Training Log Archive: nmulderIn the 7 days ending Oct 14, 2012:
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Saturday Oct 13, 2012 #
5 AM
Trail Running (Hobbit Amatola Trail Race) 7:54:16 [4] 49.0 km (9:41 / km) +4926m 6:26 / km
(injured) shoes: Salomon 3D S-Lab Red/Yel #3
Felt good at the start line of Day 2. Had discussed with Ryno the possibility of catching 2nd place overall. Jacques had blown badly on Day 1 and there was a possibility if I had a good day and he had another bad one. I would be more than happy just getting anywhere near my 2008 time, which was then a course record. Since then, course has changed and is now longer by about 2-3km, finishing in Hogsback rather than Hobbiton.
Went out at a steady pace up Geju peak, playing conservatively. Ryno stuck with me and Jacques just a short distance behind. Floored it down Malan Forest gorge though, but not as quick as 4 years ago. Got to the bottom about 9 mins off record pace. Jacques looked finished already, so we left quickly up the next climb, pulling an immediate gap.
* Actually twisted my ankle quite badly going down Malan Gorge, but was able to continue without too much hesitancy.
Felt good for most of the next section across to Zingcuka. Ryno kept me company but then speeded up and set off on his own at much higher speed about half way there, whilst I kept pacing myself. He was already 10 mins ahead after 6km when I got to the Wolf River Road CP.
Not much further problems. Knew I was going to suffer going up the Hog, so paced myself before hand. Still suffered, but found I was closing the time gap to my 2008 splits. Got to the Hog split 1 minute ahead.
Last section to Hogsback was mentally tough (and hot). They'd done an extra detour to avoid a muddy butt-slide which also added distance. Passed Hobbiton in what I though would be almost an identical time to my record of 4 years ago, but then still had another 2.5km of dirt road which I ended up walking a lot of.
Finished well over an hour behind Ryno but comfortably in 2nd place. Jacques blew badly and ended up loosing too much time, so I also moved into 2nd place overall.
Great race, superbly organised by Tatum, Tweet and Lofty. Really enjoyed it and will try to be back in future again, hopefully fitter this time. It still rates as the most beautiful and toughest trail run that I've done in the country. Ryno won by 10 miles, taking the course record into new territory.
Went out at a steady pace up Geju peak, playing conservatively. Ryno stuck with me and Jacques just a short distance behind. Floored it down Malan Forest gorge though, but not as quick as 4 years ago. Got to the bottom about 9 mins off record pace. Jacques looked finished already, so we left quickly up the next climb, pulling an immediate gap.
* Actually twisted my ankle quite badly going down Malan Gorge, but was able to continue without too much hesitancy.
Felt good for most of the next section across to Zingcuka. Ryno kept me company but then speeded up and set off on his own at much higher speed about half way there, whilst I kept pacing myself. He was already 10 mins ahead after 6km when I got to the Wolf River Road CP.
Not much further problems. Knew I was going to suffer going up the Hog, so paced myself before hand. Still suffered, but found I was closing the time gap to my 2008 splits. Got to the Hog split 1 minute ahead.
Last section to Hogsback was mentally tough (and hot). They'd done an extra detour to avoid a muddy butt-slide which also added distance. Passed Hobbiton in what I though would be almost an identical time to my record of 4 years ago, but then still had another 2.5km of dirt road which I ended up walking a lot of.
Finished well over an hour behind Ryno but comfortably in 2nd place. Jacques blew badly and ended up loosing too much time, so I also moved into 2nd place overall.
Great race, superbly organised by Tatum, Tweet and Lofty. Really enjoyed it and will try to be back in future again, hopefully fitter this time. It still rates as the most beautiful and toughest trail run that I've done in the country. Ryno won by 10 miles, taking the course record into new territory.
| CP | 2012 | 2008 | 2006 |
| Mnyameni Hut | 1h48 | 1h39 | - |
| Wolf River Road | 3h59 | - | - |
| Zingcuka Hut | 4h40 | 4h32 | - |
| Schwarzwald Road | 4h56 | 4h53 | - |
| Hogsback 8k mark | 6h00 | 6h01 | - |
| Finish (old) | 7h54 | (7h23) | - |
Friday Oct 12, 2012 #
6 AM
Trail Running race (Hobbit Amatola Trail Race) 9:02:31 [4] 54.0 km (10:03 / km) +3438m 7:37 / km
shoes: Salomon 3D S-Lab Red/Yel #3
My first Amatola Trail race in 4 years. Travelled down with Ryno, who's been in superb fitness recently. Nice to be back in this area. Weather was cold and wet in the lead up to the race, but on the day is was sunny and warm, with the trial remarkably dry. Ran with the usual Salomon backpack and 2 bottle hip belt combo.
After the gun, Ryno and Jacques Mouton were gone by the 2nd corner. I settled down into a comfortable pace in 3rd, with 2 others right behind me, but they'd dropped off by 5km when things got steeper.
The trail across McNaughtens Krans was almost impossible to find. Looks like the trail in this section is being discontinued. Lost about 5 mins trying to follow it. Also lost it again just before crossing the main Loop trail. Got to Gwiligwili Hut in 2h29, which was 19 minutes slower than my PB 4 years ago. Ryno and Jacques had gone through in about 2h10.
The track to Dontsa was in good condition. My body hadn't felt right, looks like I'd lost all fitness in my illness post-World Rogaines, so I just kept plugging on, deciding that today would be a nice scenic and hopefully enjoyable run. Refilled water at Dontsa, 5h24. Felt queasy again afterwards, so I'm starting to doubt the Dontsa stream's water quality. Splits indicated that Ryno had just broken away from Jacques here, both about 1 hour ahead.
The climb out of Dontsa was bad, not not quite as bad as previous years. Walked most of the way up to Doornkop, but still seemed to have closed the gap on Jacques according to splits at the new CP at the Cata forest junction.
Final section up through Waterfall Forest was nice but tough. Finished at Cata hut in 3rd, about 1h15 behind Ryno and 43 min behind Jacques. Felt decent and recovered quickly for day 2. Worst time out of the 3 years, but I was just happy to have finished in good condition, with the illness 3 weeks ago really taking a lot out of me.
After the gun, Ryno and Jacques Mouton were gone by the 2nd corner. I settled down into a comfortable pace in 3rd, with 2 others right behind me, but they'd dropped off by 5km when things got steeper.
The trail across McNaughtens Krans was almost impossible to find. Looks like the trail in this section is being discontinued. Lost about 5 mins trying to follow it. Also lost it again just before crossing the main Loop trail. Got to Gwiligwili Hut in 2h29, which was 19 minutes slower than my PB 4 years ago. Ryno and Jacques had gone through in about 2h10.
The track to Dontsa was in good condition. My body hadn't felt right, looks like I'd lost all fitness in my illness post-World Rogaines, so I just kept plugging on, deciding that today would be a nice scenic and hopefully enjoyable run. Refilled water at Dontsa, 5h24. Felt queasy again afterwards, so I'm starting to doubt the Dontsa stream's water quality. Splits indicated that Ryno had just broken away from Jacques here, both about 1 hour ahead.
The climb out of Dontsa was bad, not not quite as bad as previous years. Walked most of the way up to Doornkop, but still seemed to have closed the gap on Jacques according to splits at the new CP at the Cata forest junction.
Final section up through Waterfall Forest was nice but tough. Finished at Cata hut in 3rd, about 1h15 behind Ryno and 43 min behind Jacques. Felt decent and recovered quickly for day 2. Worst time out of the 3 years, but I was just happy to have finished in good condition, with the illness 3 weeks ago really taking a lot out of me.
| CP | 2012 | 2008 | 2006 |
| Gwiligwili Hut | 2h29 | 2h10 | - |
| DontsaHut | 5h24 | 4h43 | - |
| Doornkop | 7h00 | 6h10 | - |
| Cata Junction | 8h00 | - | - |
| Finish | 9h02 | 7h53 | 8h46 |