Monthly Archive for August, 2007
One of my favourite races last year was the VOB Grape Run, a half marathon run in the Constantia Valley.
As I had such a great run last time, I decided to enter it again.
If you’re having second thoughts about entering, this excerpt from the New Balance blog should help sway your decision,
Once a year the Wine Farmers of the Constantia Valley permit VOB Running Club to organize a race across their vineyards. The run meanders through Groot and Klein Constantia, then a stretch through the Tokai Forest and then through Buitenverwachting before heading home. The setting is something truly magnificent.
If you’re still unsure, check out these pictures from the 2005 Grape Run.
Entries close at 1000, go and enter.
As I mentioned in my previous post, I ran a race earlier in the month, the Stax 10km in Pinelands, Cape Town. The photo above shows me in all polly shorts glory (I’m the guy without the hat) and you can see the race was run in the suburbs of Pinelands. Nothing too spectacular, but as it was the first race I ran this year, I enjoyed every minute of it. Although it was very cold at the start.
My goal for the race was to finish it in 48 minutes, as running fast at this stage in my recovery was not a good plan. I eventually finished in 46:26, which is not going to break any records, but I was satisfied, and good to get a race behind me.
Here are my km splits, with the added detail of split seconds:
| KM | Split Time | Lap Time | Lap Avg HR |
| 1 | 4:52.9 | 4:52.9 | 144 |
| 2 | 9:45.2 | 4:52.9 | 158 |
| 3 | 14:32.7 | 4:47.5 | 166 |
| 4 | 19:13.6 | 4:40.9 | 166 |
| 5 | 23:46.2 | 4:32.6 | 163 |
| 6 | 28:30.9 | 4:44.7 | 165 |
| 7 | 33:16.1 | 4:45.2 | 165 |
| 8 | 37:52.6 | 4:36.5 | 171 |
| 9 | 42:24.7 | 4:32.1 | 171 |
| 10 | 46:26.8 | 4:02.1 | 175 |
Avg HR for Race: 164
Overall though, it was a well organised event, that was free of the fan fair that often comes with races. Arrive, run and leave. I enjoyed it. Only complaint I have is that it was a loop, so you ran the same piece of tarmac twice.
Results are here, you’ll find me in position 120.
Yes, I’m back. I’m not a fan of excuses, especially one’s that go along the lines of “I just don’t have the time” so I won’t make an excuse, I’ll just apologise and move on. 
Since the last post, I’ve done the following:
- I have run 144km, pain free.
- I ran a race, but more on that later.
- Helped organise an upcoming race.
That’s it for now, more to come.
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