12-hour Dawn 2 Dusk circuit race entered

Nine years ago I ran my one-and-only 12-hour circuit race (thus far). I had such a great experience there. The race that I did, the Toyota 12hr in Randburg was discontinued the following year and I recall entering Dawn 2 Dusk in Pretoria but was unable to make it as I ended up running in India at the five-day Himalayan Stage Race.

Over this past weekend my friend Asa (the same person that I seconded at Washie last year) tagged me on Facebook for the Akasia Dawn 2 Dusk 12hr circuit race. He lives in Malawi but will be in Jo'burg over this weekend and so he was scanning event listing to see what he could catch while in town.

I didn't even hesitate.

"I'm in!" I replied.

Our entries are in and on Saturday, 29 August 2015 we'll be running many, many one-kilometer laps. This event is run during the day, not through the night like the other one that I did. I enjoy running at night, but this daytime run is definitely easier on our supporters.

D2D route drawn by Fanie Naude (thank you)

My goal is to better my distance of 98 kilometres that I did back in 2006...

Last night I had a good jog-walk following this past week of throat infection and meds. Now that I've had cough-cold-infection for three weeks I hope that this is it for the rest of the season!

It is now the time to log a lot of running - race coming!

I've cancelled the June Metrogaine

For the past few years I've always had a Metrogaine in June, on or near the Winter solstice. This year there's just too much on the go that I'm involved in and so I made the call to cancel it.

Here's a bunch of stuff to keep you warm and active in June.

Who said winter was for hibernating??? 

I am planning an open (do anytime you want on foot or bike) Metrogaine for the Sandton CBD for October. This is transport month and we're hosting the Ecomobility World Festival. If you haven't yet heard, Sandton CBD will be closed to private vehicles (yes, pedestrian and cyclist friendly environment) for the whole month! Depending, I may coordinate a night-something in later October, after my annual FEAT event on Thurs, 8 October 2015.

More GOOD NEWS is that here are a bunch of fun navigation options to keep in mind this month.


Sunday, 7 June 2015: The first Bush orienteering event of the season at Phambile, a super highveld terrain venue in the Muldersdrift area. There are five or six courses to cater to all ages (children too) and abilities. Don't be deceived by the seemingly 'short' distances... Navigating in this bush terrain takes longer than a 5km on road...  >>> event info <<< 

Tuesday, 16 June 2015: The first Mountain Bike Orienteering (MTBO) event at Protea Ridge. Also fabulous highveld terrain on the Krugersdorp side of town. Three course distances. The best fun you can have on a mountain bike. >>> event info <<<

Saturday, 27 June 2015: AR Club's annual Dead of Winter Emmies to N1 Run. Yip, run the length of the Braamfontein Spruit from Emmarentia to Sunninghill. This is a social run and total distance is around 18km. You can hop-on, hop-off the route where ever you want. We started this a few years ago aiming to catch the beauty and invigoration of a highveld winter morning. Every year we've had warm and sunny conditions... It should be fresh out there this year. start is only at 07h30. >>> event info <<<

Sunday, 28 June 2015: AR Club is hosting the second Bush orienteering event of the season at Hennops. Note that this is a new date (moved one week later because of other activities happening at the property on our original date). The event sheet will be out soon and you can find it on the orienteering event calendar. 

If you haven't got a clue what to do at these events, no worry. Just rock up and there are friendly people around at the events to give you a hand. Definitely start with an easier course for your first time and only then try more challenging courses. I'll be at most (or all) of these.

Metrogaine is on Facebook. Please Like and share.

39 Days of Running completed, but ongoing

Yip, that's it. Yesterday I completed my 39 Days of Running pre-birthday game. As you know, it was more of a walking exercise this year with only three weeks of amazing running (I was on fire!) and then almost three weeks of coughing and spluttering.

On Sunday and Monday this week I had the most lovely, easy jog-walk sessions to allow my body to get into the running groove again. I was still coughing a bit but lungs felt clear.

And then...

On Monday night my throat started to feel sore and after being up a couple of times in the night, I was down with a serious sore throat, compete with swollen lymph nodes, by morning.

This time I headed for the doctor.

Fever, temperature, sore skin, painful throat and neck... Now after a full two days of meds and an almost 11-hour sleep last night, I'm on the mend. I've still got another three days of meds and am hoping for full recovery by then.

I started my "39 Days of Running" to finish early, timed to coincide with me leaving for Expedition Africa. Unfortunately I was cancelled from writing for the event and so I won't be going.

The good news is that I can continue with my pre-birthday game until my birthday on 18 June, making up for all the walking this year!

The walking has been fun though. Many of my walks have been done with my mom and walking with her - chatting as we walk - is a treat.

DGT solo in 45 hours

On Monday night there was no chance that I would have gone to sleep until Andrew Porter was safely off the Drakensberg. I'd been following his tracking blip for hours as he made his way over the final section of the Drakensberg to complete the Drakensberg Grand Traverse (DGT) solo and unassisted in a staggeringly incredible 45 hours and 8 minutes.

A friend fortunately told me about Andrew's attempt on Monday afternoon so that I could follow his live tracking online. Andrew is an accomplished Drakensberg hiker and climber and as the previous solo record holder, he was on target to better this.

And better it he did! Andrew completed the approx. 210 kilometre distance little over three hours 'slower' than the amazing time set by Ryno Griesel and Ryan Sandes in March last year.

I wrote two pieces for the FEAT website on Andrew and the DGT. You can read them there:

• Andrew on DGT solo attempt
• Andrew has done it
• Also read the lovely piece on Kraig Becker's The Adventure Blog. This was too good for me not to send a note through to Kraig.

What he accomplished is phenomenal!

A superb movie - Travailen - was made by Dean Leslie and his The African Attachment crew of Ryno and Ryan's record-setting run. It is wonderful to watch as it shows the grandeur of the Drakensberg and just how tough it is up there (the top of the Drakensberg is not flat!)