Table Mountain Challenge

Saturday 15 September was a perfect day for The Crazy Store Table Mountain Challenge.

The Cape Auto Centre Triathlon Team entered a ladies team, Cathy leg1, Jeannie leg2 and I ran leg3.

I was feeling a bit nervous (ok, a lot) because I did not know what to expect.
Everyone said the 3rd leg is hectic....

As I watched the front runners pass check point 2, the nerves went away and I started feeling better, eager to run.

I checked in at the check point with my compulsory kit. It was a very hot day and as waited for Jeannie to finish the nerves set in again. Should I go to the loo again...what if I go and Jeannie gets to check point 2...do I have enough water...how hard should I go....all the things that go through my head, but before I knew it, I was off.

The 1st 2km was jeep track before we head into some very awesome single track. At 5km we started climbing...no not a hill...but a mountain...Table Mountain.

I look up and saw the top. I thought to myself, it's not as bad as everyone said. Well that was till I got to the top and realised, This is not the top.
 We climbed some rocks for about 6km.  The view from the top was just unbelievable, something you can't explain.

At the top, Yeah some flat running! You think Table Mountain is flat...It's NOT.
I felt great at the top and enjoyed every single minute of the run. The tracks, the view, the people, the beautiful sunshine day and just the idea of running on Table Mountain was great.

The downhill section, not my favorite part. The 6km we climbed up, we went down in 2km. After some rock jumping, sliding down on my bum and 2 nearly big mistakes I reached the pipe track. This was the longest 3km home. It went on forever, It was hot and my legs were not existent after the downhill. At last, the finish!!

We finished 2nd Lady team and 3rd Corporate Team. Tough but successful day.

It's hard to explain this race to someone. You can't explain the route, the views, the feeling. You need to go run it yourself to understand. I enjoyed every moment, the up, the down, the sun even the pain! It was just unbelievable.

Thanks to 32GI for keeping hydrated on a very hot and hard day. Mobii for keeping me on track and pace. Linebreak for the recovery and Cape Auto Centre Triathlon Team for the Support and just being a great team.

Mountain Warrior Trail Running Festival

This weekend was the Mountain Warrior Trail Running Festival at Rustenberg Farm in Stellenbosch.
This is great event for all fitness levels. You can enter for the following individual races or you can do the 2day Challenge.

Day 1: 

Jonkershoek SKY RUN 36km
Botmaskop Traverse 15km
Night Trail Run 10km

Day 2: 

Simonsberg Challenge 30km
Barlow Trail 15km
Rustenberg Fun Run 10km

Mountain Warrior Challenge:
Day 1: Jonkershoek SKY Run
Day 2: Simonsberg Challenge

Married Couples Challenge:
Husband compete in long races on both days
Wife compete in both shorter (15km) races on both days.

I entered the 10km Saturday night run and the 15km on the Sunday. The night run started at 6pm. The route was great with a few climbs to warm you up and fast 3km down to the finish.

The plan was to run the 10km as an easy training run and race the 15km the Sunday...well that was the plan.
The race started on a downhill so I started a bit to fast but I soon got into a comfortable stride. The scenery and the views was so awesome with the sun setting in the background.

The last 3km was really fast, I felt great and I didn't want the run to end. Well as they say...All good things come to an end. I was the first lady home and 4th overall.

Sunday morning - 15km

It was a chilly morning with a 4degree start. The first 3km and the last 3km was the same as the 10km night run. I started with a easy pace as I knew we where going to climb a bit...just a little bit :)

After a bit of confusion at one section and running up and down the steepest hill we realised we need to go up again!

I met up with Yolandi Visser and we ran together for the last 8km. We got into a comfortable pace and chatting away with no other ladies in sight.

With about 1.5km to go we looked behind us and the 3rd lady was right behind us.
Well I guess that was the end of our tea party and we had to sprint the last 1.5km.

Yolandi took a well deserve 1st place after running the grueling 15km the Saturday.
I took 2nd place with Kerry Sillifant in 3rd.

I can really recommend this event! Great vibe, great routes and great fun for the whole family.