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Ravansmead 15K 24 Aug
Saturday morning saw me driving through to Florida Park, for
the fastest 15km in Cape Town. Not been as fit as I was a
few years ago, I needed all the help I could get, so I was
wearing my ultra light racing shoes.
It was difficult to hold myself back as the gun went off.
I tried to go out at 3:20 / km, but the shoes sent me through
in 3:16. We slowed up a bit and the next km was a 3:16.5,
I had to take drastic measures. As it was, I was being ambitious
in aiming for 50 min, and I knew that going out too fast would
come back and haunt me.
Running along the Main Rd, I thought we were heading into
a wind as we slowed to 3:25 by 6km. We turned off the Main
Rd to head to the turnaround, Charles took the lead over the
bridge and to the turning point, I then led returning over
the bridge. Charles took the lead again, but the speed was
gone, and we lost 10 seconds over the next 2 km.
Throwing caution to the wind I went for it and started pulling
back the seconds. We were also catching a few runners. My
legs were hurting and I didn't know how long they would last,
just after 11k we turned into the back roads towards the finish.
I think we had run into the wind the whole way and it had
taken its toll. I was a wreck and the others got away.
After 2.5km of "taking it easy", I was ready to
see if I could make up lost ground. A sub 50min was off the
cards, however Charles was catchable and catch him I did.
It was hard work, but... with the last turn into the finish
he got away again and I had to settle for 21st.
Ratings: (Out of 5)
The course: 3. It's a flat fast course, without traffic
problems.
Marshals: 3. I don't remember any of the marshals,
but they managed to keep us going in the direction. Easy on
an out and back course.
Handouts: 3. Medals. I didn't wait for prizegiving,
I had a rugby match to play!!!
Cost: R20.00
Value for money: 3.
Other People's feeling about the race: 4. one PB after
another...
Total score = 16 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 3. I like to race a couple
of 15's in the year and this is one of them, it's fast and
flat.
The Tokai Challenge 21k 25 Aug
My weekend didn't end there as on Sunday there was the 2nd
running of the Tokai Challenge. In need of a long run I ran
to the start and with 6km under my belt I lined up for the
half. It was to be a training run with the "easy"
km at 4min / km, well at the start I bumped into Danny and
we ran together, maybe a little faster them I wanted, but
I was enjoying the run, the route took us into Constantia
and up, and round and up and round till we reached Constantia
Nek and headed down to the finish. I had run the race well
within myself, but my legs were saw from the 15km and I was
pleased to find my wife at the finish to take me home. We
didn't leave but stayed for prizegiving. I don't think it
matters how many prizes they have I don't seem to ever win.
Ratings: (Out of 5)
The course: 4. This is the way to run your Sunday long
runs, it's not a PB course, but a good training course, and
the timing is good with Peninsula around the corner.
Marshals: 3. I was really impressed till we had to
cross Constantia Main Rd, they could of done with another
marshal there
Handouts: 4. Medals, and loads of spot prizes for the
lucky runners
Cost: R30.00
Value for money: 3/4.
Other People's feeling about the race: 4. I think the
number will grow as more people hear about this one.
Total score = 18/19 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 4. Life is good to me and
I am lucky to be able to run and live in such a beautiful
area.
 Transnet
Tuff Thirty 11 Aug
Sunday saw the running of the Tuff 30, and I was at the start
line. Last year after a slow start I took the lead and ended
up winning the race, I had similar plans this year.
The start was slow and I went to the front. At 2km I was
over 150m clear of the following pack. I stopped looking back
and went hard, thinking that if I made it to the hills I could
keep my lead. Well at 4km a hungry pack of fast 'boys' went
hunting and 'chewed me up and spat me out'. My race was over
and now all I had to do was see if I was indeed fit enough
to run, not jog, to the finish.
I hadn't really wanted to race, but last year 'had played
into my hands', so I thought, maybe. But you know what thought
did...
With the flat section to the race a thing of the past, I
was pleased that I didn't have to race over the hills. From
the top of the first hill I could see the sea, but that didn't
last long as we crested the top and dropped down past a dairy
farm. It didn't take us long to reach the bottom of the hill.
I had joined a group of 3 and the 4 of us were making good
time as the road flattened. A right hand turn soon split the
little group as we climbed the hill to the King of the Mountain.
At the top, I let 2 of them get away and stopped for Coke
and to let Max catch up. We were now deep in the Farmlands
of Durbanville and the tar road had turned to Gravel. Dawn,
who was supporting me, was moaning that her car was getting
dirty...
The 2nd half of the race was a bit lonely, and as Max was
taking strain and I wanted to run a little harder than the
pace we were running, but was unable to due to the gravel
beneath me. With the farmlands around I didn't mind.
All that was to change, as we hit the tar and the last 9km.
At this stage in the race, I was 15th and could see down to
11th position in front of me. Just wanting to run on to the
finish, I started to watch the race in front of me unfold.
The 13th placed runner started walking, but when no.14 caught
him they went off together. Then no.12 went 'backwards' and
was standing at the water table, when I caught him. The 2
runners together caught no.11, and only one got away.
Dawn had stopped supporting me in order to watch the finish.
By the time she came back I had caught 2 more guys and was
in 12th and that is how I finished. I was 5 minutes slower
the last year, but by the way I felt today I would have thought
that I had been 5 minutes faster.
Ratings: (Out of 5)
The course: 4. It's Great to be out on the back roads
running past the vineyards, dairy farms and wheat fields...
Marshals: 3. Being Sunday the road were quiet, but
I still think they needed one or two more where we crossed
a few roads
Handouts: 4. Medals, and T-shirts to every 5th finisher.
Cost: R35.00
Value for money: 4. Best way to do a 'tempo' training
run.
Other People's feeling about the race: 4. Marc &
Fran raved about the race till 20 then moaned about the last
10, I think their real problem was the lack of fitness !
Total score = 19 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 4. It's a very good training
run in one off the better areas for running.
Next week: Kyocera Mita 15km Flat, Fast, and all that goes
with that....
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