COLIN; SJANI AND RONEL JUST BEFORE WE MEET UP WITH THE 8KAY RUNNERS. SEE THE OCEAN IN THE BACKGROUND. MANY HILLS AND DUNES TO GO.
RUSSELL GAVE US SOME DETAILED EXPLANTIONS OF WHAT TO EXPECT. FORTUNATELY HE USES A LOT OF HAND GESTURES WHICH HELPS A LOT.
SPRINGMOUNT NANAGA TRAIL RUN 2011; http://www.nanaga.co.za/page/trail_runs
SUNDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER 2011
This event was organised by Dallas and Jane Barnardo. They ran with the MPRG for a short while, some time ago.
They have an organisation called Free Spirit Adventures. The Charity which benefitted from the proceeds is the Sunshine Coast Trust which is an organisation which attempts to provide support to the less fortunate communities of the Alexandria / Patterson and surrounding areas.
Springmount is a farm off the road that runs between Nanaga and Alexandria.
SJANI; COLIN AND RONEL JUST BEFORE THE START; GOOD LOOKING GIRLS TO KEEP COLIN COMPANY THE WHOLE WAY.
A number of runners from our group entered this event;
Pat, Gerald, Adrienne and Kobus ran the 8kay. As did Andre's wife Robin and two of the ladies from his shop and his son (Keegan's) girlfriend, Brittany. Mike Bester also ran the race and won it too.
John Nelson met me at our house at 7am and we collected Almarie and Robin before heading out to the event. Almarie felt a obliged to come out with us as I had complained about her going on her own to the Woodridge runs. The drive there took us less than an hour.
ROBYN AND ALMARIE STILL WARMLY DRESSED AGAINST THE EARLY MORNING COLD BREEZE
We off loaded our stuff and registered for the event. At an event like this there are so many local runners who we greet. Unfortunately I have a terrible memory for names and forget the names and faces of people who I know that I should acknowledge. Good to see Christoff Opperman; Chris Gedye; Gareth; Davera and Mike: Davera is going to be having a baby around March next year she told me. Bradley McKenzie;
ROBIN AND ANDRE BEFORE THE START. ROBIN DID THE 8KAY AND SAYS THAT SHE WAS STOKED AND READY FOR MORE.
It is a chilly morning and I think about running with a runners top but discard it just before the race starts. Fortunately as it warms us almost immediately we start. Russell gives us directions from the back of a tractor trailer. And a huge blast from a shotgun starts us off.
SUZANNE; MARGIE AND COLIN; MARGIE ENDED UP DOING A FEW KAYS EXTRA AS SHE TURNED RIGHT ON THE BEACH WHEN RUSSELL HAD SAID "TURN LEFT".
I soon realise that I will be in the very last of the finishers today. So What? I determine to enjoy myself. John heads off and ends up running with Elmarie, Robin, Angie, Michelle and Suzanne. He later tells me that he did not say too much -- in fact he explains that everytime a thought came into his head he would try to express himself but found that at least two of the five women were talking at that time. It kept his mind occupied and the event proceeded with the kays falling away until he came to some of the tougher hills which he had to walk. Fortunately for him so did his hareem of lady runners. They completed the event is a bit over two hours.
COLIN; SJANI AND RONEL ENJOYING A FUN DAY IN THE FIELDS.
Meanwhile I was stopping to take pictures and walking anything that looked like a hill. The run takes us into farmland right from the start. Ronel remarked that she takes a good couple of kays to get going as do I. I seem to puff and pant over the first three kays before being able to settle into any rythm. The first of the steep hills led us up to a water table. I had not taken my Camelback as I had thought there would be regular watering tables. If it had been a warmer day I would have been in trouble. Here Andre was waiting for me.
ROBIN ELBOURNE AND PETER; BACKGROUND IS THE FIRST GLIMPSE OF THE OCEAN. STILL A LONG WAY AND TOUGH TERRAIN AHEAD.
Colin, Sjani and Ronel also caught us up as we headed down hill. Over the next rise we were able to see the ocean in the distance. But had no idea what lay ahead for us. We jogged down the hill and could see the 8kay runners coming from the right. We met up with Gerald as we entered into the donga / kloof area.
GERALD JOINED US JUST BEFORE HIS HALFWAY WATERING POINT. I THINK THAT GERALD HAD A GREAT TIME; PAT MANAGED TO COME IN AHEAD OF THE GREAT ATHLETE.
Andre's wife -- Robin, Megan from Andre's shop and Brittany met us as we started into the kloof. We left them after a short while and jogged across to the second water table. Dallas announced that we had done 7kays and the 8 kay runners were at their half way mark.
DALLAS AT THE WATERING WAGON; WE TURN LEFT UP THE DUNES TO BONE HILL AND THE OTHERS CARRY ON FOR ANOTHER 4 KAYS TO THE FINISH.
LAUREN, ROBIN AND BRITTANY HEADING DOWN INTO THE DONGA / KLOOF. STILL LOOKING PERKY AND ENJOYING THE EVENT.
We left them there as we turned left towards the ocean. Up a short hill to Bone Valley. Then across some grassy dunes, down a hill and then up on to the real sand dunes. Not too bad at this stage and we were feeling good as we pressed on and over the first hill. Here we could again see the ocean as well as the tall pole with Bunting streaming from it that Russell had told us about.
ANDRE -- UP THE BONE HILL AND OVER THE FIRST MAJOR DUNE -- DOES NOT LOOK IT BUT THERE IS STILL A VERY LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE WE REACH THE BEACH.
I knew that we would be turning left at the bottom of the all the dunes and so persuaded Andre that we should take a bit of a short cut. BIG MISTAKE.
DALLAS IS ON THE WATER WAGON. THIS IS THE HALF WAY FOR THE 8KAY RUN AND JUST BEFORE THE DUNE FIELD IF YOU ARE UP TO TAKING TO THE SAND DUNES THAT SEPARATE THE FARM FROM THE BEACH FRONT.
I thought that I was being smart. Not so. We should have followed those ahead of us as the next kay or two was spent going up and down some of the toughest dunes that you can imagine. The sand was soft and the hills steep. Our shoes filled with sand and we struggled each time we put a foot down both on the ups and the downs. Finally we could see where the others were on the beach.
PETER AND ANDRE BEFORE WE MADE THE BIG BOO BOO OF TAKING A SHORT CUT OVER SOME OF THE TOUGHEST DUNES ON THE BEACH
Colin, Sjani and Ronel were now way ahead of us. We had to stop to remove as much of the sand from our shoes as we could. But shortly after this we stepped into soft sand again and filled our shoes with sand. Finally we came to the beach and jogged to catch the others. A landrover on the beach was a marker to show us where to turn. Up we ran back into the dunes. Fortunately not as soft or difficult going out of the Dune Fields as it had been coming in. This section was not too tough and we made our way back to the trailer where we had left the 8 kay runners earlier. We all stopped for a cold drink and took off our shoes to remove as much sand as we could. Okay; now we knew that we only had 4kays of trail running to go. Charl was there to greet us and show us the way.
COLIN; SJANI AND RONEL --- RUNNING UP HILL? IS THAT POSSIBLE?
So off we set for the final section. Charl had told us that we would climb one hill and then it was basically downhill for the final 1 and a half kays. He had lied. There was a hill ahead but then there was a second long hill just before the finish as well. With only a few hundred meters to go we regrouped to finish together. Pat and Gerald were at the finish to greet us. I think that Terry Webb was a little dissappointed that I had not stayed with Vanessa. Vanessa and Sharon Wilson came in just a few minutes behind us. We probably could have waited for them and done the distance together. Now I feel like a bit of a heel. Sharon had a welcoming party of children running in to fetch their Mom as she came in. Craig had stayed at the base to look after the children while Sharon had enjoyed the outing.
SJANI; RONEL AND PETER ON WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE FINAL HILL BUT TURNED OUT THAT THERE WAS STILL A LONG UP AHEAD.
We had a little treat which is becoming Tradition; Muffins and coffee from the boot of Pat's car. This was enought to keep me going for a while. Thanks Pat. For making the coffee and muffins and for making enough to feed us all. We really look forward to this treat.
At the prize giving there was this Blues Guitarist. It was just what this setting needed. Perfect end to the morning. He jammed and sung gentle songs and entertained us while we waited for Dallas to set up the prize giving. It reminded me of our Israel trip where we had been at the Kite Festival at Ceasarea and the Morrocan music that had entertained us that evening. In the barn there were a whole lot of goodies for sale. Stunning farm stuff. I had not brought cash so missed out but Robyn and Almarie stocked up.
The Prize giving went well. jane made some announcements and did the draws. Children ran around handing out the prizes. It was a perfect morning on this farm setting. Today I am proud to be a South African and part of a group of people who love the outdoors, Boerewors rolls; roosterkoek; beers; local markets -- all after a good morning of excersize; and everything that it is to be South African.
Our little group were winners with Britanny, John, Sjani, and Ronel all winning prizes. Ronel won a hamper of Choccies. John won himself some really nice sunglasses. Suzanne stayed for the lucky draw and came home with us. As we were about to leave a man came up to me. His face was familiar but I had to ask him to identify himself: Graham Moolman. We had been as school together. I sometimes see his brother Philip in PE and at Summerstrand. Graham and his wife Sally farm near to the Springmount farm: Blue bull farm. He pointed out a shorter cut to getting home which we took and ended up at the Kinkelbos stasie instead of going via Nanaga.
Now here is an interesting bit of information: What is the Afrikaans for a vehicle carrier such as the one in the picture below? In Afrikaans: If you Abba someone then you are giving a Piggyback or carrying the person on your shoulders. In Hewbrew the word Abba is Father. So father carries the child is :Abba-ing the child. So in Afrikaans the vehicle carrier is called an "Abbawa"
VEHICLE CARRIER IS KNOWN, IN AFRIKAANS, AS AN ABBAWA. ALMARIE GAVE IS THIS IMPORTANT AFRIKAANS LESSON ON OUR WAY HOME.
As soon as I got home I rushed down to Gelvandale Astro as Ally had a Grey Academy game this afternoon. But after waiting for almost an hour the Rhodes team never pitched up for the game and the game was declared a 5=0 win to our team. Danielle Wilson had also had a hockey match which Adrienne tells me they drew 2-2 and now all hinges on a final match against Rhodes.
What I needed most of all was a shower. I had sand in my hair (what hair?); toes and feet, clothes and kit. After the shower I had to get ready as I was leaving for JHB the following morning. I am driving the Mercedes back to JHB and picking up a Nissan.
ROBYN AND ALMARIE -- I JUST LOVED BEING WITH THEM FOR THIS EVENT. THEY HAVE SO MUCH LOVE FOR THE RUNNING AND ENTHUSIASM FOR LIFE
John says: "If this is going to be an annual event then count me in". The same applies to me. I can truly say I have enjoyed the morning at Springmount.
