The trip counter

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Bo

Ever since I started running, there’s a habit I’ve picked up when I drive my car. I re-set the trip counter to “0” to see how far certain distances are if I were to run them. For example, it’s 3.4 kms to the gym from my house; 4.7 kms to the highway on ramp and 14.8 kms to get to my office. In the run up to any half marathon races, I typically use this exercise to prepare myself mentally. Passing that 21.1 km mark in the trip feels amazing.

So when KK entered the Bonitas City 2 City ultra marathon I started checking exactly how far 50 kms was and discovered that it’s a hell of a way! It’s pretty much the same as driving to my offices, then back home and then half the way back to the office again! *gasp*

In his 22 years of running, he’s never attempted such a far distance before, having previously stuck to half marathon distances. I don’t know who was more nervous, me or him? From the time I wished him well at the start of the race, to seeing him coming up to the finish 5 hours and 22 minutes later, I was shattered!

Well done on a fantastic run babes! I’m so proud of you. Comrades, here we come! (well, you…but you know what I mean.)

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!”

Thoughts from a race – #picknpayhalfmarathon

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Bo

The Pick ‘n Pay road race is one of my favourite races. I’ve completed the half marathon three times and last year, I enjoyed the 8km fun run. Looking back, there are always moments during a race which stand out for me. Here are the ones from this particular race:

At 15 minutes before the race started, there were no queues at the loo’s. Bonus!
Even if I thought we were standing close to the front of the start pack, when the race started, it looked like a kilometer of runners stretched out in front of us.
I have started to recognise the same faces from previous races and it’s great to say hello as we head on out.
Another runner stopped me as we headed close to the 3 km mark and told me she remembered me so clearly from the Johnson Crane race. (That’s all she said? I hope it was a good thing.)
You get water points and you get water points. But two water points on this race rocked!
Having KK meet me at the 19km mark to run me to the finish line – Wonderful! I was filled with emotion.
A girl who had run slightly ahead of me the entire way slowed down in the last kilometer. I pushed her in front of me when we got to the field. It’s only right that she deserved to finish the race ahead of me.
Don’t under-estimate the awesomeness of a hotdog after running 21.1km!

If you ran and would like to add to my list, feel free to do so.

See you next year Pick ‘n Pay!

Confessions of a runner: Of course I can run faster silly!

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Bo

In 2010, I ran the Pick ‘n Pay half marathon. It’s a great race and winds its way through Bedfordview and Edenvale. I remember getting to the 16 km mark and bumping in to an old friend from school. On that day, he was marshalling the race.

When he saw me, he looked surprised and asked me, “Bo, are you okay? Why are you so far at the back? Are you hurt?” In my head, I said, nope, this is my pace. I run at 8mins/km. But I was too embarrassed to admit that to him, so instead I laughed it off, claiming I was having a slow race and taking it easy. Of course I run faster than this, silly billy! Pffft!

Fast forward 3 years. I’m blogging about my race journey and sharing my ups and downs of my running and my quest to run faster. Last week, I happen to have blogged that I was in a dip with my running, that I was not having a good time, and pretty much hating my running. Guess who comments on my blog? My friend, the marshall, from the Pick ‘n Pay race.

However, this time, the encounter was different. Here’s what he wrote…

“… On the running side, if it helps, of my years and years of running have yielded many great victories, but plenty disappointments too. I actually hung up my shoes after last year’s Comrades. I lost the mojo. I never took a step until the Kudus race this year, then Dischem, then Bobbies on Sunday, and I’m totally passionate again. It doesn’t mean you must stop , I’m just saying that we all have little setbacks and disappointments. Some run through them, some take a break till the mojo returns. I think you are expecting too much too soon to be honest.

Run Happy, Run Grumpy, Run Speedy, Run Slow, Run a Little, Run a lot, just have fun!!

Let me know when you are next at a race, I’d love to run your distance with you and have a catch up, and whatever your goal for that day, let me pace for you and give you a helping hand, it’ll be my pleasure. Keep your chin up Bo, and keep going!”

I did manage to bump into him at Johnson Crane. It was so great to see him and to chat.

How weird that sometimes it’s easier to hide our insecurities because we think others will judge us and not understand what we are going through. And yet, everyone has their own demons that they are fighting. Opening up and trusting someone can sometimes yield some wonderful results!