KNYSNA AND RHODES MARATHONS JULY 2005.

KNYSNA AND RHODES 2005 17 July 2005.

The past two weeks have been quite eventful. Firstly the Tour De France started at the beginning of July with all kinds of exciting days including Lance Armstrong taking an early lead in the team time trial. This year he is riding with Discovery Channel Team as opposed to the US Postal team that we have become used to. This was due to be his final attempt at TDF as he had won a record 6 times and this was his seventh attempt at winning. He continues to dominate the race, both in time trials and in the mountains. It will be interesting to see what happens in 2006. Also a good friend, Keith, from Johannesburg, SMS’d me to say that he had reached the top of the mountain that he had climbed in Russia. Keith had been with us on Kilimanjaro and he said that this latest climb was ten times more difficult. Then our daughter, Jacqui who lives in London, let us know that she will be having her first child in March 2006. This will be our 7th grandchild as Michael’s wife, Lene is pregnant and so is Nicci who also lives in London.

Graham Richards was in town on Sunday the first of July and we had a good training run around the Moffet circuit. I had been having a good run in sales at work. Stuart, Rianna, Suzanne and Tim had been at our home for supper on the Friday evening and I managed to persuade Stuart to go to Knysna with me, as I needed some company. Michael and Lene were going off to Kariega Park for the weekend having won a weekend for two at the luxury lodge including game drives etc. And Barbara and Cathy planned an “extreme makeover” of their home while they were away.

So it turned out that Stuart, Tim and I drove down to Knysna on the Friday afternoon the 8th July and after registration we dropped Tim off with his family and Stuart & I stayed with my mother who made us a delicious pasta supper. The next morning we collected Tim at 05.00 and drove through to Knysna with Stuart still not sure if he would run the half or the full. We found ourselves a perfect parking spot just a few hundred meters from the Loerie stadium. We walked up to where the taxis depart and were soon in a Venture taxi owned by a local driver. He collected a voucher at the start of his route and when he had dropped us off. For each trip he was to be paid R70 and he hoped to do as many as four trips. Stuart told us later that the taxi that he was in had an incident as they came across a feuding couple. They stopped to assist the woman who was being severely beaten up. Stuart separated the two much to the indignation of the husband who explained to Stuart that she was “my vrou” and that seemed to him to give him the right to give his wife a beating.

Once Tim and I got to the top where the race starts we came across Kosima from Achilles and then a number of other of the PE people as well as Graham. The 42 started on time at 07.00. At the start there were the traditional fires, soup, coffee and tea and plenty of noise from the announcer. It seemed that there were more entrants this year with nearly 950 marathoners and about 5 to 6 thousand 21’ers. This run starts with a long climb to about the 11kay mark, there is then a sharp descent of a few hundred meters after which there is more climbing to about the 15 kay marker. Tim was up front with Neil and Viv and I also saw Eckart and others who I decided to let go. I was running with Nicky from MPRG, Graham, Doc Louis and Tremaine. I also met up with Andy Weddal who now lives in Cape Town, Bennie Bezuidenhout (Grahamstown) and a variety of other nice people. Nicky joined up with Mary-Anne from Cape Town Villagers and left us with about 11 kays to go.

I made the mistake of charging down the steep descent and paid for it with sore legs for the rest of the run as well as after the event. Graham reminded me of the story of the young bull who is in the field with older and wiser bull. The Young bull says to the older bull “Look down there at those young heifers. Lets charge down there and “do” a couple of them”. The Older bull says in his wise voice “I suggest that we rather walk down slowly and “do” the whole lot of them”. Wise words but too late for myself who had already made the mistake that the young bull wanted to. Tim and others had gone ahead and we would not see them until we arrived at the finish.

The weather was perfect for running, there were all kinds of great and chatty people on the run and we had a lot of fun: Until the downhill after the Gouna Pump station. The Pump station hits the runner at the 14kay to go marker and thereafter there is a 3kay uphill to where the marathon meets the half. After a short while the long (very long) steep descent begins. This descent has now been paved with all the golfing estate development and continues for about 3kays to the bottom of the valley. A long downhill can be very taxing on tired legs and destroys joints, such as knees and hips, of the older generation such as myself. Then at the 8kay to go mark the road evens out and runners are able to steady themselves for an even pace to the finish.

Graham and I were running together at this stage and we trundled (Graham’s terminology) on to the N2 and then I seemed to get a bit of a second wind but by now we knew that we were in for one of our longest Knysna’s ever. The previous year we had managed well under 4.15 but now anticipated a 4.40. With about 2kay to go we had our photo taken together again but this year is was brightened by a 20year old girl from Bloemfontien, Udeliah, who is studying sports science. At this time I went on ahead for no other reason except to get the day over. This year there was no Paulette to beat at the finish. She had finished about an hour earlier so I saved myself the price of a chocolate.

At the end Stuart, who had wisely decided to do the 21kay, was waiting for us. He had fetched the tog bags out of the car. I had a shower and then we met Kobus and family in the tent to watch the Springboks get beaten by the Australians in the Mandela Cup something like 32 to 9. I left before the final whistle to join the Achillean tent for a cold drink. Bruce had done his normal, but well appreciated thing, of bringing the tent, the drinks and chairs. Once the match was over and we had recovered to some extent, I bought myself a Calamari lunch and we packed up for home. Stuart & I dropped Tim off in Plett again and then headed home.

During the following week I did no running at all and tried to recover from the aching muscles that the down hills of the Knysna had served up. But the TDF was in full swing and the mountain stages had begun so each evening was filled with anticipation for the day’s summary and final two hours of the stage. It was with a good deal of apprehension that I left for Rhodes the following Friday morning. Pat and Gerald had picked up Tim and Suzanne and then came to our house where we left at about 05.30 for Rhodes. We took the route past Grahamstown, Fort Beaufort, Queenstown, Elliot and Barklay East and then the final 70 kay of dirt road to Rhodes. This way is about 600kays and it took us about 9 hours including stops. On the way to Rhodes we stopped at my Cousin Dennis and Melanie Giddy who farm at Kelvin Grove. Here we enjoyed some traditional farming hospitality. An interesting thing that Dennis told us is how the farm labourers are able to herd cattle for up to 45 kays in a day, and all on foot. He says that the cattle walk at a pace of about 5kays an hour.

We arrived at “Die Pastorie” at about 14.30. We did a bit of walking and going to shops before registering for the event. The registration is quite a slow process as each entrant has to produce an identity document before being handed the race number and a “Buff”. A buff is a kind of scarf and bandanna that some of the runners use but Tim in particular uses frequently and looks quite dapper when wearing it. In the house this year were: Craig on his own as Sharon had been unable to accompany him, Mark with his son and friend Russell with his son as well. Then there was Andrew with girl friend Janice and his son Greg, there was Duane and Annetjie. Robin, Martin and Kommiene, Tim and Suzanne and finally our family. This made a total of 18 people. Quite a festive house. Gerald and Pat were in a house a little further down together with Doortjie and her family.

Preparations were made firstly for supper and then for the race the next morning. Suzanne had made a Macaroni cheese that lasted for only a few minutes. I think that Tim was shocked to see how much was consumed by so few so quickly. Stuart phoned in to wish us a good run. The sky was clear but snow was still expected in the village. Most of the house was asleep reasonably early. I was woken at about 10.00pm with a call from work to say that I had won a sales competition and would be starting the run considerably richer than I had anticipated. The next morning we began our bathroom preparations at about 06.00 and were ready for the compulsory photo shoot before walking the 2 mins walk to the start. The race started promptly at 07.00 with a comparatively warm temperature of minus 6 degrees. I had two long sleeved shirts, gloves and a beanie. My mouth and nose were freezing for the first few kays of the run but this does not last for long as the body adapts.

I think that it is at about the 8 kay mark after some long tiring hills (and plenty of walking) that we take a left turn in to the valley. This is always a very colourful event as the contrast between the brightly dressed runners is highlighted against the backdrop of the brown veld. We pass a number of farms including one belonging to Gerhard. He always has a massive fire going. The local farmers and their families are wonderful in the way they assist in seconding. At this stage we still had Doortjie with us and had also met up with the Old Selbournians from East London including young Andrea who used to train with the MPRG. Marietjie from Queenstown Harriers also passed us. Peter, who lives near Boston was there to do his 8th Rhodes. He tells me that he canoes 20 miles across a lake to work in Boston each day. I can believe this having experienced his company on our Kilimanjaro climb a few years ago. Once we got the start of the Kloof at 15kays they all left us and it was Gerald, Tim and I who were together for the next 5 kays to Mavis Bank.

During the Kloof stage I took off one layer and the beanie and gloves as the sun was becoming quite hot. I was feeling quite nauseous with the cold and thin air. I heard later that this was a common ailment over the first half of the run. Experience told me that this nausea would go once we began the descent from the highest point. The seconding table organised by the boys and girls from Priory was a welcome relief. I think that it is about an hour to an hour and a half from here to the top of Mavis. The final climb up Mavis Bank took us the normal half hour that we have come to expect. This includes five sit down stops to catch our breath (I could have said to admire the view). It was here that we first encountered snow this year. Finally we made it to the top of Mavis Bank in just over 3.30 hours. This is the 21kay mark and we now have 31 kays to go. I have found that if we can make the top by 10.30am we should be able to get to the finish in a little over 7.30hours.

Once at the top I made a few snowballs to throw at various people including Tim. Unfortunately I had picked up a half handful of dirt and so his snowball blackened his running vest. He retaliated a little later with a frosty one on my neck. At the top of Mavis Bank we had our traditional soup, Tea, Coffee, Potato and sandwiches. After a 10 min break we pressed on only to find Russell, Janice and children including Ally ready to take photos of the runners. They had driven up in Mark’s Landrover. This was a great surprise especially for myself as I was delighted to see Ally having such a great experience in the snow. Thank you Russell for including her. She had a great day. Here we were able to shed our excess clothing. A running vest was all that was necessary as the sun was hot and the reflection off the snow made for perfect weather.

We pressed on with a lot of walking at this stage. I know that Tim wanted to do more running as he seems to love the ups but I am not able to run up and only just manage a shuffle type run on the downs. Gerald was just behind us at this stage. This was his third Rhodes marathon and his Permanent Number Run so we decided to finish together. We got to the half way of the run at about 4.30 hours knowing that the front runners would be in the showers by now. But that did little to dampen our spirits as we met up with Bev from Fish Hoek and Karl from Hillcrest and were able to swap stories. Actually if the truth be told I did most of the talking. At last we came to the highest point where we again met Chris Sephton who is a distant relation of mine and who is there every year in the green Landrover bakkie to greet the runners and tell stories of the area. He pointed out the Lesotho border and where a landing strip was planned for the Tiffendel ski resort. Tim had stopped for a flapjack and we were soon on our way to the T-Junction of the road to Tiffendel. This is about the 28 kay mark and we had a good 24 to go. Gerald had by now accepted his fate that we would coax him to the finish.

It was about here that there was a man in front of me who threw away a cup on the side of the road. To me this was simply not on and I mentioned my disappointment to him. But this is a message that goes to all of us runners: We DO NOT have a licence to throw running rubbish (cups, sachets, corn syrup packets etc) onto the side of the road. Either we use the rubbish bins provided or we carry the offending item to the next watering station. Just think of the image that we give to others when they see the mess we leave behind us. And, no! it is not up to the seconders to pick up after us. Almost everyone who assists at races are volunteers. This is valid for all runs but especially for country runs where we are there to enjoy (not destroy) the wonder of nature.

We were helping ourselves to plenty of oranges, coke and water at every table. The day was a perfect one with little on no wind, bright sunshine but very dry air and I found myself becoming quite parched between tables. Later on we realised that we had become sunburned. Soon after this we had group photos taken again and now started “the walk to a point, run to a point” way of running. This seems to work for me anyway. And soon the Kay markers began to fall away at a reasonable rate. I seemed to suffer a “runny nose” throughout the run, Tim had another body misfunction that persisted. I will leave that to him to describe. I had to stop to empty my shoes and socks of dirt and sand as the soil had penetrated everything and was chaffing my feet. I saw others doing the same. This may have been due to the muddy road after the melting snow.

Finally we reached the steep descent part of the run. We took it fairly carefully on the downhill to the 41kay mark. From here we still had a number of hills to do but nothing as tough as we had already done. We saw Jessie Gush and were surprised that David Goldberg was not there but Jessie told us that he was injured and could not run this year. We heard later that Craig had fallen on the steep downhill section and I can imagine that such a fall could be quite nasty. By now I lost all of the nausea that I had been feeling. We were able to run fairly substantial sections of the route with short walks to catch our breath. And the kays kept on falling away.

At last we reached what Tim calls Govan Mbeki avenue (2 kays to go) where Barbara, Suzanne and Ally were waiting to greet us. I was in no mood for chitchat and pressed on to try to get this run over with. Ally joined us for the final kay and we finished together in 7.40. If I am correct this is about the same time as last year. I walked straight back to the house for a shower. But it took me quite a while before I could breathe normally and stopped shivering. I think that my lungs had taken a pounding. The soup that Mark offered was a great help and appreciated by all. Robin looked a bit like a Mongoose as his sunglasses had shaded his eyes from the sun and he had the appearance of a masked bandit. Later I realised that, while I was stiff and sore in my legs after Knysna, after Rhodes it was my tummy and solar plexus that was sore. I was hoarse for a while after the run. Craig, Robin & Duane had finished a long time ahead of us, Andrew followed soon after we got in and finally the hero of the day: Kommiene came in with Martin in 8.40. I think that she had had the toughest day of us all. Well done to her for completing her first Rhodes and only the second Achillean lady (after Heidi) to do so. I think that she is now motivated to be the first Achillean lady to get a permanent number.

The prize giving was at 17.45 and Duane, Andrew Laing and Gerald all received permanent numbers, having completed three of these events. Andrew was there with his son, Stuart. We next met up with Stuart in July 2009 when Andrew was again at Rhodes and we were hiking the Mountain Zebra trail. See Blog of 14.07.2009. Then came the warming up of the lasagna. Again the stove did not really work well, the fridge had frozen a number of items including the cucumber, lettuce and tomato but we finally were able to serve dinner and I think that we ate well. I was surprised, the next morning, to find that the third lasagna had not been touched during the night. During supper Graham phoned in to find out how the run had progressed. I gave him a brief run down and I think that he was quite envious and sorry that he was not there. I will not be surprised if he does not join us again in 2006.

It was not long after dinner that Barbara went off to bed with the excuse that she was “putting Ally down”. Some went for the swim and others stayed chatting in the lounge. I was trying to read the “Davinci Code” but battled to stay awake for more than a few minutes. The next morning we were packed and ready to go by 7.00am. Some of the group had left early in the morning before daylight. Gerald had a frozen windscreen and so had to defrost before he could leave. But we were all on our way by about 07.30. Ally of course gets prime spot in the car as she has a duvet, pillow and the whole of the back seat to sleep in.

On this trip we did a bit of mathematics as we tried to teach her the variation in temperature from Minus 6 degrees when we left Rhodes to 27 degrees when we got to PE. The Toyota has a temperature gauge on the dashboard. There was a berg wind blowing in PE this evening. Today we decided to go home (on advice from cousin Dennis) a different route and we took the road to Aliwal North (petrol and Pick’nPay), Steynsberg, Hofmeyer and Cradock (petrol and hamburgers) before heading home for the final (250kay) straight. Ally was in the back doing the navigations from the map that we had marked out. This route may seem a little longer, (about 650 kays I think) but cuts out the section between Grahamstown and Queenstown. Fortunately for us the roads were clear and, after a stop at Nanaga road stall, we arrived home at about 15.00 without incident.

A few thanks: To Evie Raubenheimer who puts in hours of personal time, cost and effort to organise this event. Evie, let it never be said that we take anything for granted. It is a thankless task that you have taken on but the runners who have ever organised an event, know what a sacrifice you make throughout the year. To Craig who set up the house and when I had a cash crisis in paying for the accommodation, was able to secure a loan for me at favourable rates. To Pat, Suzanne and Barbara and Ally who have supported us in our running the Rhodes marathon. And to our friends in the house as well as those we met on the road, who add so much to the whole atmosphere of the event.

Peter Giddy
17 July 2005.