Sunday 2 August 2015

FEEDBACK Saturday 8 August: TM North Face Traverse

We had a really good turn out of 31 runners today, not bad for a long weekend! The Romanovs made a reappearance and we had one visitor from the UK – Zach (misled by Julian who told him once up Kloof steps that the worst was over, completely forgetting about the climb up to the Saddle). He took a small tumble and will be going home with some grazes as a reminder of his time on the mountain.

I chose this route purposefully to get my mountain mojo back after a disastrous 21km forest run last weekend where my legs decided, for no good reason, to just not work. Running is largely all in the head and this route is perfect to get out of a running slump. It’s some of the most technical singletrack on Table Mountain, where if you lose concentration for a second you will be flying like Jebb Corliss but without a wingsuit. There is no time to listen to the demons in your head, all you can think about is where to place your feet. When you do look up, the views are sublime, ocean and city spread out on your left and mountain on your right. Today the city looked like the set of Gotham with a few skyscrapers and cranes peeking out over a thick blanket of mist. There was still plenty of water flowing down the mountain and we took a few waterfall showers along the way. How wonderful to be running in short sleeves in the middle of winter!

The main group led by Julian and Hein went along the top contour, up the Saddle, down onto the Oppelskop path and lower contour to Platteklip and then back onto top contour home. They did 12,5 km in 2h10. The Recovery group led by Neil turned at the Devils Peak turnoff and did just under 10 kms in 2h06. The Walk/Run group led by Peter did 9,5 km in 2h30. Thank you to the various run leaders and sweeps and the ever gallant Geoff, who looked after Liz when she tweaked her ankle on the way home.

This Saturday saw both Marilyn Maree and Elizabeth McGeever complete 25 sorties so they are eligible to don a red tee and Liz Robertson competed her 10th sortie so now can use the Speed Check-in on the Start Register.

Run manager Allison








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