RACE REPORT: Winelands Marathon “Vasbyt” by Annelize Van Niekerk
Everyone that knows me, knows that I love Winelands marathon. I enjoy the undulating rhythm of the route with a quick first half and a grin and bear it second half… over the anticipated newly tarred-gravel road section that promotes the hope of an easier run… but alas don’t be fooled…
I started this year with excitement that it’s my last race for the year…I have had a great year of running this far and wanted to finish off with my favourite route. End of year burnout was real, as the overall exhaustion of 2023 started to take its toll… and my race number was 1666… so what can go wrong, as it’s a devil of a race that I do know.
I called a friend to collect my race number as it was Black Friday madness in the shops… and load shedding…so roads were chock and block full and it took me over an hour and a half to reach Stellenbosch, just to have another 4hrs of load shedding in the guest house…
Saturday morning was great cool weather with a slight breeze…perfect weather. Not hot, just warm. I met up with the Fish Hoek gang and Shani and I decided to run relaxed … and enjoy the race. Everyone that knows Shani knows that she is best in telling stories… so, she chatted and chatted the whole way, taking our minds off the run… until we turned up at the Strawberry Scarecrow farm towards Somerset West and reached 22km… Suddenly, my calf said no more. Shani gave me her deep heat sample pack and I begged her farewell. I had a painkiller; salt; potato; MyO2rub; Gu; Rehydrate and everything I could get my hands on for the next 20km’s…that relieves cramps…
It was the first time ever in a race, that I was desperately looking for a “bailer’s bus” or anyone faintly familiar that can take me to the finish… but no one was there. So, I ran until I cramped and walked until I cramped for the next 20km. It was so annoying as I could feel my legs wanting to run, but the calf just said -ooo-eh -eh!! No go!
I felt devastated as I hoped to get a sub 4:50 qualifier done…but I just had to ease off – eating, drinking and walking more than running until the famous gravel section… I am sure that the gravel road was more level and less uphill than this tarred section is today? We all moaned and groaned, walked and cramped to the end of the section… I tested the waters for the last 5km to see if I can manage a run…and I could manage as long as it’s downhill.
It was the fastest last 5km I think I have run in a marathon ever… every step my mantra was ‘Vasbyt! Vasbyt!’ and I made it in at 4hr50min15s … I burst out in that horrible sob cry with relief that it’s over and that I manage to squeeze in a qualifying time…
For now, I will shove the “cramp-race experience” into my race-cooky-jar, for next time if such will happen, I will know I can do it…(and carry Crampeze). My bruised leg 2 weeks later still reminds me that the mind is so much stronger when it matters.
JUST BELEIVE IN YOURSELF.
