Cyclists with a "Running" Problem

[PhilipV]

My plan for CTM was to set out slowish, take in the gees, have a jol, build chats take photos, drink a beer and then let the vibes take me home for the last bit of suffering.

We were in line for the bus at CTICC when the announcement came through and they disembarked the buses. Couple next to us flew in from Thailand. 
We were however a lekker group, so we decided to run a marathon anyway.
 
I didn’t want to not run as I took an immodium an hour before AND my mother in law was at  home. 

So we set off from there, ran to the start via fan walk, Promenade, VnA and then back to the prom to head out to 12 Apostles. When we hit the prom for a 2nd time the Gees arrived and we were joined by the masses. It was kief. The vibe was immaculate . We refilled our bottles at randoms parked next to the road who set up water points, and I got to run with my wife and three very good friends (who all had different goals and never would have run together.)  I did a 4:29 for my debut road marathon. I’ll take it. Maybe I’ll do another one next year if Sanlam keeps their promise. 

We finished our marathon in the waterfront, but alas, no beer sales allowed until 11am, so we went home and had a braai. All in all a fantastic day. 

Although my calfs feels like someone who realised at 38k that a 4:30 was possible I’m not too sore today. I never hit the dreaded wall at 30, never cramped and managed to keep the pace below 6min/km  for the last 5k. Ja I’ll take that. But first, it’s bicycles and beach season. 

Edited October 20, 2025 by PhilipV

[milky4130]

13 minutes ago, mikkelz said:

Pretty sure that was 2010, my first. 😃

you are correct 🙌

[PhilipV]

Im pretty sure that the call to cancel was made for the organizers by the metro/JOC. The Linkin Park situation and the death of a runner due to falling branches earlier this year probably prompted them to err on the side of caution. And that isn’t a bad thing. 

I think Faces and the City need to take the lessons and learn from them. 
Plan for a windy scenario with less structures, better branding or more strategically placed branding, a potential delay to the start and a Plan B for the route. I’m sorry, but the route we ran yesterday was better than the official route anyway. 
Even if it is two loops of the CBD to Camps Bay it’s better than no race. Cape Epic had a similar situation in Lourensford this year. They delayed the start, marked out a new route, still had a race. 
 

Edited October 20, 2025 by PhilipV

[Shebeen]

1 hour ago, milky4130 said:

2009 was the other windy year when Lance Armstrong was on the start line, only a handful of folk got sub3’s that year but more importantly the race carried on.

Was def 2009 the super windy one, but potayto potarto

https://www.news24.com/sport/OtherSport/Cycling/South-Africa/wind-warning-for-cape-town-cycle-tour-20170311

 

at least they did talk about it upfront!

 

 

1 hour ago, milky4130 said:

 

 

2017 was cancelled but only after we started, I got as far as the end of the blue route. But I doubt was because of the wind, more political with protesters at Masi.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CruxW9_K09n/?igsh=MXF2OTdnYmUxMHBpbQ==

You're not quite right there, here's the archive post - it was due to wind.

https://bikehub.co.za/news/cape-town-cycle-tour-2017-cancelled-r6257/?srsltid=AfmBOorXu_825nviZJpPnRTamIgBOy82EtuYdn4ce-JNUctBBEUgczZn

 

but it does bring up a good point.

Argus 2017 was cancelled AFTER there was a protest threatening road closure in masi (I think it might actually have been OV). The organisers had a backup plan of cutting out that loop and blackhill was to be used instead. There had also been fires on the mountain in the buildup.

Whether those two contributed or not is up for debate (as it was at the time).

 

 

 

Edited October 20, 2025 by Shebeen

[mikkelz]

It's an interesting one for sure – the (relative) lack of wind for the rest of the day probably made people question the decision more. It was always going to be windy on Sunday (I was watching the forecast all week for Durbie Dash on Saturday).

The CT marathon in 2023 was super gusty in places as mentioned before (Woodstock, Salt River, etc.), but nothing too abnormal for Cape Town.

Running UTCT (65km) in 2015 was insane in comparison. Trail running on and around Table Mountain with crazy, wind, rain, and poor visibility all day. There wasn't any talk of cancellation, in hindsight, maybe there should have been?

Or we were just tougher "back then". 😂

TL;DR: the conditions were 100% fine for running/cycling. The temporary structures weren't which is a fail.

[IceCreamMan]

https://www.citizen.co.za/news/opinion/men-lose-minds-over-windy-cape-town-marathon/

[b-rad]

https://runningmann.co.za/2025/10/27/cape-town-marathon-cancellation-deep-dive/
 

 

[ScottCM]

Does anyone own or have used compression boots like Normatec, Pulsio, MyoAir etc that can speak of the long term use of these types of gadgets? Do they really work and more importantly would you recommend the investment? 

[milky4130]

7 hours ago, ScottCM said:

Does anyone own or have used compression boots like Normatec, Pulsio, MyoAir etc that can speak of the long term use of these types of gadgets? Do they really work and more importantly would you recommend the investment? 

I dont own them but have used them quite a number of times when my stage race partner brought them to events like W2W & other smaller races where we are staying over for the week/weekend. It's a bit like massages no scientific evidence to suggest a benefit but if placebo is your thing & you have the spare cash to splash on toys then why not, I would.

[Shebeen]

20 hours ago, ScottCM said:

Does anyone own or have used compression boots like Normatec, Pulsio, MyoAir etc that can speak of the long term use of these types of gadgets? Do they really work and more importantly would you recommend the investment? 

remember when the fad was COMPRESSION socks to make you faster!

It was peak powerbalance time and the sheep would believe anything.

Some still swear by it. good for them. I would put this in the same category, so while this doesn't answer your question the bullshitometer is pinging loudly for me.

 

https://modernathlete.co.za/2010/06/compress-for-success/

 

[Bro Derek]

IMHO this is an unnecessary road to even look at going down.

As a bog average middle aged 'athlete', just accept the recovery and training cycles. Marginal gains aren't going to really improve you, there are other, zero cost things you can do better/differently that will work better.

 

[Irvin85]

On 10/14/2025 at 9:13 AM, Zama7 said:

Any recomendations for a podiatrist in pretoria that makes running inners?

You can give Pieter Duvenhage a call - 0823126235 he makes running inners

[IceCreamMan]

2 hours ago, Shebeen said:

remember when the fad was COMPRESSION socks to make you faster!

It was peak powerbalance time and the sheep would believe anything.

Some still swear by it. good for them. I would put this in the same category, so while this doesn't answer your question the bullshitometer is pinging loudly for me.

 

https://modernathlete.co.za/2010/06/compress-for-success/

 

I always put my left shoe on first. It makes me faster, I can’t explain it but it does. 

[dave303e]

2 hours ago, Shebeen said:

remember when the fad was COMPRESSION socks to make you faster!

It was peak powerbalance time and the sheep would believe anything.

Some still swear by it. good for them. I would put this in the same category, so while this doesn't answer your question the bullshitometer is pinging loudly for me.

 

https://modernathlete.co.za/2010/06/compress-for-success/

 

I miss power balance bracelets. You could spot an them from a distance and avoid them.

Now you have to interact with them and wait for them to discuss their latest fad diet(banting, keto, vegan etc), fad sport(hyrox, padel, crossfit etc) or other useless craze before you realise and walk away.

 

Note- I was short on my lists, but I can elaborate if anyone needs me to grate every single human being on the forum...

[Shebeen]

looks like CT running event organisers need the number from the marquee guy at Gravel Burn. https://www.instagram.com/p/DRTZ_pcCBEH/?hl=en&img_index=1

[dave303e]

surely if you operate a tent rental company in the Cape you make sure your product can handle wind...
These companies must be killing insurance companies losing their company assets every time the wind picks up.