PETER LOOKS TIRED AFTER A LONG SLIPPERY HILL CLIMB
PETER STRONG HERE -- MUST BE A DOWN HILL!
ANDY LOOKING STRONG AS HE RUSHES PAST
ANDRE REACHES THE TOP OF THE MUDDY HILL.
ANDRE AND PETER FINISH THE 10KAY WOODRIDGE TRAIL RUN IN THE RAIN
COLIN MCALL WITH BACKPACK
WOODRIDGE TRAIL RUNNING ORGANISED BY CHRISTOFF AND KAREN OPPERMAN
Sunday 24TH JULY 2011 morning.
Andre walked over and we left for Woodridge at around 07.30am. It looked like it had been raining in the night. I had packed for a wet run but was not prepared for what was to come. As we approached Woodridge it began to rain in earnest. Then we arrived at the school and the rain became quite serious. We made a dash to the registration room. Made our presence known and dashed back to the car. Not for long as we heard it was time to "line up".
STARTING THE RACE IN THE RAIN
We stood at the start. Just for that short moment the rain fell a little softer. Christoff tried to explain about the slippery areas and the route in general but the only thing that we really heard was the starting gun.
THE START OF THE TRAIL RUN IN THE RAIN -- IT RAINED NON STOP --- START TO FINISH
Off we run. Along the tar for a short while and then the group bunches up. We were pleased to see a good turn out of around 100 runners. This despite the rain. We recognised a group of the MPRG there: Gerald Scheepers after his trip to the UK for John's wedding. Ronel was the one who had forwarded Christoff's email originally. Ronel and her mother had run the race last year and had encouraged the rest of us to be there this morning. We had pre-entered otherwise I am not sure if we would have started.
ELMARIE LOOKS GOOD WHEN SHE SMILES; CLEARLY SHE IS VERY TIRED HERE
MICHELLE ELFICK LOOKING STRONG
Adrienne and Sjani were both unable to run; Adrienne who had just returned from a trip to Canada to visit her family in Vancouver, had a FINA meeting and Sjani was trying to recover from Flu. This morning before leaving, Barbara had scolded me for going to the event as I was still coughing from the cold that I had picked up in Israel.
RONEL, ELMARIE AND MICHELL STILL SMILING AT THE START OF THE RACE
LOOKS LIKE ANDY BOLTON AND BENITA BARTON IN THE BACKGROUND?
Also running with us were the Lady MPRG of: Elmarie, Ronel, Michelle. They looked very strong and chirpy as they headed down in to the forest. That was the last we saw of them. Such a good group. Nice to see friendships like this developing from our little group of runners.
RONEL AND COLIN MOVING UP THE HILL
Also there this morning was Suzanne Gendal and Colin McAll who had driven down together. Andy Bolton and Benita Barton. Trevor Hawkins who I had last seen up in the Addo Mountains. Andre who seems to be at every trail run. Mike Kingston as always looking so fit and strong. Davera Magson; this talented lady takes on any and every challenge that comes her way.
After a short stretch we thought we were at the slippery section. We were wrong. This was a pre-curser of the real slippery section. We passed the main entrance gate and then headed along the fence for a while before moving back into the forest. So far we had been enjoying the run. We saw an arrow down to the right with a sign saying "Slippery Section".
RONEL, PETER AND ANDRE HAVING A STUNNING DAY ON THE TRAIL
TREVOR HAWKINS -- AS IT ANYONE COULD MISS THIS SMILING MAN!
This was really the slippery section as we had to do everything that we could to avoid "bum sliding" to the bottom. It took a long time for us to reach the bottom. Every step was an effort. Chookree joined our little group. I would have thought that this younger man would have wanted to pass us but he seemed content to stay with Andre and myself. Then came the up hill. This was heart thumping stuff. I was concerned that if I died Barbara would be really irritated after she had told me not to go this morning. We had to use the branches and vines to help us climbing and to stop us from slipping backwards.
MICHELLE AND ELMARIE ALWAYS LOOKING GOOD -- IT MUST BE THE TRAINING AND COACHING THAT I GIVE THEM
We worked our way back up and had a short respite before having to go all the way back down hill again. The soil for the first up and down had been black leafy soil that is typical of forest. Now we were running in a clay soil that we just as slippery. Chookree pointed out the view that we could enjoy looking across the valley. I had a quick look but had to concentrate so hard to stop myself from slipping and sliding that all I could think of was my immediate footing.
ELMARIE -- WHAT A GIRL!
I remember commenting to Andre that I felt a deep sense of priveledge to be able to be here this morning; running on trails, in the rain, with good company and really enjoying the morning's adventure. Priveledged that we have the health and ability as well as the resources to be able to do this.
TREVOR TIES A SHOELACE
The second major climb was in a stream. It seems that this may have been a contructed pathway sometime in the past as there was a number of concrete sections and blocks. The water was running strongly down this clay / rocky stream. Most of the sharp downhill and steep uphills we had walked and climbed. Finally we reached the top of the second major hill. Anja joined our little group. As we ran we had to constantly check the pathway. You tend to look at your feet and could easily have missed an arrow indicating a turn off.
We had to cross a field which was saturated with water. Any runner who had been avoiding the puddles would now feel the futility of that exersize. We ran past the labourers cottages and back past the main school entrance. We had been running now for quite a while. I so enjoy running and splashing in the puddles. I know that I am getting sand and soil into my shoes but I have so much fun doing this that I ignore any discomfort. At one time I remember feeling that my toes were begining to get cold as we ran. After all the walking and climbing it was a pleasure to be able to run again.
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A HAPPIER RONEL?
With around one kay to go we ran the final section and onto the field at the finish. It had rained hard the whole way. At no stage could we even think of drying out. In fact as we would run and grab hold of a sapling to steady ourselves, we would find the rain that had gathered on the tree cascading onto us. But when you are saturated wet you cant really get much wetter.
PETER HAPPY TO HAVE DONE THIS EVENT
Andre, Chokree, Anja and I finished in around 1 Hour 40 minutes. 10 minutes a kay.
Gerald finished a short while later.
GERALD AND CHRISTOFF FINISHING IN THE RAIN.
TREVOR FINISHES
We found the car key and changed lnto dry togs behind the car. Then Andre bought us a coffee and hot chocolate. This was quite welcome. Although it had been raining I was still thirsty and enjoyed the chocolate. We moved into the school Library where Christoff had the Prize Giving. He had a good selection of Lucky Dip Prizes. I was fortunate to win the Klipdrift hamper. I am a loyal customer of theirs and felt good that I was a winner.
PETER HAPPY TO RECEIVE A KLIPDRIFF HAMPER -- FEELS HE IS A LOYAL CUSTOMER AND SHOULD HAVE WON THIS ANYWAY!
CHRISTOFF WENT TO A HUGE AMOUNT OF TROUBLE TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESS -- SPONSORS, PRIZES, ORGANISATION -- ALL TAKES TIME AND WORK. WELL DONE TO HIM AND HIS TEAM.
PETER AND ANDRE -- ANDRE STAYED WITH ME THE WHOLE RACE.
Thanks to Andre for keeping me company. Well done to Christoff, Karen and it seems that Martin and Lynn Molenaar were also part of the organising. Discovery had sponsored the event but Christoff had gone to a lot of trouble to find the lucky dip prizes as well.
We had an easy drive home. I collected Ally from her friend. Took her to buy a Hockey top and then made a roast Chicken lunch. We were all starving by the time lunch was cooked. It rained the whole day and into the evening. Ally and her two friends; Kerry and Gina came to church with me.
COLIN FINISHING
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