Ottosdal Night Marathon

This past weekend we headed to Ottosdal, circa 3.5 hours outside of Johannesburg, for the weekend. We stayed on a farm, free of charge, with the most hospitable couple known to man, Bennie & Ansie. It was like going back in time making me realise that I'm a soft city boy. We were welcomed with a braai on the farm and introduced to the friends of the family. Above is the picture of Benny's dad who started the farm after World War II where he fought in South Africa's campaign in Egypt. Afrikaans and English intermingled as we made ourselves understood. Classic phrases which we picked up over the weekend:

• "hy het 'n kom-moer-my gesig" = "he had a come-hit-me face"
• "ramparty" = "stag party"

Below are some of the collector's items, rugby greats on whiskey bottles:

I found an old South African flag on some of the hundred patches which Benny has collected over the years. Looked to me more like a collector's historical item than a political stance. In the pub, there was an authentic old South African flag alongside that of Che Guevara. Anyone who knows recent South African history would find the juxtaposition pretty humorous.


There was more horizon around Ottosdal than most city folk get to see in a lifetime. It liberates the soul and frees up the mind.

The Ottosdal marathon is run by the local church. Every year the settlement (poor chaps don't even get to be called a town) has a sporting festival which lasts the weekend. Cycling and running races with a market offering an array of different food and products. Everyone from the neighbouring farms comes to help. Alberto & I even got our heads shaved in support for Cancer. The chap on the left was a farmer. His chirp which made our day was: "Don't expect perfection, because I'm a boer not a barber."

Local sponsorship was organised by a lot of the farming co-operatives and companies. Dekalb mielies (corn) was one of the main sponsors. "The proof is in the corn".

As the sun set, a couple of thousand runners gathered for the night marathon. 21k's out of town as the sun turned the sky pink and orange, turn around and find yourself guided back to the stadium by lanterns in the middle of the road. As dusk enveloped us, we struggled to find the sweet spot on our running feet. The darkness soon lifted as a million stars slowly upped their power and filled the night sky. More stars than you've ever seen in your life. Breathtaking.

1st 10 k's in 54 mins, 2nd & 3rd in 53 mins, last 10k's in 61 mins. Total was 3.57 with an average heart rate of 141 and a maximum of 158. The wheels started to wobble at 35k's, mainly due to lack of mileage, so we switched off the engines and coasted in, trying to save the suspension for another day. Biggest run before this had been the 21k for the Bedfordview Helpers Run on Jan 9th, so we were happy with our outing. I know it's risky increasing the mileage so rapidly, but sometimes you have to push the envelope a bit if you want to start running with the big boys.

We celebrated at the finish line with a bowl of curry and rice for the unbelievably low price of R15 per bowl! Just what the doctor ordered.

And their medals were out of this world. Those who were able to do the Saturday 100k bike and Sunday 42.2 would be rewarded with 2 medals, which would fit into a third gold medal (see below). I may have to get on these bad boys next year.

A highly recommendable weekend. Something I see myself doing for a few years to come.

Did I mention that they drew some of the entrants's names from a hat and gave away *real* diamonds? I kid you not. Sitting in the diamond district has its perks.

Keep on truckin',

RobbyRicc

Domino

The Guinness advert above made me realise that often in Life, when we think Big, we have to start really small. And build up slowly.

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An Italian friend of the family came to me this weekend and said two things:
- Devi sempre combattere
- Non devi lavorare per i soldi.

Which translates into:
- You must always fight
- Don't work for money

He told me this on Saturday evening at the end of one tough week of everything, both physically and emotionally.

That morning I had cycled 140k's in an area south of Johannesburg, on a spectacularly flat road which links 1st and 3rd world areas with emaculate ease. Two riders had bailed during the ride: one due to stomach cramps; the other due to being slightly over cooked. Everyone else hung in, hoping not to blow for the longest ride of the year. It was in one of the long efforts that my mind cleared and became focused on the tarmac beneath me. One of the other riders broke away and headed off into the distance.

My ego surged, but my mind held back. It isn't time to go to the well, just yet. That time will come. February and March will be when the training really begins. This is just a right of passage to see if we'll be strong enough for the road ahead.

My friend's words, especially his words "devi sempre combattere" rang in my head for most of the marathon. The run was all about qualifying for the Two Oceans marathon, so no need to dig deep just yet.

"Not working for money" interestingly enough was discussed on the run. Alberto, my intrepid unstopppable brother, and I met Dean, a junior South African champion boxer. Dean ran with us for about 30k's and told us about his junior years as a boxer sparring with South African champions and fighting opening bouts at Madison Square Gardens. Throughout his career his greatest purse was R60,000.00 ($6,000). And his job was 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When he wasn't boxing, he was recovering. In the end, four years of this was more than he could take and he quit after 17 professional fights.

Interestingly enough one of his opponents, whom he beat regularly, was given a world title shot where the pay was R1m ($100k). I'm not sure what the moral is behind this, whether sticking at something no matter what they throw at you will result in untold fortunes, or whether you better have a good reason for sticking at something where there isn't any money. Whatever it is, there better be a good reason for you waking up every morning and going to hang out with people that you see more often than your family.

What do you expect to find at the end of the rainbow?

After the first marathon I ever ran in 2001 (4h13) I slept for four hours, and couldn't walk for 3 days. This time round my 3h53 was a piece of cake. Despite my legs taking a beating, my heart remained strong.

One week of rest and then we up it a few notches.

Devi sempre combattere,

~RobbyRicc