Restless Soles

Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaars-like-it......
Who ran the Queensborough 15km run this Sunday just passed???
I have finally discovered why alcohol and running don't mix, its not because they give us hangovers the next day that we regret around the 5km mark, but they get us to agree to silly things the night before.
Jokes aside, i was amped to find out that my sis had offered me the opportunity to get involved with her Run/walk for life crew this last Sunday. Although there was a little too much "strategic planning" the evening prior, I felt ghastly on those hills, but with the recent trip to the berg in the back pocket, they were well handled and actually served as an opportunity to make up some lost time.
Another point of contention was the lost time thing. My Garmin decided to take forever to find its satellites, and been a stickler for not starting my stopwatch without this lock on, I hung around until I was almost last to set off. Not a a bad thing really as then was no bullet like set off to get caught up in, I just relaxed unto a gentle sub 6min/per km and stayed there for the race. Been at the back also was not a bad thing, as, well you're at the back and with every race that's where the fun is.I did notice though that the average roadie is a lot more simplistic than the trail addict. Here I was in my funny tight compression shorts, famous WP running peak stashed with my 32GI chow, running shirt and the average oke/chick had a vest, shorts and shoes, and that was it. I didn't even have my hydration pack and I felt semi naked. Well done chaps...keep it simple
Maybe because on the trail, you have to lug everything with you, where as here, the water tables where like a full on Oasis outside Swakkopmunt in December. Adding to that I must comment on the marshals and water table attendants who where more than accommodating and full of cheer, even when I passed them on the way back ( that's another story altogether), so good on them. So for my first tar outing since I was a lightie, it was quite refreshing, but will be very weary for those hills next year.
Hopefully there will be some evidence served soon soon
What a lekka morning out, shotto to the Run/Walk crew, next stop Umhlanga 14th December, Riverside Chaps, here we come.

Enter, train, love it.........................

"THE BERG"
Phew just got back from my trip to Mnt Splendour, lots of driving but a great adventure. After our crew was diluted from four to two, then to one, I decided to fly solo for the weekend. From school exams to building farm sheds, I starting to second guess my own priorities. That took 10 seconds and I loaded my car and set off.
From Eshowe its a three hr journey and if you drive half way to Giants Castle through the land of no English and no directions, it will take you over four hrs. First stop was the race village at the resort on the way through to shakily register for the torment the next day. The camp ground was packed, like sardines on MTB's so I was in for a shock when I arrived at Monks Cowl to find that I was sharing the entire camp with one other tent. "AG NEE MAN......"
I was hoping to have the whole place to myself. The other couple were there for the same event so we shared a few nervous words before the quick hop over the next morn for the trail run.
By a brief look there seemed to more more on the trail this year than last year and the weather was a 100% improvement too. During race briefing I could feel the sweat running down my back and started to regret the two glasses of red at the fire the evening prior.
Having been present a year ago I knew that the 1st 4 or 5km are mainly uphill and in some places a walk for most, so had no delusions of grandeur when the gun went off and everyone took off at a sub 5min p/km. Slowing down to a nice pace for the climb helped in the beginning but once I reached the top was pretty much unable to do much more, fortunately I had my sons camera so spent some time trying to calm my heart rate monitor down, whilst hiding behind the lens. I kept trying to reassure myself that with only 15km ( which is actually 17km) that everything would pan out just fine, just that bloody mountain that Dave Ward refers to as a koppie, got in the way.
Once on top its just fantastic and once into the groove I could take some time sponging up the views we missed last year because of the clouds. A constant single track with the odd forest was the call of the day all the way down to the eco estate again where some very welcomed tar was there to speed things up a little so that I was able to at least catch up with some others runners, at least.
Finishing after two hours of trail running felt super fab and was ever grateful to the folks that stuck around to clap the tail enders in. Of course a breakfast of champions back at my base camp was the reward and then off back to H/Q in Eshowe for the rest of the weekend. Definitely no early Sunday run..
Shot to Dave and the ROAG team who put together such a well executed event, I will certainly be back next year to take on that "Koppie"
Check out the evidence.................

And that I think is the last. A big thanks to our Sponsors, Eshowe Super Spar, Cape Union Mart, East Toyota and all the others who pulled together to make the trail happen.
If anyone is in the Zini area this weekend, don't forget our neighbor's trail run on Sunday, The Zini Bush Challenge.
Until the next trail opportunity, keep on the trail............

A couple of nice pic of Prodigal been as good sport at at prize giving. Well done Chap.