Delays, Delays, Delays
After the year we’ve had, with races being cancelled/postponed because of rains and floods or taxi strikes, we were relieved when this one happened, albeit a month later than scheduled.
Due to unforeseen (insert bureaucratic Municipal bullshit here) circumstances, the third leg of this wonderful tour-of-local-wine-estates, family-friendly series had been postponed from November to December. Man, was it worth the wait.
Our venue, The Delheim wine farm, a sustainable, family-owned establishment, is spectacular. The vineyards are beautiful, and although the hilly course along the slopes of the Simonsberg mountains in Stellenbosch challenged us, each step was an adventure – what with hidden holes and divots all along the single track!
Delheim Wine Estate
Delheim, owned by the Sperling family, has an unconventional history. Founded by Hans Otto Hoheisen in 1938, the estate transitioned from citrus to vineyards in 1951, led by Michael “Spatz” Sperling. Despite initial challenges in wine making – apparently one person called the first wine, ‘dreck’, Spatz turned out quite the trailblazer in the South African wine industry.
He notably co-initiated the Stellenbosch Wine Route in 1971, thus shaping the local wine tourism industry
Spatz’s dedication earned him the prestigious 1659 Medal of Honour in 2012, acknowledging his impact on the industry. His legacy extends beyond accolades, and includes emphasizing sustainable practices, worker welfare, and the estates commitment to the environment.
Delheim’s story is woven with passion and pioneering initiatives. For more, please go here.
Reunited!
We had a little bit of an AAC reunion at the start of the race, with birthdays and long-time-no-sees. Some of us got lost, but we won’t mention names. I WILL say, it wasn’t me. For a change. For realz. No really…
I love the camaraderie of the running community. I love the friendships fostered, the sense of family, in general. But this series combines the best of all running worlds.
Race morning, I was tempted to bail. I had a bad night and woke with a headache. But I didn’t want to let my friends down. Dirty Toes and Mambi were indisposed so we were already 2 men down! I couldn’t drop out too.
By way of compromise, I talked Chucky into downgrading to the 15km. When I checked the elevation on the 21km, I was SO relieved. NO way I was in the mental space for that 21km course.
The 15km route was a toughie anyway. By the 5km mark, I told myself I should have downgraded to the 10km! Yes. It really was that hard or I am overwhelmed by Dezember exhaustion. Its that time of the year when my adrenal glands are, ‘f*ck it, I’m tired. Chill already!’
The Route
My favourite part of running trail is that it is less a race, and more a running experience. Yes, someone must finish first, and they are designated the winner.
(Do I sound like a bitchy sour-grapey cow for saying that? No seriously, I don’t care! Except maybe for the prize money… ghe ghe!)
But for a non-contender like me, running in nature is its own reward.
The trail combined jeep track with a single track that wound up the not-so-gentle Simonsberg slopes, through vineyards, and pine forests, with views of the estate, that had many of runners stopping in their tracks (pardon the pun!) to take it all in.
I mean literally, stopping. People just stopped dead to gasp in awe at the scene below them.
Admittedly, the trail had more than the usual tripping hazards, which is par for the course. As you can see from Chucky’s injuries after purchasing some land.
According to Chucky, he was so captivated by the view; the ant hill came out of nowhere and floored him. That’s his story and he’s sticking to it. Mmkay!
End of Year.. blah!
I’m tired. Bone-tired. I have been bone-tired and over it for 6 months. As we go into 2024, I’m less and less inclined to put up with other people’s drama.
My theme for 2024: No Drama. I think I say that the end of every year, but this time I MEAN it!
Reluctant runner today, or no, I had no regrets after. I always say, the hardest part is getting there.
The gees was festive, more than usual, and the weather turned out perfect. It was lovely to be with the gang again, even though we missed some of our appendages. And better yet to hook up with our AAC and Topform clubmates.
This was my last trail run for 2023. The #4 race will take place in January 2024. I look forward to completing my medal and my free t-shirt! Yay, we love free swag hey!
Final Thoughts...
2023 has had its challenges and most importantly, its highlights.
The trail running did not set my life on fire and I didn’t blog least 2 races I ran this year. But hoping to add some multi-day events to the fun calendar next year.
Do I sound tired? I am. Looking forward to a couple of multi-day hikes to close off the year.
Will definitely blog those 😊 so stick around.
Onwards and upwards!
Thanks
To the crazy people who make this a WHOLE lot more fun than it would otherwise be, I appreciate you. Especially for taking pics.
Contributors are:
Ibi
Rifi
Nikki
Caryn
Rachel