Marathons are fun they said. Well it is and it isn’t. It’s a hard slog to get ready for one and an even harder slog to run one on a 30 degree day. That’s what the garmin summary said anyway.
Training for this marathon started at the end of June. The intention was to get many clubmates ready for the Cape Town Marathon within different time slots. The training sessions were always lots of fun. We covered everything, time trials, beep tests, trail running, Intervals, hill work and the fantastic LSD’s. Saturday and Sunday running you name it Kenfac did it. We had a large number of our member base participate in this marathon. We adopted some friends as well and it all came together nicely. One big happy, sweaty, stinky, running family.
The group leaders on training nights and weekends were absolutely amazing, as a club Kenfac certainly is in a good space. Friends, became family as we developed a bond over the duration of this training programme. This was my 3rd CTM and the preparation for this one was just as much fun as the previous two events. I have managed to learn plenty about club mates in this time and it is amazing how people share emotions with you after a few difficult training runs. Let’s get picking away at race day.
We meet at the circle behind E pen, nervous wrecks everywhere and rightly so. I’ve done a few marathons and I still get nervous so the reassuring of our clubmates happen. “You’ve done the training, you will be fine.” The anthem is sung, everyone is excited, great energies and off we go. By the time we got into the CBD we knew it was going to be a really hot day. Saleh flipped the switch and boom we had music. Our little bus was rolling in, greeting many familiar faces, cracking jokes and having a laugh as the excitement of running the marathon prevailed. Down Plein street we went into Darling Street and it is was here when the deep digging had to start. The mercury just kept climbing and soon enough the sun was just about on my left shoulder and it was there to stay. Soldiering on we get to Mowbray, the group still intact, looking out for one another, motivating one another but then no more music. Electricity problems. Now we need to grind even harder. Walks happened more frequently because the heat was getting to everyone. At times it seemed as the water sachets only had 5ml of water in them. Main road started to take a few casualties because there really was no shelter from the harsh african sun. Along Campground road we went into a lively and lovely cool Asics spectator zone. Music and refreshments were being gulped and then we headed towards the halfway mark, Rondebosch Common, family, friends, photographers it was all happening there and by now half the bus had split up. So what was now a lovely first half had soon become a distant memory as we headed towards our first big stop. Tamsyn was there waiting with refreshments as we had planned, she knows how to be road support and she’s got it down to a T. Encouraging everyone… “you guys look good, here eat this, drink this, you need anything else!?” refuelling complete off we go, Malta Road bridge, Salt River Circle, Salt River bridge LOOP, ouch. By this time the sun was the boss, letting us know we in for a tough last 14km. Bits of shade along lower Main Road, lots of friends and familiar faces and here we were okay. Enter the Church street bridge towards the N1… Paarden Eiland. Let me tell you what Paarden Eiland is… It is a hell hole of factories, warehouses, roads for trucks and a MyCiti Bus service. There is no need to go to there unless you want cheap Havianna sloffies but there were some familiar faces there too. Everyone looking for water. Out pops Mo with a big bag of lays and energade I have never seen Mo eat or drink anything else, Saleh’s angels/devils had stuff too. They were sent from God. In this stretch it was a 3 man group, the Kenyan Zain, the silver fox Shafiek and myself. We tried to keep our spirits high through Cape Town’s anus. It was difficult but the end was in sight. 38km mark into the foreshore, superbly done boys. Just hold on we going home. Lies!!!!!!! Thank you marshall but sir you must turn right here, the stadium is left, why must we head back to Paarden Eiland???? Off we go running and walking along the N1 eventually we turn left and then we got to the CTICC, another friendly face Malikah “well done” eish lady give me your legs please. I was alone here, up that road, it could have been loop street or Buitengracht all I saw was Signal Hill and it reminded me of the wonderful trail run I done the day before. Turning right into Mount Everest Bridge wasn’t funny, I hope the organisers all suffer from diarrhea this week, pigs. Over the bridge, turn, turn, turn, turn and boom I can see the stadium. Not long now, just keep moving. Cramp, cramp, cramp…. Faizel was there getting us at our most vulnerable state. Quality camera man, young Alia and Zubayr also cheering us on. I wanted to take their young legs. Under the circle and the blue mat was around the corner. I hear the Guru Wasfie shouting my name, “Angelo wait there” let’s finish together. Okay cool, he’s holding Rashida’s hand she starts to swear, wait Wasfie my legs, my f*****g legs, my f*****g shoe laces. Nobody swears at Wasfie, I laughed, clearly she was fed up.
Blue carpet lined with people, friends, family and supporters. All the pain gone, arms up, hands locked, glory, marathon completed pain gone, that wasn’t difficult when is the next one…
Was it worth it, certainly. We had fun training together, finishing together was difficult but it can certainly be done in future. Marathon number 1 of the season done. Kenfac you were great, adopted Kenfackers welcome, I hope you had fun. Saleh, Wasfie and Nazier thank you guys for all your sacrifices you guys were tremendous. Kenfac ladies, each and every one of you, well done. Proper stars.
Struggling Sportsman 