RACE REPORT: PPC Riebeek Bergmarathon- by Di Martin

FHAC runners: Quinton Frieslich, sub 4 hour, Patrick Benade, Hein Coetzee and Di Martin, sub 5 hours. The cement run is not for the faint hearted it has hills, hills, and more hills.
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Bit of history before I commence the race report: –

Three months ago, 3 of us started training together for a marathon. Hein after suffering heat stroke during CT Marathon needed a redemption run of note. Dianne after a forced 7 year layoff wanted to get some pace back. Patrick hadn’t run a marathon in some 30 years. Patrick became our weekly air ’Strava’ coach and we were sent the weeks program each Sunday. Hein kept the numbers sane. I pitched sun, hail and rain so the lads had no excuse not to pitch too.

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On race day Marcy kindly offered to be the ‘Dream Team’ driver and she also named our tribe. Dani came along for the banter and a good day out.

THE SILVER MEDALIST RACE REPORT:

I really hate starting any race in the rain, but the Bergmarathon had other ideas. There
weren’t that many marathon runners and we all set off with a time in our heads of what we
could possibly do on the day. I had 4:15, Patrick had 4:12 and Hein was survival and don’t
find any flower sellers on the way mode.

The first hour it rained steadily and then the heavens really opened and this made everyone
completely wet right through and darn it was cold. We then did a section of ± 11 km’s off road on what would have been a fairly decent gravel road. Except with all the rain being
experienced we ended up slipping and sliding and having clay sticking to the bottom of our
shoes and making them so heavy. You couldn’t relax as you didn’t want to fall into one of the canals along the side. The scenery was great, and cows were plentiful (the ‘moo’ kind).
From the start the objective was to each run our own race, although throughout the run we
kept each other in sight. Hein was the first to give it Horns, and Patrick was in the mix but
being cautious. I had found my pace and was running the only way I know how to. Patrick
and I managed to meet just before the end of the clay and gravel miserable bit and hit the tar running. We decided to see if we could reign in Hein which we did on the section going back into town, which had the most brutal camber and a notable downhill. Patrick ran a bit with Hein to encourage him along and I kept going and wanted to see what I had in me on the day.

With about 3 km’s to go Hein said to Patrick “go and catch Di”, which he did on the last hill
going up to the finish. Quinton did a fantastic time on that course and came home in 61st position and sub 4 hours.

Patrick and I finished in 4:21, with much ‘F’ this and ‘F’ that, and Hein came home a couple of minutes later in 4:24 (F stands for flowers?)

The first 10 finishers received gold medals, and then there were 100 silver medals on offer.
We each received one on the day. I managed 104th overall 2nd in over 60, Patrick was 105th, and 7 th in over 60 and Hein ran a PB and was 108th overall.

Kudos to all the Fish Hoek runners who were doing different distances, conditions were
tough for everyone. On the bright side of things, the organizers did a terrific job with number collection of goody bags and the water tables were exceptional.

All in all a great training program, a fun day full of banter and laugher. Thank you to the
“Dream Team”, Marcy and Dani.

PS: ‘Two Oceans: training commences after Hein has his braai break in Oudtshoorn.’ Watch
this space.