DAY 2 - CAPE TOWN
We arrived in Cape Town at 7am and were told that the new race start time is now an hour earlier at 9am. I felt a bit annoyed since I don’t like starting my day in a frantic manner. Especially coming from a long night without having proper sleep. I needed to shower and get breakfast in just an hour and a half. But I realized that this was a good decision given that running later towards the late afternoon would just be too hot.
The Cape Town course is a six-loop course around Sea Point. It was like being on a long run on a weekend, seeing other runners and strollers. Except we needed to do it six times. The 9am start was cool, crisp and sunny. Quite comfortable for me considering I run late in humid Singapore.
I felt good starting this race. I was surprisingly in good spirits considering I barely slept on the flight. Maybe because the heat is something I am more comfortable with plus there are less variables (and layers) to think about. I felt that this will be a steady run.
The course runs along the beach then wends its way along the beachfront boulevard. I treated the first half as a meditative course since it was directly facing the sea, with the waves crashing, ebbing and flowing. The constancy was calming. It was the longer part of the course as well so I treated that as the working part.
Then I get to my favorite rest stop with the burly gentleman who served me coke. I looked forward to this aid station so I can have a cup of cold Coke and potato chips. That was such a treat. I will try to find respites like this one in every race. These save me especially on the last stretch.
The next part of the course is a shorter one along beach road. I treated this as my rest run because I know that it was now a shorter way back to the end of the loop. Part of this is a line of food trucks along the bend a kilometre from the end point. I promised myself I would get a treat here on the fourth loop.
The first three loops were okay. Pretty steady. The left hip wasn’t acting up as much and I wasn’t adjusting with my left leg so often. My legs just felt really tired and I felt that I was dragging my feet and not really lifting my leg with each stride. I try to engage my glutes more so I have a more circular stride. This needs practice for me. I’ll try to keep in mind in the next runs.
The next three loops were tougher. The sun was higher and it was considerably warmer. I could see other runners struggling. I was struggling too and felt much heavier. So I willed myself to stay upright and tried to engage my glutes more with each stride. I now started to look forward to my Coke and chips stop. Then I treated myself to a Nutella ice cream cone from the food trucks and I ran while trying not to have the ice cream drip over my hands.
I also met an elderly runner, a doctor who now lives in the US but was born in South Africa. He ran next to me and we chatted about how crazy this race was. He kept me company along the beach road part. I hope I had more of these conversations along the way. It would help distract me from the repetitive loops. But I was happy just to be cheered on by passers by. And the guy in a wheelchair, knitting along the coast side. He had a bright big smile and said he will be waiting for me. Those little gifts from the universe to make the struggle less so are much needed and appreciated.
The last stretch was tough. Everyone just wanted to finish and get it done. The heat started to get to me. But I plodded on and just cheered each runner as I passed them. I felt the exhaustion that I saw in their eyes. Then I just recited David Whyte’s line- “The antidote to exhaustion is wholeheartedness.” Then my heart swelled once more as I remember why I am doing this as I see all the other runners keep on with their whole hearts and minds. I keep going.
On the last loop, I try to make it a special one. As if seeing something for the very last time. And it could actually be the last time I will see this place. I try to relax and ease into the run. I pay attention more and try to get out of my head. I try to remember details and imprint this last stretch into my memory.
Then the finish line looms ahead. I wear my shades, straighten myself and freshen in the best way I can. I muster my strength to get into a more energetic run. I am also really energized by the thought that I have a physio appointment right after. I needed to make it to that 3pm appointment. Funny how we can further extend ourselves and stretch beyond our perceived limitations when we know that someone is relying on us .
I crossed the finish line, happy and relieved. I was in a much better state of being than the Antarctica run. I was very grateful for that and did not feel broken. I saw Smita at the finish and I hugged her tightly. I was just really happy to have done a second marathon without breaking apart. I honestly was doubtful the previous night after the first tough marathon. Finishing this race with energy and hope was a much better state.
Then I head off to my physio appointment without even showering. I am met by a wonderful younger guy who had a nice physique and was kinda cute. He already assessed my condition as I hobbled towards him.
Mohammed runs his own clinic and was born and raised in Cape Town. He has worked in other countries and has been practicing for a decade. He has 4000 clients and services high performance athletes. I had a wonderful time chatting with him about the race, about recovery, about wellness. He first started me on Normatec compression boots and I told him I have the calf version and that I also have a Theragun. He was pleased that I knew these tools. I also told him about the physio tools that Jenny uses. I think he valued that I appreciate his practice.
I was glad I went for this session. It was a great relief from the tightness that have started build up in my legs. I hope I can find more physio along the way. I have Gillian to thank for this.
Then it was a mad dash to get ready in less than an hour to get to the airport. I quickly showered, packed my bags and wolf down half a burger. I hate being frantic but I’m glad I had a physio session and that this scramble was a trade- off.
We meet at the Premier Hotel then ride the bus to the airport. I sat next to Dennis and just had a fun time chatting with Mr. Congeniality. He had a knack for making everyone feel welcome and at ease. He always has a nice little note to say to everyone. I want to try to do this too.
Then we start the wait before boarding. I find out that the Chinese gentleman I sat next to on the flight from Antarctica was not allowed to re-enter Cape Town because he was on a single entry visa. He had to run around the departure area for his Africa marathon. Now that’s crazy amazing. Such fortitude. That could have been me if I just got single entry.
I was excited to see our plane. It was an unmarked one except for the World Marathon Challenge logo with flags. They even had a carpet at the foot of the stairs with the logo. It felt special. Then we enter and see that it was an all business class plane with our names on the seats. I was told the airline company, Omni Air is based in Dallas and 80% of their flights were on much bigger planes but with regular seats. They mostly ferried military personnel. They do have these fancier planes that are used by athletic teams, movie crews and executives. Our plane was recently used by the New York Patriots football team. What a treat to be on this posh plane especially after the previous night’s tight flight. Everyone was ready to get some rest on a flat bed.
I set up my little nook for the night with all my recovery tools and paraphernalia. I am glad I prepared all these. It gave me a familiar routine that calmed me further. It took a while for me to sleep because we needed to be upright as we landed and took off from the refuelling. I said I will just have the longer rest on the flight from Mauritius to Perth.
I feel rested. There is a niggle at the back of my ankle but I know that will be okay. I go about my morning routine before everyone wakes up. I have breakfast and start to think about my plan for the next race. I will run the first half in a steady manner. Then the next half I will do a run-walk and follow Smita’s technique. Four and a half minutes of running then walk thirty seconds. I am not used to this but it is worth trying to conserve my energy. Perth will be a night run so I hope the heat would not be that bad. I just hope that running in the dark would not mess up with my psyche. I have gotten stretched, rested and went about my routine. I’ve got this. A run at a time. A step at a time.