RACE REPORT – Knysna Forest Marathon (my first) by Liz Van Straaten
It was a chilly and wet start to the morning, as we lined up to get onto a bus which would take us to the start for my first marathon. It was even colder and more wet at the start line, but luckily as we were about to start the rain let up a bit. The gun went off before the count down, so off I went amongst over 800 other people. Naturally I was nervous, but I also went into the race with a clear mind and calm heart, not allowing fear or judgment to creep in.
My main goal was to get to the finish, but if I was feeling good, my second goal was to complete it in sub 5 hours, taking it easy and keeping a steady pace.
With some sound advice from Cheryl Bucklow (to run water table to water table) and having broken the run up into 4 x 10kms in my head, I got to the 21km mark before I knew it and I was feeling really good. I managed to keep my hydration and nutrition in check the whole way as well.
The weather conditions were perfect, a bit muddy in sections, but the scenery was absolutely amazing, running through the forest. There were some killer hills and even gnarlier downhills, but I just kept reminding myself I only needed to get to the next water table.
When I got to the 32km mark I knew I was going to be able to get to the finish line and I couldn’t stop smiling, despite cramping running down the steep and infamous Simola to the last flat 4kms of the race.
I managed to get across the finish line in 4h49m, which I was really happy with considering the 800m of elevation.
Knysna Forest Marathon will always have a special place in my heart and I will be back again. It is definitely one worth putting on your race calendars for next year!
Congratulations to everyone else who ran the marathon or half marathon!
