Ready, steady...Run!

After a very, very slothful December post-Skyrun, I have attacked this new year with renewed vigour. My focus for the next 3-months is on road running and orienteering with space for any other diversions that arise. First, let me tell you about road running and why I think you should be out there with me...

Running is THE best training for adventure racing.

• it is excellent cardiorespiratory exercise
• it's a weight bearing activity
• running conditions your knees, ankles and feet to supporting your body
• it's the best way to strengthen your feet for the pounding they take in AR
• you don't need much space/distance - you can run circuits of a field or around the block
• with the exception of road running shoes (don't use your trail shoes), running requires zero equipment
• running is the most accessible and convenient exercise; run from home, with a group, on your own, whenever you have time and for as long as you wish
• road races are fun and motivating

Adventure races are won on foot, not on bike.

Yes, yes, yes... like you I really enjoy running on trails but it's not something I'm going to do on my own, every night (I always training in the evening/night - I don't do mornings if I don't have to). During the week I train on the treadmill but on weekends I really enjoy a good organised road race. It's a no brainer too; I don't have to plan anything or think about where to run. I just drive to the venue, enter and run the route they set.

I got into road running in Standard 9 while at school. I'd always run for the athletics team; 100m, 200m and 4 x 100m relay. I had never imagined running more than the required training loops around the track. I had a friend in the team, Henry, who was also in my class. He was a good 400m sprinter and his dad was into road running. One day Henry invited me join them at a 10km. They fetched me on the Sunday morning and off we went - I don't even remember what race it was. Henry ran with me the whole way, giving encouragement and walking with me when I needed a little break.

I loved that first race and the following weekend went with them to another and another and another. I always looked forward to setting off early on Sunday mornings to go to races and I recall a Wednesday nite run in Alberton where I broke the 60-minute mark on a 10km (without walking at all). I think it was then that Henry realised he could leave me on my own and run his own race; he was a much faster runner.

I started frequenting the running shops to collect race flyers and became a regular Runner's World magazine reader after receiving a free copy at the Bedfordview Reebok 21km, my first half-marathon.

My mom was (and still is) a wonderful support. At school and into varsity, when I was too young to drive, she would take me to races, waiting patiently for me to finish. She always commended any result.

It was the spirit, the energy, other runners and the motivation to improve my times got me hooked. Runners are friendly people and if you run regularly you start to recognise people running the same times as you. Running for a club, people will chirp asking questions like, "Hey Adventure Racing Club, what's the adventure today?" or if you're slacking off they'll say, "Hey Adventure, not far to go".

I didn't run much between mid-2000 and early-2003 but when I started getting my running focus back I immediately began entering road races again. I'd missed the people and the spirit and I drew motivation from the races to improve my fitness, speed, strength and endurance; all beneficial for AR.

Last weekend I ran the Kudus 15km through Parktown and Parkhurst. Hilly, hilly route. This Sunday was the Dischem Bedfordview 21km; yep, it's the same half-marathon I ran some 8-years ago before joining my first road running club, Bedfordview. We had many AR Club runners there and this morning I received a quick email from Nicky Booyens (Team Red Ants) who made the following comment, which inspired this blog: "Wow! Loads of people and an awesome vibe. I have done very little road races lately so I have forgotten what it is like!"

And that's just it. If you're not running races occasionally you do forget what it is like but when you run a race again you rediscover what you so enjoyed about it. Road races do offer an awesome vibe and if your week spirals out of control a race serves as weekend fixture where you can get in some exercise. Races are safe, routes are measured, water tables are set out every 2.5-4km so you won't run dry. If you're into t-shirts and medals, you'll looooovvveee road races; I've got t-shirts, medals, beer mugs, glasses and coffee mugs.

Website to bookmark for dates, venues and details of road runs include www.runnersworld.co.za (Race Diary) and www.runnersguide.co.za. Now you've got no excuse ;)

I'll be running a good number of road races in Joburg over the next 3-months. Look out for the AR Club umbrellas and come over to say hi. Happy running and happy feet.

Up where the sky is clear

I had the great fortune of running the Salomon Skyrun at the beginning of December with two AR Club friends, Tony and Ivan. This race is, without doubt, one of the most challenging off-road running events in South Africa.

Adrian Saffy took over the organisation of this event, from Skyrun's creator John-Michael Tawse, in 2005 and this year the race received record entries with 67 runners. The route starts in Lady Grey and runs over the mountains along the SA/Lesotho border, down into Balloch, back up and through to Ben McDhui and finishes at the Tiffendell Ski Resort. The race can be run over 2-days or non-stop.

We opted for non-stop, which is not necessarily the best idea for first timers. Although I'd been there in '99, I hadn't gone past Balloch, and neither had Ivan, who took part last year. And, as fate would have it, this is where we lost some 5-hours; unable to find a mountain pass in the dark.

Nonetheless, the weather was perfect, the temperature warm - with a slight cooling breeze - and there was water in the mountains, thanks to recent rains. The scenery up on the ridge is spectacular as the mountain sides drop away either side into South Africa and Lesotho.

Photo by Stephan Repke, the "German Skyrunner".

Stephan is a photographer and runner and has been visiting SA.

This is a small section of the Skyrun route.

What really makes this race challenging is that, although there are a number of trails, the terrain is rough going. Your feet and ankles get worked left, right, up, down, forward, back and all possible positions inbetween. I haven't had blisters for a long, long time (touch wood) but I succumbed to a couple during the race. Aaarrggghhh... I hate blisters!

We reached Tiffendell after fighting the morning gale (the wind was blowing so strong from Breslins to Tiffendell that I was using my trekking pole to keep me upright and we could barely hear each other even when shouting!) some 29-hours after we'd started at 09h00 on Sunday morning.

Would I recommend this race to you? Of course... BUT, I would recommend that you run/hike with someone who knows the route or do the race in 2-days, sleeping over at Balloch. The section through to Balloch (about 56km) is a very decent race in itself, without the Day 2 section. This is very do-able as a first timer to go straight through if your navigation is reliable (and next year the route showing the mountain pass will be correct). If you'd like to race this route to win? Oooohhh... I'd put my money on it to say that a first timer will never win this race unless they traverse the entire route prior to the race.

Andrew Porter (2nd in 2005) worked hard this year to take victory from Bruce Arnett, who has won the race since its inception in 1998. Both of these guys are exceptional runners. Andrew set a new course record of 15h03. Wow!

Salomon Skyrun is an incredible event. It is tough, challenging, scenic and inspiring. In Adrian's capable hands it is well organised. The comraderie of the marshals (farmers/land owners) and participants is magical and it is a race I'd go back to (now that I've had a week to think about it *grin*).

(click on pic to see bigger image)

How did you get into AR?

One of the most common questions I get asked is, "How can I get into adventure racing?". It's a question too that has directed much of www.AR.co.za's content. This week I attended a celebration of Runner's World SA's 150th issue. Did you know that this was how I got into AR?

Runner's World SA was the first international edition of the magazine and it was launched in May/June 1993. South Africa set the trend 14-years ago and the publication is now available in most countries and in 11 languages.

I became a regular reader in early 1999 after receiving a copy in my goodie bag from the Bedfordview 21km (now the Dischem 21km, held early January every year), my very first half-marathon.

About 3-months later I got a call from my underwater hockey friend (I was playing Provincially at that stage) asking, "Have you got the new issue yet? Go get it. There's something in it that's just up your alley." I shot off to the shops and snapped up a copy. It was the May 1999 issue and the "something" was a double-page on the new Old Mutual Hi-Tec Adventure Racing Series.

Too soon to assemble a 4-person team to enter the first 180km race in early July '99, I targeted the 250km race at the end of July '99. Hooked, we lurched to the 500km at the end of September '99...

Where www.AR.co.za is now an introduction, guide and reference to adventure racing for so many, Runner's World was my introduction.

And, I would never have guessed 8-years ago that I would become a regular contributor to what is my favourite magazine. I'm proud and honoured to be part of their family.

Runner's World SA, congratulations on this milestone. Thank you for your support of adventure racing and a toast to many, many more years of issues and kilometers.

This 150th issue is exceptional. It's a whopping 144-page publication with loads of great content. Go get it.

Put your foot down

I've been training consistently (5-6 times a week) for about 15-years now. I also always train in the evening but the main problem with training in the evenings is d.i.s.r.u.p.t.i.o.n.

Talks, dinners, functions, socials... these things always happen at night. If I've got to be somewhere at 19h00 I probably have to leave around 18h00. This crunches into training time and I find that I keep compromising on my training frequency and duration to do x, y and z. Training in the morning? I'm an owl, not a lark, and I realised more than 10-years ago not to even attempt the morning training thing. It is just never going to happen for me.

Over the past 5-months (new job, many social functions, juggling AR.co.za....) I've allowed too many disruptions. On Tuesday I finally said, "Enough!".

We diarise business meetings, birthday parties and races and we should treat our training schedule in the same way. I used to do this but somewhere along the way I lost my rigidity and became more... flexible. I'm returning to my old ways.

My fitness, health and sanity is my top priority and it is something that it important to me in terms of pure enjoyment and pleasure and as a mechanism that allows me to compete in anything that catches my attention regardless of distance or duration.

Pumpkins, join me and climb aboard this bus for a trip to Focusland. Focus on you. Focus on your exercise, activity and nutrition. Focus on things you want to do and focus on those things you want to achieve. Your company (or the one you work for) is not going to collapse on the ground in a crumble of rubble. In fact, I can guarantee that your dedication to you will make you more efficient, productive and happy. And that's really what it is all about eh?