BACK ON THE ROAD

So now it is a long time since I went for a run and nineteen days after the failed Comrades attempt I enter a trail run held at Scottburgh Beach. Good thing I have an interest in the extreme side or racing.

Arriving the start I noticed and felt that six degrees Celsius, man it was cold. Go to the entry table and find that my entry although accepted by ROAG and deducted from my bank account, they have no entry for me. I must say they sorted it out in a jiffy. I got my race number written on my right calf in a permanent marker, hmmmmmmm strange !!!

Down to the start which only takes place when the sun rises, good thing it is a clear day but still flippen cold. Finally the race starts and in the first 100 meters you cross a river, now normally it would be a fun thing but in that cold, yikes man. A woman in front of me lost her balance and ended up head first into the freezing water, I tried not to laugh but it was quite funny.

Across the beach water squelching out of my shoes and I found that I could no longer feel my feet, totally numb. I wonder how that women felt at this stage.

Wee followed the river bank for one kilometre which really sucked, it was freezing cold and now I could not feel my nose in spite of wearing a Buff®, we came out onto a gravel road and began to climb up and up. Basically when we got to the top we came down the other side, it was quite boring route but at least I was out there back on the “road” running.

On the return we headed back down along the river and yes we would have to cross the damn thing again, I chose a different point to cross and it was a bad choice, knee deep into the freezing water.

Through the finish area, water streaming out of my shoes, well quick change out of the wet kit and dry warm clothes on and off to my favorite place at Scottburgh Beach, WIMPY, with my most favorite person, my Esme', who got up early in the morning to come with to the race.

One mega coffee and the cold was forgotten, anyway the good thing is I enjoyed the run and can't wait for Fifa to bugger off so we can have road races back on again.