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This week the Tokai 21k 24 Feb
This was a weekend to run your last marathon before 2Oceans
and a lot of people did, using either Cape Town or Cango to
qualify.
I heard from a few friends who had gone off to Outshoorn
to run that on Friday, they were worried as the Temp reached
44 (111) Celsius (Fahrenheit). Saturday wasn't as hot, but
I think the heat of Friday had taken it's toll. A few of the
guys who were going for a sub 3, on this fast point to point
course. One pulled out and one finished with a 3hr14. Graham
said he had a great run and will be back, sitting through
prize giving he didn't win any spot prizes of which there
were many better luck next time...
I stayed in Cape Town and spent Saturday morning helping
with registration. Things went well and no one complained
while I was on my shift. The 05h30 start in Pinelands was
going to be a tough ask as we had tickets to see Johnny Clegg
in Kirstenbosch. What a great concert. I made it to the start
in good time and found my little band of training partners.
They were after a sub 3 and I was going a little faster.
The 05h30 start wasn't early enough , it was already hot,
in fact it had been hot all night. Not only was it hot, but
the humidity was right up there. The run through Pinelands
and into Ronderbosch passed quickly. I was dripping as we
ran through the dark suburbs. With a few of the roads closed
and with the early start, I didn't see a car on the road and
the early part of the race flew by.
A lot of people started off fast, with good running conditions,
but since it was hot and getting hotter their fuel burnt out.
I took to the road at 3:40/km wanting only to keep the pace
till 30km, I was running on tired legs and took the first
hill, at 12km easy. After the climb the going was easy as
we descended into Town, at 16km we went past the start of
the Half and the encouragement was much needed. The run through
the Waterfront just happened , but as we emerged onto Beach
Rd Green Point the wind picked up, but since it was off the
cold Atlantic it was a blessing.
Turning back into Town and running along the Main Rd, my
poor body thought that 30km at this pace was too much and
25km would be just fine. I slowed and enjoyed the run through
Town and the Gardens, stopping to take my Corn Syrup and drink
Coke.
With De Waal Drive ahead I was now ready for the climb and
not running hard I started catching all the guys who had past
me. Down Hospital Bend and I was back below 4min/km, steep
down hills do that for you. Others had gone down to fast and
with the last 7km flat, I picked up a few more runners as
their legs had turned to jelly. The run through Valkenberg
Mental Hospital, always comes at the wrong time in a Marathon
and if the doors were open I'm sure half the field would book
themselves in!
Onto Pinelands and the longest finishing straight I know.
With 3km to go you can see Mutual Park ahead of you. I was
in just after 08h15 and lucky for me the sun only started
to melt the clouds an hour later. The slower runners said
it was getter a bit hot on the road.
I want to say that it was a slow race and most of the guys
suffered in the
heat, but Will, Jacov, Charles & James all had great runs.
The biggest
complaint was the heat so I take it all went off well. 
Time-to-Run's New
Ratings System : (Out of 5)
The course: 2. I think they need to revamp the course to
make people want to
come from around the world to run The Cape Town Marathon.
Marshals: 3. Nothing special, maybe missing a few, but the
early start and
a few road closures saved them from embarrassment.
Handouts: 2. On finishing we all received medals, and that's
all...
Cost: R40.00 (R30.00 for the half was a bit steep)
Value for money: 2. R40.00 for a Marathon is good, but we
have nicer
marathons in and around Cape Town.
Other People's feelings about the race: 3. Timing... since
everyone is
training for Oceans you'll always get the numbers, I got answers
like: Good
training run, need to do some work before Oceans, that's my
last long run. (I bet that if the race were in July they would
be lucky to get 400 runners)
Total score = 12 out of 25
My feelings about the race: 3. I'll be back, but I hope you
will do something about the route.
Next week Koeberg 15km
This week the Tokai 21k 16 Feb
Another 06h00 start, another early morning, but those of us
who are addicted to running nothing seems to keep us away.
Not having run this race before I didn't hold any aspirations
for the course.
The registration was at the Turf Hall Sports Club in Crawford,
a suburb with lots of traffic (The number one enemy of a runner).
With the 06h00 start, the road we started on was quiet, and
with the slight breeze behind us the first half of the race
was going to be fast.
Jan Smuts Drive gets very busy, and I hoped the marshals
would be up to the challenge. The intersections on the way
out proved to be too early for traffic as the km's sped by.
We turned on a bridge and headed back on the other side of
the road. Out and back courses are great as you can see how
the rest of the field is doing.
Through the bushes in the middle island of the road I could
see that the front runners were flying. While I headed back
I could see that they weren't the only ones flying. My wife
was running with men who normally beat her, and some of the
other guys I know were also doing well. With the turn and
the long run back I thought the wind would be a big factor,
but that was not to be. The biggest challenge on the way back
was the sewer farm, which didn't smell to good.
Chatting to the guys after the race it seems that a half
the field took strain between 11 and 14, I don't know if it
was the wind or the fact that they had been running faster
than they are used to.
Time-to-Run's New
Ratings System : (Out of 5)
The course: 4. To run a personal best (PB) you just need
a wind free day.
Marshals: 5. Other clubs, race organisers can take a leaf
out of this book.
Handouts: 4. On finishing we all received medals, then at
prize giving they handed out note pads and calendars to everyone.
Cost: R20.00
Value for money: 4. R20.00 for a 15km is steep, but the race
was well organised and with the handouts and good prize money
it was well worth while.
Other People's feeling about the race: 4. I think they will
be back next year to run that elusive PB
Total score = 21 out of 25
My feelings about the race: 4. I'll be back, and will get
my friends to run as well
Next week Cape Town 10km / 21.1km / 42.2km
This week the Tokai 21k 09 Feb
With Cape Town Marathon and 2 Oceans not far off, a weekend
long run was needed. With the race only 8km away, I thought
a run to the start would be a good idea. With the race starting
at 06h00 my warm-up required an early start. The organizers
had thought of this and race entries were taken on Friday
evening.
So with my entry pinned to my vest I ran to the start, meeting
many other like minded people. The race started on the fields
at the old Porter Reformatory. It was a slow start, with no
one wanting to take the lead. We rounded the field and after
a hilly loop through the old school we headed out. The going
was easy as we left Tokai for a loop around the leafy suburb
of Constantia. Some of the runners I talked to said guys were
crossing the road before they reached the marshals, I didn't
witness that problem.
The run down to the 10km mark was fast and with a few quick
kays, Will, who I was running with said that, that was his
fastest 10km in 8 months. By 11 we had reached the Main road
and now had 3.5km of flat easy running. Thanks to the early
start the traffic was not a problem. Before the run home we
had a nice hill of 1.5km thrown in. After a hard weeks training
and the fact that I'm carrying a cough didn't help. The last
5km back to the start went by very quickly as we raced passed
Pollsmoor Prison and into the forests of Tokai.
I had run the time I had set out to run, but had spent more
effort than I had planned. Will, had run a 45 sec PB. I got
the feeling that the course was a fast one, as most of the
guys I spoke to, were pleased with the time they had run.
The Hill at 13.5km had caught them by surprise, but it seemed
that the time in the bag and the fast finish had helped for
a fast race.
Time-to-Run's New
Ratings System : (Out of 5)
The course: 4. I really like this area.
Marshals: 3. Nothing special, but no problems.
Handouts: 3. I only got a medal, but there were good spot
prizes.
Cost: R25.00
Value for money: 3. R25.00 for a half is steep, (like a Rand
a km) but
the race was well put together.
Other People's feelings about the race: 4. I think they will
be back next year
Total score = 17 out of 25
My feelings about the race: 3. If you're sick don't run...
(I should have
run with my wife, she had a good run.)
This week the VOB 15K 02 Feb
The 06h00 start hardly seemed early enough as the day was
promising to top the 30 degree Celsius. The field of over
1000 lined up in the parking lot of the local shopping center
and sponsor, Constantia Village.
The field had lined up in the wrong place and the organizers
struggled to move the crowd back 20m. The race started a minute
late and for the first couple of km's no one wanted to take
the lead as we ran through the leafy suburbs. Only at 2 km's
did a lead pack form which disappeared down the hill. The
running was fast as we headed out to Tokia for the turn and
the short route back. With the first 10km been mostly flat
or downhill I, and many others, thought a good time was on
the cards.
After 2 km's of a gentle climb my hope of a really good time
was
gone, but others, like my wife, were still strong enough to
push home in a PB
time.
Many fast times were run and I think the race was enjoyed
by all, on
finishing we all received a medal and a Buy 1 get 1 Free voucher
for a Pizza
place in the Shopping Center. Prize giving seemed to last
for ever as everyone
but me seemed to win spot-prizes....
Just in : Results the
VOB 15k in Excel form
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