My First Podium by Tony Byrne

To be perfectly honest, with all the member stories coming in about the Cape Town Marathon, I feel like a bit of a fraud sharing this story, but how and never, I was asked to contribute, so here we go.

Folks who know me, know that back in the day, I was becoming a fairly decent runner.  I had done plenty of half’s, getting to a PB of 1hr 49.  So, I had decided that I could try a full marathon, and coincidently, it was that years CTM that was going to be my first.

As a step up, I had joined the FHAC Two Oceans runners when they ran the 50km training loop around the peninsula, and planned to do the first 30km to see how I felt.   Got to the water stop in 3 hours, still feeling pretty good, but decided not to push on any further and mess things up.

Joined the seconding group there, and we moved off to Fish Hoek circle for the last stop before the club, and as a large bunch of runners were taking their last break, everyone’s phones started beeping.   It was a message saying that the Two Oceans had been cancelled.  Yup, it was 2020, Covid, Lockdown, and we all we all know what happened after that.

But that’s a running adventure for another time.

So, short version.  I got Covid twice in 2021, and when Park Run finally reopened, I started to attend again, but could not run 5km anymore.  I was going sporadically, but really, was not enjoying running anymore, but went along with the aim of getting to my 250 Parkrun T-Shirt .

In late 2022, Jacky, my daughter decided that she wanted to do her first half marathon, and she needed a training partner, so, what do all good dads do?   I offered to help her get her pacing and training plan in place.  We picked the 2023 Peninsula Half as it’s fairly flat, and off we went.   Unfortunately, she had a re-occurrence of an old hip problem, and we had to can that idea, and start again with a new running plan.

New target was now the 2024 Peninsula.  We had been training most of 2023, and at first, I had no problem running with her.  We did her first 10km, and finished together, but soon after that, it became clear that running with me was holding her back.

So now we either run our own race (with her ahead of me) or different distances.

Which leads to this story.   Foolishly I had agreed to do the Short Course challenge with her this year.  What an experience!   We had done everything except the Don Lock Memorial last weekend.  As usual now, she went for the 15km, and I decided the 8km was plenty.

To be honest, with the weather report that was forecast for race day, I would have stayed in bed if Patrick had not already ordered my Short Course T-Shirt!

Race day dawned overcast and miserable.  Rolled out of bed, got ready, which strangely enough, for an 8km race doesn’t really take much time.  No real need for gels, special foods, backpacks etc, and it was simply getting my bottle of energy drink ready, and off I went.

Weather was still really miserable, and as I approached the venue I passed the runners finishing the 15km, including a whole bunch of Fish Hoek runners, who seemed to perk up when I hooted and waved at them.

Found parking, wandered to the field to find out where the start was.  Was told, out the gate, turn right, and it’s just around the corner.  I arrived at the “start” at 7.45 to find no one there.  No nothing, except what looked like a lone loudspeaker on top of a stand, covered, due to the rain.

At this stage I was getting worried, as I had already queried why the 15km race started at 6am, and we were only starting at 8am.  Plus I was sure I had run the 15km before Covid, and we had started outside Villagers Rugby Club, which was about 1,5km from where I was currently standing.

Luckily a few other intrepid runners started arriving and we all stood around in the rain, getting wet, and trying out a few damp jokes on each other.  Then the rush arrived, including the starter, and we all lined up, glad to be off running and not just getting wet and cold.

So far this year, I have been struggling to keep up a 7.30 pace for any length of time, but two weeks ago, I decided to try some new stuff with my diet and general wellbeing, and was feeling a lot better about running, and my last two club runs had started looking hopeful again.

We set off, with the usual hassle and bustle, and walkers at the front, which I don’t think pleased John Watermayer too much, as he had a few choice words to say as he worked his way through the crowd, past me and into the distance.

After the first 500m, things had settled down, and I checked my watch to see that I was running at a 6.15 pace, and was just about to slow down as I knew that I would never last the distance going that fast, but then realized that there was a VOB runner about my age (I noticed that he also had a 60 age tag on), and a lady from Guguletu running just ahead of me, and their pace seemed ok and the style and stride was matching mine fairly well.

I decided that I would just see how things went, and see how far I could get at that pace.  So, I simply shut everything out (except the LOUD 50 min bus running just behind me), and keep my focus on the other two runners.     1km down, all good, 2km’s done, still feeling OK, and when we passed the 3km water point, I grabbed a water sachet and pushed on.

I was still feeling good, and had passed the VOB runner as he stopped for water.  Also, while I was feeling great still, I was put in my place by my lady “companion” as every marshal we passed cheered her on with Go, Go, Double Double, which I soon realized, meant that she had already run the 15km and was now doing the 8km!

As we neared the 4km mark, just before Rondebosch Common, I had some flashbacks to a week ago when we marshaled at that corner.  I had watched the runners struggling up that “little” incline to the corner where I was to turn.  So, I walked about 50m or so while slugging down half of my energy drink, and while doing so, my VOB partner passed me.  I was still really chuffed with my time, the 50 min bus was already fairly far up the road, but I thought to myself that 60 min was my minimum target as that’s my normal 7.30 pace, but it looked like I could push on and do a sub 56 min at a pace of 7 min.

Got started again, with my pacers a bit further down the road, and over the next 2km I slowly caught up to them, grabbed some water at the 6km table, and then realized that I was still going strong, and that I could push on.  The three of us were still running together to the 7km point, and then I decided to just go for it, and slowly eased off ahead of the VOB runner, but with the Guguletu runner still alongside.

Then suddenly, there was the finish.  The 50 min bus had just crossed the line as I came around the corner, so I knew that I was on for a decent time and managed to finish strong for a time of 51.33, or a pace of 6.27.

I was over the moon, and as I stood there, while they handed me my finish envelope, I turned around and the three of us congratulated each other on the run.

I started to walk away towards one of the two ladies handling out medals, and as I got it, the other lady grabbed me and said “Please come over this way, sir”.  I said, “No, its fine, I have my medal”.  She repeated, “This gentleman needs you over here”.

Then they both grabbed hold of my race entry, and it looked like they were trying to tear off my finish slip.  At this stage I am trying to tell them that it’s OK, I am quite capable of doing my finish tag myself, and then I see the clipboard.

I nearly died.  I thought I was being disqualified for some reason, and I am looking at my race entry to see if it’s all OK, and randomly thinking how am I going to prove to Patrick that I had actually run my last Short Course run, when the words “Third” and “Podium” seeped into my brain.

I said, “Excuse me”?, and he said you came third in the 60-70 category.  I just laughed and said there must be some mistake, but no, there on his clipboard was a nice empty space on the line next to 60-70 – Third place, just waiting for my details.

I was beyond thrilled.  I was just so pleased that I had finally run a decent time for myself again, and here I had also ended up on the podium. Well, on the grass, in front of the Celtic Harriers gazebo!

First time that’s ever happened.

Afterwards, I had time to reflect, that my VOB pacer, who finished about 20m behind me was also in my age group, as you will recall from earlier, and unknowingly I had snaffled the final podium spot from him.

Salute my friend, until we meet again!