Road Running: The 15 km Firgrove Challenge

15KM of Rolling Hills

4 November 2023

The Route

Spartan Harriers hosts the 15km Firgrove Challenge. The race starts at the Cape Academy of Maths, Science and Technology in Constantia.

If Bay 2 Bay was run along the most expensive real estate in Africa, then the leafy suburb of Constantia is old money, probably descendant of the old mining barons of yore, harking back to the days of Cecil John Rhodes.

Constantia is famous for its wines and wine estates, initially started by the Dutch governor, Simon vd Stel in 1685. It is one of the oldest suburbs in South Africa, and home to the famous Groot Constantia and Klein Constantia wine estates.

During Apartheid, Constantia was declared a Whites Only area and many of the non-white residents were forcibly removed to Mitchells Plain, Lotus River and other designated areas.

Today the likes of Mark Thatcher, son of the late UK Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, and Earl Spencer, brother of the late Princess Diana, have homes there.

Constantia is also home to two Muslim Karamats (Saints), Sayed Mahmood (RA) and Sayed Abduragmaan Mathebe (RA), political exiles banished by the Dutch to darkest Africa during the Dutch colonial conquests of the East.

In this leafy suburb, took place on Saturday 4 February 2023, a 15km road race. Pre-covid the race used to be a half marathon. Although shorter now by 6km since 2022, the course remains a series of undulating hills. My favourite!

The Start

Race day dawned with a beautiful sunrise; Cape Town weather showing off again, as thousands of runners made their way to the start, just outside the Academy.

Rollin' With My Homies

This race is the definition of rolling hills.

Mercifully most of it takes place under the shade of the many trees lining the streets while the wealthy residents slept; we ran.

We started at 5.45am. I allowed myself 3kms to warm up at a decadent 7km/h.

No way I was going to even try to keep up with these speedsters:

The first half of the race is mostly hill ups with one long downhill that is very tempting to let loose; but I know, for me, I need to manage the downhills, so my quads won’t abandon me completely in the second half.

As usual, the Spartan Harriers marshals were out in force, dressed in their festive hats, egging us on, telling us we looked good. (It’s mandatory for race marshals to tell these white lies to keep runners motivated.)

Also nice to see the Ommiedraai Running Club volunteering as marshals, as always a bright happy spot on the road.

At 10 kms I allowed myself to go for it. I was aiming for 1h30 but kept consoling myself that this was a training run.

Many runners had passed me in the first half. I loved passing some of them in the second half.

It’s so satisfying to pass people.

The long down hills are tempting to race, but, again, I didn’t want to push too hard. I felt good. My VO2 was in the zone. I was running between 5.15 – 6km/h but I had enough breath to have a fat old chat with anyone within earshot.

In the last 2kms I passed more and more runners.

I wasn’t going to make 1h30, but I wanted to finish strong, so I managed a sprint to the finish, just, just beating a runner from Kway/VOB with a 70-age tag. (There is nothing more humbling than having your ass kicked by anyone at least 20 years your senior!)

1h32 with plenty left in the tank. Colour me satisfied.

Heavens Special Child

On many races, including the ultras, you will often see running buggy’s with differently abled children being pushed by volunteer runners.

Today, one of the organisations participating included the Warriors on Wheels Foundation who create links between able-bodied and differently abled children to allow the later to participate in events, including running and cycling.

This is Princeton.

I passed him and his runner on the race. He reminded me of my late brother, born with CP (Cerebral Palsy).

Mambi walked about 8kms with him, and they bonded during the race. I spoke to his mother and told her how lucky she was to be blessed with a child with special needs.

Despite the immense challenge of raising such a child, it is also deeply rewarding. My brother taught me compassion, empathy, and patience. (I don’t have much of the latter left.) He was the great joy and love of our lives.

When he was born, the doctors gave him 3 months to live.

It was only the sheer force of my mother’s determination, her fierce, unconditional love and innate defiance of the prognosis, I believe, which kept him alive, especially the first few months of his life when the hospitals and clinics refused to give him his mandatory inoculations.

They wrote him off.

He had so many challenges, from clubbed feet and hands, severe scoliosis and an underdeveloped brain, that the doctors advised her to institutionalise him. They said it would be extremely difficult for her to raise him by herself.

My mother refused.

In the end, his under-developed lungs succumbed to double-pneumonia. He was 23 years and three months old. He only outlived the doctors’ prognosis by 23 years.

A meeting was held quite far from earth – It’s time again for another birth.

Said the Angels to the Lord above – This special child will need much love.

His progress may seem very slow and he’ll require extra care –

Accomplishments he may not show from the folks he meets, way down there.

He may not run or laugh or play –

His thoughts may seem quite far away. In many ways he won’t adapt –

And he’ll be known as handicapped.

So let’s be careful where he’s sent – We want his life to be content.

Please, Lord, find the parents who – Will do a special job for you.

They will not realize right away – The leading role they’re asked to play.

But with this child sent from above –

Comes stronger faith and richer love.

And soon they’ll know the privilege given – In caring for this gift from Heaven.

Their precious charge so meek and mild – Is Heaven’s very special child!

(Author Unknown)

Special needs kids resonate with me.

For 23 years my life, my family’s life, revolved around one.

I try to make a point to reach out to the family, to tell them I understand their challenges.

They are a reminder of the power and resoluteness of a mother’s love.

Princeton and children like him, serve as reminders to those of us who have no outward disabilities, that we are blessed and have much to be grateful for.

There but for the grace of God, go I.

The Finish

I missed Comfort Bunting today.

Because I adore him but also because he takes great pics of us while we are running. As you can see, no action shots today. Also, I am a mediocre, at best, photographer.

However, I was delighted to see AAC’s ‘Mr Inspiration’ Caspar Greeff at the race. He had entered the 5km and was waiting for his daughter, Michelle, to come in for the 15km.

‘Uncle Cas’, as Lynne calls him, is 85 years old, and still running. If not for his sciatica, he would probably have run the 15km. Uncle Cas hardly ever misses a race, including marathons.

He has 38 Comrades medals under his belt, including 17 (seventeen!) silver medals. Seventeen times he ran 90kms (give or take) under 7h30. (Yes, read that again!) 7 hours 30 minutes. What a legend!

If that doesn’t inspire you to get off the couch…