This week we woke to a fresh, sunny morning after a night of unexpected rain. 37 trailers signed in at the very late briefing but a few more runners caught up with us soon after the start. *** There was a traffic jam on Ou Kaapse Weg at 7.30am! It was offset by a beautiful sunrise though.
This week's run was a first in that we split into 4 groups instead of the usual 3, our middle group having become a little too varied in ability and pace to keep everybody happy. The path was also incredibly busy as the MATES Pilchards run was was also taking place. We met a lot of familiar faces - red and puffy - but familiar all the same!
After a very slight false start which involved some bundu bashing, Group 1 had an energetic run, covering some 15 kms (a few runners even did an extra loop) with lots of climbing. First they attacked the Elephant's Eye, going right into the cave rather than stopping at the fire lookout and then heading up Noordhoek Peak from the Blackburn Ravine lookout. This took them a good 2 hours 45 minutes and they were all suitably spent at the end of it. (Hope to have some photos soon. Geoff?) 
Group 2 was a small, neat pack of 6 runners led by Liz and Aubrey. They ran straight to Blackburn Ravine lookout and visited the Eye on the way back, clocking up almost 12 kms.
A large Group 3 (11-13 runners, with latecomers and drop-outs!) ran straight up the River Walk to the Blackburn lookout, had a photo-shoot and ran straight back, logging a distance of 10.4km. They reported that they felt more relaxed than when running with the faster Group 2s, so the split was considered a success.
A veritably ENORMOUS Group 4 this week, led by Pete and consisting of several newbies, covered some 8 kms by starting at the mountain bike car park, running to Blackburn lookout, and coming back via the Tokai fire lookout.
- We're trying to update the Runner's
Log from the photos so if you didn't sign in and you're not sure
whether or not your run has been counted, please let us know.
- We need to allow at least half an hour after the opening of the gate for all the cars to get in and parked before race briefing can begin the next time we run from here.
- Entrance is now R45 per person.
- Flattish does not mean completely flat. It means flat + eish... ;)
:)
- We need to allow at least half an hour after the opening of the gate for all the cars to get in and parked before race briefing can begin the next time we run from here.
- Entrance is now R45 per person.
- Flattish does not mean completely flat. It means flat + eish... ;)
:)
Lorraine
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