Turning to another topic, I signed up for the Two Oceans Half Marathon in Cape Town on Saturday 23rd April! The marathon is out of the question, as it is an ultra and I do not have sufficient time to prepare for it. Also, Cape Town is very hilly, and this takes some strong preparation - who knows, maybe in 2012.....
It was quite an emotional experience when I received my email confirmation that I am runner number 58668! I am not usually this excited, but I was out of my skin! I guess doing my first race at home really does have quite a deep effect on one. My mum, as you can imagine, is thrilled, and has already told all her friends. They have all said they are coming "to watch me". Since the race starts at 6am, I told her I will take everyone to brunch afterwards at the Waterfront!
Anyway, amidst all the excitement I also took a quick look at the route, as I cannot quite remember all of it. Starting on the Main Road in Newlands, the first 10 kilometres are flattish. Once you hit the bottom of the Southern Cross Drive, kilometres 11-17 are sharply uphill and you go from an elevation of 100m to just under 200m. Then kilometres 17-21 are undulating and you finish on the rugby fields of UCT, my alma mater.
il natale è decisamente sopravvalutato, se potessi partirei il 20dic per tornare il 10gen... magari per correre una maratona (ma non questa, è troppo faticosa)! :D
ReplyDeleteThe route looks marvelous, but the hills! Oh my! You are brave :-)
ReplyDelete@Yogi: Si sono pienamente d'accordo! Quello che e' la fine per me e l'ultimo dove bisogna fare qualcosa in tutti i modi. Ormai, sono crescuitella, e non mi fa influenzare da queste cose piu' - ma non dimentico le mutande rosse -eh porta fortuna! Se parti per Citta' del Capo il prossimo Natale, arrivi in mezza estate, e tutti al mare - sopratutto il giorno di Natale.....
ReplyDelete@ Julie: Thanks! I have to say though, your tri looks amazing, and since I am very scared of deep water, I am in awe of your swim! You are totally going to rock it and the tri!
buonissima idea il natale in sudafrica, chissà... e mi porterei anche le mutande rosse per capodanno! :))
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! I so admire your courage. You're going to run a great race.
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a good Christmas! Staying at home sounds perfect to me.
ReplyDeleteTwo Oceans Half! Exciting! This is really awesome. You'll be great, but the most important is to have fun. I'll be running the Easter 100 in JHB that weekend (100km in three days, 48, 33, 19). One day we'll run a race together for sure!
I freak out every year in my first open water swim or two. I think it's more the wetsuit than the deep water, but I have to say, I can't think about what might be down there in the depths or I FREAK MYSELF OUT!
ReplyDeleteI know you'll do great at this race!
@Yogi - Non te ne penterai.......
ReplyDelete@JK: I hope so - I can see stairs climbing is going to on the agenda long after the Empire State Building event!
@Johann: Yes, it was perfect! I will be emailing you for some advice re the 2 oceans...ek is nou n' bietjie bang as ek dink aan hoe styl al hierdie heuwels is......
@Julie: I am going to start swimming again this year (took last year off), this MUST be manageable right?!
Good luck in your half! Can't wait to read all about your training. I'm doing the Cherry Blossom 10 miler in Washington DC at the beginning of April and it will be my longest race thus far :)
ReplyDeleteHow cool is this Natalia! Super!
ReplyDeleteWe will be doing our half in the same weekend. My first half is on Eastern Monday. Guess we will train "together" to work to race day :)
Sure you will have a great half marathon - Good luck with the training
ReplyDeleteNatale a casa non è poi così male anche se qui in tutti i cinema proiettano "Natale in Sud Africa". Certo che te la vai a scegliere dura la gara "in casa"!!!
ReplyDeleteLa Befana ti riempirà di doni quella calza?
Buon anno Natalia a te e famiglia.
awesome!
ReplyDeletehappy new year!
Thanks guys, and I look forward to following all of you in 2011. Happy New Year and wishing you an injury-free year.
ReplyDeleteStefano, non lo so che mi portera' la Befana, perche' non sono stata molto brava. Vorrei che mi portasse un PB, ma mi sa che dovrei aspettare l'anno prossimo!