Running In Circles Newsletter - August 2013

Chairman's Chat

I’m feeling a little out of the CC loop at present due to my present work commitments but I have been keeping tabs on what’s been going on! With spring about to sprung it would seem that loads of cross training is indeed on the go, trail runs, cycle races and some great performance at local races. There’s a load of thank “yous” and congratulations to be made together with information to share with you all!
Perhaps let me start by welcoming all new members to the club. No matter what your personal running goals are we thank you for joining the largest running club in Mpumalanga!

HALLS
The 13th of July may have had a chilly 5 degs start but we were thrilled to have almost 800 runners join us for the event. We received great compliments from both local and national runners and all in all can be proud of another great NEDBANK LVCC event.
These events are just not possible without the commitment and sacrifice of personal time to help by our members and it was fantastic to see some traditional barriers being broken down by the “mixed team” at the start and finish! Congratulations to Mark, Paul, Fanie, Mirandi for making this all happen. If special service awards existed they would most definitely go to Mark, Janet Vincent and her ambidexterity timing skills, Colleen who calmly used her Maths Literacy skills, Adriaan and his IT capturing, Euan and his “Frooming” around Halls estate, the Stevensons and De Beer families and so many others all of whom contributed selflessly! A huge thank you to Halls for sponsoring and allowing us to make this race possible once more.

CONGRATULATIONS
 Congratulations must go to Barbara and Ian for completing Rhodes
 All our Nedbank LVCC podium finishers at Halls and Legogote

SKUKUZA
This is our away run and exceptionally tricky to try and co-ordinate. As a club we do a group booking to stay at Pretoriouskop almost 10months prior to the event. Entry to the race is for the individual’s responsibility and feedback given by the organisers is that almost 3000 more entries for the lucky draw +1600 runners cut off for the race is entirely based on that – a lucky draw. There is always last minute panic and this year it would seem people getting a bit hot under the collar in their desperation to find a number. The word from the organisers is clear. If you do not have a number DO NOT RUN as you will be black listed from the event. For those of you who received a race number by mail, have a paid 2013 LVCC ASA license, paid your December fee and have proof but have still not received a number please urgently send all the details to our email as only an official email from the club will be read in order to rectify this. For the rest of you who will be joining us we look forward to a great weekend! Communications for those we know to be confirmed as staying at Pretoriuskop will receive details of the weekend events directly.

TRAINING
Please watch our blog for the new virtual coaching programs just in time for you to try you first 10, 21 or 42 by November. We are an amateur running club and do not provide professional coaching or training but should you have any queries, questions or concerns please email us and/or join us for time trial on Thursday evenings at LVCC where we can do our best to assist.

KIT
I would like to apologise to those of you who recently bought to our attention issues pertaining to Comrades/kit. We are still without new kit but there is kit of a variety of sizes that may be purchased at next to nothing prices and adapted to your size. For those of you wanting more than what we can currently offer please feel free to go to www.nedbankrunning.co.za and order/pay directly from national office.
In the meantime keep yourself up-to-date by following the blog at http://nedbank-lvccrunning.blogspot.com/ . 

See you all at time trial and Skukuza!

Steve

Club projects

We have several needs at present of things that require doing for the running section. Please contact lvccrun@gmail.com should you be able to assist/sponsor/ donate any of the following:
1. Road house photo collages
2. Marshalling flags (i.e. Reflective material sewn onto doweling rods)
3. Safety cones
4. Lucky draw prizes for the upcoming Om die Dammetjie – 7th September 2013
5. Signage
6. Old running shoes

Race Report - The Grove Superspar Legogote.

              

A smallish group of Nedbank LVCC’s racing snakes and faithful never-take-a-winter-break runners pitched up in White River to tackle the Grove Superspar Legogote race on 20 July. It was a crisp winter morning with the sun peeking over the Legogote koppies, ready to warm all the cold bodies up. If the sun wasn’t going to do it, the big hills would. It’s an out and back route that starts at the White River Rugby Club and goes out towards the smallholdings on the south east of town. This means hills, hills and some down hills. In fact the total elevation gain for the half marathon is just under 400m. One thing that definitely makes up for all the suffering on those steep hills is the fact that it’s a scenic run through the countryside. Our club had some impressive performances with overall and category wins, some category podium places and even a PB for our club captain. I even managed to capture some of the action on the road until I got left behind! Well done to Legogote Villagers on another well organised race, I’m looking forward to their next race at God’s Window. I would also like to see more of my club mates on the starting line. Please support local races!

Toy

Race Report - Sitrusfees 21km Protea Hotel Nelspruit Boswedloop.

Sat 27^th July saw the brave and adventurous arrive at the Sitrusfees on the Schoemanskloof road for some off-road running. Upon arrival we were blasted by “sub-zero” winds that made us wonder what on earth we were doing there. After the huddling in cars waiting for the start & the sun to reach us we lined up ready for action, and boy were some of us dressed for action, Helette , Petro, Vanessa & Ciska were using the event as a dress rehearsal for their upcoming proper trail run & they really looked the part. The rest of us plebs were just trying to stay warm until the running began.

No one was planning to use this race to set a PB so from the start the idea was to have fun. The route was undulating dirt roads with some single track through the bush and some “surprises” in between. “Surprise 1” the river crossing: this had us walk about 25m across a small wall in the freezing flowing water. Most of us just went across without a problem and had squishy shoes for a couple km’s afterwards. Sadly our professional looking “trail ladies” decided to take their shoes & socks off and walk across and redress the feet on the other side, REALLY ? No no no ladies I know you had lotsa fun but the REAL trail runners would not be impressed with you. “Surprise 2” the cable bridge: this was an old cable bridge with wooden slats across, well actually more like “wooden slats then hole, hole, hole, then a couple more slats and then more holes” this made more tricky by fellows runners making the bridge swing and bounce beneath you, hmmmm lotsa fun again. But Andrew had the most fun there when a wooden slat gave way beneath him, luckily no damage to Andrew.

I don’t have the exact results but it goes something like this, Ntuthuko was the outright winner, December 1^st Vet and Elsa 3^rd lady. Forgive me if I left someone out.

All in all it was a great run and good to see Nedbank LVCC support and dominate the event.

Cheers,

Captain Paul

Upcoming Race - Skukuza Half Marathon

Please note that this race is pre-entry only and there is a strict entry procedure.

Race Information

Skukuza Half Marathon

A unique race run in a unique place. The Kruger Park half marathon held in and around the small staff village of Skukuza in the heartland of one of Africa's greatest wildlife refuges - the Kruger National Park.

Two hours before the start of the race a squad of rangers whose task it is to ensure the safety of all athletes during the race, travel by vehicle and on foot along the course to herd off any big game which would disrupt the race. At the same time the SAN Parks helicopter lifts off on its first flight to ensure that no elephants, rhinos and lions get too close to the route.
A thousand athletes line up at the start on the "village green" and are set off by a recording of a lion roar. Clockwise once around the field and then past the nursery school towards a short, steep climb up "Vossie's hill" that takes the runners "out into the bush" The runners past the golf club and run up along "Lake Panic" dam wall (so named because immediately upon completion in 1981 the park experienced very heavy rains and the dam started filling up rapidly and the Park Warden began to "panic" that the dam wall might not hold) where hippo, waterbirds and a variety of animals coming down to drink are often seen.

At the end of the embankment the first water table comes as a welcome sight. The course briefly crosses the golf course and then follows its periphery passing through "Bok doodgeslaan groot geskrik vir leeu spruit" (translated "buck killed by ball, big fright from lion stream"), so named because a few years ago one of the Skukuza inhabitants hit a golf ball down the fairway and it stopped an impala dead in its tracks when it hit it on the head. The player walked up to the impala and seeing it was dead walked away to continue his game! After he had gone a short distance something made him look around and he saw a lioness come up to and past the impala in a slightly threatening manner. Fortunately the lioness preferred the impala to the golf player!

After crossing the stream the course goes up "Rhino Hill", where a few years ago a black rhino was giving golfers more exercise than they bargained for. He had to be captured and relocated to the Lower Sabie area where he could go about his business unhindered by wayward golf balls. The well kept greens fringed by bush is a pleasant sight to runners and "game viewing" along this stretch of the course offers a welcome distraction.

The next 2.5km of undulating road meanders back through the village. Impala, warthog and baboon can be seen staring non-plussed at the "herd of runners". Exiting onto the village entry road the course drops down towards the starting point. This is a fast part of the course as it is slightly downhill and crowds of spectators line the road urging runners on. At the Nursery School corner runners bear left to start the second and longer lap.

The second lap follows the first lap up “Vossies hill” and at the top of the Nursery road after a short left turn, the runners turn right along a sand road where they follow the fence of the elephant, rhino and buffalo bomas (where animals are held for a period before translocation).

For 6km the route circles both the bomas and on one of the legs of at this stage the runners are running very close to the Sabie river. The two water points manned by the honorary rangers bring relief to the runners during one of the most challenging stages of the race.

The route then goes out on the tourist Nursery road (which is closed to the public for a couple of hours) for about 2km and then turns onto the Kruger Gate/Skukuza tar road at the 13km mark. During this part of the race the runners are running out in the wild and their safety is ensured by rangers on foot and the ever present helicopter having a watchful eye for rhinos and elephants.

A flat 4 km stretch on the tar road towards Skukuza rest camp turns left for another kilometer to meet up with the road that connects the camp with the staff village. There are two water tables just out of sight of the tourists as the runners enter and exit the tar road.

Entering the staff village the road threads its way between the tennis courts, bowling green and swimming pool.Then the road dips down, crossing a small low water bridge and then climbs for about 1km, passing "Loop-en-Val draai" (where Loop-en-Val Motserauteau fell in a sandy patch during the 1989 race but still managed to come second) and on to the last water table run by SAB who also provide a water tunnel to cool the runners.

After a visit at the SAB table most runners run the last uphill with a smile. Turning left at the nursery and this time down with “Vossie’s hill” the field is in sight and the finish banner marks the end of an unforgettable running experience.

Most athletes find the course challenging and are surprised by its undulating nature. There are numerous short but significant climbs and dips and underfoot the course changes between tarmac and graded gravel roads. Temperatures can be expected to be warm but being August there is often a fresh breeze to cool hot, sweaty bodies.

Race Information - 2013

• Date & Time:
Enclosed is your number for the Skukuza Castle Lager Half Marathon on Saturday 3rd August at 8:30. This is the seventh year this race is being sponsored by SA Breweries. We are most grateful for this wonderful support.

• Gate Entry:
Official gate hours are from 06h00 to 18h00. Special arrangements for entry on Saturday will be done for runners.

• Race Number Changes:
You may pass on your race number to another runner as long as you notify us before 25th July, giving all the relevant details of the new runner (name, sex, address, date of birth, club, tel no.) and pay a R40 handling fee.

• Race/Temporary Numbers:
Your provincial number must be worn on your back, and your Castle Lager race number on your front. There will be NO TEMPORARY NUMBERS available on race day. All runners must be affiliated members of a club.

• Information Labels:
Please fill in the name label attached to the race number - it will be needed to precess the results and will be taken from you once you have crossed the finishing line.

• Photographs:
ACTION PHOTOS will be photographing the race. The chevron attached to your race number is to be REMOVED if you want your photograph taken.

• 2014 Application Forms:
Forms will be available at the race. A R30 application fee must be with your entry form.

• Refreshments:
As usual refreshments will be provided at reasonable prices by various Skukuza organizations: charity, sports and the school.

• Race Results:
Results will be available on the internet at www.krugerparkmc.co.za.

• Rate The Race:
After the race please go to www.runnersworld.co.za and "rate our race" so that we can be part of this competition run by Runners World".

• No Prams, Bicycles Or Walkers will be allowed on the Route.
Finally we request that all runners DO NOT LITTER DURING THE RACE. This has been a problem in the past. Please use the refuse containers along the way.

For safety reasons cut off points will be at 4.5km within 35 minutes and 14/15km within 2 hours.

• For any race queries please contact Martie Oosthuizen:
Email: martie@krugerparkmc.co.za
Fax: 086 292 0139
Web: www.krugerparkmc.co.za

The Rhino Runner

Many of you might have seen the Rhino runner at the Comrades Marathon. Whether it was on TV or in person out on the road, it was very impressive. Check this clip out!

Time Trial Results - 2013-07-25

Please visit our page on Club Trials for more stats and previous results.


About Club Trials:
Club Trials provides the ability to view your club's regular time trial results in a range of different ways which both inspire and challenge your club members' performances. For the serious competitors the Club Trials time trial performance graphs and tables are a useful guide to track historic performance and club ranking. For the social athletes the time trials views provide a bit of fun and likewise provide guidance to members on attaining individual improvement.

Upcoming Race: Sitrusfees 21km Protea Hotel Nelspruit Boswedloop - 27 July 2013

http://schoemanskloof.co.za/

21km Trail Run. Water stations with Coke, Powerade & Water along the route.

Registration opens at 05h30, all participants must register and enter at the event.

ENTRY FEES: R45 which will include your access to the Sitrusfees.

Any additional persons will have to pay the Sitrusfees entry fee: Adults R50 and Kids R20.

ENQUIRIES: Wikus Loots 082 854 6026 / Craig Lewis chairman@lowveldcanoe.co.za

PRIZES:Funky medals for all finishers. Overall male and female winners will win one nights accommodation at Protea Hotel Nelspruit. Five spot prizes (meal vouchers) sponsored by Protea Hotel Nelspruit. 

Prize giving after the race for the following categories: Open Men/Women: 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Vet Men/Women: 1st and 2nd. Master Men/Women: 1st and 2nd. GM Men/Women: 1st. Junior Boys/Girls: 1st and 2nd. Walkers: 1st

Race Profile and Route. Bunch Start. This is a cross-country trail race and walkers are welcome. The route includes three river crossings, a bridge, a hang/swing bridge and a weir crossing. Also expect rocks, grass and gravel with steep inclines and declines.

Halls 2013 Race Results

The results are available to download:

21km Results

10km Results

Joe Dreyer of The Lowvelder was there to capture all the action. 

Gallery 1

Gallery 2

Gallery 3

Gallery 4

Gallery 5

Gallery 6

Upcoming Race: Nedbank Om Die Dammetjie 21km, 10km & 5km

This is one of the best kept secrets in road running. The Nedbank “Om die Dammetjie” is run on gravel roads out in the forests surrounding Witklip Dam in Mpumalanga. 

Both races start and finish on the dam wall. The 10km race is an out and back route, while the beautiful half marathon route is circular, with the first 13km run along the banks of the dam. The route takes you on a wondrous 4km loop into forests and back to the water's edge. This is something to savour, a PB in this race misses the point entirely. One thing is guaranteed, there are no traffic hassles.

Download your entry form HERE.

Upcoming Race: The Grove Superspar Legogote 21km, 10km & 5km

Another great Legogote race takes place on Saturday between smallholdings on the south-east of Whiteriver. Half of the race is run on tar and half on dirt roads. This is a fairly testing race with uphills and downhills the whole way. Legogote Mountain or “Legogote Leeukoppie” is visible at various spots on the route.

Entry form available to download HERE.

Post race Thank Yous!

A huge thank you to all of you who took time out to help with the race this weekend! A roll of honour will go out with the next RIC. In the interim please note that our numbers for clean-up runs are growing steadily so thanks to all who made it.

Van Wettens Night Race Clean-up run in January

Halls Race Clean-up run in July.

Shoe sale at Mpumalanga Running Store

Cumulus 14 reduced to R850-00

Nike Pegasus 29 reduced to R850-00

Asics Nimbus 14 reduced to R1000-00

New Balance 1080 V2 Neutral (R1 200-00) & New Balance 860 V2 Stability (R1 050-00)  are at 2 for the price of 1. Not limited to one person, so bring a friend!

Other specials also available. Most sizes in stock. While stocks last!

Thanks,

Chris Bethwaite

Mpumalanga Running Store

082 462 5135
Lower Level, Steiltes Shopping Centre, Nelspruit

Halls Race Countdown - Our Sponsors

Only a few days to go before we host the annual Halls 21 & 10km Race & 3km Fun Run!

This great event would not be possible without the support of our wonderful sponsors:

Halls

Coca-Cola Fortune

MPower FM

Lowveld Favourites

Entry form available to download HERE.

Running In Circles Newsletter - July 2013

CHAIRMAN'S CHATTER

It’s good to see that there are still some runners amongst us training for, amongst other things our club away run, the Skukuza 21km coming up in August! It’s definitely not easy training this time of the year. It is good though, to start getting back onto the road with some shorter distances a couple of times a week. And also some cross training for the next month or two. Time to get motivated for the running season starting in September. Set some goals, starting with your time trials on Thursday evenings and building it up to a good Kaapsehoop marathon early November. So, best of luck in getting organized for which could be your best running season ever!

The HALLS 10 and 21km will be hosted by Nedbank LVCC on the 13th of July. We need all our club members to assist us on the day with allocated tasks. Please email us at lvcc@gmail.com and tell us if you can help on Friday and Saturday of the event. Please note that we will be running the route on Saturday 6 July so there is no reason why any of our club runners, apart from podium finishers, will need to run on race day. A clean- up run will take place on Sunday 14 July. The time will be communicated to you via SMS. Please support your running club in hosting a successful event on the 13th of July.

Unfortunately some of our local runs have been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. The committee will have some club runs organized on those days. Please look out for some interesting trail runs that will take place in the coming month. Get your trail shoes out and go have a day of fun on some challenging single track routes.

In the meantime keep yourself up-to-date by following the blog.

Happy running and see you on the road.

Steve

Comrades club survey 2013

Thank you to all who participated! We appreciate your time and effort.

Enjoy reading the results….

 1. Did you attain your running/personal goal at this year's Comrades?

75.0% (12) - I finished.
12.5% (2) - I started but DNF.

12.5% (2) - I didn't get to start.

It was an unusual day in that @ about 15km my body was struggling, something that has never happened before. Normally around 15km my body is warm and I'm mobile.

I had not done an up-run since 2006, which happens to be my best Comrades so far! For some reason, I had forgotten what the route is like after halfway. My view is that it's not only the 1st half or 50km that is tough. It's actually tough all the way. The day started well and we were well within our target until we finished Inchanga. We realised that we needed to adjust our time, which we did for the first time. By the time we reached 14km to go, we had decided to run for fun and finishing before cut-off. All in all, we enjoyed the day, which is the most important thing for me. I am going back next year! It's better to run than be on the side of the road!

Would like to have done a sub 11, but original goal was to get in before the gun!

Comrades 2012 was a total disaster for me. I started the race with an injury and I never could get the training right during that year. I entered Comrades 2013 but changed my mind in December and then again in late February and started training. Also the back to back medal motivated me to return and do the ultimate human race again.

Chest infection

It was first contact for me. I was really scared to run Comrades. I'm a Japanese. And other marathon I always kept SAMURAI costume. But this time, I adandoned my costume and my pride. I wanted to finish this marathon, and it was correct decision. By 40km I tried to keep my pace even in uphill slope. I felt OK, but after 40km, it was like hell. My leg was became very tired. It was very difficult to run. Around 60km, I found big bus. I joined and tried to keep stick with that bus because pace was really suitable for me. It was not slow and not fast. And I realized a bus made me stronger than alone. I felt we are helping each other for goal. That things was awesome and brilliant. I was really impressed with that things during running. Then I finished with many comrades! It was so nice experience.

I ran well, But i battled a bit. I experienced pain behind my knees and a constant stitch in my gut.

I ran my second Comrades this year after committing to it in the final 10km of last year's race. My 1st was quite an ordeal and even though I had done the training I made lots of mistakes in the month and especially the week before the race. I upped the training this year which was easy to do after joining a proper running club and applied what I had learnt from last years errors during the build up to the race. I was sick the week before the race but managed to recover in time by spending pretty much the whole week in bed. I stuck with my original plan for a sub 10 and resisted the temptation of a sub 9. On race day I ran my own race, never got pulled along by numerous fellow Lowveld runners that I met up with on the road. I cramped as expected at halfway and because of the fierce berg wind and heat I decided to change my goal time to 10:30. I managed to nurse my cramping hamstrings successfully and finished 10:29:35!

It was an Amazing adventure for me!! Just wished I could carry my Dad to the end. I was heartbroken to see that my Dad had to pull out of the race but blissful when I saw him and my family at the finish! I enjoyed every moment of the race!!

Wow! I just loved race day.

Fell ill the week before, didnt realise how much it would take out of me on the day. But dug deeeeep and finished another "journey" that is Comrades. Be grateful when you finish Comrades, its a privilege, not a given right.

Struggling with achilles injury

On 14km to go I let my running partner go on without me, even walking fast was very painfull on my knees. I was also very nauseous of the Gue's sugar. On 6km I climed into the bailing bus, would not be able to finish in 30 min. A lot of people support/encourage me to run with them, but I was unable to run another k.

2. The weather was?

64.3% (9) - Challenging.
21.4% (3) - No problem.
7.1% (1) - Full scale global warming hell.

3. The worst part of the day was?

Around midday and towards the polyshorts

The weather was very windy and dusty @ Makathini Flats. I had a very funny moment though when I nearly got knocked over by a Bonitas distance marker because I was running with my head down.I don't think I would have been able to stand up and run again. The worst part of the run were all the small inclines after Polly Short.

Not finding Arthur's seat and holding onto the flower for many kms as could not throw it away.

When I realised 72km into the race that I would probably not run a sub 9 time and therefore miss out on a Bill Rowan medal.

Watching the start

It was very windy and hot. It made me very dry. I needed more water.

Probably somewhere on the second half about 20-18 to go.

Between 20km to go and Little Pollys. My hips were too sore to run and I walked for what felt like an eternity. An unofficial bus got me going again at Little Pollys by running pole to pole.

smelling all the chicken shit, almost the whole way because the wind was blowing towards Durban

Saying goodbye to my brother at the start and leaving my Dad at 53km because he could not continue anymore. They were my inspiration to complete.

There was no worst part!

When I felt my body rejecting me and it wanting to quite before 60km. Never in my life before have I fought so hard against myself. It was like a battle of GOOD and EVIL, the GOOD said "push on you can do it", the EVIL said "you can quite now, you know you want to". Each one got the upper hand at times, but EVIL was winning the war. But GOOD said you will never take me alive.

climbing of the bailing bus at the finishing ground.

Not filling well

the first 15km

4. The best part of the day was?

After passing the polyshots

All the way up to the last 14 km.

Having JJ catch up with us and finding Riaan - could relax a bit and listen to their advice.

The best part of the day is Comrades itself really although I think starting I block B was probably the hi-lite of the day. The tension and emotion in the front is something else. The first time I saw the elite runners I knew it was game on. Also finishing Comrades is something special considering that I manage to improve my time with almost 2 hours.

Seeing Claude win

I joined big bus. It was awesome. I realized a bus made me stronger than alone. I could push myself more because of bus, other runners. And it decrease wind.

Introducing myself to Alan Robb up Inchanga. And reeling in a guy who claimed he would run a sub at pollys. And seeing Adrian just after Pollys .

Cresting Inchanga still feeling strong (the only climb I feared) and feeling confident.

nedbank tent, for once nick had his catering right and there was a beer, in fact 2 beers, I managed to swop my wors roll for another beer.

Standing at the start with my Dad......Memory that will never be forgotten! Also meeting up with Corral, Sandy and Riaan at 20km to go. Was a privilege to have finished with them. And Thirdly the sandwich and Cream Soda at 60km!

Seeing fellow club runners,family, friends and spectators along the road.

When I realised I would make it and still get a Bronze, I stopped running at the entrance to the stadium and walked the whole way in soaking up the atmosphere and stopped to give my daughter & sister a kiss before walking to the finish.

2 different people placed their arm around me and spoke encouraging words.

15 to 45km

5. The funniest thing I heard on the day was?

Can't recall

Gladys and I always find things to laugh about. It makes the runs more enjoyable. The funniest comment was whether the people that come in so late really do the training.

JJ being called Jee-anne

The funniest thing wasn't actually something I've heard but rather something I saw. Murrays blood stained chest. I thought someone shot him with a paintball gun.

My friend gave me Japanese food which is rice ball. It was so delicious! I was energized a lot.

When I told Johan Wolmarans from NMC that we cant allow a pommie in a rhino suit to beat us, especially in this heat, he replied "As dit jou dag is, is dit jou dag". Even though he sounded a bit despondent at that instance, it worked because we ran sub 6 splits after that!

some ones been in the bushes with a bad tummy, actually the chickens.

Didn't really focus on that.

Run like you stole something!

Going up Polly Shorts & hearing one of the Unogwaja Challenge (cycle from Cape Town to Durban & then Run Comrades) runners apologize to fellow runners that he needs to walk a bit, HALLLOOOOO YOU HAVE JUST CYCLED FROM THE CAPE & NOW RUN 80KM !!! Man did my body feel pathetic then.

Someone saying:" The only thing standing between me and my medal is a marathon"

one fan called me by a name

6. The club seconding points were?

78.6% (11) - Welcome like an oasis in the desert 

14.3% (2) - Unnecessary
 7.1% (1) - OK

7. In closing I would just like to thank?

The spectators, people manning the refeshment stations, medical teams that assisted all those who were battered by the race throughout the course & @ the medical tent.

1. Club seconding points, they were a welcome sight. 2. Lala's brother for looking after us on the way.

3. My running partner, Gladys, for all the training that we did together and listening to all that unsolicited advice.

All the wonderful LVCC members who made me believe I could do it, my family for their great support and encouragement and of course my running partner, Coral.

I have to start at the very top and thank the committee members for their dedication to improve the club and its athletes. For every club run they organised which I attended my running improved. Also to every single fellow club member that I ran with during the year. During weekdays I have to thank Elsa de Beer for keeping me company and motivated in those early morning hours. Then also a final thanks to Toy and Kristy Dupper. My 2 oldest and dearest friend who believed in me more than I could have believed in myself. I've managed to run PB times on all my distances since I joined LVCC last year September which comes too show with a positive support base, improvement is guaranteed.

I thank to LVCC for giving us number. I couldn't enter without your support!

My family for putting up with all my nonsense and my club mates for all the support and belief they've given me since joining last year.

all the water points and the effort from everyone at the club over comrades, there were club members out all over just supporting. but especially steve not sure if I was hallucinating, saw him at 30km, saw him at 60km, sort of expected to see him at the finish, let me down there

All the people that seconded on the day, especially my family! It was an Amazing experience!

Every Club member for the tremendous support and encouragement.

Our whole Club from roadside supporters to fellow runners giving much needed support as they went by. I would like to repeat what Jeanne said to me before my first Comrades 3 years ago. "Even if you are not religious, on Comrades day you will be" its true, I prayed along the route.........lots.........many times............so in closing I would like to thank the Lord.

My club

thank me for i finished the race

Watch out for our new virtual coach section to our blog. Run your first 10/21/42km with our panel of experts!

Anthea at Take a Step For Children 10km

Steve, Andrew and Fanie at Take a Step For Children 10km