EASTER 2014 (OCEANS WEEKEND)

With the training behind us, Easter was upon us... Easter in Cape Town is Oceans weekend, and if you run there is something for your:

• First up is the 56km tour of the peninsula, over the years I've found myself on the start line 11 times, but as the years have ticked by the race has laughed at me, so I don't line up anymore!
• Then about 17 years ago they decided to have a half marathon as well... With 16 000 people on that start line there was no way I was going to be lining up for that medal.
• 5 years ago a trail run was introduced and I was back running Oceans, 23.4km of trail is more my thing now a days... (if that scares you there is a 10km trail as well)
• Oh that isn't all, there are a number of fun runs and even a nappy dash of 56m for those younger than me!!!

I popped into the expo to collect my number on Wednesday...

Only one picture of the expo

 Now since I work over the road from the expo I was back on Thursday to meet friends as they registered.

Friday was race day for us trail runners and at first light we headed to UCT for the start of a little run on the mountain...
The short trail set off first, 400 of them and after 500m they turned off our route, so the trail was almost empty at 07h30 when the gun set us off and like the years before I took the lead... I wanted to see who could run and up the first hill I was joined by 4 guys with the rest of the field left lying in our wake... NO, they were right behind me as we climbed to Rhodes Mem and then left the tar, 1st km down.

The front four raced for the single track looking for position, the race up front was on, I was now left in no-mans land as I opened a little gap. Not wanting to be caught I opened my legs as I reached the gravel road, this took me back into the lead pack and the 5 of us now had a lead. I had made sure of that...

The next section of the race turned up Heart Break Hill (don't think Boston Marathon, think the type of hill your granny gear on your mnt bike can't even get you up!) Lucky for us we turned right Kane, Thabang then Mahlangu and Ben with me breathing hard...

Again the trail eased and the front boys took off, Kane and Thabang, gone... Ben chased Mahlangu a bit, but he wasn't up for the chalenge and was dropped. With Ben now in my sights we turned up the side of Devil's Peak. With all that hard running done I didn't have great climbing legs and was slow in catching Ben, but since the climb was over 1km long I crossed Tafelberg Road before him and set the pace around the mountain. I had planned on catching Mahlangu and dropping Ben...

OK those plans didn't work and Ben stuck to me as I chased hard, but not fast enough to make any difference. Running single tracks at that speed (OK we weren't really running fast) you can't really look back to see who's following or you will hit the ground in a bad way. The contour ended with Ben still hanging on and Mahlangu gone! The next km was up to the sadle and a 170m climb, since this climb had some 'power walking' sections I was able to look back a bit and see Christian chasing hard about 1:15 back (could have been as much at 1:30 at the top). The sadle isn't very big, so within a 100m or so it's time to start down... This was not good, and while I opened 5m on Ben, Christian must have closed 30+ sec on us, (He's young and fearless.)

Now we follow the top contour back around Devil's Peak. Half way round the mountain we dropped to a lower contour and Christian closed again (Oh to be 20 years younger!)

Around Devil's Peak

I was still running hard worried about being caught from behind, I knew he was coming, and I wanted to get past the next down hill before he caught us... We had to if we wanted to stay ahead...

Ben and I starting the decent...

No sooner had we started then Christian passed us, he thought it was a tar road and didn't even slow... passed the Block House he had already opened a minute and there was another 'technical' section to come! we didn't see him again!!!

I hoped his legs was give up and he would come back to us, but as we (Ben was still in tow) climbed 'Bastard Hill' and there was no sight I knew he had us beat... Now how was I too beat Ben?

It looked like that hope was gone as Ben made his move to 'Woodcutters' but I closed the gap and passed him again it was going to be cat and mouse to the end. With the race nearing it's end I saw Dawn in the forest supporting us, not for to go, Ben was back in the lead...

With 50m of gravel before the last single track out of the forest I passed him again then broke him on the down hill the Christian had broken us... Now to hang on for the last km!!!

On the grass to the finish

5th place was mine, and along with that came 1st old man... the route was just over 1km longer than last year, not enough to explain away the almost 10min I had lost the last years time, so it hadn't been a fast run, but I had enjoyed it.

The weekend was far from over with the 21.1 and the the 56km Ultra to be run on the Saturday...

This time I was on the side cheering the masses on. First stop was the 6km mark of the half, WOW 16000 people came flying by and since it was still mostly dark I didn't get to see every one. From there we (My lovely wife Dawn was with me) head to Kirstenbosch and the 16km mark. After watch the front of the field fly by, OK we stayed to see the field till the guys who would finish in under 1h50. Then it was off to the 29km mark in the 56km race to watch the leader come through. Again we didn't get to see all our friends pass, but with the leaders through the marathon mark it was time to catch them at the 49km. Again we hopped in the car headed to our next watching point.

This time it was for keeps...

One by one the tired bodies came passed...

running a couple of 100m with Ian

I clocked 17km running up and down the road supporting friend, and that isn't counting the walking I did with some of the guys who were broken... I like to think my few words helped a couple of them get their medals...

My medla from the trail

That was me weekend...