SeaBee

The answers are no and HECK NO! I'm a running noob - I only started running last winter to try and keep me fit during winter. I must confess, I enjoy it now... esp trails. Marathon is "only" (feels like time is racing towards that date...) coming on the 14th of Nov: the Winelands. I don't pick the easy ones, do I?! "Flat and fast" is hardly descriptive. Just aiming to finish, hoping to sneak in under 4:30, if that's not too ambitious for a first attempt. So I really enjoy reading all the tips and strategies here...

I remember a similar incident many a moon ago where a rabbit or something was hit in a 500cc race as well - seem to think it was Eddie Lawson or Wayne Rainey...(?)

Don't know whether it's to do with the setup of the group (or my user setup) - but I ONLY see cycling activity. One thing that the leaderboards are for cycling, but even the "recent activity" tab only shows cycling acticity and not even my runs from yesterday or Saturday. Also none for anybody else, but I know I've done those runs...

Only for Comrades runners or mere mortals (aiming to do their 1st marathon next month) too?

It's a dirty job, but somebody has to guard the braai grid. And the wandering pine cone. Vigilance at work!

Well done MrFine! That sounds like serious fun! I am gobsmacked at the Otter results though. Breaking 4 hours (just, but still!) is unreal. Could not believe that he actually made it when I saw it. Not just talking the talk...

Stoner?! Loose, wild and almost out of control?! Are we talking about the same person?

That's exactly how I feel about it. But it was one of those "must do one" things. Of course, my one buddy already said "and once you've done a marathon, you HAVE to do Oceans!" Fortunately Oceans have trail runs as well... did the half last year and... hmmmm.... while it was nice at the time, I really enjoyed some recent trail runs much more. (La Capra and the Sanlam Peace trail very easily springs to mind!) At least the Parkrun will be fun and some distraction. I do most of my mid-week runs on the r*ad anyways. But early morning, when it's dark and quiet and little cars around.

Just name a thing Brauhaus and I'm optimistic! I know this is not trail, but... I am not going to have much ito fun this weekend. I have somehow convinced myself it's a bright idea to enter for my first marathon. Entered for Winelands. Klaar, done and dusted. So this weekend I must force myself to have a 30+ session on the road. Will most likely run to the Parkrun, do it (slowwwly!) and back. Just don't know what I'm going to do with myself for the there and back sections of 16k's each. Just... straight.... road. At least I'll have good company - Me and Myself are tagging along - the three of us make a merry team!

Really enjoyed the Goat Run! (Sorry Koei...) I actually thought the route was going to go the other way around according to the elevation profile we received earlier the week and was really looking forward to coming DOWN that initial ascend. In hindsight, it was a bit snotterig, so coming down there would have made for some spills... From where I started, it was impossible to do anything but walk up there, since the entire road was clogged with people walking. But I would not have run much more than I did up there anyways. From there on, great fun! The fact that I wasn't stiff was most likely due to not pushing too hard. Yes, I still took some snappies mid"race" again. Unreal to think though that the (15k) winner came in in just over an hour! I don't do that on a flat road for 15 k's, let alone on that route. Friend of mine did the 28 and she said it felt like 128 at some stage!

That face tells you one thing - walking is meant to be done OUT-SIIIDE!

Not to worry, droenn... We're going to have fun, that's what counts! Potentially wet fun, but... fun nonetheless! What is it with the weather this year?! Doing the 15. Pretty sure the route they sent will run clockwise, which will mean some interesting climbing - and the descend at the end will be great fun! We did that by bike a while ago. We also did pretty close to what seems to be the climb in that same ride. I'll have to find a willing calve rubbing expert, because we're going UP! if it's the same climb... Lekker man, lekker! Then again, there'll be CBC's at the end - it'll make it worthwhile!

Sorry, this may be a bit boring, but... I love those shoes! Went for a Park Run on Sat (my first) and a friend suggested to use them because I am going to run harder than a normal training run. Awesomeness! Went back to walk the last bit with the rest of the family, nothing resembling pain. Yesterday I went on a run. Thought I'd take them out for a more gentle, but longer run before Goat Run. Then thought I'm going to look for the canon in the Mountain, had a fair idea of where it should be. Found it without too much hassles. Then went on and thought all is feeling well, another bit here, run there, got home and I did 25 k's - very little of them flat. Probably not the intro you should give yourself to new shoes, but all is perfect this morning. Typical, go for a 25k run to see whether you'll be able to do a 15k one!

Sense Pro's it is... Plan is to have a quick run in them tomorrow and then properly introduce them to the mountain at La Capra Goat Run next week! No, it may be early in their life, but they can't hurt me more than my current shoes, so... willing to take that slight gamble.No, the drop should not be an issue, my road shoes (Kinvara) have 4mm drop.

Those Ridgeys are awesome dogs - I love mine! She's going to get a lot of running k's this summer... And you forget just how big they are (because they're so sleek and not bulky) till you see them next to another dog.

A friend of mine has a dark red pair. Think he got that at the concept store. Dark red with black heel? See below (very niiice!) Funny thing about the Pro's - around here I only see the dark blue (and black heel) ones in shops. On Salomon site they feature a totally drool-worthy (in my taste) colour - dark (greyish) blue with green at the heel. (And then the above Red-Black.) But the blue colour is not even on the site. Ja, I was gunning for the 4mm drop (instead of 6mm on the Pro) and the more flexible shoe, since the rock plate does not run as deep. But if they don't last, then hmmmm. I have actually read of a reviewer that ran with them for almost 1500k's! I don't even get that on my road shoes... presume he's built like a mosquito and most likely runs VERY light and effective. The other point is, even if I do get them at the same price-point that the Pro's - I won't feel I justify the shoes, even though they might be better! I'll feel like I'm pitching up with a S_Works Epic at a 20k family funride.

BTW, while we're chatting... I know shoes were discussed earlier. But I am going for a new pair. I am 90% set on Sense Pro, but now heard that I might be able to get Sense Ultra and Ultra SG for same price (the 3, not the new 4 - for obvious reasons). I have looked at Saucony Peregrine as well, but I think I eliminated this. Which is sad, because I thought it will be a perfect "match" to my road shoes (Kinvara). Any experiences to share on those?

Eendag as ek groot is... Man, that would be awesome to do, but no. Ironically I know a guy who went on the shortlist and actually got an entry in the lucky draw. Even more ironically, I saw him beginning of Sept - and he just started running again after a bout of illness. You doing it, Riaan?

Completely agree, that was part of my comment a while ago regarding the way it seems to be heading to a two-engine series like Indy. Nobody wants the Honda. Those that have it, curse it - or call it a GP2 engine. Renault is not as bad, yet RBR is so bent on getting rid of it, they are now approaching their main competitors for engines? And demanding equality to works, not normal customer engines... Small wonder Niki called (as usual) it as it was when he said very early in these "negotiations" that Merc will not be crazy enough to supply RBR.

Iwan, did I miss something? Huge "driver line-up" announcement advertised (typical American!)... and they only announced Grosjean? I never saw who will be partnering him, despite several rumours. Ons another front - at least Lotus apparently now have a letter of intent from Renault.

Do you really want to know...?! Hey, at least I remembered Bentley, Jaguar and Mercedes is not there any more...

Argh, I thought of Porsche and typed Peugeot! Agreed, multiple engine suppliers to multiple teams (né Honda...) And really, this developement freeze is BS. Back to the STR scenario - what impressed me more about that all was how they made the super softs last as long as the other teams ran on softs! (I am pretty sure they pitted with the rest under the second safety car.) Be that as it may - awesome drive from Verstappen to come from the back having had his great qualifying nullified. Has he been spending too much time with Kimi?!

I, for one, would love to see more manufacturers. Audi has got a grip on hybrid engines, as does Toyota and Peugeot. (Who am I missing from LMP1?) It's crazy to think we may be at an almost Indycar stage next season with two engine suppliers, plus one (maybe two) teams running other (Honda and Renault) engines. Crow, I agree that that was the intent... But jeez, they could have explained it a bit better to the guy at the time! And maybe have done it a lap (at least) earlier, both to give Sainz a run at Perez and decent time to swop back if required. Fortunately it sounds as if there's no hard feelings from Sainz's side.

Haha - Savage, that was a nice giggle... I did the "dirt jog" as part of the Sanlam Marathon on Saturday. Signal Hill and Leeukop. But for some congestion in the beginning - school fees, don't stand riiiiight at the back for an unseeded trailrun! - it was awesome! First time I ran there, so really enjoyed it and took a lot of snaps - not as if I was ever going to win it! Genuine awesome route and great views, will take some buddies one weekend and return to those slopes. My sense of humour did fail... twice. Those that were there will appreciate both moments. First when, after about 19k's, they show you the road down 3 (street) blocks of stairs you climbed up at the start. I just laughed when I realised what was coming. But even worse was the realisation that I could get a seat riiiiight next to the Mitchell's draught supply, but there was nobody there to pour the Mitchell's?! Seriously?! After a trail run - no beer? What did they think I drag my sorry azz over a mountain for? Next up the Fairview goat run. First... somebody have a spare set of quads?

Shorts - any light running shorts. But NOT those hyper short ones the "roadies" like. Currently have Nike and Adidas ones, both works perfectly. On the topic of chafing, also started developing an inner thigh chafe of late now that I start running further. Plan to wear old compression shorts under my shorts on longer runs to alleviate the problem. Who cares what it looks like?! Light: I recently got a LED Lenzer - I think it's the EOS 5 version - the red one, anyways. Not this heckuva battery pack and gives a nice light - enough for the pace I run at, anyways! (Just a funny halo effect which I only noticed on the last run, but that might be due to the focus ring, which I haven't really played with.) Dew/rain drops next to the path catching the lights on dark runs still take my breath away! Love it...