sy kinderliteratuur geniet en selfs 'n kinderliteratuur leesgroep begin het. Ek het geen behoefte om so 'n groep te begin nie; maar was nuuskierig om bietjie te kyk na die boeke wat ek as kind gelees het. My Ma het al my boeke gehou, so dit was maklik om een te kies. Ek moet bieg dat ek GLAD nie die storie van Brolloks en Bittergal kon onthou nie, dus dit gekies. Nie heeltemal seker dat ek die boek sal aanbeveel vir kinders nie.  Ek het dit nogal geniet om iets heeltemal anders te lees; ek is nie seker dat ek heeltemal reg is vir Jantjie Slang nie, miskien Kallie en die Sjokolandefabriek?

Race: McKenna Scott, Pinelands 10km

02 August 2015 - A crispy Winter's morning; beautiful full moon (actually Blue Moon) start to the race. The race was quite flat. I had really thought and hoped that I had broken my one hour goal, alas, not yet. Very cute medals, Bella would love it!

Restaurant: Pescarne, Hout Bay

This restaurant has recently changed ownership (again). It was originally an Ocean Basket when I fist moved to Hout Bay, and has been through numerous changes. It is now a Greek restaurant, right next door to Hout Bay's other Greek restaurant (Spiro's), the menu is quite different. They have amazing Winter specials.

FOOD: We have been back twice, and both times Mark and I had the same dish. I had the Rump (500g), with the most delicious wine based sauce perfectly cooked and Mark had the Eisbein, both served with a choice of sides; we opted for chips both times. Really delicious.

DRINKS: First time I had a coffee milkshake, served in an elegant thin glass, very sweet - delicious! The second time I had a delicious glass of Pinotage. Mark just had coffee.

SERVICE: Very good and attentive.

VALUE FOR MONEY: Definitely, especially the Winter specials. My Rump was R95.

RECOMMENDABLE: Absolutely.

RATING:8/10

Restaurant: The Oak Terrace Alfresco (Peddlars), Constantia Valley

July 2015 - Thanks to load shedding, our anticipated Saturday afternoon ritual of a hamburger and a movie at Blue Route Mall did not pan work out as planned. En route home we stopped at Peddlers.  I have often driven past this place when going to Tokai Forest. I thought it was going to be "hoity toity." Inside there are three different dining experiences - there is the white linen formal setting, there is a pub and a lovely eating area outside called, " The Oak Terrace Alfresco", we opted for this one and sat under a beautiful tree.

FOOD: We went with the waitress' recommendation of hamburgers. We had the cheese and bacon burgers. Very tasty, however as Mark said it is the basting that gives the burger the taste, the patty is actually quite bland.

DRINKS: We both opted for beers. Mark had a Guinness and I had a Birkenhead Honey Blonde beer, very tasty.

SERVICE: The service was good.

VALUE FOR MONEY:  Average

RECOMMENDABLE: Yes, would like to go again.

RATING: 7/10