FEBRUARY 2014; HERALD MTB AND ROAD BIKE EVENTS. NIPPERS; PADDLING AT NORTH END LAKE; WATER POLO; ATHLETICS; RIVER MILE; ALLY QUALIFIES AS A LIFEGUARD; SURFERS. SUMMERSTRAND MASTERS.

FEBRUARY 2014
HERALD MTB AND ROAD EVENTS WEEKEND
NIPPERS TRAINING CONTINUES. I TAKE THE BOYS OUT ON A MALIBU BOARD.
JOHN AND PETER GO TO NORTH END LAKE FOR NOVICES MONTH
DRAMA AT BARNETTS NORTH END WITH A ROBBERY ATTEMPT
MORE POLO TOURNAMENTS.
SUMMERSTRAND MASTERS LIFESAVING COMPO.
NIPPERS CARNIVAL AT KINGS BEACH. ALLY IS A SAFETY OFFICER. BARBARA GOES TO THE FARM.
TUESDAY EVENINGS AT NORTH END LAKE
POLO AT ALEXADER ROAD. TWO 7MIN CHUKKA'S MAKE FOR SHORT GAMES.
DAY OF FASTING
ALLY AND DANIEL HAVE INTERSCHOOL ATHLETICS
RIVER MILE AT SUNDAYS RIVER
ALLY GOES OFF TO ST PETERS IN JOHANNESBURG FOR A POLO TOURNAMENT
JACQUI DECIDES TO CLOSE THE GAN (NURSERY)

NICKY AND STEFAN LOOKING SO VERY DAPPER

And so the days and weeks and months power on.

HERALD CYCLE MTB AND ROAD EVENTS
Friday evening is registration where we collect our numbers at the Boardwalk.

SJANI AND PETER AT THE START OF THE 30KAY MTB EVENT

Saturday morning Sjani and I drive out to Addo. It is a relatively short drive and I think that we are early. But the car park at the polo field is full. Hundreds of cyclists are lining up for the three distances. 80/60 and our event which is 30k. The event has grown in the years that I have been coming out here. I remember a couple of years ago riding with Mark, then last year I think it was Andre and this year it will be Sjani for her first time on a MTB trail event.

PETER AND SJANI AFTER THE 30KAY MTB EVENT AT ADDO

STEADY THERE PETER!

OOPS -- HOW DOFF TO FALL AFTER THE RACE

The route for us is not that tough. Lots of cyclists jostling for position. Daryl and Averel Smith, Trevor Hawkins, Gerald, Chris, Ivor and Pat are there, Cathy and Neville, And many more familiar faces. There are just a few hills .... None of them too long or difficult.
We stop at both water tables and I go for my swim at the second table. This is a fun event and I am having fun. We hear later that someone died a few kays from the finish. After the 2 and half hours we drive straight home. I have duty at Summerstrand helping with a trail run organised by Sian and Sheena and Dallas and Jane. The east wind is pumping. The sea is horrible. Only a few people pitch for the event. Hot and dry as they run from Noordhoek to Summies.

Sunday morning
I meet Ronel at Summies, we cycle to the start at Hobie beach where we meet Steve and Neil. Our event starts at 7;20. Today it is the day for a west wind. We cycle up Walmer Boulevard and up to Boundary road into the wind. Then we turn off to the old Seaview road and The hills that lead to Lake Farm. At lake farm turn off we turn left and head home while the 100k cyclists have to take on more hills and head wind.
We cycle back with the wind. I am quite tired as I took the lead position all up into the wind. The route is Sardinia bay road, Schoenmakerskop and back along the marine drive. We stop to assist a cyclist with a flat. We also are passed by 100k bunches flying along. I am able to jump onto one of these busses and have fun for a short while. Ronel, Neil and I finish almost together. Another two and a half hour cycle. Another fun morning of 55k.

PETER IS QUITE TIRED AFTER THE ROAD BIKE 55KAY EVENT. TO SOME, 55 IS A MORNING RIDE BUT TO THOSE WHO DONT TRAIN CYCLING -- THIS WAS QUITE TIRING.

NEIL LOOKS SHAGGED OUT

NEIL AND RONEL (POPPIE) -- BEST BUDDIES

BEFORE THE ROAD BIKE EVENT WITH RONEL; NEIL AND STEVE

WE HAD A LONG WAIT UNTIL WE STARTED. RONEL; NEIL AND PETER

Later I have Nippers Practice, take boys out for a paddle on Malibu's. do some flags. And become quite dehydrated for the second day in a row.

Monday morning is Langenhoven again. I am beginning to enjoy conquering this hill. It is not particularly steep. The alternative at the back of Collegiate is steeper. But Langenhoven is just long.

BARNETTS NORTH END ROBBERY ATTEMPT
Three men and a suspected accomplice of a staff member attempted to rob the Barnetts North End branch. The FSM warded them off and then when the knife yeilding man left the office they slammed the door closed and made certain he could not regain entrance. Meanwhile a number of customers and staff ran out of the shop and a passing police patrol reacted. The knife man threatened the police who then shot him -- he died the following day. Two other men and a sales lady were arrested. Handcuffec and lay down on the floor until the police van and ambulance arrived to take them away. Much to the delight of the crowd gathered outside the shop. I had been phoned by one of the staff to come to the shop.

BARNETTS NORTH END TWO ROBBERS ARE HANDCUFFED AND LATER TAKEN AWAY.

THE SALES LADY IS ALSO ARRESTED AND HANDCUFFED

BLOOD OF THE THIRD, KNIFE WEILDING ROBBER WHEN HE THREATENED THE POLICE MAN HE WAS SHOT. HE DIED A FEW DAYS LATER.

HUGE MESS TO CLEAN UP THE NEXT DAY

NEXT TO THE FSM OFFICE WHICH HE HAD INVADED AND DEMANDED CASH AND PERSONAL BELONGINGS

TUESDAY EVENING -- NOVICES MONTH AT NORTH END LAKE
I fetch John and the two of us drive to North End Lake for Novices month. We are paired up with Rob and Clayton Whitticker. We do three loops of 2k = 6 kay. this takes us around 45mins. We are lapped by the stronger youngsters. Clayton is going to do the Duzi which is around 5 hours in the saddle. Not for me. We loved this evening out. There is a huge social contingent with many familiar faces inviting us for a beer. Not tonight I declare as I have a day of fasting (water only for 24 hours). It was not too tough but I was totally finished by the time 8pm came around.

ALLY SETS OFF ON HER LEG OF THE 4 x 100M. SHE RUNS STRONGLY AND MAKES UP TIME FOR HER TEAM.

WAITING FOR YOUR TEAM IS THE TOUGHEST PART OF THE EVENT

Wednesday -- Ally has trials for athletics. This is an elimination set up. Ally is not well as she has caught a cold. She runs the 200m and is placed second the Anke Spies and then is in the 100M relay and her team is first. This takes her to the next level in both events.



Thursday 6th. it is raining but a group of us run the Target Kloof and Walmer bit. Also a good training run.
Ally has water polo league and Pearson beat NMMU 3 _ 2.

LEAGUE WATER POLO AT GREY ON A THURSDAY EVENING

Busy weekend. Friday 7th.... Parkrun and swim. Saturday. Parkrun. Daniel running at oval. Ally water polo. I trip and graze my ankles. Off to Lifesaving competition. Swim, double surf ski with Stanford, Taplin relay with Brian and Stanford. I do Malibu board. Flags. Individual sprint and relays sprints. I only missed out on the individual board by mistake. Such fun.
Sunday morning cycle with Sjani and Rae. Then Nippers carnival at KB. Ally does lifeguard duty and Barbara goes to the farm for lunch. Church... I am on duty.

NIPPERS CARNIVAL AT KINGS BEACH.

NIPPERS AT KINGS BEACH

Daniel is in the Sprints for interschools athletics

DANIEL HAS TRIALS FOR THE SCHOOLS REPRESENTATION

DANIEL LINES UP FOR HIS EVENT

Monday morning I am sooooo tired and battle to keep up on Langenhoven. Tuesday 11th. Morning run and afternoon paddling at North End lake for Novices month.

FEBRUARY IS NOVICE MONTH AT THE NORTH END LAKE. HERE I AM PAIRED WITH PAUL LYNCH AND GREG. IT IS MY THIRD TIME ON THE LAKE. THREE TIMES AROUND IS 6KM AND QUITE TIRING

Wednesday, it is so very hot these last few days. Battling to sleep at night and sweating profusely on the run. In the afternoon I swim with Andrea Dyer. Graham Richards, Brian and Margie, Rob Ermes... Doing more serious training. I have entered for corporate Ironman as well as river mile. Thursday.... Target Kloof. I am a bit late and have to sprint to catch the group. Faster runners have joined the slow group and so the slow group has become faster. I battle with this. Ally has a series of games at Grey. Supper of pasta at the pool.

AT GREY AND AFTER A SERIES OF THREE GAMES OUR GIRLS GET STUCK INTO A PASTA SUPPER.

Friday 14th. Valentines day. 5k Parkrun route in the morning. This morning it is only Adrienne and myself. Sharon Mills is also there but she walks. Sharon works at the airport and is friends with Delene. Ally has a variety of Polo Games at Alexander Road High. In January I had a day of Fasting. Today I do the The smae again. From Thursday after supper to Saturday before the run. Only water. This is not that difficult but I go through hunger pangs to headaches by Friday night. I drink a lot of water.... Probably 3 to 4 liters. Then wake up early Saturday morning and have a snack. SATURDAY MORNING. Meet at Hobie beach where we run the Walmer boulevard route to Strandfontein and 2nd ave. I am fortunate to have Kelly Holmes run with me and when the others turn back, Kelly sticks with me to Admiralty and then the Flat rocks section and back along the boardwalk and beachfront promenade. Afterwards I have a swim and meet Gaye who I had given a tube to on the Herald road bike a few weeks ago. I was able to help her friend out on the surf ski and then told her to keep the spare tube and "pay it forward" to the next person who she came across who was in need of assistance. We had an excellent parkrun. 350runners. Two scanners meant that there was no line of runners at the end. After the run I was at Alexander road school for Allys tournament and then spent a few hours capturing the parkrun results. Ally's team won 9 of the 11 games that they played. Immediately after the last game I take Ally to NMMU for interschools 100m relays. Ally's team win the event.

ALLY'S RELAY TEAM AT THE NMMU STADIUM.

Sunday 16th. I had a late sleep and a bit of a lay in before heading off to Sundays river with Barbara for the river mile. We sat near to Jeannine and Pater Attinger; Edna and Steve. Small world: Steve knows Patrick Fear and his daughter is friends with Ally and Cathy is friends with Steve's sister.

NICKY COMPLETED THE PENINSULA 21K ALL ALONG MAIN ROAD TO SIMONSTOWN IN 2HR10. CELEBRATIONS FROM HER PERSONAL FAN CLUB

I had a really good swim. We walked to the start. I had taken an old pair of shoes which Susan Burri said that she would carry back for me. I swam the whole way non stop. I did not wander from side to side too much. The wind was Easterly (behind us) and the tide was with us so I was able to swim in under 30 mins. The line to the timer takes long so my time was probably around 38mins officially.

SUNDAY 16TH. RIVER MILE AT SUNDAYS RIVER. I SWAM IN ABOUT 28MINS BUT THERE IS A LONG QUEU BEFORE BEING TIMED. I HAD GIVEN MY SHOES TO SUSAN WHO THEN GAVE THEM TO RONEL.  

PAT SWAM IN THE LADIES MILE.

I met Ronel and Pat at the end. Ronel gave me the shoes. Pat looked like she had a good swim. Barbara and I headed off home. The sun was quite intense. This evening was church. It is the beginning of the Better Together series. Split Cell groups. Monday morning -- My knee is giving me trouble. I, for the second Monday, battled to run. It was Kobus' 70th birthday. He still runs exceptionally well. I gave him some of the Fig Jam. Almarie and Adrienne had made orange juice and Muffins as the before run celebration. I was not able to keep up with those running the Langenhoven so took the shorter route up Trichardt.

MONDAY 17TH --- AFTER THE RUN. A COLOURFUL BUNCH SIT AND WAIT FOR THE MAIN GROUP TO ARRIVE. WE DID THE TRICHARDT ROUTE UP THE BACK OF COLLEGIATE WHILE THE REST RUN THE LANGENHOVEN ROUTE.

Tuesday 18th. Morning run; paddling at North End lake with Allan Campbell. so slow that we only manage 3 out of four laps. Bobby Stevenson Birthday and coctail evening.
Wednesday 19th. Thursday 20th. Stay over at Mthatha for two nights. Trying to get through the Mthatha branch visits before winter. Leaving at 4am means I have a very long drive in mist and rain.

MONDAY EVENING CELL GROUP WITH CLAUDINE AND CRONJE; ROB; BOBBY; CHRISTINE; SHANTE; HANNES AND JACQUI.

SUNSET AT THE BACK OF OUR HOUSE IN MILL PARK

SJANI AND RAE HUMAN CYCLE WITH ME ON SUNDAY MORNINGS. COMING UP TARGET KLOOF IS A BIT OF A BATTLE.

PARENT GROUP AT THE ALEX WATER POLO WITH ANDRE AND RIETTE; MARK AND CAROL

THE PARENTS OF THE PEARSON TEAM ARE A SOLID GROUP OF SUPPORTERS; PETER AND BARBARA; ALEC AND LYNNE; ANDRE AND RIANA; DEBBIE; SANDY AND ROB; PETER AND SUNA; TANIA AND MARK; TREVOR AND SHERRALEE; BRENT AND MICHELLE.

Friday 21st. Ally starts her polo tournament at St Peters. JHB. Start off in Mthatha and then an appeal hearing in EL. Stay over with Ben for Parkrun in the morning and Surfers in the afternoon.
Sunday 23rd. Nippers and L/G duty.

A COLOURFUL  BEACH AS ALLY IS TESTED AS A SENIOR LIFEGUARD

THIS IS CALLED BOX LINE AS THE PATIENT IS PULLED IN WITH THE RESCUER

ALLY HAS TO KNOW HER SIGNALS. ASHLEY SITS IN THE BACKGROUND

DAVE COLLINS TESTS THE CANDIDATES ON SIGNALS WITH TARA IN FRONT

ALLY DOES THE RUN SWIM RUN

THE LIFE GUARDS HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO TORPEDO BUOY AND BOX LINE RESCUE

ALLY IS THE PATIENT IN THE RECOVERY POSITION

JESSICA STARTS HIGH SCHOOL THIS YEAR AND IS PROUD TO BE A PEARSON PUPIL

ON HER WAY TO SCHOOL WITH ALLY. JESSICA IN GRADE 8 AND ALLY IN GRADE 11

SATURDAY MORNING RUNNING GROUP WITH ANNIE; ADRIENNE; KELLY HOLMES AND SVENJE DUFFIELD

ALLY COMES OUT OF THE WATER IN THE RUN SWIM RUN AT LIFEGUARD TESTING

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ALLY AND ERIN WITH THE REST OF THE POLO TEAM BEHIND THEM. AT ST PETERS JHB FOR NATIONAL SCHOOLS TOURNAMENT.

Saturday 22nd Feb. Ben and I run the Parkrun at Nahoon Point. It is so different to the PE Hobie beach. They have many more runners and have many more helpers. They have marshalls and cones all over the place. The run starts at the parking lot, along the beach to Nahoon, turn and come back, Past the parking lot again, up and into the bushy area and up to the lighthouse. Then back along the same path and down past the parking lot again down the the rocks and the final stretch to the beach and back to the finish. Interesting run.

Back at Ben's ......... He decides to skip the Surfers as he has not been training. Ben drops me at the start at Kwelera River. It is a long wait to 14.30 for the start. I wait close to the start line and yet when the gun goes off. And almost immediately there is a bottle neck of runners. This goes on for three or four times as people tiptoe through the mud. By the time it clears I see hundreds of runners on the beach already. I press on. It is the best possible conditions with a cool east blowing from behind and very low tide.
The first section is reasonably tough. There are rocks and soft sand to negotiate. But I am able to run at a steady pace. I see no one that I know. Even after the Gonubie swim where we go past the Gonubie hotel -- I am so used to seeing Abe Cilliers -- I dont see him either. It is about 7k to Gonubie and about 5k of Tar road through Gonubie. The crowd support is fantastic as always. There are more than enough water stations for a cool day. And the residents have their hoses going. I am interviewed by a passing motor bike camera man. And chat for a while with Stuart who I meet on the road.

Finally we go back onto the beach and the easiest section of all. It is still quite a way -- probably around 5 or 6 k to go. Difficult to tell the distances as the sea air makes looking ahead hazy. I hear my name and am joined by Kim Strydom who is a teacher at Clarendon Park PE. She taught Jessica and was Ally's hockey coach. We run the rest of the beach together. It was great to have someone to motivate me. We swim the final river at Nahoon and onto the last stretch of soft sand to the finish. THe only other runner I recognised was Rob Button.

I had arranged to meet Ben. He brought his scooter and he lifted me home. The run starts at 2.30 and I had taken 2.15 to complete the 18k. Ben and I spent the evening relaxing and I left for home early on Sunday morning for Nippers and Lifeguard duty.

Had a great morning of Nippers. We did a whole lot of training and ended up with a Paddle on Malibu's to the first Pipe.
Later I spent the afternoon doing duty and then later it was church.

Monday I slept in late. Tuesday -- Run and then missed out on the Paddling as I was just too busy at work. Wednesday morning -- beachfront Parkrun and swim.
Thursday 27th -- Barbara's birthday.