Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 56, March 2014 | Page 37
Race Report
Man, it’s
HOT today!
What They Said…
Images: Sean Falconer
Modern Athlete was at the finish to ask runners how their
race went. Unsurprisingly, the hot weather and wind came
up over and over.
Cape Peninsula
Marathon & Half
Marathon, Western
Cape, 16 February
The 47th running of the Cape Peninsula Marathon, from
Green point to Simon’s Town, once again attracted a
huge field, with many going in search of a qualifying
time for the big ultras. However, the heat and wind did
not make it easy. – BY SEAN FALCONER
A few days before the Peninsula, the organisers sent out a media release
warning runners to expect extremely hot temperatures on race day, adding
that an additional 25 000 water sachets and extra ice had been ordered.
Race day duly arrived and the mercury quickly shot up to the high 30s, and
while the south-easter was blowing fairly briskly, it didn’t do much to cool
the runners down. (The heat wave that engulfed the Cape on this weekend
actually led to a cycling race in nearby Stellenbosch on the same day being
stopped midway, as temperatures on the road reached 45 degrees!)
At the front of the 5000-strong pack for the combined marathon and half
marathon races, Dicardo Jakobs and Zintle Xiniwe, both now running for the
New Balance Multisport Club, successfully defended their titles in the men’s
marathon (2:23:08) and women’s half marathon (1:23:22) respectively. The
remaining winners’ titles went to Keri-Ann Marshall (Atlantic Triathlon Club,
women’s marathon, 3:11:54) and Nkosinathi Madyo (Nedbank, men’s half
marathon, 1:09:50). For many of the rest, it was all about coming home in
under five hours in the marathon for a Two Oceans qualifier, and the fistpumping and high-fiving was a sight to behold as happy runners streamed,
and steamed, over the finish line.
Zahrah Salie, Ommiedraai AC, 42km, 5:45
“It was bad today, a combination of distance, flat terrain and the
heat, and I cramped at 32km. I was aiming for a sub-5, as I wanted
to qualify for Oceans, so that means I will have to come back
another year for my third one. Still, I made it in under the final cutoff, and the camaraderie stood out for me today. It’s also great to
see so many more new faces taking part in the races each week.”
Marize Edwards, Bellville AC, 21km: 3:01
“I tried to beat my own cut-off, which is three hours, because if I
can do that, I know I can do the Oceans Half, which is a dream for
people of my age and limited running talent. I’m 65 in two weeks’
time and I can still do what I do thanks to running, in my own
unique way.”
Kerry Sillifant, New Balance Multisport Club, 42km: 3:28
My goal today was a sub-3:30 for a B seeding at Oceans, but I
didn’t think I was going to make it. I had a bit of an internal cry
because I was battling a bit from Fish Hoek, about 10km out.
Running into people I knew really helped, and this one junior from
Fish Hoek made me laugh when he saw me walking and said to me,
‘Come on, you can’t walk now. Almost home’ When he heard I was
doing the full, he responded, ‘OK, then you can walk.’”
Taariq Pietersen, Central AC, 21km: 1:55
“Today was tough because of the weather conditions, but it
was a nice, flat course. I was aiming for a 1:40, so I was very
disappointed when I saw the clock, but the wind was killing me
in the last few kays – it felt like I was running still on a treadmill,
going nowhere!”
Sean Robson, Atlantic AC, 42km: 3