I’m thinking about running…

Posted on November 6, 2011 by Bo

Running has been top of my mind for a few days now.

Here’s why:

I managed to get back to running time trial on Tuesdays
Thoughts of the 5 joggers who were tragically killed by a drunk driver saddens me
Spending time with our running gang and discussing upcoming races excites me
Reminding KK to enter the Irene race in Pretoria coming up next Saturday
Waking up early to watch the Soweto Marathon
Skipping my afternoon nap to watch the New York Marathon (Geepers, how gripping was that last 2km of the women’s race of the New York Marathon)

But I guess the most exciting thing that is giving me extreme *goosies* is that entries for Two Oceans half marathon open this week. Once entered, that’s it. No going back!

I’m quite pleased that I’ve started my training early. But as I’ve seen with some runners on Twitter, anything can happen. @brodiegal has injured her ankle (thank goodness this was after San Francisco, but still). @beanker is back in her moon boot (sorry Bianca). And poor @rogeema was (wo)man down with a terrible tummy bug!

But there some great inspirational stories too. @tanyakovarsky tweeting her Soweto marathon run in style. @terencetobin entering his first 10km race (see you at Irene pal!) And @_Loxy in windy PE already up to 4km! (Dory, I still walk/run!)

So you see, anything can happen but the goal has been set and I’m ready…

Happy running you guys!

Lessons from weaver birds about perfection

Posted on October 30, 2011 by Bo

The weaver birds and I have a special relationship. I feed them and in turn, they give me hours of pleasure as they fill my garden with loud nattering and allow me to get close and watch them eat and ruffle their feathers in my water fountain. They are exquisite little creatures.

I have been feeding them for 8 years now and it’s only been in the last 2 years that they’ve attempted to build their nests in the trees of my garden. I know it’s only temporary because what I’ve witnessed in the past is that the female bird is never happy and always breaks the nests into millions of messy pieces after she’s inspected it.

She reminds me a bit of myself…

Lately I’ve realised that I do not give myself enough credit – not at work or with my running. Unless it’s perfect, I am unhappy.

I am way too critical of my projects at work and always think I could’ve done better. When praise is due my way, I tend to brush it off and don’t take any credit for my own work. It makes me feel uncomfortable.

The worst flaw is that instead of promoting myself and my knowledge, I downplay it. I tend to use words such as, “We did this and that” instead of “I did it all.” I see people around me who are beaming with über confidence when talking about themselves and their achievements.

I need to be more like them because deep down, I am very proud of what I have accomplished even if I always think I could’ve done better.

And when it comes to my running, I forget that I have in fact run 12 half marathons in just less than 4 years as well as many 10km and 15km races. I have managed to improve on my 21.1km time by almost 30 minutes. I may be a slow but I am not a beginner. I am a runner!

Recently, there were three new bird nests in my garden. But on the weekend, one of them got destroyed as the female weaver was clearly not happy with the nest. The grass was covered with the remains of the nest.

Ironically in my mind, the nest was beautiful, finely-crafted and perfect. Silly bird!

Catching a homeless man is easier said than done

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Bo

Every runner has their stories: their first race; the day they achieved a PB; injuries, training successes, goals reached, trials, tribulations.

Well there’s one story which is close to my heart…

If you live in the Douglasdale, Bryanston area, you might have seen him. I call him the White Hobo. He’s an incredibly tall, youngish looking man with brown hair. He has a thick bushy beard and is dressed in old, torn brown rags. He is homeless.

He is often seen talking to himself. Once, I noticed him with a spade, cleaning the leaves and sand off the street. He always appears to be on a serious mission.

The thing that stands out the most for me is that he walks fast. Very fast! In fact, when you do see him, it looks as if he is on a mission to get somewhere. He never stops.

So one Sunday, KK and I were running down William Nicol and we happen to bump into him. Let me explain. The White Hobo was walking in front of us, in his usual fast pace. His clothes were so torn, that his bum cheeks were sticking out. As we neared him, the smell was so bad, I could hardly breathe. In my mind, I thought, no problem, we’ll just run passed him.

No such luck! The White Hobo walked at a pace faster than my running and as much as I tried, there was no way I could pass him! The faster I tried to run, the faster he walked. We must’ve done almost 1km behind him, in the smell, with a full view of his bum cheeks. It was torture. I did not want to run on the other side of the road. A part of me did not want him to feel as if he bothered us, even though he did scare me somewhat.

The torture came to an end as he turned down the next road and we carried on straight. Once he was out of sight, both KK and I stopped to breathe and to giggle about it. What a nightmare!

In “Keeping up with the walkers”, no memory reminds me of this more than that day.

I often see my White Hobo walking in my neighbourhood. I always want to stop and say hello but he never makes eye contact and never stops.

Every time I see him, I am reminded of my goals to run faster and in a way, grateful for his help. He reminds me that as a runner, I may not be the fastest, but nothing should get in my way.

I need to just keep going. I need to keep running. I mustn’t stop….

I cheat. But hey, it works.

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Bo

Time trial: Measuring your current level of performance against the clock on a mapped out distance. In essence, evidence of running the same course regularly in order to see how much you’ve improved or worsened. In most cases, the route is either 5km or 8km.

I can still remember my very first time trial (TT). I was new to running and up until that stage had only attempted one or two 3km runs around the block near our complex. However being a seasoned runner, and having made it sound so easy, KK convinced me to join him at the Tuesday RAC time trial at the Old Parktonian Sports Club in Randburg.

Bubbling with nervousness and excitement, I joined the other runners gathered at the meeting point on the field. After the usual race announcements, we all headed out. As the runners reached the first corner, I was already exhausted and needed to walk.

(For those who are familiar with the time trial route at RAC Running Club, the 1^st km starts out on the cricket field and then weaves onto another one. In fact, the first 800 meters feels as if your feet are being sucked into the ground as you run on lush, green grass until you reach the gate leading on to the busy street.)

It came as a shock to my body and the more I walked, the more people ran passed me until I looked around and saw no one.

I was last. Stone last.

My first 5km time trial took me approximately 52 mins. Almost a full hour. By the time we finished (KK walked most of the way with me – bless him), it was getting dark and the majority of runners were getting ready to leave the club to go home. As happy as I was that I had completed my first TT, it did set in motion what would be my TT training in the future.

Since that day, I do not start with all the other runners. Why not? Simple: That mental breakdown of coming last it too great. It’s not worth that feeling of failure. I know that I most probably won’t ever come last again, but I’m not going to take any chances.

Nowadays, I like to hit the road before 17h30 and take my time. I also don’t have scores of athletes shooting passed me as if I’m standing still. I can concentrate on my own pace.

I still remember the day that two guys, carrying a canoe, came running passed me at time trial and I couldn’t catch them! Obviously training for some canoe race… I guess.

I also skip the 800m running on the field. It’s too draining. Mentally and physically. It’s as if I can’t get going and it saps me of all the excitement of the run. Running on grass is not easy. Well, for me at least.

No. I start where the walkers start (how ironic!) which then cuts the route down to almost 4.2km.

Judge me as you wish, but what matters is that it’s my training. It’s my time trial. It’s my run. And I’m there… doing it. My way.

Is it cheating? Maybe. But it’s what works for me. See you on the road!

Tuesday 27th September TT time: 33:05 Distance: 4.2km