I specialise in the following where I provide personal service and transport.
Garden Route Tours;; Addo Safari; Guided Tours of Cape Town. Port Elizabeth Guided Tours.
Transfers; City and Township Tours; Hikes and Canoeing; Ocean Safari; Kragga Kamma Wildlife Reserve; Elephant Back and encounters; Plettenbergbay; Knysna; Oudtshoorn;
TWO OCEANS HALF MARATHON 2017
Thursday morning 13th April --Leave PE at 7.30am. Drive through the day and stop off at Stellenbosch to fetch some of Ally's Stuff. Then to CTICC to register for Oceans. Then to Nicky's house in Durbanville. Then drop Ally off at a friend for the night. Finally back to Nicky's house for a well earned sleep.
Friday. I am so glad that I have completed registration. We spend a lazy morning at Nicky's house. Then drive to fetch Ally from her friend Claudia, who she met in Toowoomba.
We spend the next two hours at the Cape Town airport waiting for Nicky and Werner who are on a flight home from Israel.
Back at their home I pack up and leave for Patrick's house. They have a delicious supper of Beetroot Soup and Pizza. I am in bed early and ready for the run in the morning.
Two Oceans half marathon 2017
Saturday 15th April.
I have stayed over at Patrick and Marianne. Sleeping in St John's Room.
Up with my alarm clock at 4.20, wash and get myself read.
At 5am I start walking to the start of the event. I soon get caught up in the crowds and so don't have to worry if I am on the right route. I have brought a Tog Bag so find the DHL tog bag trucks. Leave my bag and walk to the start. Patrick had said he would see me at the finish but I thought it best to take a change in case there is a problem. Walking back to his house in cold wet clothing is not fun.
I find Seeding C and let myself in. It is already crowded. I work my way to the front and find myself about 30 meters from the start banner. It is about 30minutes to the start and the announcers talk too much. Finally they count down from 30 seconds to go and the cannon is fired. At one time there used to be a Fishermans Horn.
We jog down main road for a short while and then right at the Engen Garage. Up to the M3 and then we have a long hill to climb. I am running steadily. Lots of people passing me but I am fine with that. At the top we reach the double carriage way and start descending. The sun has still not risen and we are running in the half light. Over the subway and then at about 6km we make a right turn over the freeway.
At this point there is a switchback where I am able to see runners in front and then behind us. Occasionally I chat to people but this is brief. I only chat to One PE runner (Patrick from Crusaders who is doing his 10th 21k).
We reach the 10km mark and soon after that we start the long climb up Southern Cross Drive. This hill is nearly 3km. I am nice and relaxed and jogging at a slow pace. Past the Green outfits of the music band. There are three of these bands on the route. Activity like this makes such a difference to the runner and is so encouraging.
Up to the top of the hill where we see the 8km to go signs. The next few km are a bit rough due to the uneven camber. I have experienced this so many times but still find it hard on the ankles and legs.
At 5km to go we start a sharp descent and I send a message to the family to explain where I am. I need to do this to keep myself motivated. Now it is a short count down of km to the finish. 17km and we are still on a bit of a flat section. 18km and soon we turn left and up to the University. I continue to jog but am starting to tire.
19km. Just 2k to go. I have to work hard to stay focussed and push the pace.
Last k to go.... I run as hard as I am able. But my legs are really getting quite tired now and as I enter the stadium on the soft grass I am feeling so happy to be there. I run under the finish banner in 2.10. Not my best time but for me, I am quite satisfied. I have achieved my primary goal which is to run all the way with no walking. Patrick, Marianne and Thomas were sitting on the stadium looking out for me; but somehow did not see me in the sea of runners coming across the finish line.
Some of the 2017 results.
| 3 | ELMARIE BOTHA | Female | 50 | 1 | 4 | Ultra | 23427 | 00:05:25 | 01:51:21 | 03:11:46 | 04:53:40 | 05:50:47 | 06:28:48 |
| 2 | CHRIS BOTHA | Male | 60 | 1 | Half | 62555 | 01:55:42 | 02:45:56 |
| 1 | ANDY BOLTON | Male | 63 | 33 | Ultra | 455 | 00:03:53 | 01:43:19 | 02:59:57 | 04:42:04 | 05:53:34 | 06:43:54 |
| 1 | KOBUS GERBER | Male | 73 | 22 | 1 | Ultra | 1747 | 00:03:54 | 01:43:20 | 02:59:57 | 04:42:05 | 05:53:33 | 06:43:54 |
| 30 | TREMAINE WESSON | Male | 56 | 25 | Ultra | 854 | 00:03:26 | 01:50:21 | 03:14:10 | 05:04:40 | 06:08:33 | 06:52:03 |
| 24 | TOMMY SATCHWELL | Male | 57 | 9 | Ultra | 10115 | 00:03:18 | 01:35:22 | 02:55:05 | 04:52:37 | 06:06:15 | 06:56:28 |
| 13 | GARRETH JACOBSON | Male | 41 | 13 | Ultra | 4103 | 01:19:05 | 02:19:38 | 04:18:14 | 05:18:00 | 05:55:30 |
| 10 | PETER GIDDY | Male | 66 | 19 | 8 | Half | 60283 | 01:35:34 | 02:10:46 |
| 5 | GRAHAM CHANNON | Male | 67 | 36 | Ultra | 243 | 00:03:13 | 01:36:55 | 02:50:51 | 04:35:53 | 05:51:56 | 06:48:01 |
| 4 | MICHAEL BOTHA | Male | 61 | 10 | 5 | Half | 60054 | 00:01:33 | 01:57:00 | 02:38:00 |
| 15 | NATALIE STEWART | Female | 44 | Ultra | 31218 | 00:03:54 | 01:35:37 | 02:46:19 | 04:09:44 | 05:01:38 | 05:39:10 |
| 14 | DUNCAN STEWART | Male | 45 | 10 | Ultra | 4948 | 00:03:54 | 01:35:37 | 02:46:20 | 04:09:44 | 05:50:57 |
| 12 | RONEL SCHEEPERS | Female | 42 | 3 | 2 | Ultra | 23363 | 00:05:25 | 01:51:21 | 03:11:50 | 04:56:54 | 06:01:31 | 06:43:21 |
| ANDY BOLTON | Male | 63 | 33 | Ultra | 455 | 00:03:53 | 01:43:19 | 02:59:57 | 04:42:04 | 05:53:34 | 06:43:54 | ||||
| 2 | CHRIS BOTHA | Male | 60 | 1 | Half | 62555 | 01:55:42 | 02:45:56 | |||||||
| 3 | ELMARIE BOTHA | Female | 50 | 1 | 4 | Ultra | 23427 | 00:05:25 | 01:51:21 | 03:11:46 | 04:53:40 | 05:50:47 | 06:28:48 |
| Sat 15 Apr 2017 | Half | ACH | 01:35:34 | 02:10:46 |
Looked up the results later and found my position was 3826 of 14190 finishers. Cut off seems to be 3.30 hours. And I was placed 115 of 755 finishers in the age category 60 to 69.
After I have finally crossed the finish line I look for the tog bag area and am directed incorrectly over the bridge. Here I phone Patrick and they meet me at the top of the subway. We realise that the directions were wrong and have to retrace our steps and back over the bridge to the Sports Centre. Jock and Liz are there. I find my stuff and change to dry clothes.
Patrick, Thomas and I walk over the bridge again and down to where Marianne is waiting in the car. So good to have a car to drive home in. A shower and Breakfast and then they are all off to the beach so I drive back to Nicky's house in Durbanville.
Running the 56km -- Ronel; Andy and Kobus finished in about 6.43 while Elmarie did about 6.30.
No comments:
Post a Comment