Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 117, April 2019 | Page 7

ROAD RUNNING
Puffer 80km trail run and the Three
Peaks Challenge, but the closest
I had come to doing anything
like this triple was another of
Dion’s ideas, the Mast Marathon
Challenge. He suggested we
start at the arboretum, run up
to the mast in Tokai and back
down, then repeat the route to
make up the marathon distance.
I did it with Roger Steel and Leo
Rust, and really enjoyed it, so I
was up for this new challenge.”
Getting the Entries
Mark decided to apply for permission
to run the half marathon on the Friday
morning, then go straight from the finish
at UCT to the start of the trail on campus,
and then return the next day for the ultra. Of
course, given the popularity of the Two Oceans Half
Marathon and Trail Runs, just getting entries would
be a challenge, but Mark had a plan for that. “My
mom is a computer programmer and in those days
the fastest fingers caught the entries, so she waited
at her computer for the half marathon and trail run
entries to open, and entered for me as quickly as
possible. Luckily she got in and I had my two entries.
After that, getting the ultra entry was no problem, by
comparison.”
Next Mark had to apply for permission to run the
Friday Run, which is offered as an alternative for
runners with religious convictions that do not allow
for running on Saturdays, to still be part of the Two
Oceans. Those who will be helping to put on the race
the following day are also allowed to run on the Friday.
“I had to get special permission from the Friday Run
convenor, Eric Webster, and then I had to finish within
one hour 40 minutes in order to make the start of the
trail run. Back in those days, I was regularly running
1:26 or 1:27 for 21 kays, so it was doable, but it would
still require some effort, given the hilly course – and
I had to hold back a bit to save some energy for the
trail... and the next day’s ultra!”
Mark duly clocked a fast 1:32, coming home first in
the Friday Run Half Marathon. “There were only about
15 to 20 of us in that Friday Half, and I shot out fast
from the start, so I was running alone up Southern
Cross Drive, with a police vehicle escort right behind
me, blue lights flashing. I remember thinking, so this
is what it feels like to ‘run like you stole something!’
Technically, I was the first official finisher of the 2013
Two Oceans, and when I arrived at the finish, nobody
was ready for me. I had to go ask them for my medal,
because I told them I had somewhere to be! I then
walked to my car, got my trail gear, had eight minutes
to rest, and then started the trail run with the last
group.”
Holding Back
Taking on the 22km trail run, Mark once again
held back from running his normal pace, so as to
save energy for the next day. “I ran-walked quite
a bit, because it was difficult to overtake anyway
in the middle section and coming down past the
Blockhouse. I ran a 2:58, and felt OK. In fact, the
thought did occur to me to go do one of the Two
Oceans Fun Runs as well, but I decided no, rather
respect the ultra distance. So I went home to get
some rest, but only after I stopped to get a slice of
cheesecake at the local Spar in Pinelands. After all, I
run to eat!”
The next morning he was up early to drive back to
UCT, and says that during the 2km walk from UCT to
the ultra start in Main Road, he did find himself having
some second thoughts. “I was thinking, what am I
doing, am I crazy? But I soon got over it. My goal was
to run steadily to Fish Hoek, otherwise you lose too
much time in the first half, and then slow down and
just get to the finish within cut-off. But when I got to
Southern Cross, I saw Dion and he said I could still
make a sub-five if I pushed a little harder, so I went for
it. In the end I ran 5:10:21 and was a little annoyed,
because I was actually quite close to earning another
Sainsbury medal. Similarly, a 1:32 in the half the day
before meant I just missed out on a silver. When I look
back, just two minutes 51 seconds faster in the half
and I could have got silver, and that is so annoying.”
When asked what kind of reaction he received upon
completing the triple challenge, Mark says most of
his friends and fellow runners were quite impressed.
“We knew a couple of people had done the trail run
on the Friday and the half marathon on the Saturday,
but nothing like what I had attempted. The day after
the ultra I rested, as my legs were a bit stiff, but on the
Monday I went with my mom and the Pine Nuts group
for a short run, and on the Tuesday I was back on
the track at UCT doing an intervals session. I am not
sure anybody will be able to do the challenge again,
because the Two Oceans committee changed the rules
to say that nobody may enter the half marathon as well
as the trail run. I suppose somebody may get special
permission to try it, but it will probably be very difficult.”
New Challenges Await
In the meantime, Mark has gone on to complete his
22nd consecutive Cape Town Cycle Tour – he rode
his first at the age of just 13 – and has now taken up
sea swimming. “My mom is training for the Ironman,
so I started swimming with her, and would like to
do the Ironman someday myself. I recently did the
Barker Rock Challenge, which is to swim around
Barker Rock, one mile off Clifton Beach. On land we
are the apex animal, but out there we humans are so
insignificant. That is quite humbling.”
Looking ahead to the 2019 Two Oceans, he says
he would like to go for a sub-4:20 in the ultra, as he
has managed a best of 4:22:49. “I like challenging
myself and achieving good times. For example, I
have a PB of 36:11 for 10km, and would like to break
36 minutes. I just love the challenge of running, and
pushing myself to new limits, and the camaraderie in
the running community makes it all worth it. Also, as I
mentioned, I run for the cheesecake...”
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