So its off to the Durban today. Won’t be sorry to get sunshine, warmth. Cape Town has been wet for days; not bad in one way but for the risk of a cold or flu is. Others will be doing the same, stretch in the plane, wink at the baggage carousel. Often the same...
So why Comrades 2011, so far, hard? Got so much before, so what come back? Partly I know: be strong for my life’s autumn; healthy for two beautiful kids; top-up my soul with moon, stars, friends, more of the riches of the running world. But one more medal holds...
Stepped into a bit of a southeaster this morning – woke the sweat, jasmine of summer, inner-city urine supper; reminded me of of how all the steps in the way I run now and will run in 11 days. Didn’t much notice the run. Too short to quick. My moon-shadow...
Met a guy in a Comrades jacket. First time I’ve heard someone say “Last year I came 8000 something. This year I want to improve my position.” Other than those the very top athletes I didn’t think people cared much about position. Other numbers...
To understand something its good to know where it comes from The body, roughly stitched from pubis to throat, lay naked in the Oshakati morgue. Our job was to put him, his boots and bloody clothes in a used coffin, screw down the lid and take him to his flight home. A...
Two weeks to perfection. Lie in next to a warm body, soft breath, hair across the pillow. With a little one too, angel-breath, elbow in my ear; rain gurgle in the gutter, car swish in the road. For now I’ll take now a bouncy run-grin-beam. Streets silent before...
Still running dreaming of the medal. Not really. I go over the route in my mind before sleep. By 8km, that steep little hill up to 45th cutting I’m asleep. But its ok, that first agitation is gone and my mind’s made peace with the effort to come. As I ran...
What to do on a running rest day? With the big day looming I have to run or laugh or beam. Life bursting my seams. Keep lid on. Jump in the pool, trim the lawn at 5 am? Took my coffee and crunchies to the planet conjunction – intimate now are Mercury, Jupiter,...
Agitation:stomach*mind*knees. Nice these taper days, running perfectly but I wish I could have done more. Ok, ok no matter how much I did I would wish the same. But this 8k is so easy man, and only 11 of these on Comrades day. Easy! <choke COUGH> At least I...
Oh I ran this morning in the foghorn mourn, touched the ground in the lightest way 94 kg can, legs running so very smoothly; shirt off to feel drizzle in the darkness; Fingernails glitter in the sparkle-night, toes call out, “us too, cut holes in the shoe”...
