Race: K-Way VOB Grape Run 10.6kms

17 October 2015 - Another beautiful crisp spring morning. Natalie and I drove together. The 21.1km was sold out [not that we had planned to run it]. There were not many 14km entries left; fortunately we got entries.

It is so beautiful to run through the vineyards. The route goes through Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia and Buitenverwachten; something went wrong with the marshaling / boundaries somewhere, and we missed Buitenverwachten and at the 5km mark it said that we had done 9kms. It was a bit confusing, I just thought that we would make up for it at some point.

At one point I thought to myself, wow I really am so much fitter than last year - reason being, as we reached a certain point of the route, I had remembered walking A LOT by that point during last year's race. Alas, the route was a lot shorter. Which I really did not mind at all. We ended up running 10.6kms instead of 14kms. It was a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning.

Time for 10.6kms = 01:14

Race: Outsurance KFM Gun Run, 21.1 kms

Super stoked! Set my PB for the 21.1km.  02:22 whoo hoo! 

Got to the stadium at about 05:50. Race started at 06:30. Saw Thérèse and Nomawethu as I lined up (they did the 10km). The canon went off at 06:30. Got such a fright! Unfortunately did not see Graham but was sure we would catch up with each other. 

It was a beautiful run. I think I may be making peace with flat runs! The route goes through the Waterfront past the road that goes past Beluga, along the Promenade, through Sea Point, up along the hill above Clifton. My tactic with that hill was to run for two lamp poles, walk for two. It was beautiful at the top! The 12 Apostles greeted us. Turned right at the bottom of the hill and headed back through Bantry Bay, Sea Point to finish at the soccer stadium. 

The last three kms were hectic, the soles of my feet were in pain, they were burning (?)!  Was lovely to see Thérèse & Noma again as I ran into the stadium. Gave me that tiny boost to finish strong(ish). 

Tried to keep my pace below 07 mins a km at the beginning. Then tried keeping it at 07:30 a km towards the end.

My body & legs are now sore! Mind & soul ecstatic!

Time: 02:22. 

Recommendable: definitely 

Book: Creating Sacred Space with Feng Shui, Karen Kingston

Definitely not a typical business book. I was intrigued to find this book on my Mom's bookshelf. Have been wanting to learn more about Feng Shui for some time, so was very happy to find this book. 

The book might not be everyone's cup 

of tea. I quite enjoyed the different view of things. Especially liked the focus and importance of de-cluttering. This has given rise to MAJOR spring cleaning in my office and house (still in progress). Really enjoying the process. 

8/10

Race: Hout Bay Super Spar Chappies Challenge, 15kms [helpers run]

03 October 2015 - As this is our club's run, it is a bit frowned upon not to help out on the day of the race; so a helpers run was organised for the day before.

It was quite misty and wet, we were all sopping by the end of the route. I am so grateful to be living in such a beautiful part of the world.

Below is the media release I sent out after the race:

They came they saw and they conquered the Chappies Challenge

Just over 1000 athletes set out to participate in one of the most enjoyable road races in the country*, the Hout Bay Super Spar Chappies Challenge, this past weekend. Runners had a choice between a 10km or 15 km route that took them along the very scenic Chapman’s Peak in Hout Bay.

“We are incredibly pleased with the number of athletes supporting our race,” says Gregson Lubbe Hout Bay Harriers Chairman and Financial Manager of Openfield Marketing. "The money that gets raised from this race, gets invested back in the development of runners from Imizamo Yethu, who are performing incredibly well on the athletic scene this year. Having said that, it is important to note that our development program is not only aimed at elite runners. We try to make running accessible for anybody from the impoverished Hout Bay township, who would otherwise not be able to run in licensed races or be part of an official running club.”

Lubbe adds, “This is the only other race on the running calendar that includes this stretch of road; the other being the Old Mutual Two Oceans Ultra Marathon, which is 56km. This gives runners the opportunity to enjoy a race along Chapman’s Peak if they aren’t up for an ultra-marathon yet”.

Winner of the men’s 15km was Nedbank runner, Sityhilo Diko in a time of 51:02. Candice Hall from Carbonniers won the ladies 15km in a time of 63:22. The men’s 10km race was won by Lwandile Lange (K-Way VOB) in a time of 37:56 and a visitor to South Africa, Anna Koziskova, was the 10km ladies winner in a time of 40:38.

“The race would not have been made possible without our generous sponsors. We would like to take the opportunity to thank Simon van Nimwegen from the Hout Bay Super Spar for their generous support each year. We are also very grateful to the City of Cape Town, Western Province Athletics, Hout Bay Emergency Medical Services and the Department of Transport and Public Works for all the support and assistance throughout the day. We would also like to thank Hout Bay Dental Studio and Tintswalo for keeping the runners hydrated at their water tables and to Peninsula Beverages for the refreshing Coca-Cola at the end of the race,” says Lubbe.

To end off the fun day, the lucky draw prizes were generously sponsored by Cape Point Vineyards, Snoekies and Sportsman’s Warehouse.

Congratulations to everyone that participated and conquered Chappies!

For more information about Hout Bay Harriers and the Hout Bay Super Spar Chappies Challenge follow us on Facebook.

The Hout Bay Harriers meet every Tuesday evening at 18:00 and run between 5 and 10 km from the Hout Bay Yacht Club.

   

Caption: Nedbank runner, Sityhilo Diko completed the Hout Bay Super Spar Chappies Challenge in a time of 51:02.

  

Caption: The Hout Bay Super Spar Chappies Challenge one of the most enjoyable road races in the country*

[High resolutions photos available. Photographer: Bradford Lubbe]

*Runners World survey 2013/2014

Book: Shackleton’s Way – Margot Morrell and Stephanie Capparell

 

 

To be honest I did not know much about Sir Ernest Shackleton at all. In fact I thought he was one of the two guys that raced to get to the South Pole first, and was interested to learn more. [Needless to say, I know now that it was Scott and Amundsen.] With that said, I have indeed learnt a lot more.   

What a wonderfully inspirational book on leadership and how to be a leader in the very precariously uncertain environment of the Antarctic, with lessons to be learnt and implemented today.

Shackleton was an incredible leader who kept the spirits high of his team and the importance of a sense of humour despite how dire their situation seemed.

The book focuses on Shackleton’s values, how he chose and hired an outstanding team, created a spirit of camaraderie and getting the best from each individual. Leading effectively in a crisis and forming teams for tough assignments and finally overcoming obstacles to reach a goal and ultimately leaving a legacy.

One of the passages that summarises Shackleton’s view on life and leadership:  

Shackleton once summed up for a friend how he viewed life and leadership. “Some people say it is wrong to regard life as a game; I don’t think so,” he was quoted as saying. Life to me means the greatest of all games. The danger lies in treating it as a trivial game, a game to be taken lightly, and game in which the rules don’t matter much. The rules matter a great deal . The game has to be played fairly, or it is no game at all. And even to win the game is not the chief end. He chief end is to win it honourably and splendidly. To this chief end several things are necessary. Loyalty is one. Discipline is another. Unselfishness is another. Courage is another. Optimism is another. And Chivalry is another.”

Recommendable: 8/10

Race: Sanlam Cape Town Marathon 42.2kms

20 September 2015 – “I ran a marathon” – these are words I never thought would be uttered from my lips.  A year ago I had only ever run one half marathon (Two Oceans), and had thought to myself that I should maybe look at doing two this year (2015). That was until I started chatting to David Wheeler at Karen Hartley’s birthday party last year October. After a glass of red wine and clearly some ‘Dutch courage’, agreed to do Landmarks half marathon early in November with him. I had been quite daunted to get over doing another half marathon after that initial one. That’s when the slippery slide of longer races started. Realising that a half marathon was not quite as hectic as I had thought, the next big challenge I set myself was the Bay to Bay (30 kms) at the beginning of the year. I did for quite some time say to myself that was that, I wouldn’t run anything further than 30kms.

Famous last words…

Not too sure when exactly in the year it happened, something short-circuited in my mind and I thought, “mmm…a marathon…, why not?” even though the side kick had a dim view and said that I was not quite ready to tackle it, I think this spurred me on even more to enter Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.  My main thing was to tick it off the list to say that I’d done it, as well as proving to myself that I could.

After downloading the Asics App to help with a training program, more or less sticking to it; running at least three times a week and having Graham’s guidance and company through the longer runs we were pretty much as ready as we could be. My main aim, besides finishing was to finish within five and a half hours. This seemed quite possible with a seven hour cut off time. It is so weird how 21, even 24km runs become training runs. My favourite training run is still running from Hout Bay to Camps Bay, the run back is tough, however we get to run the ‘home stretch’ down Suikerbossie.

The morning of the race slowly crept up on us, and before we knew it, it was race day. Umpteen Gu’s in hand, a sturdy breakfast of health bread with honey and a cup of coffee I set off. Thérèse, Matthews, Admire and Noma all drove together. Parking was not too bad, we parked along the main road just past  Mouille Point – a bit of a walk to the start.  On the way met up with quite a nervous 10km running lady who could not stop talking. Arrived at the pen area, loo stop and headed to the start. Graham had given a lift to the other runners, so we did not start together. Saw him in the sea of faces behind us, unfortunately he did not see me. My strategy was then to wait for him at the first watering point and run together from here; we couldn’t have trained so long for the marathon and not end up running together. Fortunately he caught up with us quite soon.

The weather could not have been more perfect; a bit chilly and overcast – no wind. It warmed up quite a bit later in the day.  It was incredible to have Table Mountain as the backdrop at the start. What I love about races is that it takes you on routes and paths that you would never get to see or run at any other time. One of the paths was along the MyCiti bus route.

We started the walk / run strategy fairly soon (run for 9 minutes, walk for a minute)– for the life of me I can’t remember exactly where, whether it was around the 20km mark or perhaps much sooner. It was as we passed the Grand Parade area. It felt quite silly to start walking; was feeling quite strong at that stage. Graham did advise that it was in preparation for the later kms that awaited. I must admit that it was great. We followed the same strategy for John Korasie (30kms) and we only started it quite late into the race (we wanted to run Red Hill as long as possible before stopping – which was great) I was gagging for that minute each time; having started the walk/run strategy sooner, made it a lot easier throughout. It really was quite a surprise that the kms passed quite quickly.

What was wonderful, was to see Noma along the route! So special to have her cheering us on!

The Rotary Club of Newlands helped with the marshalling; sadly I did not see too many. Saw Tony van der Lith on the back of a motorcycle; Jana at the Sunflower Fund watering station along the Rondebosch Common. Terry at the Sahara Park – where he cheered us along with his vuvuzela! Saw Jenna at about the 38/39km mark and Graham Lowdon in the beer tent afterwards.

It was quite something to reach the 30km mark and to know that it was the furthest I had ever gone, and then again at the 40km mark.

As we made it onto the field, it felt quite surrealistic to think that we had made it.  What a feeling! I won’t lie, felt quite shattered and a bit dizzy. Luckily other wonderful team supporter – Darren brought us some water.

Time: 05:42, so not quite the 05:30 I had hoped for, am still SO impressed and proud of this achievement and grateful to my body and mind to have seen it through.

Before retiring to the beer garden for an ice cold Coke (a beer was tempting, however didn’t want to take a chance with a weary body and still having to drive home) – I took off my shoes and I had the biggest blister on my big toe ever! Clearly had not ‘Vaselined’ as well as I thought I had in the morning.

Strangely I was not so hungry as I normally am after a run; a km from the end at John Korasie, I could eat a cow and couldn’t get the Boerewors roll into my system quickly enough. Took me some time to get my appetite back; may be all the Gu’s and Coke along the way.

I’m not put off doing another one, in fact I would love to do the New York marathon in 2017. Now to get back to the drawing board to see how I can improve on my 10km times. [At this stage, Ultra and Comrades are not on the cards at all – I’ve learnt to not say never, so I am rather saying - chances are slim  – and fortunately didn’t make the cut-off time for qualifying.]

Very proud to say that I am now a marathon runner. 

 
 

Race: Satori Camel Run 16kms (10miler)

This is the third time that I have participated in the Satori Camel Run. It is definitely one of my favourites, possibly because it was one of my first races that I took part in when I moved to Cape Town. The route has changed quite a bit from the first year when we ran up Cape Point Vineyards (that has stayed the same), then went up part of Chappies, then through Monkey Valley, along a part of Noordhoek beach through a farm back to the start area.

 

Today’s race was quite different, sadly no Monkey Valley, Chappies, Monkey Valley or Noordhoek beach. Instead we got a second major hill at Cape Point Vineyards – H E C T I C! The views were however totally worth it. Even got to see Flamingoes along the way.

 

 

 

It was a very warm day with a berg wind and the air was quite dry, so I think a lot of people took strain. There is no water along the way, so fortunately I had invested in a water bottle yesterday when I collected the race numbers at Sportsman’s Warehouse. I am not a fan of running with a belt; however I would much rather run with a belt than having no water. 

There were quite a number of Hout Bay Harriers that ran. Super proud of the team; Chippy, Francis and Reuben won their age categories; and Matthews, Jacques, Francis and Reuben (below) won the team prize.

My time was not great 02:13, however actually quite happy with it. The last time I did the race I did it in two hours, and there was only the one hill.

I do like that we don’t get medals at the end of the race, we all get buffs.  

Tough race, I will however definitely be back!