Run like a Pirate

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Bo

As with most things in life, once you’ve taken a break, getting back into it takes effort, even with running. I had been itching to start my running again (after going into hibernation for a few weeks) and decided to enter the Pirates 10km race. I was surprised KK decided to run the race because his usual mileage on Sunday is between 15 and 20 kms.

We’ve only run Pirates once before after @tanyakovarsky introduced us to the race when she organised a twunners (runners who tweet) tweetup in 2011. Luckily the race day was not as cold as two years ago but I still wasn’t taking any chances and arrived in three layers, including gloves and a buff. (I kinda look like a running pirate, hey?)

It might be a short distance in KK’s eyes but a lot happens over 10kms…

I ‘bumped’ into @CraigBeePee, @RichardAsprey, @Samu_M & @TanyaKovarsky at the start and finally meet @JanetBr in real life. (We ~~ran~~ sprinted the first kilometer together. When she told me her normal pace is just over 6min/km, I nearly died. How do you politely tell someone to run away!)
There were loads of dogs participating and marshaling the race. I even out ran a Randburg Harriers runner and her staffie.
For my running pace sins, I was unable to out run a woman who was telling her running partner about HR stuffing up resulting in her not getting her dream job. She exhausted me.
I managed to catch up to 4 year old Max Kovarsky who decided today was the day to run and not be pushed the entire way in a pram. He still managed to beat me.
I chatted to a woman who told me she attended her 37 year high school reunion last night which meant she was running with a ‘moerse’ hangover. Niiiice. #overshare

Be it a Knysna marathon, a Pirates 10km or a 3km jog around the block, there’s something about that sweaty face when you get home. That glow. There’s something quite special about that divine hot shower when you’re done. The afternoon nap. That feeling which is indescribable unless you’ve been there.

It’s what @angelo2711 tweeted me on the morning of the race, “A run is a run – enjoy!”

Going into running hibernation

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Bo

The Comrades marathon always signals the “year end” of my running year. As winter arrives and with it, dark evenings and chilly mornings, my running mileage takes a dive as I slow down and find ~~excuses~~ reasons not to run. During this time of year, there are very few races on the race calendar, it’s a ghost town at time trial and you find a couple of brave runners venturing into trail running. (I’m considering that idea myself.)

As I look back and take stock of the races I’ve run in the year under review, I must admit that this year has been one of my favourites. I had minimal injuries compared to last year’s plantar fasciitis pain and even though I entered fewer races than previous years, the ones I did run stand out for me for different reasons.

I started 2013 with the Johnson Crane & Pick ‘n Pay half marathons – two of my favourite 21km races. It was after seeing the smiles of joy on runner’s faces at the finish line of the Johnson Crane that made me ask myself, “Who cares how long it takes me to run 21kms! I want to be as happy as these runners!” It set the tone for the rest of the year.

I absolutely loved the KFC Valentines night race. Loved! This was my very first race I ran years ago, so going back and running it again was just magical! I also returned to conquer the Deloitte half marathon! After coming dead last (I kid you not) in 2009 and vowing never to run it again, I did it!

A race I did expect to come last in (but didn’t) was the Springs Striders 15km race because there were so few runners participating. But it turned out to be so memorable especially running in the mist which was so eerily quiet and beautiful! Running at my pace had its advantages as I missed the Pick ‘n Pay shootout during the RAC 10km race!

But ironically, it wasn’t just these races that stood out for me. I must confess that I enjoyed my running mainly because of the shorter unplanned distances too. Getting home after work and heading out into the hot afternoon, watching the sun setting, chatting to my running partner (@terencetobin) was what made the difference for me.

I didn’t over-analyse every run like I normally do but just enjoyed each run for what it was. Just me. Out on the road. Running.

Tackling the ups and the downs

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Bo

My run today pretty much mirrored the week I had last week. Lots of highs and lows, ups and downs. The difference is that when I run, I clearly have a strategy on how to deal with the up hills and down hills and I know how to listen to my body. I don’t do the same when it comes to work.

I can home 3 out of 5 evenings declaring that I had ‘just had the day outta hell’. I was exhausted. It felt as if all my energy had been drained from my body. It’s not so much work pressures but struggling to cope with office politics that’s getting the better of me. It’s mentally draining.

But then there were moments in my week when things at work were great. Moments when I felt valued, encouraged and hearing news which really lifted my spirits.

I need to approach the highs and lows as I do when I run. Tackling those up hills, my strategy is to slow down to a fast walk, to take in my surroundings and try forgetting about the burn in my legs. The hills do eventually come to an end.

When I get to the flat sections and down hills, I speed up and just enjoy the wind in my hair as I let go and savor the feeling. The run become easier and I push myself.

I realize that every week will have those moments of stress and happiness. Of joy and pain, the ups and downs. Some days I need to slow down, reflect on what’s causing my stress and ‘ride the storm’. And on the good days, I need to just sit back and enjoy!

Great run today… Looking forward to a great week!

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!