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Masks

The beginning and the end

Todays news really sparked some introspection.

Thoughts on the past two years and what an unimaginable time we’ve all been through. The thought of wearing masks permanently, was just incomprehensible, as was what was going to become of us all, mentally, physically,  and emotionally .

As usual, my time frame and memories are sparked and marked by my running milestones.

Running -my coping method, my sanity, my sense of self, my health.
Running has made me who I am and has given me many experiences and forged many friendships.

Sadly a few figures noticeably absent now as I write this, victims of this pandemic.

The start of the pandemic brought about a physical confinement, resulting in hours on the treadmill and indoor trainer. 3 hrs on a treadmill – how ???

But I was lucky. At least I didn’t have to resort to running 20m loops around my back yard.
Once we were allowed out, literally like horses bolting out the stable, the 3hrs were used fully for runs around the neighbourhood, together with every man and his dog Allowed out….. , for 3hrs a day – ludicrous !

Of course Comrades was cancelled. A devastating blow to any runner, but then the advent of virtual races was born.
Virtual races. The concept was novel and everyone latched onto it. Any hope of something semi normal, some sort of race, something to still train for and be involved in.
During this initial lockdown period, many runners were born.

Virtual Comrades was launched and of course I was hell-bent on running the whole distance. Luckily the Gods aligned and by this stage we were allowed  out for the duration of the day, although night curfew still existed. What an epic day – a story all on its own.
A day never to be forgotten in my memory

Embedded in my mind, are the many trail runs done at Cradle moon. Sneaking out” illegally” and running on the deserted trails in the winter dark and cold. Amazingly when a place is untouched, no feet have trodden the ground, the emptiness is literally felt and was at times eerie.

I undertook the Goggins Challenge , together with a bunch of people with whom I’ve never met. We supported each other via Whatsapp and facetime calls . Some of these people were in the USA . One in Japan, who I still remain in contact with

The Goggins challenge -another story  on its own, Skyrun was run again, just for the hell of it, because the race could actually happen and I felt the need to celebrate freedom and health.

Two words that mean a lot to me and have kept cropping up during these past two years

 – FREEDOM and HEALTH –

without either of these, what are we?

Roll on 2021. I decided to setup a Couch to 5km group . For anyone wanting to start running or walking .
To get off the couch and stop eating the banana bread!

To just be able to see people and talk to people face to face. To get out their front door. To learn how to start a day efficiently and to learn how to end your day effectively without being stuck to your laptop 20hrs a day. To make new healthy choices, Just to start drinking water! To see a sunrise. To watch a sunset . To be able to walk more than 800m. To know that the world is bigger than the 4 walls of your house .

Nearly 50 People signed up. I nearly killed myself in the process but 6 weeks later,  they all ended up finishing our 10km Virtual race with ease

To this day the groups still continue to run and walk. Fourways Five Roads, Runners- most definitely born form lockdown.

Lives changed, friendships forged

Before Easter a  message and phone call , led to a crazy decision to undertake  a Journey of 100 miles What a journey and ever so thankful for it, as without this focus I may have lost my sanity

A journey of friendship , lessons and experiences beyond what could be imagined . A few stories written already on this experience, but the ultimate culmination is still to be told . It’s taken a while to process and sink in.

Training for something this big , through a pandemic is major. Gyms closed, races cancelled , threat of getting sick . All these mental worries ontop of the pressure of life and the training program.

Never mind throwing in the loss of loved ones

Once thing for sure, it made us adaptable. It made us strong . It made us appreciate the little things

I for one have learnt to really take each day at a time, literally one step in front of the other – exactly what you do when you run 100 miles.

Going down  to run the pre race marathon that couldn’t happen , but we ran it anyway  , was a major highlight for me . The joy I felt hitting those trails . I truly realized that I love to run (another story here)

Training camp was intense and beautiful  and then all of a sudden it was race day

By the Grace of God we made it down in good health and physically strong  and before I knew it, it was over and done.

As usual, after such events the comedown and depression is real . To face the day to day reality with no goal , but also physically exhausted and needing time to recover and readjust is not always pleasant

I took longer than expected to bounce back and in December the dreaded Covid hit . And yes, although not so sick, it took me a good two months to feel semi normal again (I never really feel normal , but this took its toll in a big way )

Not wanting to sit back and do nothing , I decided that I was going to ride the Cape Town Cycle Tour 2022 . This coming from a chick who has never sat on a bike before

So December was Bicycle Boot Camp time for me . I’m proud to say from Dec till April I completed 4 x 100KM + road races as well as CTCT .

I found the cycling so hard and foreign and I hated it. But I had committed and refused to lose face

CTCT was in the worst weather imaginable and was probably the worst 4 hours of my life, but I did it

And guess what? Now I love my bike

  • Lesson, Never be afraid to try new things
  • Never stop learning and pushing your boundaries
  • Things you find difficult, with enough practice and effort, soon become easy

Such a cliché , we’ve all heard this before ,  but really you have to do it, to experience and actually know what it feels like

Sometime during my cycling efforts this year, road races started coming back.

Another highlight for me was running the Dischem 21- the first official road race back

Oh what excitement and what joy

To run in a pack, seeing the streets lined with runners of all sorts

Did I say , I love to run ?

End of April I embarked on a little 10 day trek across the Karoo. Something that I’ve wanted to do for a long while. Sheer physical effort, living with the basic necessities .

The simple life with no distractions, no cell phone. Miles of emptiness and an environment of extremes .  Sheer , raw , South African beauty and a harshness only found in Africa

I was in my element !!!  Take me back tomorrow

I came back physically stronger and have since run  some of my best road races

Comrades training commenced in earnest and I had high expectations.

I travelled down to KZN to do the Fordyce Fusion Training Camp – for those 3 days I could pretend I was an elite . Training was on point and I was sure I would achieve my goal

Nothing like running however  to humble a person and bring one crashing down to the ground with a thump !

The irony of managing to dodge every germ and bug as well as the dreaded Covid, and then to wake up on race day not feeling quite right

Before we were even 15km into the race I knew something was up and I started getting sick.

9hrs 30 odd minutes later and I plodded into the stadium . I can only describe my run as a tortuous stagger from water point to water point and a sheer test of mental strength

At the 60 km Runzone water table, when I decided I could not go on someone gave me a handful of tablets which I gratefully swallowed ( who knew what they were and I actually did not care ) but those tablets  saved my race

I walked down Fields hill – walked , it was the only part of the route I was looking forward to running!  Anyway from there on felt a bit better and could go onto finish.

I can’t say I felt elated or any sense of emotion, other than disappointment in myself ( why are we always so hard on ourselves , another runners trait I think )

That said, my entry for 2023 is already in.

Another year , another chance , another opportunity

So instead of Comrades being the end of my year, I had to enter another marathon , to redeem myself ( which incidentally  it did not ) and then I entered Ride Joburg and Tough One

Ride Joburg was my best day out on my bike – exactly 11 months after I first decided to learn to ride and I was so happy with my time – thankfully that went to plan

RAC tough one will be run on the 27th Nov , specifically so I can get the special Run/Cycle medal – something I would not have been eligible for , a year ago

And then it will be time for a break

We have come full circle. In my mind, everything is preceded or precluded by a running event or happening.

Forever grateful I can still run and that I have the health and opportunities to do so

I will continue to live my life in the best way I know how, and celebrate each glorious opportunity given as tomorrow is guaranteed to no one

In memory of those loved and lost during these awful past two years.

Who knows  what will transpire in the coming months, but one can only hope and pray for a  better  2023  . Perhaps the end of masks was the manifestation that we have turned the corner.

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