10km Road Running event in Port Elizabeth 2nd December 2017
Peter Giddy Guided Tours -- Find me on Trip Advisor -- Things to do in Port Elizabeth.
While many of our friends and running group are running the 42km Marathon event on Saturday morning 2nd December; a couple of us tackle the shorter 10km distance.
I have really been out of running races for a while following a bike accident where Daniel and his bike fell onto me left calf and left me limping for a while but taking ages to recover fully. This was followed by Tick Bite Fever and so I had to let running take a back seat for a while.
Not really able to get back into running at the same pace I have been walk / jogging with Gaye and Adrienne the past while and now recently started swimming with Megan as well.
So I entered this event to test my ability to run a ten kay. Maria and I leave at 5am for Lorraine. Julia is in PE to run the 42kay. Maria reminds me that this was the venue, one year ago, for her first 10kay. In fact we even parked in the same field and did a similar warm up before the race. I enjoy having Maria as a running partner and she leaves on Christmas day for Spain.
After registration (see Mike and Elaine, Odette, Johan; Derek, Marie Louise and other familiar faces in the organising team of Crusaders) Maria and I run a 2 kay warm up and then join the group waiting for the start. Here we see Kelly and I see Erica who I often see at these events. Also Marti Jack who we often see on a Thursday as he loves to run up and down Target Kloof. Sonja is there and to day, I think for the first time, she runs ahead of me. Plus a number of familiar faces.
The organisation is very slick. Registration goes well and the start is on time. Marshalling is spot on and the km Markers are accurately placed. And then later, at about 9.30 I receive an SMS to tell me my race time.
The run starts in Marne Ave at a church. We run up into Dijon road to the rail crossing and then left and left again. This is all basically a slight uphill. We pass the 4km mark where there is a watering table. Mike, Peter, Allan are seconding.
Then turn right where I am overtaken by Leslie and Gail and then by Mof and Jeanine. I try to maintain some kind of respectability but my strength and pace are not there. I run with Ina Meaker (Ian Meaker) for a while and then John passes me. Now Tom is the only Achillean who I am ahead of.
So we run a bit of downhill over the final two kays and back into Dijon and into the finish area.
While I cannot say I am exhausted, I am glad to be finished the run. The weather is perfect being a bit overcast and even a slight drizzle. Maria and Kelly finished about 10 minutes ahead of me.
We spend a short while chatting before Maria and I drive home.
This afternoon I have clients to take to Pumba Wildlife Reserve.
I am a Tour Guide --- Peter Giddy Guided Tours -- and specialise in Addo; Township and City Cultural and Historical Tours; Also I enjoy Garden Route Tours.
You can contact me on peter.giddy@gmail.com or +27 82 550 3174
I work in association with www.saguidedtours.com
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