THE GRAND FINALE

I returned to Two Oceans Half this year in a very strange way, no longer being a Runners World pacesetter felt just weird. Here I am on my way to the race which I pacesetted last year with the yellow RW flag above my head, a paceset which was one of the greatest I had ever done.

So feeling rather lost I packed in my pole and flags in my kit bag and headed for the airport wearing a T-shirt which told everyone that I was going to be the cut off bus on the Two Oceans Half again this year.

Recently I joined up with Runners Talk and paceset with their flag, but sadly I could not do this on this race as they were not sponsors of the event and Two Oceans organizers can be touchy about advertising. However the rear of my T-shirt told those interested just who I pacesetted for now.

Wednesday night I was invited to Tygerberg AC for a pasta evening, what a blast, this club knows how to hold a decent pasta party, which had me going back for more not once but twice, the best damn pasta I have tasted. My host Bennie, made sure that the beers flowed, it was really a great evening.

The next day I went to the expo and I had Two Oceans fever, good and solid. I was so chuffed when I got a sticker from the Adidas stand, the warning sign that says “Think Runner” made by Runners Talk and Adidas. One is on my car and another on my reflective running vest.

The next two days dragged by, late Friday afternoon I met up with many of the Runners World forumites for drinks at La Med. It was great to meet many who I have talked to over the last few months.

Came Saturday morning 02h30 I awake and I am overcome by fear, I have been a pacesetter for years and good pacesetter, even if I say so myself. This time I was actually scared, no serious, I really was worried about this one. So much had happened over the last year since TO 2008.

I got dressed and put on my orange T-shirt, today I was running for two people, funny enough, two people who knew of each other and both like the colour orange. My Mom and Neil aka Ratso from the RW forum.

I arrived at the stadium at 03h45 where my friend and running partner did the final touches and equipment checks. Before we left for the start my wife prayed with us and she mentioned Neil, my Mom and Anna's biological father in the prayer.

We took a good three kay warm up run to the start going the back way to Dean road. We arrive at the start and at 04h55 we took up position at the start of the “D” seeding, a while later we were joined by the Sub 2:30 and Sub 2:00 buses. Near the start time I turned around and saw that the people stretched back to the ultra start area. Scary stuff.

Helen fired the start gun and Two Oceans Half Marathon 2009 was underway. We were on a walk 200 run 800 plan so we walked the first 200 meters and I did my thing 5,4,3,2, oooonnneeeeeeeee…….lets jet. Runners around me started to run with me.

Back at the start I was listening to comments and the one that stuck was “Flip that big oke is doing sub three…how ?”

Anyway 800 meters later 5,4,3,2, oooonnneeeeeeeee…….lets walk. “Thank God” said this temp runner next to me. I though to myself “Whew boy this is going to be fun.” 200 meters goes quite fast and back on track with 5,4,3,2, oooonnneeeeeeeee…….lets jet.

We were doing quite well, the road was quite wall to wall however it was possible to pass runners if needed. Came kay three and this oke taller then me say “Hi Dave, I need to stick by you, this is my first.” Well damn that is why I am here I think to myself, “no problem Johan (his name was on his race number) join in.”

“This is my first half marathon” he says Oh brother apply the pressure why don’t you. I feel my neck tense up. “No problem Boet just stay by me”

Now I know the Southern Cross Drive hill is a killer of note, it chews up the newbies and seasoned runners alike if they tackle it wrong. So secretly I am running a few seconds faster to put time in the bank for this hill.

Quite a few time I was asked why I don’t have a yellow flag as well like the other guys. I explained that I am a Runners Talk pacesetter and that today I was there without their flag due to the ambush-advertising rule.

At the first dog leg the size of the race came into play, last year I told my bus to keep left and go wide around, we did that and were able to stay running. This year there were just too many on the road, we were reduced to a shuffle with no way around the slower people in front. As soon as we got past the dog leg the field opened up again and off we went.

During this stage the big mouths were going past, you know the type! The comedian who thinks he/she is funny. Come flying past with “At least we are past these okes, we won’t be last anymore.” I said to the guys in the bus, “Watch on the hill how we pass these okes.”

So we start climbing much to Johan’s horror, he didn’t like hills very much. Around a quarter way up this monster 5,4,3,2, oooonnneeeeeeeee…….lets walk and while doing so we start to pass the jokers, look at you now, tag you are on. Instead of using their heads and pacing properly they are all spent and battling up the hill. Guess what genius, after this there is the camber and another hill in Rhodes Drive!!! Many a snigger from the bus as we pass these okes. Shame poor Johan heard something he really did not want hear…..5,4,3,2, ooonnneeeeeeeee…….lets jet.

Due to our running we had put some time in the bank and within 500 meters we had a total of two minutes in the bag so for the rest of the hill and to the delight of Johan and Gilda (another newbie) 5,4,3,2, oooonnneeeeeeeee…….lets walk….. we walked to the top of Southern Cross drive.

Entering Rhodes Drive the runners in the bus were in good spirits especially with the news that they were right on time. At this stage we were passing very tired runners and all of us were tying to get them to join the bus, some did, some just faded.

Cresting the top of Rhodes Drive was a physiological boost the bus needed, the downhill was much need especially by Johan who was bravely keeping up with us. Victor from Benoni Northerns AC , a member of my bus last year, is doing a fine job keeping spirits up as well. “This is the bus to be in..this driver knows what he is doing” Eish under pressure.

Well approaching the Actionphoto people I promptly informed the bus “Now is the time to adjust your caps, check on your hair, arrange your clothes as Action Photo is ahead, remember to smile and what ever you do not throw up, it makes such a bad photo” Lots of laughter But believe or not there were those who did check their hair, caps etc.

Just after that we were on a walk break when a walker, yes a walker powered up next to me “Are we going to make it on time” She was in the bus…the running bus..okay then “Yes we will make it stick by us” Some walkers are just amazing, Johan is almost dying here but there she is walking and staying with the running bus.

At this time the bus is one minute behind my time. My time is the safe zone worked out to five minutes before advertised time the flag. In this case 2:55, so we will have a 2:56 finish no big deal.

We turn into Union Ave and Johan dies on us, we are back on my time so “What would Vlam do” he would try to get this oke in. So I tell the bus “We need to help Johan in so for now 5,4,3,2, oooonnneeeeeeeee…….lets walk. If you want please carry on running, we are still on time so there is no danger of you not making it.” Only about two people ran off.

As Union Ave flattens out …..5,4,3,2, ooonnneeeeeeeee…….lets jet. Next surprise (and I apologize I really can’t remember your name) this young lady pulls up next to me in a red top, “Dave today is my birthday, I must make this finish, it is my first” Good Lord another newbie….”Don’t worry we will make it“ I say with a smile “Happy Birthday”

The last hill looms before us, many tired runners in this bus including Johan, well plenty time still 5,4,3,2, oooonnneeeeeeeee…….lets walk. Lots of pheww from behind me.

At the top of this hill the bus stretched back to the water table at the bottom of the hill, so many people and all of them pinning their hopes on me. Well nothing left to do but to run …..5,4,3,2, ooonnneeeeeeeee…….lets jet to the finish. Blow me down if Johan does’nt try a typical newbie thing, he takes off like a horse to the stables. I shouted to him “Johan you have trusted me all this way, for your own sake trust me to the finish, slow down and fall in with the bus.” He replied, “I trust you Dave” and slows back down.

This awesome bus hits the grass and turns into the finish straight to the delight of the spectator around us, they are shouting and banging on the advert boards, the bus is restless but I keep on saying” Plenty time still stay on your pace we will make it…no problem.”

We crossed the line from 2:56 to 2:58 followed by stragglers, many of whom told me that they just tried to keep the flags insight.

Manyorays Hpp hoorays and “Thanks You Dave” handshaking, backslapping through the finish area. An absolute high, there is just no ways that this could be topped, I just don’t see it. This morning at the Cape Town International Airport I had people come up to me and thank me for getting them through. A whole 2627 runners failed to cross the finish line this year but I can say due to the bus this figure is not higher.

I did the best bus ever and ran for two amazing people, two people who really played an important role in my life, my Mom and Neil Van Niekerk. So why is this titled the grand finale, well this will be my last Two Oceans for a while, there are so many other wonderful races out there in South Africa, I am not getting younger so it is time to go and experience other races in this country.

Dear Anna well she did her best to stay with the bus but Southern Cross Drive just proved too much for her, she did finish 7 minutes after the bus and I am still damn proud of her for that.