What Peninsula behind us and Oceans ahead of us it's time to look ahead and see when is on the program for the next couple of weeks:
Now I know every good program has a couple of easy weeks after a marathon, and so they should, but while it was 42.2km it was really just a long run, I have other races to run. AFRICAN X is the first one in the radar, a 3 day 90km pairs trail race... and Chad my Blind Date!!! Yes a blind date, I have never run with him and it's been about 2 years since we even raced each other, so things should be fun. He's run a couple of races this year and been up front mixing it with the kids, and winning the geriatric class... His time on the long Slivermine trail was faster than my last years, but was I racing, I had raced an 11km trail the day before and had a marathon to worry about the next week, so who knows...
I've run a number of team (pair) events and while it's fun to have some-one to run with it can be scary, very scary if your team mate is stronger than you, while if he's just faster than you it's only day one to worry about. These things I don't know, so with African X a little over 2 weeks away I need to get fit.
A lot can happen in 2 weeks and while I up the mile this week I also plan to line up for a 10km road race to see where the legs are...
Friday, February 28, 2014
Friday, February 21, 2014
PERMANENT NUMBER
A journey that start back in 1990 when I lined up for my first Peninsula Marathon but unlike other races I haven't always been drawn to run this race...
It a point to Point marathon, so if you drive to the start and leave your car there, every step you take takes you a step closer to the finish and further from your car...
With Dawn not running she dropped me of at the start and left me to run. I wasn't racing, but just looking for an easy sub 3. A sub 3 was easy in years gone by, but as much as I run, I do fall short on a couple on long runs, so the easy sub 3 isn't as easy as it should be.
My friend Candyce was looking for a sub 3 and joined me at the start, Damian just wanted to finish, but the idea of a sub 3 bus had him joining us. After the heat of the last couple of days the 05h15 start wasn't to early and it was just fine as we set off down the Main Road. The simple aim was 21min for each 5km of the race and then FINISH STRONG...
I took the split at 5km 21:08 close enough, but Candyce needed a quick stop and I didn't see her again, I think the weeks before 27km race was still in her legs and the sub 3 wasn't going to happen this time round. I was sort of on my own as Damian seemed to slow a little. I had also wanted to run with a couple of other friends, but they had taken off like a bullet, and I had to start slow or risk falling to pieces... I was warm now and passed the 2nd lady slowing for just a moment to wish her well. I also passed the 1st lady and went through the 10km board in 41:35. So even though we had climbed a little hill into the wind I had run those 5km in 20:24. I could now see a big group of guys just ahead and a km later I joined their bus. It wasn't any bus, it was my friends who has started fast..
The next 5km passed in 20:24 and as I looked around to see who was there and you bus was over 10 people strong... The km was passing easily and 20:22 and 20:16 took us to 25km the next 5 was still good 20:51 and yes the group was still 10+ strong, but then with a little wind and a few bumps (you can't call them hills) was slowed to 21:22.
There were 5 of us left, and unlike years in the past I was the week link, and was hiding at the back. 40km down last 5km split of 21:53, the wind and heat had slowed us down a bit and I wasn't going to push the pace... Then with 2km to go I decided to call it a day and jog home alone... My Hip Flexors which haven't worked since September were tired and I needed to look after myself, this was only a training run!!!
The last 2.2km took me 11:32 taking me home in 2h58:18, I would like to have stayed with the boys, but what would have been work and I have to look at the bigger picture. I still had my sub 3 and I would live to fight another day...
Wait... Dawn had cycle through watch us and after chatting to a couple of friends she got a lift home leaving me with her bike to cycle the 25km home!
What's another hours exercise between friends?
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
SO MANY CHOICES and THE HUNT FOR THE RED DISA
This weekend passed the race calender was full... There were 3 races I would have like to have run:
The 27km Freedom Challenge, near Franschhoek. A flattish 27km race from the prison that once housed Nelson Mandela, and you get to run a km for every year he was incarcerated.
Top Forms 10km race. If I had found myself on the startline I would have set about seeing if the legs still had a bit of speed in them, always good to line up at a fast and flat race!
Silvermine XL, a 35km trail race, and one I was looking to run... really enjoyed the ran last year.
But sometimes Dawn says: Please can we do something else.... So
I dusted off the old bike (we have a 110km race coming up and 1 training ride should be enough) and we headed out...
It was a perfect morning for cycling without a breath of wind. Don't get me wrong cycling isn't my thing and I did find myself looking up at the mountains looking for the guys racing Silvermine's 35km...
At 14h00 I found myself alone at Constantia Nek about to set off on a little run. Now, because I had 50km of cycling in my legs I had 2 route choices, but as I started that first climb it was clear that I was going all the way to Maclears Beacon. To say I am competitive would be an understatement, and as I took a split time at the turn off to Nursery Ravine 24:52, I pushed on...
The old body didn't feel old today, it was working and the steep rocky climb and winding single track didn't slow me down as I seemed to have bounds of unused energy, the splits to Nursery and Skellie were good. I finally stopped my watch at Maclears 57:48 my fastest time by over a minute. it was now time to enjoy the run back.
It was down hill from here and while I could have chosen many different routes, it's February and that leaves you with only one choice:
THE HUNT FOR THE RED DISA
It didn't take long and after 10min I was off the main trail and..
I've never see so many....
It was the heat of the afternoon, so I decided to take a quick dip before running on...
I stopped so many times on the way back, an hours run took almost 2 hours...
So while I missed a trio of races, I think I had the best run!
The 27km Freedom Challenge, near Franschhoek. A flattish 27km race from the prison that once housed Nelson Mandela, and you get to run a km for every year he was incarcerated.
Top Forms 10km race. If I had found myself on the startline I would have set about seeing if the legs still had a bit of speed in them, always good to line up at a fast and flat race!
Silvermine XL, a 35km trail race, and one I was looking to run... really enjoyed the ran last year.
But sometimes Dawn says: Please can we do something else.... So
 |
| I've had it 20 years |
 |
| 25km turn around point |
At 14h00 I found myself alone at Constantia Nek about to set off on a little run. Now, because I had 50km of cycling in my legs I had 2 route choices, but as I started that first climb it was clear that I was going all the way to Maclears Beacon. To say I am competitive would be an understatement, and as I took a split time at the turn off to Nursery Ravine 24:52, I pushed on...
The old body didn't feel old today, it was working and the steep rocky climb and winding single track didn't slow me down as I seemed to have bounds of unused energy, the splits to Nursery and Skellie were good. I finally stopped my watch at Maclears 57:48 my fastest time by over a minute. it was now time to enjoy the run back.
 |
| On Top of Cape Town |
THE HUNT FOR THE RED DISA
It didn't take long and after 10min I was off the main trail and..
 |
| The Hunt Was Over |
 |
| All the way alone the river |
It was the heat of the afternoon, so I decided to take a quick dip before running on...
 |
| The water was lovely |
So while I missed a trio of races, I think I had the best run!
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
DNF or planned 15km
In years gone by I would have called that a swear word, but there is a time and place for DNF or even a DNS...
Just last week I was reading a blog about a lady who was about to DNS (did not start) a 50mile race, she just found out she was pregnant!!! good reason to DNS. My friend Steve had entered the half on Saturday, and as I ran past he was on the side of the road DNS, calf injury!!! Now what happened to me?
We were out celebrating a friends birthday, now did I eat to much? Was the meat not 100%? Did I drink too much? or was my old body warn out from the weeks training and racing? Then again maybe it was yet another late night and early morning... Excuses aside I was up before 5 and not feeling very strong, but still I put on my running cloths and headed out the door. Dawn joined me on the bike while I ran the 5.7km to the start. The plan was easy, run the race, and let Dawn cycle round and then home to pick up a car and fetch me. I didn't want to do to much before my 'real' race on Sunday!!!
The warmup had been slower than planned, so I only had a fewer minutes to join waiting runner. There the race was delayed 5 minutes... with my breath back I was ready to run. The races starts down hill and while I started slowly it was still fast enough to pass the 1km mark in 3:48 (80min pace). I joined up with Ben and a couple of other guys who were out for a tempo run.. Things were fine till about 3km in when Ben and his running partner pulled ahead. It didn't worry me to much as they had picked up the pace a bit and I wasn't wanting to kill myself. One of my club mates was still with me and we passed 5km in 18:55. Game on I thought... 8km in 30:13 and then as we climbed the little hills to 9 and 10 I fell to pieces... 39:08. I was now over 60sec behind the pace and was slowing with every step.
After passing 12 in 48:10, I decided that I needed a couple of sub 4's on the next couple of down hill km to stay in the game.
It was bad (and slow) and I stopped enjoying the run, so at the 15km board I hit the stop button 62:46!!! After a short walk down the road I stood on the courner and watch the rest of the race. I was only 1km from home, and I would live to fight another day. I had a long wait for Dawn to come back on the bike, but I had sent word and I had nothing better to do...
I did end up running that km home to give me 21.7km for the day, but it's not about how fast you run, it's not about how slow you run, it's not about how far you run... IT'S ABOUT HAVING FUN / ENJOYING THE RUN, so I had made the right call.
After mid-morning nap and my Saturday returned to normal and I was ready to take on Sunday the the next Trail Race...
Another early morning another race, but I felt so much better and set off with the leaders. While Bernard did get away from me I set the pace in 2nd with Craig and Eddie following. With over 6km of mostly climbing I turned onto the single track in 2nd with Craig still on my shoulder. I push a couple of 100m but he was up for the task, so I changed the game and set about controling the race. This kid is quick with a sub '4' 1500m track time and I know I couldn't beat him on the down and the single track wasn't scary enough. Now I didn't want us to catch Bernard (my teammate) but it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if Eddie (my other teammate) caught us... So while I keep an honest pace I know Eddie might give it his all on the down... He did and caught us just over 1.5km from the end. I let him go by and Craig as well and the 2 of them set about racing... But the kid still had enough and kept Eddie at bay, while I jogged home in 4th pace, 1st 40+...
15km tempo was just perfect as a Saturday warm-up...
Just last week I was reading a blog about a lady who was about to DNS (did not start) a 50mile race, she just found out she was pregnant!!! good reason to DNS. My friend Steve had entered the half on Saturday, and as I ran past he was on the side of the road DNS, calf injury!!! Now what happened to me?
We were out celebrating a friends birthday, now did I eat to much? Was the meat not 100%? Did I drink too much? or was my old body warn out from the weeks training and racing? Then again maybe it was yet another late night and early morning... Excuses aside I was up before 5 and not feeling very strong, but still I put on my running cloths and headed out the door. Dawn joined me on the bike while I ran the 5.7km to the start. The plan was easy, run the race, and let Dawn cycle round and then home to pick up a car and fetch me. I didn't want to do to much before my 'real' race on Sunday!!!
The warmup had been slower than planned, so I only had a fewer minutes to join waiting runner. There the race was delayed 5 minutes... with my breath back I was ready to run. The races starts down hill and while I started slowly it was still fast enough to pass the 1km mark in 3:48 (80min pace). I joined up with Ben and a couple of other guys who were out for a tempo run.. Things were fine till about 3km in when Ben and his running partner pulled ahead. It didn't worry me to much as they had picked up the pace a bit and I wasn't wanting to kill myself. One of my club mates was still with me and we passed 5km in 18:55. Game on I thought... 8km in 30:13 and then as we climbed the little hills to 9 and 10 I fell to pieces... 39:08. I was now over 60sec behind the pace and was slowing with every step.
After passing 12 in 48:10, I decided that I needed a couple of sub 4's on the next couple of down hill km to stay in the game.
It was bad (and slow) and I stopped enjoying the run, so at the 15km board I hit the stop button 62:46!!! After a short walk down the road I stood on the courner and watch the rest of the race. I was only 1km from home, and I would live to fight another day. I had a long wait for Dawn to come back on the bike, but I had sent word and I had nothing better to do...
I did end up running that km home to give me 21.7km for the day, but it's not about how fast you run, it's not about how slow you run, it's not about how far you run... IT'S ABOUT HAVING FUN / ENJOYING THE RUN, so I had made the right call.
After mid-morning nap and my Saturday returned to normal and I was ready to take on Sunday the the next Trail Race...
Another early morning another race, but I felt so much better and set off with the leaders. While Bernard did get away from me I set the pace in 2nd with Craig and Eddie following. With over 6km of mostly climbing I turned onto the single track in 2nd with Craig still on my shoulder. I push a couple of 100m but he was up for the task, so I changed the game and set about controling the race. This kid is quick with a sub '4' 1500m track time and I know I couldn't beat him on the down and the single track wasn't scary enough. Now I didn't want us to catch Bernard (my teammate) but it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if Eddie (my other teammate) caught us... So while I keep an honest pace I know Eddie might give it his all on the down... He did and caught us just over 1.5km from the end. I let him go by and Craig as well and the 2 of them set about racing... But the kid still had enough and kept Eddie at bay, while I jogged home in 4th pace, 1st 40+...
15km tempo was just perfect as a Saturday warm-up...
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