Race reports
			Welcome to event reporting throughout the Western Cape. We will provide candid short reports on events based on the personal experiences of the runner. Dion Middelkoop Time-to-Run's roving reporter

The Agrico Elgin Half-marathon race 22th November

Saturday saw the 2nd running of the Agrico Elgin Half. Last year it was only about 20km and I finished 4th, because 2 guys took a wrong turning near the end. Due to a few admin problems we started a few minutes late, so I was wondering what else would today's run hold in stall for us.

With the start I hung back a bit before I noticed that the leaders weren't in any rush. To kick start the race, I went to the lead and took off up the first hill... Needless to say that got things going. With last week's marathon still in my legs I backed off at the top of the first hill and waited for Stef & Mike to catch up.

The next couple of km's are the only ones run on tar and almost the only ones run downhill. I don't know what got into the leading ladies, but Valda had thrown down the gauntlet and 5 ladies came past. As we left the tar and headed onto the farm road, I thought we would catch the ladies, but Mike was a little weak, and yes we were closing the gap on the uphills, but on the flats and downs they would get away.

Valda, had played her only card and she was dropped so we were about to catch her. We had made good ground on a little Stellenbosch girl, we even overtook her, but that was until one of the water tables... We stopped to fill up with Coke and she got away.

Having run the race last year, I knew that "Heart Break Hill" lay ahead, and I had warned them. At the start of each hill they would ask if this was it... I just smiled. Then out of the blue it lay ahead of us. I won't lie and say I didn't slow down, but I didn't stop running. I left Mike and Stef, caught 2 ladies and past a couple of other guys.

On reaching the top I stopped and waited for the guys to catch up I had taken 90sec out of them!!! To lengthen the route, the loop at the top was a bit longer... ok a lot longer... This is the only bad part of the race, you do an out and back loop before heading down to the finish. With 4 km to go we thought a sub 90 was still on the card. 19min should have been more than enough time. Then it happened 5:52, 6:15, 4:00 and the last km in 6:55!!! So much for a sub 90.

The course: 4 It's a great route and if you enjoy a run around the farm, this is one for you. (now all they need to do is get the distance right!).
Marshals: 2. They didn't use a lot of marshals, and that needs to change in places, like that loop, some guys felt they had gone wrong and turned back!!!
Handouts: 4 A Medal, Apples, and many spot prizes for the lucky ones who stayed (I'm not lucky).
Cost: R35.00
Value for money: 3. R30.00 could be a bit much, but they do give you soup and rolls after the race.
Other People's feeling about the race: 4.5 I want to say all enjoyed it, but I don't think Debbie will ever talk to me again after that hill, and a lot of guys really didn't care for the long km at the end,
Total score = 17.5 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 4. I enjoyed it more than the other routes, and next year I'll take my GPS and measure the route!!

Winelands 42km race 15th November

On Saturday I lined up for my 8th marathon of the year (2 of which were ultras) I wasn't expecting fireworks, in fact I was going to run with Graham. All we wanted was an easy qualifier for Oceans next year, 2h54:59 was all that was needed.

Graham isn't very good at running slowly, so I know I would have a bit of trouble controlling him. Sean was running his first marathon and had been training hard and was wanting a 2h50, that was till one week to go when he picked up a bit of a cold!!!

Saturday morning he was fine, but being a Doctor he knew better than me... I told him to stay with us and not go off at 2h50 pace. But No, he was feeling good. I let him go... I don't know what Graham had been drinking, but before the 2nd km he needed to pull over.

This allowed the leading lady to overtake us. I had spoken to Rene at the start of the race and she was also wanting to break 3hr, so we let her set the pace for a bit. Our pacing was good (somehow we had ended up driving the bus..) and the group stuck together till 6km when the first hill starts. We lasted only a few seconds, but half our group, dropped off. In fact, only 2 Durbanville guys remained with us. Losing seconds wasn't a problem as after the almost 3kms of hill you can make it all up on the way down. Our downhill run didn't start off very well, as Graham needed to stop again and this inside 10km!!!

We now had no-one to run with, but after 4km of downhill we had crossed the railway line and for the 3rd time Graham stopped... I walked a bit to let him catch up, when he did we didn't start off running till Rene had caught us. With all this stopping and the help of the downhill she had closed the gap. With the next couple of km taking us past Spier, not the famous entrance, but the back entrance to the Wine tasting, we ran together. This only lasted till about 17km when we start the climb to the R44.

We politely said good-bye and left her as we climbed the hill. We past halfway in a shade under 89min. A little slow for our 2h54:59, but the 2nd half is a little quicker. After leaving the ladies to fight for 1st place on their own we started to run down all those who had started out too fast. We had upped our pace by a few seconds, but nothing dramatic. It didn't feel right running away from the finishing line, but when we reached 26km the leaders were coming back already. At the water-table by the turnaround point we passed Sean!!!, who had stopped for a drink and a walk... some people just don't listen, maybe he'll learn. (But I don't think so.)

Things didn't get out of hand till Graham tried to drop me on the last hill into town... Well I let him go, but the hill was longer than 100m so I pulled him in and went past, then I slowed down to run with him... It's great being in control. With 2km to go we needed to catch a team mate, we did it in 200m, and didn't slow down running a 3:28 and a 3:30 for the last 2km.