The Landmarks Half Marathon 6 November 2022
My first post to my hiking blog will not be about hiking but about my side chick, road running.
This past weekend I swapped the trails for concrete and asphalt, although in my defence, the route passed Newlands Forest and had a nearly constant view of my beloved Table Mountain the entire time.
I love road running. It gets the endorphins going the way hiking doesn’t and it’s a magnificent way to stay fit … all of which makes for a happy and healthy hiking. The ‘runner’s high’ is real. So not quite the relaxing, communing with nature, tranquil meandering one would associate with a Sunday stroll on the many trails in Cape Town.
Although some hikes (I’m talking to you, Kloof Corner Ridge) can be exhilarating. (This is a post for another day.)
The Route
The 21.1km route winds its way past The Red Cross children’s Hospital. Traditionally, runners donate a toy to the hospital, so it’s not uncommon to see runners armed with stuffed animals at the start of this race.
Post-Covid, many races are back on the calendar, and I could not miss the WPCC (Western Province Cricket Club)-hosted Landmarks half marathon. The event lives up to its name, passing 6 of Cape Town’s famous landmarks. Although there was also a 6km option available for the more sensible.
Runners also donate old medals to the hospital throughout the year. When children suffering from cancer undergo chemotherapy or radiation treatment, the hospital rewards them with a medal for their bravery. It’s heart-warming to know that one of my medals is making a brave boy or girl smile instead of gathering dust in an old drawer.
The cool thing about this race, is that each year the medal itself depicts a landmark! Uber post-modern.
This year the medal depicted one of the area’s top schools which is passed en route, viz. Rondebosch Boys School.
The second landmark is the Rondebosch Common, is a patch of grass in a semi-posh suburb that runners like to lap twice as a 5km time trial. It’s a popular walking and running spot with its own Parkrun. It’s a great supporters’ hub during the SANLAM Cape Town marathon.
From ‘The Common’ the route gains elevation towards the best university in Africa, UCT (University of Cape Town), another landmark, perched on the slopes of Devils Peak but not before passing Mostert’s Mill, a beautiful, thatched roof watermill that was destroyed in a devastating fire in April 2021. The Dutch government pledged to restore the mill, since it was built by them when the Cape was colonised by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in 1796.
Rhodes Memorial … no more
The race’s official halfway mark was at the restaurant, also destroyed by the fire, at Rhodes Memorial. Named for the controversial Cecil John Rhodes, a divisive figure in South African history, it signalled halfway with a steep, brutal climb of approximately one kilometre which you would have to loop down again to continue onto the next landmark, viz. Newlands Forest.
The best part of the Rhodes loop was passing other runners coming up or down. I love shouting out to friends and club mates. There is nothing like a familiar face to give the legs an energy boost.
Many runners were glad the Rhodes loop was eliminated this year due to the fire. I was not one of them. I am a hiker. I love running hills. But I consoled myself that without that steep loop, I would at least be able to improve my personal course record.
Newlands Forest
We passed Newlands Forest, running along a single track parallel to the forest under shaded trees. It’s a lovely respite from the African sun. Although we started at 6am, in November, the sun is making itself known by 7am and you can feel her sting. And Sunday was a scorcher.
The route meandered through the leafy suburbs of Newlands, and I counted 3 railway subways in total that we passed under during the race. One of them smelled mouldy, but thankfully, none smelled of stale urine.
The Finish!
We ran along the banks of the Liesbeek River, passing over another footbridge, before winding our way past the South African breweries, another landmark, and the retired Newlands Rugby stadium where many a Springbok broke and won our hearts before finally passing the Newlands cricket stadium and the last (always the hardest) few kilometres to the finish at the WPCC grounds.
Personally, this was a cathartic race for me. I last ran it in 2019, weeks after my mom passed. I was unfit and unmotivated and emotionally devastated. I jumped onto the 2.45 pace bus, and knew I was in no shape to run a half marathon. It was a good thing I started slowly, and still somehow managed to finish at 2.30.
Covid interrupted the hectic Western Cape race calendar. (In the Western Cape there are at least 2 – 4 road and/or trail races each weekend). And although we did run a few races in 2021, starting with the brilliantly organised SANLAM Cape Town marathon and the Milkwood (another must-do race on the calendar), every race I run now feels like a gift.
This year I ran the Landmarks half marathon, with no particular finish time in mind. Mostly I wanted to be there to witness two of my hiking mates finish their 10th Landmarks half marathon, to see them receive their permanent race number.
Again, I started out slow, enjoyed the gees at the start of the race, met up with club mates and finished a respectable 2.12.
Afterwards we hung out at the finish for a bit, waiting for our mates to come in, cheering them on, congratulating others and catching up with other friends before going to Michaels in Newlands for coffee and a light breakfast.
All-in-all, a fantastic morning to be on the road.
Pics by Comfort Bunting. All Rights Reserved.