HERALD MTB AND ROAD BIKE EVENTS WITH DAVID.
COMING TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT I AM NO LONGER IN FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT.
COLONOSCOPY -- YUK
PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS LICENCE
AND ALLY GETS HER LEARNERS LICENCE
ENA IN HOSPITAL WITH HIP REPLACEMENT
A COUPLE OF BIKE RIDES -- MTB WITH CHRIS AND GERALD AND ROAD WITH DAVID\
BELL BUOY CHALLENGE
JOHN AND YOUNGSTERS GET THEIR LIFEGUARD AWARD
RIVER MILE WITH JULIA AND KATIE
REGULAR RUNS UP LANGENHOVEN AND TARGET KLOOF
CASSIES 15K WITH ANDREA AND HANSON
BARBARA BIRTHDAY AND BREAKFAST WITH FAMILY.
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| NEIL AT THE START OF THE 55K ROAD BIKE EVENT. NEIL HAS A PERMANENT NUMBER AFTER RIDING THE 106 FOR MORE THAN 10 TIMES. |
Sunday 1st Feb
Herald cycle weekend
David had such a successful first attempt at cycling at the Addo 30k on Saturday that he asked to be able to compete in the Road Bike event today.
We fitted slicks to his bike and set him up for the road 55k event.
This morning we are up and ready to go early. Our event starts 7.30am and we are ready to enter the chutes at 7am. We parked at the Boardwalk and cycle to the start. It is a chilly overcast morning at Hobie beach when we are ready to leave. And just as we set off the rain starts to fall and we head into the West wind and the rain into our faces.
Up Walmer Boulevard -- David goes ahead and I do not expect to see him again. But he waits for me at the top and we continue all the way up Heugh road and up past Builders warehouse and to Mount Pleasant. I am riding with Rene who also competed yesterday. . I am not at all strong on hills and battle to keep up with the group. We crest at Boundary road and turn right to the Old Seaview road. Now we have three more serious hills where I gear down to the lowest Granny gear that I have.
Then we pass Apron Strings where Jacqui had her reception and past the Lake Farm turn off and onto the New Seaview road. This is not too bad as the hills are not that steep and now we have the Wind behind us. What a pleasure. There is a water table where I fuel up with Powerade. And then turn right towards Sardinia Bay. The Sardinia bay road seems quite long and some of the fast 103k groups which had started about an hour or more before us start to come past. We are then along the Schoenmakers Kop road when I see David on the road. He has a slow flat so I stop and we pump up the Tyre.
We cruise down to Schoenies and onto the Marine Drive. David again slows down and we realise that we will have to change his tube. It does not take us long and we set off again, All this section we have the West wind behind us and so even though we are getting leg sore and tired, we are able to maintain a good steady pace. I stop at the University Entrance to say hello to Sheena and then David and I complete the final 5k into the wind. I am able to jump onto a bus for a while but this is not to last and I fall off again.
We reach the finish section and after grabbing a cold drink we load our bikes and head home.. A hot shower and a bit of horizontal positioning and I am ready for the afternoon Biathle.
It is still raining when we are at Theodore Herzel school with Joshua; Daniel and Julia for our respective events. This is our second Biathle and the course changes slightly. We all have a good afternoon work out. From here I have church duties and am really happy to get into bed later this evening.
Monday 2nd morning.
I meet up with Adri who was also at the Biathle on Sunday and we run Dias road and Langenhoven together. I am happy to have company and to be able to introduce a fellow Achillean to some of the MPRG.
Friday 6th. Ena had a fall again this week and is in Hospital and will have to have a Hip Replacement operation. We drive through to see her. Patrick comes from Plett. We see Ena in Hospital. She is in a great deal of pain. Alice; Gunvar; Patrick; Violet are all there to visit.
Thursday is Target Kloof morning run.
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| CHRIS AND LINDIE ARE REAL STALWARTS OF THE MPRG NOW. |
Saturday 7th\; I am on Marshalling duty for the Achilles Marathon and 10k. From there I am on Lifeguard Duty with Ally for the rest of the morning. Then Saturday afternoon we have a combined Nippers Carnival at KB. This carnival is for all ages and is Team events. There have been a number of Bluebottle stings and an east wind which brings up a bit of a turbulent surf. Summies is well represented and our Nippers do well.
After the carnival I have a Savanna with Grant. Bad idea as I cannot drink alcohol in the day. I have to fetch Ally at Summies where she has been on duty all day. It is too much for me and I promptly fall asleep. A combination of the days events knocks me out for the rest of the weekend. The next time I leave the house is for Church on Sunday evening.
Monday 9th. I have two days sick leave. I try to run but end up walking with Adrienne and Helouise. They walk too fast for me and this has the effect of giving me lower back pain for the rest of the week.
Today I have to drink three Sachets of stuff that makes me run to the toilet all day and night. I stay at home for most of the day. Tuesday I go into the Doctor at 2pm. He knocks me out with a drug which Adrienne later refers to as the Date Rape Drug. I later hear that I am able to talk and know what is going on during the procedure but when I wake up it is as though this hour of my life was wiped clean.
Barbara is waiting for me and we have the good news that I am "all Clear".
Today Ena has the Hip operation and comes out as chirpy as ever. Stays in ICU for a few more days before being released.
Wednesday I am able to run a short (around the park) run and then do not do much for the rest of the day. Wednesday evening is Alpha.
I visit Paddy for the second time in about a week having a Whitlow. Sore finger due to an infection on the side of the nail. It is a miserable and painful infection. I am taking anti Biotics to clear it. I also have a sore mouth -- my lips have been sore for about two weeks after a long day in the sun one Sunday on duty.
Thursday 11th. I really enjoy the Walmer / Target Kloof runs. It is a cool misty morning and I run to 12th ave before turning around.
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| JOAN REACHES THE TOP OF TARGET KLOOF AFTER GOING ALL THE WAY TO 14TH AVE |
Today I am also able to swim 2000m in the Newton Park Pool. And I have registered for the River Mile and am feeling confident that I can swim the distance.
During this week I am applying for a Professional Drivers Permit (PDP). I visit Paddy for the Doctors Certificate. I visit first the police and then a private company to obtain the Police Clearance. And then on Friday I drive to Alexandria for the licence application.. This goes so smoothly: complete a form; Produce the required documentation; Drivers Licence; ID book; One Photograph. Do the Eye test which is an E that you have to indicate in which direction it is pointing as well as the left and right Light test. Finally pay the R350 for the application.. I am told to come back in 4 to 5 weeks although I can phone in three weeks to check if it is there. Having paid R350 for hte doctors visit; R125 for the Police Clearance and now another R350. I really hope that this PDP is a wotthwhile exercise.
Later this afternoon I have Nippers Level Tests at KB with our last two Nippers who want to Qualify for East Cape.
One is the son of Sally Marsh (Baisley) Erin. He has taken to Nippers in a short space of time. They are from the UK but Sally is the daughter of Malcolm Marsh who used to be the Stipe ( something to do with horseracing) in PE. And an Achillean. He and Jenny moved to the UK with their family many years ago. Now Sally is also a runner having completed the 42k the previous weekend.
Sunday is the River Mile at Sundays River. I drive through with Julia and Katie her friend from America. I walk to the start with the girls and back with their stuff and then walk up to the start for my own swim. I have a great swim. Not as good as some but I love this particular event each year.
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| KATIE AND JULIA AT THE START OF THE RIVER MILE |
Sunday afternoon I drive to Plett where Ena is in Hospital and I take Edie Dore with me for a visit. Monday morning I drive to George where I work for the day and then back to Plett where I collect Edie and drive home..
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| EDIE DORE AND ENA AT THE PLETT HOSPITAL |
This week I am able to run Tuesday; Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesdays I have Alpha in the evenings. Tuesday is our Pancake evening at church -- we do not stay as we are watching Daniel at Athletics at Settlers Park school.
Tuesday Morning I drive to Alexandria with Ally where she does her learners Licence Test. I am so proud of her as she had very short notice and yet still passed the test with flying colours. Three sets of questions -- 8/8; 25/28 and 26/28 gave her an overall of 59 / 64. We left with her Learner Driving Permit which is valid for two years.
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| TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT IN ALEXANDRIA |
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Friday 20th afternoon -- Ally has an athletics meeting -- interschools -- at Gelvandale track. She competes in heats for the 100 and 200m sprints. And makes it into the finals for both events.
Saturday 21st. I start the morning with a beach front run in a strong west wind. I run with Adrienne; Adrian and Annie who slow down shortly after we start. I then run with Andrea and Kelly. We meet Stuart and complete the Long way around via the airport and back via Summerstrand making it about 17k. Adrienne and I do not stay for the parkrun. Ally has the next leg of the running this morning. where she runs 6th position in the 100m.
Then later in the day we go back to the track and Ally runs 4th in the 200m and her 100X4 relay team run second place.
This means that Ally will compete in the next level for the 200m sprints.
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Sunday 22nd I start the day on the beach where the Bell Buoy challenge is taking place. I see a number of people who I know including Ronel Scheepers; Markus and MC Burri; Catherine Fisher; Caylee van Vuuren. It is a perfect morning and the non wet suite swimmers go off first followed by the Wet suites.
I then watch as John and Bradley and other Lifeguards do their LA award test. This morning there is also a Surfing competition and a training camp for Triathletes on Summies beach. The beach is Buzzing with activity. I stay for Nippers coaching. The U14;s do some short in and out with boards and swimming before we all get onto boards and paddle around to Bird Rock. Some of the Nippers do not take Chaff vests and end up with sore tummies and arms.
This afternoon I fetch Daniel and Lene and we go to the Biathle. Daniel is first in his age group. I am trying to improve but fall short in the swim again..
Later we attend church at the Anglican corner of Church road where Mark Derry is the pastor. Matthew Calitz is the preacher.
Monday morning -- after a Langenhoven run I drop Ally and Jessie at school.. Then go to the University where I put my name down for possible lecturing or assisting with invigilating or moderating of papers. Damelin is having an open day so I do not get to see anyone there. I spend some time in the office wrapping stuff up.
I am trying where ever I am able to put my line in the water and will see if I hook up with anything.
Friday 27th \\Feb. Barbara's Birthday.
Gerald and Chris invite me for a cycle at Norm Hudlin. The course is a completely changed one from when I last cycled here a couple of years ago. I enjoyed the outing. Many twists and turns and Turnstyles which I am not yet able to ramp.
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| GERALD IN THE NORM HUDLIN FOREST. THIS WAS MY FIRST MTB RIDE HERE FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS. LOVED EVERY MINUTE. LOOK FORWARD TO MORE OF THESE WITH THESE TWO CHAPS |
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Saturday morning:
I fetch Andrea and Hanson and we drive to Hunters Retreat Hotel where we register for the Cassies 15k. Hanson is an interesting man (Achillean) who was not able to swim 4 months before his first Iron Man and was inspired and coached by Paul -- He has now done 8 full and 8 half Ironman events.
The race takes the runners up the Old Cape road for about 7k then there is a short right hand turn and a loop which takes you straight back to the start. Andrea and I ran the first half together. As we approached the 5k mark; the front runner was at the 10k. He had run double our distance. We later heard that he had run 44min for the 15k doing the last kay in just 2.50min.
Andrea and I ran a solid but steady pace for the first half and then when we turned we increased the pace. At 9k we caught up to Tania Smith and I then decided to work hard over the next 6k. I was slightly ahead of Andrea but (unknown to me) she too picked up the pace and finished just behind me. I ran 83minutes for the 10 and was a 2 pointer for the participation league. It is some time since I last earned the club 2 points.
Hanson ran a 59minute
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| NICKY STROOTH AND ANDREA DYER AFTER THE CASSIES 15K. |
This morning we had a Brunch for Barbara's birthday. Delene and Matthew; Gail; Karen; Lene, Jessica, Joshua and Daniel; David; Brenda all joined us. It was a simple breakfast and a most successful morning.
Sunday morning David and I cycled around the |Marine Drive. I must confess to being quite exhausted by the time we got to Walmer. I had to steel myself to cycle up Target Kloof.
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| WE STOP FOR A QUICK WAQTER BREAK ON THE MARINE DRIVE . |
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| AN OLD PIC FROM THE BEACHFRONT 21K WITH MARIE LOUISE |
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| ALLY IN A WHITE OVERALL IN THE RAIN -- SOME PARTY I THINK |
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