About Bo

Dog lover. Runner. Although very slowly. Keeping up with the stresses of running and life...

12 days in Cape Town. 12 wonderful memories.

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Bo

1. Lunch at Fairview Wine Farm. (Our favourite!) 2. Driving along the coastline on an overcast afternoon. 3. Lunch at Haute Cabriere. 4. Early morning support to the Two Oceans runners. 5. Me. 8km fun run. 6. Lazy days on the beach. 7. Checking out the new deli at Tokara – it’s awesome! 8. Morning hike through the forest. One of my favourite days! 9. Charly’s Bakery! A must-see/eat/experience! 10. Neighborgoods Market at Old Biscuit Mill. Deciding on what to eat is torture! 11. Sunset cruise aboard the Spirit of Victoria. 12. When I’m stressed out at work, I’ll close my eyes and remember the feel of the sand between my toes and the sound of the waves…Thank you Cape Town!

The stories I witnessed from this year’s Two Oceans

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Bo

Having substituted my Two Oceans 2013 half marathon entry and deciding to run the 8km fun run instead, it was interesting observing the race from a non-participant’s point of view this year. Each and every person had their own story to tell…This is how I saw it.

KK was still ill by the time we flew down to Cape Town and decided that with such a sore chest, it was best not to run. The disappointment on his face as he negotiated with himself what to do was visible each day leading up to that Saturday but only he could make that final decision. In his words, “It’ll take me a year longer to get my Blue number.” Sorry babes.

Meanwhile, two of our other running friends received their Blue numbers on the Saturday. One for the half and the other for the Ultra. What an awesome achievement!

For others, the race was not a good experience. One of my favourite athletes missed cut off and was totally shattered! In the heat of the moment, she announced that she would ‘never run Two Oceans again’. I hope that while she feels that way about this particular race, she has not lost her love for running. There’s a difference.

Ironically, a catch-up supper on the Thursday evening before the race with another friend was an eye-opener. Being a non-runner, she had no idea the race was happening or even the details. Runners become so obsessed with Two Oceans – it’s all we talk about. It was refreshing to have supper and talk about something else for a change.

An ankle injury forced another running buddy out of the race which she loves with all her heart. But that did not stop her passion to ensure she ‘fly her flag’ across that finish line among mixed reactions from some.

The father-in-law of one of the Blue number runners mentioned above had not run since last year’s Two Oceans. The worry that he would not finish was wasted as he crossed the finish line declaring “Muscle memory got me through!”

Two other running friends narrowly made Ultra cut offs with minutes to spare – one for his bronze medal and the other one to finish in time. Great run guys!

Witnessing the Russian twins and Stephen Muzhingi have bad races proved that even the champs have races that don’t always go their way.

And then to all those surrounding me at the 8km fun run. To many, it was the first time they would attempt that distance. To them, this WAS their marathon! The race is called a fun run but to some runners, it was a very serious race! I hope it’s the start of a wonderful running journey that sees them finish their half or even ultra marathons one day!

Runner, you’re doing it wrong!

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Bo

I’m not a professional or even serious runner but I would have thought that by now, after a few years of running, I would know all there is to know about running. My copy of ‘Lore of Running’ is dog-eared, I’m a regular subscriber to Runner’s World, I download my runs to Garmin Connect and I always buy my running shoes under the guidance of the experts at Dunkeld Sweatshop. I even speak runners’ jargon, such as plantar fasciitis, and call races by their first names – Deloittes, Colgate, Dischem.

But when KK was disqualified at a race recently, I realized that sometimes, the smallest detail about running can go unnoticed, even by me.

It was at the Springs Striders 15km road race that KK was stopped at the finish line and told that he was being disqualified for not having worn both of his ASA licence numbers. KK was quite confused because, we always pin our ASA licence to the back of our running vests? But the referee was not interested and informed KK that runners needed to show both numbers – one on the front and one on the back. Huh? Since when?

Runners who join an official running club are given two numbers. But I always thought: a) the one was for Summer tops and the other for Winter; or b) when your running top is in the dirty washing, at least you had a spare. LOL! How embarrassing, I’m such a chop!

Apparently, we’re supposed to pin one number on the front, the other on the back of your running vest. We have run so many races and never noticed. We’ve also never been stopped by any referees before. I suppose it’s because our race numbers were covering the front.

Oh well, you learn every day…we’re still laughing!

Escaping for Easter

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Bo

I’m officially on leave! I’ve taken advantage of the Easter break and taken some time off work. Boy do I need it!

You’d think that after 17 years of working in a corporate environment, I would have become accustomed to the hardness of the culture, the relentless drive by colleagues to succeed and the constant pressure to deliver. So why am I feeling so tired, over emotional and sensitive? It feels as if the smallest thing will tip me over the edge.

When I think about it, I must admit that it’s become too easy for me to go into work each day, put up with all the mess and stress and come home untouched. I make excuses for other people when they make decisions that I don’t agree with – it’s business after all. I allow them to talk so casually about people who cannot defend themselves – it’s dog eats dog folks. I choose to ignore the politics because I suspect it ‘helps’ people cope with their stress. I keep up a smiling, happy, positive face…all day long. It’s exhausting.

But being engulfed in such a negative, stressful environment every day, suppressing your feelings and going along with the flow does have its consequences. It silently chips away at you inside.