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25/08/2009: South Africa
Puffer Race Report
By William Robinson
An interesting race was on the cards. The start-list included all the previous winners from 2004 to 2008, including Bruce Arnett who had set the course record of 7h24 in 2000. At our previous meeting in May, Bruce had beaten me convincingly at the Addo 100. I was optimistic about my chances against him over the shorter distance, and on Table Mountain I had home ground advantage. The question, though, was whether I could challenge the record.
I was happy with my preparation. I had taken a break from running after Addo, done some cycle races, and then done six weeks of quality trail training. I had had some good results: 3rd in the Fisherman's Trail Challenge, a comfortable Knysna Marathon, 2nd in the Hout Bay Trail Challenge and 2nd in the Palmiet Trail Run. My training times were encouraging. I was doing my long runs.
The most difficult thing about this race is waking up at 3:15am to get down to Cape Point in time for the start. I managed it, and presently the gun set us on our way into the darkness. I quickly pulled away, and the 14 km run out to the reserve gate was uneventful apart from when a large spooked antelope bounded across the tar a few metres in front of me.
I did not quite have my road speed from last year, so despite not having an unfriendly north-wester to contend with, I was actually running a little slower, falling behind schedule by another minute at each check point. I met Dion at Silvermine Village, where I changed out of my road shoes into my new Montrail Mountain Masochists. We set off on the long climb up the old wagon track to Silvermine Dam.
At the dam we had a little problem: the check point was nowhere to be seen! We carried on a bit to look higher up, and then ran back down to the dam wall, before spotting the gazebo about a kilometre down the road in the wrong direction. At this point I decided that we had made a good enough attempt to check in, and we had wasted enough time (3min20s to be precise). We jogged on up, and then dropped down into Tokai Forest.
My stomach had been bugging me for a couple of hours. It was not too serious, but it was definitely slowing me down. And I had no appetite for any energy gels. I was pleased when we got to Vlakkenberg, from which point much of the route is too steep to run anyway. I made up some time on the descent to Constantia Nek, reaching the check point with 4:40 on the clock.
During most of the race, I have numbers going to through my head. I compare my pace to that of last year, to my training runs, and to Bruce's 2000 record splits. I then calculate how much time I need to make up, and I think about which sections I should try to attack. At Constantia Nek I was a few minutes slower than last year, but about the same as Bruce's record split. Now if I could only drag myself up to the top, and then somehow grow wings for the descent...
I climbed steadily up to Maclear's Beacon. Near Nursery Ravine I passed the Pine-Nuts, who were on their way to set up their check point at the top... a little late! I reached the beacon in 5:57 -- 10 minutes slower than last year, but still 2 minutes faster than Bruce's split. My legs were still working as I splashed through the puddles along the top: the Gu I had eventually slurped down was kicking in.
The cable-cars were not running (too windy), so Platteklip Gorge was teaming with tourists inching up the mountain. Most of them did well to stand clear as I came rumbling past them. The rocks were dry this year, and my Montrails were sticking beautifully. I reached the contour path in 17 minutes (my quickest ever) and scampered along it and down to the cable station. I was now very much on schedule for a record!
After glugging down a couple of cups of coke, I pushed on down to Klook Nek and up the Signal Hill road. I was flying. After another splash-and-dash pit stop at the final check-point, I bombed down to the Waterfront. I crossed the line in 7:13:56, catching the official photographer napping. In fact I beat all my supporters down from the Cable Station -- they were still looking for parking. Runner 1, car 0.
So I broke the record by 10 minutes. But I reckon a 7 hour Puffer is possible. I might have to give it a go sometime.
Photo: Rock Rabbits (Will Robinson front and Dion Middelkoop back not competeing bounce down Vlakkenberg en route to memorable win!
Photo: Trevor Ball trailrunning.co.za
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