Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 150 May 2022 | Page 36

End in Sight ( Sort Of )
We were lucky to get a cool , cloudy day and even luckier with very little wind – by far the best running conditions over the last decade , I am told . Other than having to run an extra two kilometres between walk breaks , I did not find any problem with the less frequent tables . There was also excellent support along the latter stages of the race , with many clubs setting up support tables for their runners , and they were more than happy to dish out food and drink for those in need .
With just under five kilometres to go , Simon ’ s Town and the naval base came into view . This means that someone at my pace spent the better part of 30 minutes longingly ‘ naval-gazing ’ into the distance whilst grinding out each step towards the sanctity of the finish line . Also , after 41 flat kilometres , there are a few nasty speedbumps before you veer left into South Africa ’ s largest naval base .
The finish at the naval base in Simon ’ s Town is on the far left of the bay , which allows plenty of time for naval gazing in the last 5km .
Catching up with the Modern Athlete Editor after the race
More Marathoning , Please
Buoyed by the breaking news that the Two Oceans Marathon is a go for 2022 , and with limited qualification marathon options in the Western Cape , 827 of the 984 finishers made safe harbour at the naval base in under five hours to secure their starting positions at the planet ’ s second largest ultra-marathon . Personally , I enjoyed this frolic along the Atlantic Ocean , but decided that Easter was too long to wait for a second ocean , so I immediately set my sights on a trip east the next week , to the Indian Ocean for the Best of the Best Marathon in Durban . But that ’ s a discussion for another blog …
Peninsula provides a pleasant frolic along the Atlantic Ocean
From here it was a few hundred metres around the sports fields to be welcomed home by two of the most recognised finish line voices in the Cape , Sean Falconer and Harold Berman , the latter who has been on the mic at Peninsula for over 30 years . Sean was keen to get an update on the progress of my column for the next edition of Modern Athlete mag , and for the record , I made the deadline cut-off comfortably enough with an article on the previous week ’ s Joburg North City Marathon .
Sidenote : Running marathons on three consecutive weekends is part of my post- COVID weight-loss plan , and I was hoping that this run down the Cape coastline would make some inroads to my waistline ! When meeting people in person for the first time , I have often been told , “ You look a lot bigger on the internet !” The camera does indeed add 10 pounds , but the good thing about getting a finish line photo with Sean Falconer is that it adds 10 centimetres to your height !
I may not swim like a shark , but I am currently running like a penguin !
About the Author
The Running Mann has run over 240 marathons and ultras , and his current mission is to run every marathon in South Africa . He recently fulfilled a lifetime goal of securing a shoe sponsorship from The Sweatshop Broadacres and Asics South Africa ( and a running kit sponsorship from Runderwear ), thus allowing him to run more races and share their stories . You can follow his adventures on Twitter , Facebook or Instagram , and on his popular blog .
Images : Courtesy Stuart Mann
36 ISSUE 150 | www . modernathlete . co . za