SUNSHINE COAST SPRINGMOUNT TRAIL RUN SEPT 2012

SUNSHINE COAST TRAIL RUN AT SPRINGMOUJNT FARM NEAR TO NANAGA -- SEPTEMBER 2012

JANE AND DALLAS BARNARDO
JOHN NELSON
ANDRE MULDER
ROZANNE KRUGER
AD COLE
BETH HECHTER
NINA AND ANJA BODISH
CAROL AND MARC COOPER

Andre John and I drove up together. We were there early, registered and tied our shoe laces. We filled our Camelpacks and were ready to start. It was good to see so many familiar faces and surprised to see others. The event started off with a Bagpiper giving us a bit of a treat before the Shotgun blasted us off.

We were delihted to see Anja and Nina. Nina is a regular at these events and it now turns out that we will be seeing them at the Dryland event in November. Sian and Sheena were at registration. Jane was too busy to talk.

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AD Cole and I ran together. Good to see and chat with her again. She had come with a group from George. Andre pushed on ahead. I like to start as slow as possible if I am able. The route was slighly different from last year. I think a little tougher and longer.

Trail running is different from road running. The Gradients are often steeper, the pathways may be indistinct, uneven, grassy or rocky. This trail appeared to AD as being easy compared to the ones that she is used to in George but for myself; I found it rough going.

Beautiful pastures, herds of cattle, vistas to die for and good company makes this event a real experience for the runner. I know that there are three categories of Trail Runners; Those who have a chance of winning or who are aware of their time per KM; secondly there are trail runners who do not plan to win but who are determined to do a "good time". They have a certain standard and level of respectability to maintain. Then there are the Photographers and Chatterboxes at the back. These are the survival mode group who care for one another, know that they have "no chance" and who are there for the journey and not the finish.

Carol and Marc Cooper will be at almost every trail run in the area. They have a daughter at Pearson who will be a Prefect in 2013. Proud moment for them. Looking forward to seeing them at Dryland.

Starting the event today with this little group of backmarkers was fun. We did not stop talking and taking pics throughout the event.
This early part of the trail can be a bit uneven and tough as we try to settle into some kind of rhythm and get our breathing steady.

Rozanne is a Legal Lecturer at Rhodes. She is not as regular on the trail events as AD or myself; we had a good morning enjoying the event today.

AD Cole is one of the most prolific Eastern Cape Trail Runner that I know.

Fun on the Run
ROZANNE KRUGER; AD COLE AND NINA BODISCH

Rozanne. AD and Peter
Beautiful vistas. I jokingly said it is still an hour to the Beach. Well it turned out that I was correct. From here there is a long grind up and down hills and dunes before we finally reach the shorefront. This is just after the one and only refreshment table. We all take our own water. I also take an energy sachet which I will use if I become weary of the hills in particular.
After the water table we somehow got a bit lost as we saw the faster group already finished the dune section. We retraced our pathway and found the correct route. Through the Bone Field, Up the Steep first dune and onto the highest dune with a view across the bay.

One of our officials using the Quad Bike to check up on the stragglers

On the run we meet other fun loving runners.

Ad and Siphokazi looking very pink

Crossing the dunes is not easy. Soft sand that fills your shoes and gets into your socks. Hills that are tough to climb. Finally you reach the Beach Area. Then there is a fairly long trek along the beach before we reach the Landrovers parked on the sand to show us where to turn back up the dunes. There is no refreshments here. Up and onwards we trudge until finally we reach firm ground again. Past the Refreshment station again and force ourselves to jog up the hills.

Rozanne with a long stretch of Dunes ahead.

The group that I am with finally makes it to the Shorefront.

Smiles as we are now finished the first section of Dunes. From here this is a long section of beach and then a tough pull up the dunes again and back to the refreshment station.

Rozanne and AD looking brave as they make their way up the dunes

AD goes on ahead. Rozanne and I press on. It is about 5 kays from the water station to the end and a fair amount of uphill. We kind of jog walk as much as we are able until we eventually and happily reach the end. Here I change out of my running stuff and find that I have taken so long that I have missed the part that I was really looking forward to: the Guitarist who entertained us so beautifully last year.

Jane and Dallas get stuck into the prize giving. Most of us win something. Dallas allows me to take the HUGE hamper of chocolates which I share with the group around us. I have had a small beer but am not too drowsy to drive home safely.