Feedback Saturday 3 September: Tokai Forest

The regular group looking very pleased with themselves as they wait for the express group to arrive!

The "lost tribe" somewhere in Tokai Forest

Schools rugby being over, we welcomed back Neil, Felicity and Trish, as well as Sandy who has been off trailing for two months with an ankle injury and Sam who had been lecturing overseas.

With 38 runners turning up at the RV, it seemed a good time to introduce a change that we have discussed in the past - namely splitting the group into a faster group and a slower group.   Darryl - one of our upcoming regulars - agreed to lead the express group and Roger took on the role of sweep.   Veronica, ably assisted by Jane, led the regular group, with myself  in my customary role of  sweep.  

We set off from Tokai Arboretum on the long winding haul up to level 4.  On our way up, we exchanged banter with several groups of mountain bikers, one of whom admitted that running trails was actually more fun.  We eventually reached level 4, but contrary to its name,  it was far from level as it marked the start of the ascent up the side of Vlakkenberg Peak. In the meantime,  the express group had made a wrong turn and were on the road to nowhere!

After yet more uphill, we reached the lookout point overlooking the Klein Constantia vineyards where we met another trail group who had come up the zig zags.  They informed us that the missing group had turned back and were now making their way up behind us.  Eventually they found their way to the lookout and we all returned via the level 4 track which leads across the face of Constantiaberg and down the Elephant's Eye footpath.

Darryl was subsequently forgiven for his navigation error, given that getting lost and taking wrong turnings is all part of the allure of trail running.   The general consensus was that the splitting of the group was to the benefit of both the faster and slower runners. 

Congratulations to Jane le Roux and Mike Hart who both completed their 10th sortie and have thereby joined the ranks of Decurions.

The regular group covered 12kms and the express group did an extra 2 due to their navigation error.

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