It has been a while since my last post and a lot has been happening so I thought that I would bring you all back up to speed with the preparations for the marathon in April.
It is a little over 3 months left to go so the training is full time now and I must say that I am enjoying the running. I ran a marathon with a very good friend of mine some 21 years ago now and I don't remember the running being as good. (yup...21 years ago Mark!!! can you believe it?)
My training, as another friend said, would be as interesting as the marathon itself and I think you will agree it has been unusual already. I live and work in a wildlife area and so my training routes are governed by factors such as "where are the lions today", "Bheki saw a buffalo bull near the gate"...you know....that sort of thing!
I have seen three of the big five on my runs already including Lion, Buffalo and Elephant as well as giraffe, kudu, impala, baboons and monkeys!
My latest lion encounter was a couple of weeks ago when I set off down the hill for some speed work. The schedule said 60sec max effort followed by 3 min walk etc etc. I warmed up and started my watch and took off like a man possessed. As I neared the bottom of the hill a herd of impala started snorting an alarm call and ran across my front. I imagined they were alarming at me as i now sounded like a locomotive so I carried on. When I stopped and began my walk I could still hear them snorting. I looked up and there not 80m from me was a lion standing and staring at me.
Now I am not shy, in fact some might say the opposite but I tell you you feel very self conscious standing in the open 80m from a lion and all you have to protect yourself if a skimpy pair of running shorts!!
I looked for signs of agression but found none so I started backing away. He followed!
I stopped and stared at him and he sat down. I slowly inched backwards until there was a little bush between us and he stayed sitting so I took my leave and raced home for the truck. I gathered my family and we came back to photograph him.
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It is a little over 3 months left to go so the training is full time now and I must say that I am enjoying the running. I ran a marathon with a very good friend of mine some 21 years ago now and I don't remember the running being as good. (yup...21 years ago Mark!!! can you believe it?)
My training, as another friend said, would be as interesting as the marathon itself and I think you will agree it has been unusual already. I live and work in a wildlife area and so my training routes are governed by factors such as "where are the lions today", "Bheki saw a buffalo bull near the gate"...you know....that sort of thing!
I have seen three of the big five on my runs already including Lion, Buffalo and Elephant as well as giraffe, kudu, impala, baboons and monkeys!
My latest lion encounter was a couple of weeks ago when I set off down the hill for some speed work. The schedule said 60sec max effort followed by 3 min walk etc etc. I warmed up and started my watch and took off like a man possessed. As I neared the bottom of the hill a herd of impala started snorting an alarm call and ran across my front. I imagined they were alarming at me as i now sounded like a locomotive so I carried on. When I stopped and began my walk I could still hear them snorting. I looked up and there not 80m from me was a lion standing and staring at me.
Now I am not shy, in fact some might say the opposite but I tell you you feel very self conscious standing in the open 80m from a lion and all you have to protect yourself if a skimpy pair of running shorts!!
I looked for signs of agression but found none so I started backing away. He followed!
I stopped and stared at him and he sat down. I slowly inched backwards until there was a little bush between us and he stayed sitting so I took my leave and raced home for the truck. I gathered my family and we came back to photograph him.
I have also been kitted out recently with some proper running shorts (I ran the Vic falls half marathon in a pair of khaki safari shorts last year!) and a beautiful pair of running shoes that feel like I am running on Air. Many thanks to my generous donors.......
I will be setting up a means by which you can donate to the cause if you chose so watch this space
Cheers for now
Brent
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