Colgate 32km Race Review

 

Sunday May 1, 2011 – International Workers Day and International Barefoot Runners Day

I celebrated both at the Colgate race in Boksburg.

There was the usual interest in my running sandals, a couple of people spoke to me about running in them.  I didn’t see any other barefoot/minimalist runners. 

It was incredibly cold and foggy at the 6.30 start (half an hour later than our summer starts). I wore a long sleeve compression top under my club vest to keep me warm. 

Ian and I started together and ran the first 4km together.  I only set my watch to the  9:1 Run:Walk intervals from the first watering table, so we split up from my first walk.  I met with him, past him, caught up with him for a while but then past him around 10km and didn’t see him again. 

I was comfortable and still cold in the still foggy weather when we went thru’ the half way mark.  There were no porta-loos on the route and I had no luck finding a toilet at the one garage that we ran past.  Grin and bear it became my motto.

I was in front and behind and in front again of “The Tambourine Man” Bus.  I have never run in a bus before and altho’ I was on track for my 3:30 finish, I made the choice to join the bus at about 24km even tho’ I knew that I would have to give-up my time goal.  I realise that it is possible that I might need to run in a bus for Comrades and so I best give it a try.  Jafta runs with a tambourine that keeps the pace (averaged 6:45/km).  He (Jafta, the bus driver) controls the uphills and the downhills and we walked thru’ the watering points. 

I enjoyed the experience and it definitely made the kms disappear quickly.  I struggled to keep a 180 cadence and to keep an eye on the road directly in front of me.  It was also a slower pace than I had been running until then – my run was averaging 6:15/km and then I would walk.  I think I prefer to Run:Walk but at least now I know a little bit more about what to look out for in a bus.

500m from the finish, all the ladies in the bus move to the front, to offer “inspiration” to the men and as a respectful courtesy.  We ran in singing "Roll, Rolling”. 

I finished the 32km in a time of 3:37:42 a PB for the distance, altho I can’t really compare my previous 32km to this – the course and weather were so vastly different.

Alan finished in 2:36 and Ian finished the 15km in a slow 1:39 (5 minutes slower than last year.)

We all got a goodie bag with toothpaste, tooth brush and 2 soaps, as well as a t-shirt and a medal.