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Landmark 15K WP Champs 19 Oct
After a gentle warm-up I lined up near the front. I didn't
need to run hard for any longer than 15km. Malcolm asked me
if I could pace him through to a sub 52 min. I stupidly agreed,
but said I might fall off the pace before the end with the
marathon still in my legs.
Our first km through the suburbs was
a 3:30, 2 seconds too slow, but it was a uphill km. After
a quick km down, we had a large group running with us, but
as we flew along the Main Road they started dropping off.
The climb was not much as we left the Main Road, so we slowed
to 3:30 again.
At 4km, my watch stopped and I had to
restart it at 5. I was now out of the timing game and was
running km to km aiming at 3:30 and then trying to put a few
extra seconds in the bag. At 8km, I thought it would be a
good idea to leave Malcolm to run the second half on his own.
That didn't happen, he asked for one more km, and with a turnaround
at 9.5km I thought of going on till 10. The U-turn did us
no good as we saw a 'little black girl' chasing us... I don't
really like been beaten by a Lady, so I had to run...
The organisers didn't do us any favours
by putting the turning point in the wrong place and we ran
a 4:16 for to 10. No problem, we just had to make up the time
by running fast, so we tried. I fell of the pace at 13.5km,
my legs were feeling heavy from last week's marathon. Malcolm
didn't get away from me and I was soon back helping him up
the hill, but now I was working hard. The 'sights' were set
on catching whoever I could.
As I turned onto the field at the end,
I could see the clock and our total running time 51:45, I
could go under 52, but I didn't know how far behind Malcolm
was, was he close enough to make it? I passed some-one on
the grass and was about to cross the line in 51:55 when Malcom
overtook me, he was close enough. We had run the last km in
2:53, (I wish I could run that fast), short km. So with the
long and the short km's I guess the course was still 150m
long !!!
Ratings: (Out of 5)
The course: 3. They've done well with the new route,
now all they need to do is get the turn and the finish in
the right place.
Marshals: 3. They were doing a good job, but whoever
marked the course should be Tarred and Feathered, we don't
need a long course for WP Champs
Handouts: 2. A medal, but that doesn't excite me
Cost: R20.00
Value for money: 2. Not very good, you pay for a fast
race at champs, and then they can't even get to distance right.
Other People's feeling about the race: 3 The weather
was right for running, so a lot of the runners I spoke too
ran well and that made then happy.
Total score = 13 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 3. You shouldn't really
be running so hard a week after a tough marathon, but the
new course was nice.
Next week: I'm off to Tulbagh for their half
Voet of Africa 42K 12 Oct
I've run the Voet a number of times, and no two races have
been the same. Yes, the route hasn't changed, but what happens
on the way always changes.
On Saturday, I stood on the start with
the plan of running the same race as I ran back in 95, but
the body would have none of it. Maybe, it was the fact that
I was a bit hungover, or it was just one of those days, but
the legs didn't feel like running. After the Shotgun set us
off, a flash of lightning showed us the way, with all this
"drastic weather" around the rain still stayed at
bay.
I found myself leading after the start,
as the rest of the field used the early km to warm up. I was
hoping to hold on to the lead till 15km, and then throw down
the gauntlet at the hill. Well, at 2.5km I was caught. They
didn't get away from me till 5km, when a pack of hungry runners
flew by. It didn't take long for a 2nd group to blow me out
of the top 10. At 15km, I wasn't too far off my target time,
but I wasn't running well and didn't look forward to the soft
sand and the Mountain.
I struggled up the hill at 6min/km.
It was slow, but it got me to the top. It did feel great to
reach the long down hill in one piece, but no matter how much
I stretched my legs they still didn't feel any better. Running
through Napier, the crowds gave me a lift and with 15km to
go, I thought I could average 4min/km to the end.
Things started off well and I almost
kept it up for 5kms, but then 4:20-4:30 seemed a better pace.
It was a pity, as I was lying 11th and could easily have caught
a runner or two for a top 10 finish. But, that was not to
be. The last 10k seemed to take forever, if it wasn't for
the fact that I was still overtaking the half marathon runners,
I might still be running. Reaching the town, I picked up the
pace and finished in 20th.
Ratings: (Out of 5)
The course: 4. A classic point to point over a mountain.
Marshals: 3. I almost took the wrong route up the hill,
other than that they did a good job
Handouts: 4. T-shirt and medal
Cost: R40.00
Value for money: 3/4. Yes you got a T-shirt and a lift
to the start, but the goodie bag was a real 'let-down'.
Other People's feeling about the race: 3/4. Dave ran
a PB and loved it, the group that planned a bail at Napier
will always be back, while others swore at the long road home.
Total score = 17/19 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 4. Yes I didn't run the
time I wanted, but I had fun and although the race beat me
on the day I was up and running the next day.
Next week: WP 15km Champs and the Hout Bay Half
Elsies River 10K 05 Oct
When I woke at 05h15 on Saturday, it was dark and quiet, so
I didn't really know what Weatherman Pete had install for
us.
It didn't look too bad, till we started
driving and one could see the trees waving in the wind.
By the time we had lined up for the start
it was raining, and then they delayed it for 5 minutes, which
didn't help in keeping us warm. By the time we started the
heavens had opened and I was thinking of my warm dry bed !!!
I was trying to run a 5km time trial,
but the first 1.5km were 'right off', as I battled the elements
and tried to warm up again. Elsies River isn't the best running
area in the province, but I wasn't out for a social run and
I wanted flat and fast course.
Well that wasn't happening today, running
with Julian, there was nothing we could do between 4 &
5 as we battled the wind. I reached 5km, 30 second slower
than I had hoped, but I think if the weather had played along
I would have been close. The next 5, I took at a gentle pace,
just wanting to tick over. The rain backed off and not wanting
to be overtaken in the last km I sped up again. The finish
wasn't that well organised as the finish marshals tried to
write your finishing place on your entry ticket.
Ratings: (Out of 5)
The course: 3. A simple route around the industrial
area, flat, but vunerable to the wind.
Marshals: 2. I didn't have any problem with them till
we finished and they didn't seem ready for us
Handouts: 4. T-shirt and medal
Cost: R15.00
Value for money: 4/5. For you entry fee Liberty Nike
the sponsor through in a nice T-shirt.
Other People's feeling about the race: 2. With the
bad weather and the delay at the start most people seemed
to be moaning after the race
Total score = 15/16 out of 25
My feeling about the race: 2. I didn't like the delay
at the start, and if the weather is the same next year I'll
sleep in.
Next week: The Voet
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