Sunday, 6th January 2008

The run on Sunday the 6th of January - the Chairman's or Signal Hill Run - is a traditional run on the first Sunday of the new year. It caters for runners who would like to do a longish run (22 km) at 5:20 to 5:30 / km and those who want to run a shorter distance (14 - 15 km) or at a slower pace. The 22 km route merges with the shorter route at the Zoo parking area below Rhodes Memorial. The idea is for all to converge on Signal Hill at more or less the same time. There we'll toast in the new year and have breakfast. Non-participating spouses, partners, children, etc. are encouraged to join us on Signal Hill. The arrangements for the run are as follows:

Meet at: The VOB clubhouse, Constantia Sports Complex; alternatively, the Zoo parking area below Rhodes Memorial
Start at: 6h00 from the VOB clubhouse, alternatively at 6h30 from the Zoo parking area
The route: From the VOB clubhouse on the suburban roads through Wynberg, Kenilworth and Claremont, along Union Ave to the Zoo parking area, then up to Rhodes Memorial, a shortish scramble up to the contour path on Devil's Peak, along Tafelberg Road, terminating on Signal Hill
Distance: About 22 km from Constantia, 14 - 15 km from the Zoo parking area

The route is an exhilarating one, particularly after we get on to Tafelberg Road, where Table Mountain towers above us on the left, the city bowl stretches away below us on the right and Lion's Head is caught ahead in the full morning sun.

As this is a point-to-point route, please make arrangements to get back to where you left your cars. Please also make arrangements amongst yourselves with regard to breakfast. There will be Coke trucks along the route, so please bring some drinks and hand them in to whoever is manning the Coke trucks.

May I wish you all a happy, peaceful and productive new year.

See you on the road!

Gerry

Seamus's e-mail after Noordhoek Peak run

Hi there,

Just a quick note to thank you all for joining us for yesterday's run and breakfast, and to Gerry for organizing it. It's a pity about the mist at the peak, but for those first-timers I can promise you that you can see Hout Bay from there - to prove it I've attached a picture from 2004. (I think we've seen it on three of the runs over the past 8 years, so the odds are against us).

As I don't have everyone's address, won't someone please pass on our thanks to Tilly (who carried the rucksack down for me), Gareth Owen, Annette, James, Charles, tracker George (I don't know how he found his way to the Peak on his own when you crowd got lost twice in a group!) and anyone you know who else was there but whose name I may have missed. John, if you would say thanks to the next generation of Brimbles - Ben - as soon James will be too old to do the run so hopefully the family tradition will continue. (Was James bald when he was 8 - is that why he was wearing a crash helmet when he seconded you at Oceans?)

Thanks so much also to those who contributed to the breakfast - and to those who kindly offered - we were overwhelmed, and I'm sure Annemarie appreciated the help. To Dennis from Celtics - many thanks for the wine, but I have decided to stay with VOB - they countered with a bottle of wine and a bucket of KFC. Maybe for a case....................? (I'm sorry you weren't able to do the run - maybe next year, but it was great that you were able to join us later).

And not forgetting our femme fatale Brigette (Jones), who graced us with her presence at breakfast (on her way home from Tiger Tiger or somewhere?) It's time you did the run again - your input and OC observations are sorely missed.(?)

Best of luck to all of you who are now into your Oceans training - I hope you have a good run.

Thanks again and best wishes to you and your families for Christmas and the New Year.

Seamus and Annemarie

Sunday, 30th December 2007

The run on Sunday 30 December will be along part of the Two Oceans route, so the arrangements are to -

Meet at: The old zoo parking area just off Union Ave, Rondebosch
Start at: 6h00
The route: From the zoo parking south along Main Rd, past the Constantia sports complex, up Constantia Main Rd to the Nek, back along Rhodes Drive
Distance: About 25 km

This Sunday we'll have an opportunity to familiarise ourselves with parts of the Two Oceans route, whether one is running the 21 km or the Ultra event. From the parking area we go down to Main Rd to where Two Oceans starts (opposite Ohlssons Brewery), then south along Main Rd to the top of the incline in Kenilworth, along Aliwal Rd and Wolfe St, past the Victoria Hospital and VOB club house, then along Constantia Main Rd to the Nek. From the Nek there's a choice - a) along Rhodes Drive proper, or b) along Old Rhodes Drive above Cecelia Plantation - to Kirstenbosch top gate, then Rhodes Ave, up Chet's Hill on Union Ave and back to the cars.

We owe Annemarie and Seamus Daly a great big thank you for organising the wonderful breakfast after the Noordhoek Peak run. Thank you, also, to those of you who contributed to it, in particular to Dave Thomas, who brought his coffee machine and made coffee for all.

Run on Sunday, 6th January 2008

Please diarise the first Sunday run in 2008: it will be the 22 km Chairman's run (otherwise known as the Signal Hill run), starting at 6h00 at the VOB club house and ending on Signal Hill with breakfast and a toast to the new year. More details next week.

May you enjoy a blessed and peaceful Christmas,

Gerry

Sunday, 23rd December 2007

Hi again,

For the annual Noordhoek Peak run on the 23^rd December we -

Meet at: Seamus Daly's house, 5 Wanderers Close, off Welgelee Rd, Constantia Hills

Start at: 6h00

The route: From Wanderers Close, via the Tokai Plantation, to Noordhoek Peak in the Silvermine Nature Reserve, and back

Distance: 22 - 23 km

From Seamus's house we run towards the Tokai manor house, past the Arboretum and into the Tokai forest for some steady uphill running, which we will take slowly and easily, and a short piece of zig-zag trail which takes us to the top of a saddle overlooking the Silvermine Nature Reserve. There we'll take a break for a drink. From the saddle it's more steady uphill running in an anti-clockwise arc in the reserve, and finally a short climb to the top of Noordhoek Peak. On the peak itself conditions tend to be blustery and quite chilly, but there's a beautiful panoramic view over Hout Bay, Noordhoek and beyond, which most people living in Cape Town never ever get to see. (The pic of Hout Bay above was taken a few years ago from Noordhoek Peak). On the way back there are equally breathtaking views over the entire southern peninsula and False Bay.

Breakfast after the run

In my last two e-mails I mentioned that Seamus and Annemarie Daly have generously invited runners and their families for a breakfast afterwards. It's a great way to end the year and catch up on your fellow runners' news. To quote from an e-mail Seamus sent last year: "the run .. will be followed by a breakfast, which will take the usual form, and we would like you each (adults only) to bring a gift to the value of not more than R50,00 - men bring a men's gift and ladies a ladies' gift, which will be put into a lucky-dip basket. Non-runners, ex-runners, injured runners, friends, spouses, partners, families, children, guests, dogs are welcome and non-running adults are encouraged to bring a gift as well so everyone can participate".

It would be a great help if you would let Seamus know if you will be running and if you will be joining us for the breakfast (and how many people you will be bringing) to help not only with the catering, but also to plan what drinks to put out on the run. Seamus's contact numbers are 021 794 1532, and 082 449 7314

I hope you are enjoying your exercising.

Gerry

Sunday, 16th December 2007

Hi,

For the run on Sunday the 16th we -

Meet at: Jubilee Square, Main Road, Simon's Town
Start at: 6h15
Distance: 21 km (28 km optional)
The Route: Simon's Town to Smitswinkel Bay and back

From Jubilee Square we head east and then south along the False Bay coastal road past Boulders, Rocklands, Miller's Point and Castle Rocks to the Forestry Station above Smitswinkel Bay . En route there are beautiful views across False Bay to the Hottentots Holland Mountains, Hangklip, etc. The last few kms are uphill but the views south towards the Good Hope Nature Reserve and Cape Point are spectacular. From the Forestry Station we go back along the route we came (distance 21 km). Runners wanting to do more can proceed along the road on the eastern side of the Swartkop Mountains alongside the Nature Reserve, then up and over the Red Hill Road, and back to Simon's Town (28 km).

Sunday, 23rd December

The last run before Christmas will be from Seamus Daly's house to Noordhoek Peak and back, a distance of about 23 km. Afterwards runners, partners and families are invited to a breakfast at the Dalys. If you intend staying for the breakfast, please phone Seamus on 0217941532 (home) or 0824497314 (mobile) to let him know how many are in your party. I'll provide the details of the run next week.

Happy exercising!

Gerry

Sunday, 9th December 2007

Hello again,

There are only 15 weeks left to Two Oceans on Easter Saturday, the 22nd March 2008. If you intend running it, now is the time to start training in earnest.

To celebrate the re-opening of Chapman's Peak Drive, this coming Sunday we'll run from Hout Bay over Chapman's Peak to the Noordhoek Village complex and back. The start is a fair distance from where most of us live, so we will start at 6h15. Meet at the car park at the base of Chapman's Peak Drive (opposite the Chapman's Peak Hotel). The distance is 20 km and good weather is predicted. For the speedier runners or those who would like to do a bit more, there is the option to continue along the Noordhoek Road to the Sun Valley Mall before turning back, which would make it 24 - 25 km. Besides being part of the Two Oceans route, the Chapman's Peak Road is an absolute pleasure to run along as it is just so breathtakingly beautiful.

After the run we'll have breakfast at La Cuccina in Hout Bay.

Sunday, 23rd December.

Please diarise the 23rd December as the Sunday on which we'll be doing the Noordhoek Peak route, a distance of about 23 km. This run on the last Sunday before Christmas - and the breakfast afterwards - have become a tradition. Seamus and Annemarie Daly have again very graciously offered to host us for the breakfast. There will be an exchange of gifts and runners are asked not to spend more than R50 on a gift. If you and your loved ones intend coming to the breakfast, please phone Seamus to give him details of how many will be coming. Seamus's contact nos. are 0217941532 (home) and 0824497314 (mobile).

Enjoyable exercising!

Gerry

Sunday, 2nd December 2007

Please note that by popular request the Sunday runs during the summer will start at 6 am.

This coming Sunday we will again start from the Constantia (Alphen) Kwikspar. We start off by running north-east to Victoria Hospital, then Alphen Hill, Wolfe St, to Tennant Road past Wynberg Girls' school, Lover's Walk, over the Edinburgh Drive pedestrian bridge, Upper Primrose and Klaassens Roads to Kirstenbosch top gate. From there it's along the gravel roads through Kirstenbosch and Cecelia Plantation to Constantia Nek, down Constantia Main Road, through de Hel, and back to the cars via Southern Cross Drive, Duckitt Ave, etc. The distance should be about 18 km.

Although there is still some tree-felling activity going on in Cecelia's Plantation, the gravel roads have been graded recently, and there is only a short section (about 200 m) of badly churned-up road, so it's really pleasant to run along what is now called Old Rhodes Drive.

Hope you are enjoying your exercising,

Gerry

Sunday, 25th November 2007

This coming year the Two Oceans ultra will be early - on the 22nd of March 2008 - which means there are only 17 weeks left for training. Normally one starts training after New Year, but because next year's event is so early, one should start training in earnest from about the second week in December.

I would like to get the Sunday runs going again because it makes training so much easier and more enjoyable for everyone.

This Sunday we'll start from the Constantia (Alphen) Kwikspar at 6h30. The route will be partly on tar and partly on gravel road along the favourite routes in the beautiful Constantia Valley. We'll start along the Alphen greenbelt, crossing Brommersvlei Road, and at the top of the greenbelt go left to Beauvais, then around the Rathfelder loop, into Gemini Road and Pear Lane, down Constantia Main Road to the Catholic Church in Price Drive. From there it's along Schoenstatt to Groot Constantia, through the vineyards to Klein Constantia and Nova Constantia Roads, along Spaanschemat River Road to Firgrove and then back to where we started. The distance will be about 18 km.

I hope you will be able to join me.

Gerry