TREMAINE AND BOB RUNNING THE DESPATCH 15KAY
Herald MTB at Addo with Andre
Herald Road bike on Sunday 3rd
Work pressure as we introduce new computer system SAP
Saturday 2nd. Andre and I ride the Herald MTB event.
Ally has a water polo tournament at Woodridge
Barbara remain at home in pain after her fall last month where she cracked a rib
Sunday morning I park at Summies, ride to the start at Hobie beach, meet up with some friends before setting off into the west wind. I had the bike serviced recently and had a great ride
Nippers practice this morning is a success.
I have a busy week fetching and carrying an active Ally. And then Thursday and Friday I am in JHB for meetings.
FINISHED THE DESPATCH 15K
Saturday morning I drive to Despatch for a 15k event. I have failed to register for 2013 with ASA and buy a Temp Number. Meet up with the Achilleans who are there in numbers for a league event. My morning running group is either running at the beach or doing a big tree long run in preparation for 2 Oceans.
START OF DESPATCH 15K APPROACHING DESPATCH SENTRAAL STASIE
FEBRUARY 2013
In Despatch it is already getting hot even before the 6;30 start. The route is a circular route starting in Main Rd Despatch, towards VW and the left across the rail line and right to the old PE Despatch road. Under the freeway and along a hot straight road.
There are a couple of hills but one is steep and long. It reminds me of many years ago we used to run a race that started in Uitenhage and came out along this road. Myself, Theresa and Tremaine made our way up this hill.
Down the other side and across the Swartkops river bridge.
WARREN AND JOHN FINISHED DESPATCH 15K
LYN AND JONATHAN AFTER THE RUN
ACHILLES LADIES. GAIL.
ACHILLES LADIES ON THE DESPATCH RUN
ME RUNNING AND THERESA'S FINGER IN FRONT OF THE LENS
This is my first event after I had the Stent put into my Left Artery last month. I feel no after effects and have a good morning on the road. I do not run a Fast Time but am not expecting to do so and am quite happy that I am still able to Call myself a Runner.
After the event I give Priscilla and Errol a lift back to PE.
Saturday I have to be home reasonably early for Ally's waterpolo so run 10kay at the beach. By the end of the run, even though we have been going slowly, I find my right calf has stiffenned up. And for the rest of the weekend I hobble around.
ANNIE AND ADRIENNE POUND THEIR WAY UP WALMER BOULEVARD ON A SATURDAY MORNING RUN.
ADRIENNE; PREGNANT PETER AND ANNIE ON THE SATURDAY MORNING RUN
Ally has been running in a schools Athletics competition. She has a busy weekend and so even though she has made the 200 and 400 meter qualifiers she misses these in favour of the Waterpolo. Saturday afternoon; after a hectic day of waterpolo, we drive to NMMU stadium where Ally is in the 4 X 100m relay for Pearson. Ally runs an excellent race and their team is placed 2nd overall. We are so proud of her.
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY ALLY IS IN THE PEARSON WATERPOLO TOURNAMENT. Ally plays game after game for the second team. Her team has a 50 /50 success rate. But I think that they have so much fun as a team that Winning is not the absolute goal of this tournament.
Ally is in a Pearson Relay team at NMMU stadium and makes up time in the third lap so that their team is placed second overall.
This afternoon Barbara and I watch Ally play Waterpolo at Pearson.
Sunday afternoon I leave for Queenstown. We are introducing a new computer system at work and I spend the week in Queenstown.
JULIA TAKES PART IN A 5K PICK & PAY EVENT AT THE BEACH
JULIA ENJOYS THE WALKING AND DOES THIS AT A GOOD PACE.
SUNDAYS RIVER MILE 23 AND 24 FEBRUARY. OFF ROAD TRIATHLON / FIVE KAY TRAIL RUN AND A VARIETY OF EVENTS AT SUNDAYS RIVER.
DEBBIE AND JULIA HAVE RUN THE SUNDAYS RIVER TRAIL RUN. DEBBIE WAS SECOND LADY
SUNDAYS RIVER OFF ROAD TRIATHLON
AFTER AN EASY SWIM I AM ON THE MTB AT THE BACK OF COLCHESTER. SO MANY PUNCTURES IF YOU HAVE NOT PUT ENOUGH SLIME. THOSE WITH TUBELESS ALSO SEE IT THROUGH THE RACE WITHOUT PUNCTURES. I MEET UP WITH LIESL NIENABER WHO IS PART OF DISCOVERY AND SPONSORS OF THE EVENT. LIESL TAKES THIS PIC AS I PASS THE WATERING POINT
KERRY WEEKS AND I RUN THE TRAIL PART OF THE TRIATHLON TOGETHER
ROB AND I HAVE DONE A COUPLE OF THESE EVENTS
GINO FABRI IS A TRAFFIC COP ON THE PROWL AT SUNDAYS RIVER
This evening is a RUGBY Match. The EP Kings have recently joined the Super Rugby League. They are playing the Western Force (From Perth Australia) in PE. I try to persuade my family to come along but they have other plans. Julia and her friend Ruan join me. The match starts at 7pm and we arrive around an hour early.
We find our places which turns out to be good seats in the middle of the field. Buy a couple of beers and settle down to watch this game. There are many detractors who claim that EP has no right to be in this league. I just love the whole thing of being at the game and love watching. I am no expert and don't know any of the players except Luke Watson the Captain who is an Ex Grey boy who I would have watched at Grey. Also Sergeal Peterson who played for Grey First Team last year. I love to spend a Saturday afternoon at Grey watching these boys play with such passion.
There is a Huge Fan Fare when our team takes to the field. The stadium is not full but the vibe that those who are there put out is sufficient to make the atmosphere. The game this evening turns out to be one of the most exciting matches that I have watched in a long time. The lead is taken by EP but moves to the Force after a while when Sergeal scores a flying try. The stadium erupts in emotion.
And we go into the second half with it still being anybody's game. Unfortunately we have hardly any possession. And our team has to defend with tackle after tackle. I know that this cannot last as the Force will wear us down. In the second half we work our way into the Force's 22 and Sergeal scores his second try. Again the stadium erupts with cheers and shouts. Music plays, drums beat and a Mexican wave makes its way around and around the stadium.
We are now 9 points ahead and have to fight to the very last second to avoid the Western Force from scoring a second try. Not one person leaves their seats even after the final whistle. The excitement and tension has made us all quite exhausted and only after a few minutes and when the Kings do a Victory Lap around the field, do we make our way back to the car and home. This has been a night to remember. I believe that it is the first time ever that a New Entrant to this league has won an opening match. This just goes to prove how powerful the force of passion can be.
BACK TO THE RIVER MILE AT SUNDAYS RIVER
THE FOLLOWING DAY; SUNDAY IS THE RIVER MILE. ALLY SWIMS AND DESPITE NO TRAINING IS PLACED 49TH. SHE HAS NOT EATEN BREAKFAST AND FAINTS AFTER THE EVENT. BARBARA TAKES HER TO THE MEDIC WHERE THEY GIVE HER GU TO UP HER SUGAR LEVELS AFTER NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND A PULSE NOR ANY SUGAR IN HER BLOOD. ALLY HAD NO BREAKFAST AND THIS SHOULD BE A LESSON TO EAT BEFORE AN EVENT LIKE THIS. FORTUNATELY SHE RECOVERS WITHIN AN HOUR.
I HAD A GREAT SWIM AND WAS HAPPY TO SEE BARBARA AND ALLY LOOKING A BIT STRONGER
RONEL AND PAT HAD A GOOD SWIM. UNFORTUNATELY I DID NOT SEE DEBBIE DEAN AND SHE HAD TO WALK TO THE START BAREFOOT. THERE ARE SO MANY THORNS ON THIS PATH. YOU NEED A PERSON TO BACK YOU UP. WHEN I WALKED TO THE START I HAD MY SLOPS AND WAS LUCKY TO FIND SUSAN BURRI WHO CARRIED MY SLOPS BACK TO THE FINISH AREA
The Sundays ( used to be the Redhouse) River Mile is an institution in PE. I have been doing this off and on for the past 20 or more years. I think that my first swim was with Jacqui whMonen she was probably early teens or even younger. over the years Barbara, Dawn and Gail have done this and so have all of our family. Ally started off with with swimming across the river. A couple of years ago was placed in the top 20. That was when she trained swimming. Now we just go down for the fun of the day.
Monday 25th I had to visit Mike for a checkup. He does a thorough check with his Technician Zaan checking the heart with a machine and then Janet put me on the Treadmill with all the wires on my chest. Of course runners love this part as it gives them a chance to show off their fitness. They joke about Margie being so fit that she "spits" on the fastest pace and highest elevation.
