FEEDBACK Saturday 31st August; Cecilia Forest

Saturday  31 August Cecilia-Rooikat Ravine-Kirstenbosch

 3^rd Anniversary run

Looking back over Constantia Nek

I was heartened to find that several others shared my optimism about the break in the weather this morning because 14 turned up including Sandy Ackland my fellow founder of Table Mountain Trailers who has not been running for over a year and Neil Garbers a regular who has been off running for several weeks with a severe chest infection.  Welcome back both of you.

And a welcome to Leif Westvig a newbie.

Yes we had a good and dry run with several periods of sunshine!   The route was a variation of the popular run on the mountain above Cecilia Forest.  

Looking over Kirstenbosch Gardens

Gregg and Gae led the Main group and four others came with me in the Recovery group.  Unfortunately Fay had a walking group reduced to herself only.  Think the photos tell the story best

Recovery Group,  Sandy Felicity, Janet, Leif and Neil

Waterfall in Skeleton Gorge

A dry track

and a wet one!

Main Group returning in the sunshine!

The Main Group with Tamsyn, Natalie, Gregg, Gae, Geoff and Kate

Congratulations to Neil Garbers who completed his 50th sortie this morning

Profile

Route followed by Main Group

Thought for the day

In this world we have trail runners who are stouthearted and take a chance that the weather will be OK and they are most often rewarded with a glorious, invigorating and inspiring run in the mountains.  Then we  have the more fainthearted who at the sound of an early morning raindrop  stay in bed. 

FEEDBACK Sat 24 August Cape Point-Buffelsbaai-Paulsberg Circuit

Definitely one of our most scenic and beautiful runs.

After helping out at the Puffer table twenty one of us including three newbies made our way down to Buffelsbay for the start of our run.   It was good to welcome back Tissa and Dave both of whom sustained leg injuries and have been off trail running for some weeks. 

Indifferent weather other than a passing spit & spot at almost exactly at 0800 as predicted by YR we had a good and enjoyable run.   In the process we were overtaken by the longer-faster group who started near the entrance gate and followed the clifftop path.

Congratulations to Leslie Street who completed his 25th sortie with us and in so doing is now eligible to wear the coveted TMT Red tee shirt.

Group photo 

Dawn, Tissa and Dave examine the old cannon site

The cannon of Kannonkop

Cape Point with a ray of sunshine on its eastern flank

Route followed

Feedback: Sat 17 August: Silvermine Old Wagon Road

Forget Old Wagon Road this was a river run!

early morning sun

Only 9 decided to risk the weather, what was happening outside certainly did not correspond with the promising weather forecast!  
Anyway just as we got out of the warm cozy cars the rain came down again, not too much of it just a gentle reminder. 

As no one made the suggestion to can it all we set off  on the 3.5km long and muddy haul up to the crest of the hill overlooking the Silvermine river valley.

Couple of regroups along the way to let the  Recovery group catch up which was much appreciated, and which gave an opportunity for the inevitable group photo. 

Soon the rain let up and the a glimpse of the sun was observed shining over False bay.


 

Gae, Gregg, Paula, Cathy, Chi-Chi, Alan,Natalie and Leslie

Can you see the fish?

Whilst splashing along it came to mind that who ever planned this route [Gae, Gregg?] very carefully selected the trails which double up as rivers when it is raining.  Forget about trying to straddle the river and place your feet on either side, there was no dry side.   We needed snorkels.   And the dismay at finding a large and deep looking lake which had formed right across the one track.  Nothing but to wade through mushy muddy grass shin deep in water.
Then the rain came again but so what?  by now it was the glorious long downhill run back to the start.

Thanks to Gregg for standing in as the leader and for Gae for planning the route.

Route Profile

Route Followed

FEEDBACK 10 August; Glencairn-Kleinplaas dam circuit

It was a glorious crisp winter's morning with the sun rising over a calm steel blue False Bay as 19 turned up for the run.  The twentieth runner who shall remain nameless but not blameless, failed to read the notice as well as the Friday reminder and so drove up to Constantianek.   From there it was a plaintive call to find out where we were and dismay to learn we were about 20kms away.   But being an enthusiastic trail runner a small black car was noted hurtling south and with smoke billowing from the exhausted engine it slid to a halt just as we were leaving.    N will not make that mistake again!

After about 3kms the Recovery Group were somewhat mystified to see the Main Group running in the opposite direction along a trail below them.   Seems The front runner at the time R, missed the turn and led them off towards Ocean View. Error was noted and  soon corrected which  led to a rare opportunity for a combined group photograph.

Anyway we all had a good run although some grazed legs were noted  at the end.

Why stay in bed when you can trail running?

Julian leading the Main Group up the ridge overlooking Long Beach

Combined Group photo

FEEDBACK: Sat 3rd August Cecilia Forest : 2nd Leg of Table Mountain Challenge

Allison's report below:

Fifteen runners pitched up on a ridiculously beautiful winter morning. We had some new faces including a few of Tim’s crew ‘recovering from injury’. Julian dusted off his trail shoes to join us and was most put out to see he has been ousted from the speedy check-in list. 

Pierro ensured we didn't stray from Peter’s route and we happily chugged along to Skeleton Gorge from Cecilia. Then up &#@* Rooikat Ravine to Cecilia Waterfall where we had a picnic with the contents of Geoff’s backpack. Faye and Paul had a little dip in the waterfall and then we headed through Spilhaus Ravine to Constantia Nek and back to Cecilia. 

Two kilometres from the finish Ingrid was so happy to see jeep track that she speed wobbled her way into a twisted ankle. Please get better quickly Ingrid, Mel and I are counting on you for Leg 3 of TMC! 

Fifteen runners went out, fifteen runners came back (although Julian, Faye and Paula did an extra loop accidentally on purpose). We were out for 2 hours and ran 10ishkms. Thanks to Geoff and Fay for photographic evidence of a great morning out.

FEEDBACK 27 July 2013: Signal Hill Circuit

It was a mild and misty morning at Kloof nek when out of the dark a few cars swept into the parking area to unloaded 17 brightly attired trail runners ready for their weekly high.  Fantasy world you think? OK let Lorraine give her version:

Woke up at 6am and heard foghorns, but no rain, so headed off to the Kloof Nek parking to meet the gang. It wasn't even all that cold: 12C. Only when a shower of near icicles started piercing our eyelids at about 4kms did we wonder what madness had made us get out of our warm beds this morning with such optimism. We got lost (more than once), slid down muddy slopes, and had a twisted ankle or two, but it all ended in a rainbow - albeit a weak one.
I learned two lessons:
1. A simple clump of grass can sometimes make you feel as safe as houses, and
2. When your leggings are soaking wet and stuck to your legs, they don't slip down as easily and aren't half as irritating. There's a silver lining to every cloud.

So yes the weather okes got it wrong and we did experience two or three squalls sweeping in off the cold gray South Atlantic with driving rain that felt like icicles, But you know what? There is something deeply satisfying being out in nature when the elements are against you.   Granted you need to be wearing the right gear for the conditions  [one of our Ws is Warm waterproof clothing]   An atavistic throw back to our hunter/gatherer forebears.

It must have been a good run seeing all the smiling faces jogging back into the car-park Although Sam remarked "they're just relieved to back to the shelter of their cars!"

Congratulations to Natalie Marcus on her tenth run which means she joins the Decurions and is eligible for the speed check in.

Thanks to Geoff for leading, Liz for helping keeping him running in the right direction and to Lorraine for taking the photos despite the wind and rain.

And to Gae for organising the very snazzy buffs for the TM Trailers

Route followed by Main Group

FEEDBACK Sat 20 July, Constantia Nek up Vlakkenberg

21 turned up at a crowded parking area as Tim's Longer Faster group and an Atlantic trail group had also chosen Constantia nek as their starting point.

A good but tough run with no navigational problems thanks to Richard who led the Main Group.

The KEEN STAR must be awarded to Mariette Flint who has been away for a couple of months and only arrived back from Norway late Friday evening.   Her motivation "well it was either run or face a mountain of laundry!"

Misty misty morning

Route followed by Main Group

FEEDBACK: Saturday 13 July: Newlands-Groote Schuur Estate

Randolph Mort planned an unusual twist to the run this week by quietly adding in heartbreak hill without any of us being aware.   So 17 took to the trails behind Rhodes Memorial on a typical Cape winter's morning.  Unfortunately other attractions deprived us of our usual team of photographers but Geoff tried out his minicam the results can be seen on the links below.

All in all a good run but uneventful run was had by all three groups.

Thanks to Randolph for planning another variation around this area and to Richard for leading.g  

See the videos that Geoff took during the run

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