An Easter holiday to remember

Posted on May 9, 2014 by Bo

It’s unbelievable how time flies! A month ago, we were packing to head down to Cape Town and run Two Oceans. Flicking through the photos reminded me about the wonderful time we had.

We flew down engulfed in the most gorgeous white fluffy clouds…

Like typical Vaalies, we headed down to the beach…

And we took ~~one or two~~ many sunset photos…

We went to some of the most beautiful wine farms…

We ate *way* too much food…

…even picnicked.

And of course, we drank *ahem*.

We also took time to relax.

But I guess the main reason for the trip was the Two Oceans marathon and half marathon races. KK ran his first full ultra and did an excellent time! But after a gap of 2 years, I finally (!) conquered my fear of the half marathon and finished under three hours. I was elated! Good training & exercising of the mind & body did the trick I think. Thank you Cape Town! See you again next year…

Trying again. On my own terms.

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Bo

I was giving a good friend of mine some advice the other day. I told her, “Pal, you’ve done everything you can do. You’ve given it all you’ve got. There’s nothing more you can do now. It is what it is…” Days later, as I contemplate whether or not to run the Two Oceans half marathon, I started to give myself some of my own advice.

Family and friends know that I hate this race. It overwhelms me. It’s congested, it’s over-hyped, it’s rated by so many runners as “The ultimate race”. But I hate it. It could be largely due to the baggage I carry of not making the 3 hour cut-off a couple of years ago. Even though I came back and ran a PB on this course the next year. But the pressure is intense and I allow it to control me.

But when I think of the advice I gave my friend, the words seem quite appropriate for me too especially when I look at the facts.

I’ve trained hard this year.
I’ve run five half marathons since January with ease.
In between regular interval training at gym, I’ve run on weekends too.
I’m 10kgs lighter having changed to a Banting way of eating.
I’m more comfortable with my running than I’ve ever been.

Am I still slow? Yeah, but it’s not important to me anymore. That’s my pace, deal with it. I have.

The main thing is that I’ve done all I can do in preparation for the race. There’s nothing more I can do. “It is what it is.”

If the congestion with 16k runners causes me to lose precious time, nothing I can do. If this means missing cut-off, so be it. I have to accept that if it takes me longer to run the first km and I lose time, it is what it is.
If it’s windy or it rains, nothing I can do. That’s just Cape Town weather.
A lot of factors are out of my hands but at least I’ve done everything I could possibly do in the build-up to this race. The rest I can’t control.

So ya, let’s see how it goes. Right now my nerves are killing me!

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!

Dear Two Oceans Half Marathon… we need to talk.

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Bo

Dear Two Oceans Half Marathon,

Like most runners, I fell in love with you right from the start. You were the dream race, the one everyone spoke about. When my running training started at the beginning of each year, it would be centred around you as the goal date, the goal race. All the reading I did was about you. All the training I did was for you. In terms of running, you were ‘my everything’.

But since 2010, things between us started to go wrong. You started to see more people and the entries just grew and grew. The problem is that with 16 000 runners, it makes it that much tougher for me to get over that starting mat without losing at least 10 minutes. I don’t exactly have 10 minutes to spare because, as you know, I run at 8 minutes per km and this cuts it fine with a 3 hour cut off time. It’s funny because ever since I started running, I’ve allowed your 3 hour cut off time to dictate my runs and my pace to the extent that I feel absolutely miserable when I don’t run my half marathons under 3 hours.

I guess that’s my point. How you make me feel. Like any woman in an abusive relationship, I forgave you because I ‘loved’ you. I even started this blog about ‘Keeping up’ because I was so desperate to please you. But if I have to be honest with myself, you make me feel like a failure, inadequate, pathetic. You stress me out and instead of enjoying the run, I keep thinking that I will fail. I keep wanting to quit every single day but fear that other runners will judge me.

I don’t feel like that when I run other races. In fact, since January, I’ve noticed a change within me. I started to like running half marathons and not be stressed about the time. I started to enjoy the distance. I’ve loved every kilometre and when I’ve crossed the finish line, I’ve been so damn proud of myself. Proud because I am able to run 21.1km. So far, I’ve run 3 half marathon races this year and each one has taken me over 3 hours, but you know what, it didn’t matter. I have fallen in love with my running again!

So, I think what I’m trying to say is … it’s not you, it’s me. It’s taken me 4 years to realize that running is supposed to be fun. It’s taken me so many races to finally acknowledge that I run at 8 minutes per km and I’m okay with that. I watch so many other runners crossing that finish line after me with smiles on their faces. I want to be one of those runners. I want to be content and at peace and not carry around this huge burden.

So it’s good bye. We can still be friends and I will see you for the 8km run on Good Friday. But as far as any long term commitment, you’ve taken up way too much of my time and energy (both mentally & physically) already. I’m moving on.

Bronwynne