On Sunday, October 20, 2024, I accomplished my forty sixth full marathon, the Cape City marathon in South Africa!
That is my private recap of my race expertise; if you’re contemplating the Cape City marathon (and it is best to!), I hope this submit is useful to you.
Journey:
My husband Dustin and I arrived in Cape City on Friday morning from London on an in a single day flight, giving us about two days to regulate earlier than the marathon. Fortuitously, there isn’t a time distinction between London and Cape City (properly, only one hour), so jet lag wasn’t an issue. Cape City could be a a lot more durable journey from the US, and jet lag could be extra of a priority in case you’re coming from there; I shared this post awhile back with ideas for jet lag!
For the 2 nights main as much as the marathon and the night after, we stayed on the Radisson Blu at Seapoint in Cape City. This lodge was the proper place to stroll to the expo previous to the race, and to the beginning and end line on race day. The rooms have been additionally fairly spacious and we had a beautiful view of the ocean.
I plan to share a recap of our time in South Africa individually, so I’ll concentrate on the marathon race expertise for this submit.
Cape City was one in every of three cities which might be within the operating to develop into a brand new Abbott World Main; Dustin and I accomplished the present six World Majors again in 2016 in NYC. I ran Boston 2016 (& 2022), London 2016, Tokyo 2015, Chicago 2011, Berlin 2013, and New York Metropolis 2016.
I additionally loosely have the 7 continents objective, and we hadn’t run a marathon on the continent of Africa but, so we booked this journey to take action! (I’ve South America and Australia left to run. We have been meant to run the Patagonia marathon in 2020, however in fact the pandemic cancelled that one, and we haven’t rebooked.)
Sydney, Australia did finish getting chosen as the brand new main, however they’re contemplating including others nonetheless, so Cape City continues to be within the operating.
The Cape City marathon expo was easy- no lengthy traces to get in like we’ve skilled at different latest marathons (like Barcelona or Vienna!)
We picked up our race packets rapidly after which purchased a number of the official race merch. There have been a great deal of different distributors and merchandise to peruse. After we had our fill, it was a simple stroll again to our lodge.
The night time earlier than the race:
Dustin discovered an ideal pizza place referred to as Lievita, which was scrumptious. I’d positively suggest!
I had my customary pre-marathon dinner of a margarita pizza and loads of fluids, after which an early bedtime.
Race morning:
We introduced bagels and peanut butter from London, although it might have been simple sufficient to supply some in Cape City. However makes it simpler to have them with us as we’ve run marathons in locations the place they’re tougher to supply, so that you by no means know! I ate one, drank some liquid IV and occasional and was prepared to go away the lodge round 5:15 am.
I introduced a bottle of Liquid IV with me to the beginning line that I drank as the beginning approached and took a GU gel about half-hour earlier than the race.
Dustin was in one of many first waves at 6:15 am, whereas I used to be in Wave H (estimated end of three:40-3:45), which began promptly at 6:31 am. The beginning line was very properly organized with loads of porta potties and clearly marked beginning corrals.
It’s uncommon that non-US races sing their nationwide anthem at a marathon begin lin; I really don’t assume I’ve seen it at worldwide races. Have you ever? However Cape City did play the South African nationwide anthem- and everybody was singing alongside! It was pretty.
Additionally only a be aware that a big a part of South Africans converse “Afrikaans”, and I used to be surrounded by individuals talking in that language, extra so than English it appeared, although any signage was in English or in each.
The beginning of the marathon course contains some uncovered freeway bridges; the wind throughout these early miles was INTENSE. I felt like I used to be working actually onerous towards it and determined fairly early to ease up quite than blow up! Its by no means a superb technique to exit onerous in a marathon!
Mile 1: 9:16
Mile 2: 9:03
Mile 3: 8:40
Mile 4: 8:55
Mile 5: 8:27 The wind had lastly eased or no less than we have been blocked from it
Mile 6: 8:55 The course was hillier than I had anticipated!
Mile 7: 8:30
Mile 8: 8:42
Mile 9: 8:43
Mile 10: 8:43
Mile 11: 9:50 This mile included a fast rest room cease. My watch mentioned I had 50 seconds of non-moving time.
Mile 12: 8:44
Mile 13: 8:43
Mile 14: 8:59
Mile 15:8:38
Mile 16: 8:27
Mile 17: 9:21 It was fairly sunny and sizzling, however there have been very frequent help stations with loads of water and occasional electrolytes.
Interested by narrtjie taste? “The flavour of a naartjie is nice and tart, just like a mandarin orange. Naartjies are a kind of citrus fruit which might be small, spherical, and straightforward to peel.”
Additionally they provided Coca-Cola at each help station, which is extra frequent at extremely marathons vs. street. I did see a number of individuals vomit and it gave the impression to be quite a lot of coke developing…eew! I attempted it just a few sips in the direction of the tip of the race since I do know it might probably assist to settle the abdomen, however it’s not one thing I’d usually drink all through the race, although I do like a chilly coke on the finish as a deal with typically.
Mile 18: 8:44
Mile 19: 9:11
Mile 20: 9:38
Mile 21: 8:36 There have been solely kilometre markers at this race, no mile markers, however I actually like that; it mentally appears shorter to interrupt the race into 4 10k’s and the ok’s do click on by a lot quicker, which is useful mentally!
Mile 22: 8:58
Mile 23: 8:45
Mile 24: 8:59
Mile 25: 9:38 There was a reasonably imply out and again on the finish of the race; it appeared to go on FOREVER. I stored my eyes peeled for Dustin, however he would have been lengthy achieved by then (he completed in 3:11)
Mile 26: 9:13
End time: 3:57:16
I knew that I used to be getting near the 4 hour time within the remaining mile; I used to be nonetheless forward of the 4 hour tempo group, however I didn’t know which corral that they had began in. I dug as deep as I might within the final mile to attempt to maintain it below 4 hours.
Sub-4 hours was an arbitrary objective, as nobody actually cares about my time, and my objective going into the race based mostly on my coaching was extra like a 3:45, however I used to be nonetheless pleased to attain the B objective of sub-4.
By the point I discovered Dustin, he had already showered (seriously- there have been showers within the worldwide tent on the end, so he took a fast bathe after which got here to the end line to cheer for me.) He had hope to interrupt 3 hours once more (he’s damaged it a handful of instances) however had a bit of tummy bother himself (which is extremely uncommon for him), which value him a while. I feel the warmth and the wind additionally affected him.
However a 3:11 at his age would nonetheless get him into Boston (3:15) however not London (3:05.) <– kinda wild London qualifying is definitely quicker than Boston for a male, however slower for a feminine!
I made my manner by way of the end to get my medal and a few extra fluids, after which hobbled over to the worldwide tent. There are so few worldwide marathoners that they’ve an entire personal tent for them with foods and drinks (and showers talked about) and separate a gear test. If this race turns into a serious, I’d think about it is going to develop into extra fashionable with worldwide runners, so that they most likely gained’t supply this eternally, however it was good!
Dustin and I hung on the market for a bit and chatted with just a few Individuals who have been there with Marathon Excursions earlier than strolling again to our lodge. I like a considerably looped course like this one, the place you’ll be able to stroll to the beginning and the finish- no want for lengthy shuttles like some extent to level course!
I’m at all times happy with myself for a marathon end, irrespective of the time. I’ll get my London “good-for-age-as-a-resident” quickly! I had skilled fairly onerous for this and I do know my coach continues to be attempting to determine what went “fallacious”, however I don’t blame him or my coaching. I feel I put within the work, stayed damage free, and did my greatest on the day. It simply wasn’t the proper climate or course for me to acheive my A objective. It occurs!
Celebration!
The Radisson Blu provided a post-race beer for all runners; we loved one on the (windy) out of doors seating with different runners and watched the dolphins off the coast.
Later that night, we had a cocktail on the Silo Lodge rooftop bar; it was sooo windy up there that we didn’t final lengthy and took a fast uber to a distinct restaurant for some refueling.
Total, I had a really constructive expertise on the Cape City marathon. It was a memorable expertise.
Positives:
Organized
Loads of help stations
Greatest course out there for town (some hills, however might have been manner worse!)
Early begin time to accommodate the nice and cozy temperatures in Africa
Plenty of perks for worldwide runners
Loads of goodies on the end
Finisher’s shirts
Straightforward expo
Looped course, begin/end shut collectively
Loads of loos on the course
Plenty of spectators
Respectable tour of central Cape City
Easy however good finisher’s medals
Cons:
Windy, sizzling (out of the race’s management)
Initially Dustin and I have been each put within the fallacious corrals although we submitted help on-line of our instances; this was rapidly corrected although
Canine-per-mile DPM was decrease than another races, however we did see two vizslas!
Annoying out-and-back on the finish of the race
I’m glad I ran the Cape City marathon, particularly as a result of I actually loved Cape City as a spot to go to.
I like to see how far aside on this planet our final marathon (Tromsø, Norway) was from this one! It’s fantastic how operating can actually present you the world.
I’m linking up with Running on the Fly and Confessions of a Mother Runner; take a look at their blogs to attach with different health bloggers for exercise concepts and inspiration!
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