DEBBIE DEAN AT THE START --ALL THE ACTIVITY IN THE BACKGROUND AS PEOPLE PUT ON WETSUITS AND SET THEIR GEAR UP FOR THE THREE LEGS OF THE TRIATHLON
APRIL 2013
Back from Cape Town and Two Oceans
Ally School holidays
Hockey practice
Hockey tour at YORK School George
Swimming in the mornings
Old Grey and Old Collegians Hockey -- Premier League
Corporate Ironman Challenge
Start up with MTB again. Also a bit of road bike training in the morning around St Georges park
AMAZING GRACE
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see.
'twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come
Tis grace that brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
His will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail
And mortal life shall cease
I shall possess within the veil
A life of joy and peace
When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Then when we've first begun
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am saved
Was blind but now I see.
Monday 1st. April. Barbara, Ally and I leave for PE early. We had been staying with Nicky for the Easter weekend and Two Oceans. We stop off in Plett where Patrick is. Visiting. Stoney's birthday.
I have a nasty calf injury and cannot run.
Tuesday I work in KIRKWOOD and Wednesday in King Williams Town. Ally has hockey practice each day. Thursday the U16 Pearson team leaves for George.
Barbara and I leave for George on Friday afternoon after I do some work in Humansdorp. We book into the Mountain View resort as we did last year. It is a very convenient bungalow resort close to a supermarket, the center of town and the school where Ally is playing her tournament. The team plays well together and Ally seems to enjoy the outing. There are just a few of us Pearson Surporters but we make enough noise for a full stadium. Barbara and I are quite cosy in our bungalow after the matches. Saturday morning the resort has a burst pipe and no water in the Bungalows, they try to tell us to use the Camping facilities but after a short discussion they move us to another section. Although there may be some improvements, the chalet is not as cosy as we were in the bungalow.
Sunday morning we pack up and after the match we leave for Plett and then Home.
Ally playing at the York School Astro for the Pearson U16 team.
Ally plays off the line and gives the ball a good whack. She has learned the skill of ensuring that the ball is received by one of her own players. It is a big problem with the Girls hockey that so often a free hit is intercepted by opposition and the advantage is lost.
Ally flying to tackle from defending a short corner. She wears her face mask. I am battling to get her to keep her stick down. I just feel that she loses a split second of reaction time when she carries the stick in both hands.
I am injured and cannot do much training so stick to Swimming until there is a Water Polo Tournament in PE and at the Newton Park Pool. Julia Braatvedt is part of the Gauteng team that takes the tournament.
Thursday afternoon I collect my Registration Pack from the Boardwalk. Friday 13th Morning I am supposed to fly to JHB but when I try to book in I find that I am booked from East London. So spend the day in PE and am able to take Ally to EP hockey trials at Gelvandale.
Saturday morning It is a Perfect day. I am up early and recheck all my stuff for the Triathlon this morning. It is a bit of a nerve racking affair but I manage to not forget anything. Pack the bike and stuff in the Bakkie and drive to the Boardwalk where I find parking and wheel the bike to the Transition Area on Hobie beach. There are a lot of formalities in a Triathlon.
I rack the bike and put all my stuff ready for the next stages. Here I meet up with Steve Mc Donald and ROb Elfickl and a friend of theirs. I also see Debbie Dean and Letitia Straus.
Debbie Dean before the start of the event
After we walk down to the beach there is a period of Race Briefing. The announcer becomes inaudible and no one has any idea what he is saying. There are four groups, the first two are teams then the men and lastly the ladies. Soon it is our turn and we charge off into the water. As I have this calf injury I have been doing some pool swimming so feel a lot more confident than I have on other occasions.
A Perfect day for a Triathlon. There is a Slight Easterly wind at this stage. The water is not too cold at all. There is big crowd of participants (probably around 1500) as well as spectators lining the promenade. On the beach I meet Margie, Dale, Rob, Debbie, Letitia, Steve, Graham and we are all just enjoying a beautiful morning on the beach and feeling good about being able to take part.
I set a steady pace, keeping to the right of the Mob but still am kicked a few times. Around the first Buouy and the short section towards the Harbour and then around the second buouy and head back to the Beach. This is a tough section as the waves seem to be battering us a bit. But all in all the swim is such a quick part of this triathlon and I am soon wading onto the beach.
Run up the sand and the steps to the Pier. Around the clubhouse and to where I have racked the bike.
Everything is in Place. I bring a little stool as I cannot sit on the floor to put socks and shoes on. Helmet, gloves, new clear shades and off I go. Push to the end of the transition and almost slip and fall as I try to mount. But no worries -- I am on the bike and seem to be flying along Marine Drive.
This seems so easy. No wind and I am feeling really comfortable. I group up with two other chaps and we push on together to the University turn. I lose a meter or two and then cannot climb back onto the small group. So I am kind of on my own all the way to the Noordhoek turn. Back towards the beach again, Past the University and I am still feeling really good about this bike ride. I have to work to stay with the groups that I form and then split when I cannot maintain the pace. There are a couple of people behind me but not too many. And I am passed by lots of people.
Into transition and put on the running shoes. I turn my t shirt around as the Number must now be on the front of the shirt. And start to run. It is only a few hundred meters and I again am in trouble with the calf. Stabbing pain. So from here for the next four kays I have to vasbyt and hobble back to the finish. This is not fun. I am used to catching people on the run. Now everyone is passing me and I have to walk run. UGH!
Finally reach the finish. Debbie Dean passed me. So did a whole herd of people. But I have done the event and am pleased to be able to be part of an activity like this. After the race we have to wait for all the cyclists to come in before we are allowed to collect the bikes. Graham Richards, Steve Mc Donald, Magie Saunders, Anne and John Du Rand all meet up and chat for a while before collecting the bikes and heading back home.
Saturday Afternoon we drive to Grahamstown where Ally plays for Old Grey (Old Collegians) and they lose to Rhodes. Barbara and I enjoy a relaxed afternoon. Ally has her friend; Jana, with her.
Saturday evening we all go down to
Sunday morning I have to leave for Sterkspruit so after collecting Julia Braatvedt I pack up and leave. I am not able to watch the Ironman so miss out on the event run in Perfect weather.
Monday 15th:
This week I am in Sterkspruit where we launch a new computer System in our shops there. I stay in Lady Grey at the Mountain View Hotel. I have Mamiki from Aliwal and Roshe from Queenstown with me to assist the managers with the new system. One evening as we are having supper I get to meet Sakkie van Niekerk also staying in this hotel. He tells me of a Run in Lady Grey.He is from Bloemfontein and reps for a Wine Company. It seems that he is as passionate about running as I am. So if possible I will try to get to Lady Grey for this run later this year.
Wednesday evening I drive back to PE. Ewald points out that one head light is out so I stop in Aliwal to have it replaced. The mechanic is really helpful and I am able to do this at short notice buying a globe @ R60 and he does a quick change for me.
Friday evening I go to Summies where Varrin is starting a Lifeguarding Course. I have decided that it is about time for me to qualify as a Lifeguard. In the class is Samiera, Jessica, Maurice and myself. We learn the signals and first stages of Mouth to Mouth. I find myself enjoying the evening.
Saturday 20th morning I had planned to cycle with the runners but its raining and I decide against it. Instead I load up the piles of rubbish and do a Tip Run. Then to the Post Office where I renew the Bakkie Licence. Ally has a Hockey Match at school against Nico Malan. Ally plays for the U16A team and they win the game playing a really good team game. I chat to Thomas and arrange to meet at Profiles for a MTB ride in the morning.
Back home and there is just time for Ally to have a bite to eat and then we drive back to Summies for a Old Grey match against the Gelvandale team. It rains most of the afternoon and this game is played in the wet. This team turns out to be just too fast and skilled for our girls and they are beaten 5-1.
Back home again and we get ready for Rugby. Barbara has a cold and decides to stay at home. Brenda and I take Ally and her friend Savannah. The two girls sit on the opposite side of the stadium to us with a group of their friends. Julia is also on that side while Brenda and I sit on the North Side. I park in an easily accessible area which we discovered at the last game. Brenda and I enjoy a beer and a strong game of rugby against the Bulls who overwhelm the Kings 27-0. Doesnt matter. I enjoy the outing.
Sunday morning I pack the bike into the Bakkie and drive to Profiles on the William Moffat. I meet up with Thomas and his friend Pieter. They promise to take it easy as they have done this ride many times. It is my first time to enter the Baakens Valley from this side. I have done it once before from Brickmakers Kloof. This is not a "walk in the park". I am not able to cycle down the steep down nor the up hills. Pieter and Thomas are clearly way ahead of me in strength and skill. But an hour in the valley and I love the trail. They drop me off back at the parking area and carry on for another loop. I have to go home for a meeting with Peter Wade.
Peter Wade contacted me during the week about the Park Runs being organised by Bruce Fordyce. I had also tried to contact Bruce through facebook after reading about the Park Runs around the country and specifically the one organised by Bob Norris in EL. We discuss a number of possible routes and other questions that we may have. I email Peter the details and leave it to him to contact Bruce and Bob whom he met in Cape Town at the Two Oceans Expo.
Later this morning I drive to Summies where I and a small group continue the lifesaving training. Today we have two new trainees; Kristy Vaughan and Alexander. We do a couple of beach rescue simulations and then in the hall we continue with CPR on the dummies.
This evening I am really exhausted and nearly fall asleep in church.
Monday 22nd April morning I leave early for Graaff Reinet. I am dreaming and take the Grahamstown road. It is not that much longer but I end up taking the road to Cradock and turning at Somerset East. Probably about 30kays longer this route. This evening I drop Ally and her friends off at UPE for Hockey practice before going to Cell Group with Claudine van Zyl, Rob Ermes; Christine; Garry; Bobby Stevenson; Jacqui and Hannes Zeelie.
Wednesday I drive to Port Alfred for a staff meeting there before going through to Fort Beaufort where I do some work and the leave for home with the FSM: Carmen who will be assisting us with the opening of a New Morkels shop in PE.
Thursday morning Andre and I cycle MTB's around Newton Park and Linkside. This is the first cycle training I have done in ages. Later today we open the Morkels shop at Kenako Mall in Zwide. Problems but having Carmen there is a huge help.
Friday morning I take the Road Bike and meet Ron for a ride going around the park a number of times. This is fine for me and quite a workout. Drive to Kirkwood where I have a conflict situation to sort out.
I collect Ally as school and see that they are laying out the foundations for the Astro Lights to be installed soon. I meet the husband of the Bursar -- Jean -- and he is a civil engineer and discusses the foudation and layers required for these huge lights. There is a circular ditch, layer of steel mesh and concrete laid to stabalise the housing for the base. Concrete is poured into a cage and then sealed off with metal plates held in place by steel rods wedged against the foundation ditch.
Then the 1200cm bolts are set in place with over a meter sunk into the concrete base. The Electrical wiring is catered for as well as Earthing of the whole unit.
I find the whole process quite fascinating.
FOUNDATIONS FOR THE ASTRO LIGHTS AT PEARSON. DIG THE CIRCULAR DITCH, LAY THE FOUNDATION STEEL MESH AND PLACE THE STEEL CAGE FOR THE BASE OF THE LIGHTS
Then this evening I have Lifesaving training with Brian Saunders. We do some Torpedo Rescue simulations in the sea. Fortunately the water is reasonably warm. It is tough having to keep up with a number of fit youngsters. I find myself puffing and panting after the rescue as well as the Run swim Run. Kneeling down and shifting around on sand on my knees is not easy.
This evening Ally has an Old Grey hockey match at Gelvandale. The Uitenhage girls are just too strong for Ally's Prem B team
Saturday morning 29th April; Ally has a Hockey match at Pearson -- the Pearson U16 team win the match by 11-0 in a shortened match.
Andre collects me and we drive through to Crossways. This is a housing development near to the N2 Van Staadens River Bridge (Near to Woodridge but on the Cape Town side of the bridge.)
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STEFAN GIVES INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE EASY AND TECHNICAL SECTIONS
We arrive early and get ourselves ready for a Social Ride. Andre is quite a bit stronger than I am on the bike. Stefan sets us off and explains the route. There are two sections -- the first 5km is less technical and then there is a tough back section of about 6km. But there is an exit for those who do not want to do the second section. We purchase Fat Tracks cycling shirts.
The first part of the ride is through what will be the housing development on dirt roads which will probably eventually become "paved roads". There are just a few beginnings of houses being built. After a short section of dirt road we head into a Wattle Forest. This path takes the rider along the ridge of the cliff. Interesting to see how the valley falls off into a deep gorge where you would least expect it. Perhaps this is part of the Van Staadens Rive gorge?
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We carry on along the pathways between the wattle saplings. The surface is often soft sand, rocks and boulders, bouncy and holed pathways but all doable. There are a number of falls around us. Fortunately neither Andre nor I take a tumble. I have to dismount a number of times as I am uncertain of my strength and ability or I have selected a wrong gear and cannot change quick enough.
AT THIS SECTION YOU COULD MAKE THE MISTAKE OF GOING TOO FAST AND FALL OVER THE CLIFF EDGE.
Under the N2 freeway and again through a forest section until we reach the turn off to the Technical Section. Here I decide to head off while Andre braves this part. Andre has quite an experience along this single track, seeing quite nasty falls. I ride under the freeway again and back up to the Coffee shop. Here I meet up with Kay. We agree to do the first 5 km again. Kay is stronger then I am and soon leaves me. But this time around I am starting to feel a lot more capable. Only once or twice do I have to dismount to navigate a section. As I cycle I meet up with Fred Alabone who did Ironman two weeks ago. He tells me that it was his best. He is strong and has a brand new bike that looks great. Again I take the short cut back to the club house where I meet up with Mark and his father Ron.
We decide to try another time around the short course. By now I am much more confident. It is becoming a bit warm as the sun has burnt off the mist and I begin to sweat heavily. This time around I hardly place a foot on the ground and am able to navigate the sections that I had to push on the first round. I am getting tired but have had a great morning so that when I arrive at the Coffee Shop for the last time I am hungry and enjoy the Breakfast Roll and Juice.
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PETER AND ANDRE AT CROSSWAYS SOCIAL RIDE ON SATURDAY 27TH APRIL 2013
Andre has finished the full Technical section and we sit together chatting for a while before purchasing some Banana Bread and Ciabatti bread and head off home. Andre and I buy a Fat Tracks cycle shirt. Now we can really feel like cyclists.
It was a great morning of excersize and I really enjoyed every minute. Barbara & Ally come home
both looking quite tired. Ally had a strong hockey match and Barbara had a successful visit to her horse stables where she keeps her horse.
Sunday 28th
Left early for a cycle with Thomas and Pieter. I did the route 3 times. By the third time I was dismounting less but still do not have the nerve to hurtle myself down the steep hill and also do not have the strength to climb the sharp uphills. They left after two laps as they had a busy morning ahead. The route is a short section of the Baakens Valley. The sport has a high intensity level and you are soon out of breath and sweating.
AT PROFILES THERE IS THIS SHORT LAP WHICH THE THOMAS, PIETER AND I DID ON SUNDAY MORNING
I LOAD THE BIKE INTO THE BACK OF BARBARA'S BAKKIE.
This morning I went to Summies for LIFESAVING training. Varrin took us through signals, board rescue, sea resuscitation and the the way to tie someone on a neck brace board. This morning was also the Pollok to KB swim and run back. Strong West wind blowing made swimming and boarding quite tough.
Monday 29th morning; for the first time in a long while I went for a morning run. Only a short 5kay but that we sufficient to make me feel quite stiff later on in the day. Strangely the parking lot was full at MPRG this morning. With approaching winter and only Helouise, Mornich and Marilyn training for Comrades, you would think that the group would be small. Niel Calder, Jacqui Zeelie, Mike Dean, Svenje Trollip, Adrienne Wilson, Pat Scheepers were part of the slow group. I was slower than the slow group and turned off early.
This afternoon I collected Ally from school and was interested to see the progress made with the bases for the Astro Lights.
This evening Ally has Hockey with another Academy group. Not quite sure who they are but all of this hockey training must be improving her game.
BASE IS NOW FILLED IN AND HARDENING
COMPACTER IS USED TO ENSURE THE BASE AND FOUNDATION IS SOLID
NEARLY READY FOR THE LIGHTS TO BE FITTED
Tuesday morning I did 6 laps of St Georges Park on the road bike. This is not much but gives me around 15kay and better than staying in bed. Also I had to hurry as I had to drop Ally off at Hockey early.
Tuesday evening -- family cell group at Christine's house in Mc Lean Road with Barbara and Ally. Preto Rolls are a speciality of Claudine. Ally was not feeling well today so I fetched her from school early. This evening Ally makes pancakes for desert.
These last few Mornings Michael has not been feeling well. His temperature goes up. feeling sore and feverish. Barbara nurses him with rubs and cooling. Quite exhausting for her. Michael sees the Doctor who explains that he is now just treating pain symptoms. The cancer is now too far spread to try to cure it anymore. Tough for Mike and LENE to cope with this kind of stress and pressure.
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