Urban Series O at Golden Harvest Park

I haven't been to Golden Harvest Park (North Jo'burg, near the Dome) for so many years that running there this morning really was like running on a brand-new map.

This was the fourth event of the new orienteering Urban Series - the second that I've done. I had a good, clean run with no navigation issues. I ended up in a respectable 6th place; four seconds behind 5th place and one second ahead of 7th.

What is rather frightening is the ONE SECOND... I was barely ahead of my friend's daughter - she must be 12 years old now. Arrrggghhh! At least I can still beat her on the long, tough courses. But certainly not for long... She runs so well and navigates superbly.

Control 8 to 9 was probably the most interesting as we had to choose a way around (I'm the green route).

I decided to go clockwise to benefit from a nice downhill run on the other side. I was at 8 with another runner and she chose to go the other way around (pink route). That was pretty cool because then you get to compare the success of your route. I came out ahead of her so I was happy with my choice. Approaching 9 I saw two controls -the one was on the stream; the other for my course was on the side of the dam. I saw the stream control first - and then the stream. I didn't even bother checking the control number as I knew it couldn't be mine and had spotted the correct one within seconds. Nice placement.

The next event up is the annual club relays on 16 March. Relays are always great fun. We run in teams of three and I'm running with club mates Cindy and Zig in a women's team.

After this is the Night O event at the Houghton Golf Estate. I haven't done a Night O for years - it's helluva exciting because the micro-navigation orienteering world is a completely different place at night. I'm really looking forward to this one. If you're keen to come, you must pre-enter.

Penguin jumpers

Yesterday I read an article on The Telegraph: "Australian plea to knitters to make pullovers to aid oil-smeared penguins".

Via a link or two I read about penguin jumpers about a year or two ago - from the previous oil spill, which was a few years before. I dropped a note to the South African penguin rescue people in Cape Town, asking for dimensions of our Cape penguins (I'm sure they're bigger than the Aussie ones) so that I could create a pattern that could be circulated so that we have a stash of jumpers that can be used should disaster strike - better to be prepared in advance. Another oil spill at some stage really is inevitable.

I didn't get any response and I didn't follow up - but this recent Australian incident has reminded me to do so.

Well, now that there has been another oil spill in Australia they need more penguin jumpers.

The Telegraph article was missing links to both the Penguin Foundation and to a pattern for the jumpers. How silly is that? The article asks people to knit jumpers and then they don't provide a link to a pattern. Sure, I found it online after a bit of searching... but really!

I did send an email to The Telegraph yesterday afternoon and they've promptly responded. The article has been amended and a link to the pattern has been included.

Should you be interested in knitting (or crocheting) a penguin jumper, you can find patterns here:

• Penguin Foundation website (knit - 8ply and 4ply)
• On Ravelry (knit)
• On Skeinz (knit and crochet versions)
• On Cob Cottage Gifts (crochet)

Next online course - Think101

I completed the Spanish MOOC about two/three weeks ago - that was pretty good. I miss the daily discipline of working through Spanish, listening to videos and spoken content and building my vocabulary. For this reason alone I'm thinking of signing up for the next level, which started this week. Only $29.

The English writing course wasn't as intensive and this one wrapped up last week, while I was away. With little (very little, not even a stable EDGE connection) to no internet, I just gave up on trying to connect and missed the final submission deadline. This was a seriously large MOOC with pages and pages and pages of a 'discussion forum' - they lost me on this one. I did what was needed but didn't get too involved. Some of the content of the course was really good but overall it was quite dull.

My new course is Think101x: The Science of everyday thinking. It's on EdX and offered by the University of Queensland. Also not too intensive (1-2hrs/week) and it looks to be very interesting and with super guests, including those guys from Myth Busters and other. It runs over 12 weeks and you can still sign up if you're interested.

Fabulous Forest Run

Forest Run went very well on Saturday and we were blessed with superb weather -  a light drizzle only came down after the runners were in (it did catch Sarah and Michael who were sweeping the last section of the course).

It was a small field with a total of 51 runners (eight people didn't make it on the day). You'll find my race report on the Forest Run website.

My days spent route tagging went very smoothly because of the grass cutting we did the week before. Nonetheless the days were long and I spent a good 11hrs on my feet on Wednesday and Thursday, putting in around another 6hrs on Tuesday and Friday out on the course.

I took my bike out on the Tuesday to mark the route but I definitely prefer being on foot, especially when I need to put out boards and droppers. I worked out too that I covered around 80-kilometres in marking the route. I do it in chunks and sometimes it takes me 5-6km to get back to where I've left my car after completing sections.

The photos from the run are magnificent. While I enjoy the ones of the runners, I'm besotted with the beautiful images of the forest.

I'd roped in Marcel Sigg and Margueriethe 'Maggi' van Rhyn to take photographs. And what a wonderful collection they have created.

Zelda Coetzee was a marshal last year, stepping in at the last minute to fill in for the booked photographer when he couldn't make it. This year she was determined to run but battling with ITB she had an op only a few weeks before Forest Run. As her husband, Johann, was marshalling, she too jumped in to assist - and take photographs at her spots.

 You can find all of the photos in the albums on the Forest Run Facebook page.

I've pulled off a number of images by Marcel, Maggi and Zelda to show you. Goodness, I  do indeed love this forest.

The start - from outside Lakenvlei Forest Lodge.

Runners at the start heading out from Lakenvlei. 7am.

There are horses at Lakenvlei that roam around when they're not taking people for rides.

There are a few places on the route with these beautiful forested 'avenues'. They're my favourite sections and seem to have been loved by the runners.

Photographer fairy - Maggi

Colourful flag bunting at Waterpoint #2 - the halfway feed station.

What a spread! Treats at the 24km Waterpoint #2. Eggie mayo sandwiches won hands-down again.

This is a lovely section with forest on the runners' right and Bass Dam on their left.

Bass Dam.

My plastic duck - keeping watch.

The only place on the course where you get your feet wet - at around 25km. It's a low-level bridge.

Fabulous helper Staci walking back with the chair and umbrella from the route split section. Staci assisted with catering and manned Waterpoint #2 and she swept the last few kilometres of the 35km course with Sue.

Colourful ball decorations hanging in the trees at Waterpoint #3 (only on 62km course)

Windmills for decorations at Waterpoint #4 (only 62km course)

Windmills on the approach to Waterpoint #3 (only 62km course)

No medals or dust-collecting trophies at Forest Run. Plants instead. This year, a sun-or-shade forest grass. It gets pretty little white flowers. 

Michael and Sarah at Waterpoint #1. They were also at Waterpoint #4 and they swept the route from #4 to the end. I'm very fortunate to have a wonderful team of on-the-day helpers.

With Sue (sweeper on the route from start to end of 35km route) and Liz, my mom (catering and waterpoint #2)

Dress-up is another fun part of Forest Run. I'm the green Forest Fairy; Zelda is the pink fairy ;)

At Waterpoint #2 - Johann (Zelda's husband) and Zelda. Staci is watching their antics.

Photographer Marcel (blue wig) with Sarah B. and Duncan at Waterpoint #3. 

A section named by Marcel and Maggi as 'The Enchanted Forest' - they're so right. One of the runners, Hein Koch from Middelburg, said that he'd email me with some names for the hills on the route... I think Marcel and Maggi have got a jump on the naming process with this one.

Wild, colourful dahlias, little yellow flowers... this place is beautiful.