Hi All
Back from South Africa, it was a wrench to come back to the desert after sitting amongst the mountains and greenery of RSA.
Two Oceans Ultra 35 Miles
Friday night and the SE’ly gale is blowing past my window at a steady 35 MPH, forecast for Saturday the day of the race is the same… Help!
0430 Saturday morning sat eating my toast and can’t hear the wind, open the door and am relived to see that whilst still distinctly on the breezy side its not blowing a gale.
Arrived at the start in plenty of time unlike many runners entered in the Half Marathon whom I see desperately trying to get past the Ultra starting pens to the half start which is 200 metres further down the road and due to start at 0600.
At 0625 the hooter sounds and were off, well we walk forward, 7,000 runners on a two lane road takes sometime to spread out, consequently the first three K are well above 6 min/K . Slowly the road opens up and I settle into my 5-30 k’s that I had planned. As dawn breaks we reach the Indian Ocean at Muizenberg after about 12K and run straight into the remnants of yesterdays gale, the wind speed is probably about 20MPH and I tuck in behind a large group of runners to draft myself along, trouble is everyone is trying to do the same and no one wants to lead! The route passes through Kalk Bay and Fish Hoek before leaving the Indian ocean to cross over to the Atlantic via Sun valley, still feeling very comfortable at half way (28K) as we sight the Atlantic for the first time.
Now the hard work starts as we begin the 250M climb up Chapmans peak, but the views down over Nordhoek Beach and the Atlantic are gorgeous, the wind is on my back and the gradient isn’t too desperate. I crest the summit and am rewarded with a magnificent view down to Hout bay and a gale force wind straight into my face. Whilst coming to terms with the road suddenly going downhill, a head wind, my number starting to come loose and eating a Banana I trip over a cats eye and sprawl all over the road. Stand up brush self down, secure number, check limbs, grazed knee and elbow, nothing appears to badly damaged and set off down the hill. The assistance of gravity seems to be balancing out the headwind and I sit back to enjoy the view.
We reach Hout Bay at the bottom of the hill (damn back at sea level) and my family are waiting to cheer dad on, a quick hug with all and I set off up the road towards Constantia Nek a 300 M climb over 4K. I pass through the marathon point in 4 hours 03 mins and the wheels come off badly, legs just don’t seem to want to function. Ah well eat the Ice cream being given away at the aid station, drink as much coke as possible, remember that Stickless would certainly not quit and WALK. I eventually get to the top of the hill at the 46K mark and try out the legs, all seems to be functioning and I run off towards the finish crossing the line in 5 hours 38 mins.
So all in all not a bad day at the office, I was targeting at 5-30 finish so 8 minutes over but given the wheels coming off from 41 – 46K that’s to be expected. Once gain I learn that ultras have a way of sneaking up and biting you in the arse but that also bad patches do pass, normally food, drink and a walk can cure all.
Now back to today
What: 5.7 miles recovery d & d AM, 10 miles tempo PM
Why: Comrades
Last Hard: Two Oceans
Last Rest: Saturday
Lyrics: Yes
