Yesterday morning, I woke up on my couch after a long night out on the town- contacts still in my eyes, makeup on, and Couch Potato # 2 snoring up a storm. Not exactly the perfect condition to drive 4 hours and run a 1/2 marathon! As I lay on my couch with one eye half opened, every single reason for NOT running ran (no pun intended) through my mind: My eyes are killing me; I'm too tired; I don't want to drive 4 hours; I can't go if there's no water at home; there's a party tonight; I haven't run consistently for weeks, how am I supposed to run a race...and the list goes on. Perhaps the ONLY reason I managed to get up, packed, and out the door by 6:45 am was the thought of having a shower waiting for me at the other end of my 4 hour drive (the 6th day without water in the entire city of Maseru)!!!!!
Luckily, I arrived at my hotel room early enough to take a looooong shower, get a bite to eat and take nap long enough to trick me into thinking that I could run 21.1 km (13.1 miles) later in the day. The actual race was about 1 hour away from where I was staying (no accommodation near the race venue) so I left at 3:00 pm. Let me tell you this- if I blinked, surely I would have missed the tiny town of Ottosdal. Just as all of the reviews said, the highlight of the town is the annual Daf en Trap night race!
The Daf en Trap event is comprised of a cycling competition, 42.2 km (26.2 miles), 21.1 km (13.1 miles), 10 km, and 5 km race. I was rather surprised to see so many people both watching and participating in the race. People came from all over South Africa to take part (I didn't feel so crazy for driving all the way from Lesotho).
Since I had several hours to kill, I did what I always do- observed runners' various warm-up strategies/habits: Stretching, warm-up runs, chatting with friends, listening to music, smoking (YES, SMOKING), resting, and watching others. Additionally, I grabbed a mealie (corn on the cob) for a little pre-race fuel. Later on during the race (about 10 km in), I would regret chowing down on the whole thing when I thought I was going to puke on the side of the road. TMI?
As I waited for the race to start I sat on the field and did a bit of stretching with several other runners. I tell you, I've never been so at home than I did with so many people who have worse tan lines than I do. Remember the ugly tan line I posted after the Ficksburg Cherry race.
..a fugly ring around my mid-calf (it's gotten worse)? Other runners have it much worse...short-shorts lines on their upper and mid-thighs...razorback stripes on their backs...lines on their arms...outlines of running sunglasses...a runner's badge of honor, if you will.
Just before the 42.2 km race began, the loud speaker came on and the announcer began to say a whole bunch of stuff I didn't understand because it was all in Afrikaans. The only time I heard what was being said was when the speaker started praying...in Afrikaans, English, and Setswana...and when he counted down from 5, followed by a gunshot, the song "Chariots of Fire" playing, and a mass of bodies crossing the starting line.
The marathon was followed by the 1/2 marathon. Again, a prayer in 3 languages, "Chariots of Fire", and we were off!
Can I just tell you that this is THE best race I've run thus far. The event was well organized, water satchels and Coke were plentiful, kerosene lamps lining the lane divider at sunset, awesome race volunteers, machines spraying mists of water as runners passed, and best of all...the course was ah-maze-ing (read: relatively flat!!!). I am convinced that training in Lesotho (read: high altitudes and steep hills) allowed me to run the majority of the race. Let me say that again...I ran the majority.of.the race!!! I wasn't even tired! I started off slow and maintained a steady pace, which is a strategy I've been putting into practice of late. Hopefully, the same will be true when I get to Georgia on March 20th!!!
By the time I reached the 17 km mark, I almost didn't feel like running. Again, I wasn't tired...I was just ready for the race to end. However, as I was just at the brink of walking, a fellow runner caught up to me and said, "Keep it slow and steady, we're almost there." This anonymous comment gave me the motivation to continue running. About 1 km later, I was about ready to walk again...the song on my playlist threw off my pace. Once again, the anonymous man ran up to me and said, "We're almost there. Keep going. Just keep it steady." Instead of running ahead, I ran next to the man at his pace. The simple act of running with him gave me the motivation I needed to finish strong...with a faster pace for the remaining 3 km (two km away from the finish line, my running partner encouraged me to run fast and go ahead without him). I never got my running partner's name nor did I ever see his face, but I thanked him profusely for helping right when I needed it most!
My finishing time: 2 hours 25 minutes (about 40 minutes shorter than the Ficksburg Cherry Half)!!!
After my amazing experience at the Ottosdal Draf en Trap, I look forward to getting
more serious about my training, and getting out with the local running club!
Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures from the race...and the race t-shirts were finished by the time I registered, but I do have a sexy medal (my 3rd one, by the way) to show off...
Next up on the race schedule is either the Crocodilian 32 km (20 miles), which is in the same region as the Ottosdal Draf en Trap or the...
Kloppers/Adidas Festival of Running marathon or half marathon. Yes, you read it right, I'm kinda considering the marathon. Many of my friends want to run this one, but I'm reluctant because a) I'd like the GA Marathon to be my 1st marathon; and 2) I don't know if my body would be ready to run a marathon on February 12th, just to be ready again a month later. One of my friends suggests that I use it as a training race for the big one...or that I duck out at 32 km...but that's just silly.
Or the Godrich/Toyota Bronkhorstspruit 32 km, which is near Johannesburg.
With the exception of the Kloppers race, all of them require another 4 hour drive, so we'll see! If the water isn't back on in Maseru, God forbid, a drive will definitely be tempting...for a hot shower, at least!
Well, I need to rest my finger bones a bit! Until next time...one foot in front of the other...keep it movin'!
Yours in training,
Dani
3 comments:
This is so amazing - what a great accomplishment!!
I often find that my first run after an on-and-off period is a REALLY great run - probably because my body is a bit more rested. As you say, all the hills probably helped too.
You definitely need a medal display!
Keep up the great work and I can't wait to hear about your next race!
Thank you for all of your support! I think I'll have to work on getting a metal display. Right now, they're wrapped up with their respective race t-shirt and race bib.
You're waking up my want to race again. I know they say you should have some races within your training to help motivate, but maybe I can budget one race for the year.... I'd like to run a half-marathon.
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