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28/08/2009: South Africa
The Puffer, 80km ultra marathon.
By Tatum Prins
I always thought I would never go near the Puffer as the 1st 23km’s is on tar and being the trail purist that I am
I was never going to subject myself and my joints to the hard pack.
Well, I lied. This last Saturday I did it and loved it. It really is a truly spectacular race starting at Cape Point and ending at Ferryman’s in the
Waterfront. The start was a fresh, dark one at 5h30am. I was so nervous. Especially about how I would feel after the tar section and my lack of focus on the event. I feared it was going to be a pain fest of note…
Bang on 5h30 we set off, iPod in my ears, black diamond headlamp on my head and my Montrail shoes on my feet.
I felt fantastic and alive running in the reserve, stars shining brightly above us and lights in the distance.
My plan for the race was to hang back for the majority of the race and provided I felt good I was hoping to
pick it up and pass people from Constantia Neck. Well, that didn’t work. I felt too good and ran the tar
a bit quicker than I had wanted to. Feeling a bit flat at the top of Red Hill I slowed up and lost a couple more minutes to Linda who was the leading the
lady.
I was happy with this but getting nervous that I was losing the contact. I picked it up a bit from Die Ou Wa Pad and stormed on despite the first signs of cramp in my calves. By the time I got to Silvermine I was just 3 minutes behind. I had gained 2 minutes.
Lofts, Tweet and my family were cheering me on and I got even more determined. I felt focused and unstoppable.
Again I put the iPod in my ears, breathed though some more cramps and ran level 5 at a good pace. I knew I was gaining on her but I just wasn’t sure
how much. At this stage I had only passed 2 guys so either everyone ahead was feeling fabulous or I wasn’t actually going that well.
As I got to Vlakkenberg I saw Linda about 2 minutes ahead. I put my head down and went. I passed 2 more guys. That gave me the confidence to quicken my pace and I ran down to Constantia Nek. I didn’t stop, my supporters were a blur and I was amped. Cas ran up the mtn to tell me I had passed
Linda at the checkpoint. I hadn’t realized, I just wanted to go. I felt like a bull in a ring, huffing and puffing and gritting my teeth like never before.
She was only a minute behind but I was starting to take strain. My cramps were hitting hard on the concrete road and she was coming at me like a speed train. She overtook and I just couldn’t keep with her.
Just before Maclears I stopped to look back at Cape Point, wow..that was where we had come from. It was spectacular! I got goosebumps.
My elated feeling didn’t last long. As I got to the top of Maclears my cramps hit me hard. I could just manage to shuffle, something between a walk and a jog but I am not sure I can call it a jog. Things just got worse as I descended Platteklip but half way down they came back and I started to run. Once again I started to gain on her. By the time I got to the bottom of Signal Hill I was 2 min behind and I could see her ahead.
I tried my hardest to run faster but I just couldn’t. This time I felt like a bull in a ring being poked with a hot rod but it just wasn’t enough.
I finally got to the finish after 8h30/ 6th overall/ 2nd lady in. I was exhausted but happy. I did all I could do and that was my best!
What a great feeling and what an awesome race.
A huge THANK YOU to my hubby and family for seconding and to my very special friends who ran sections with me.
You guys are amazing and I owe you HUGE!!!
Over and out,
Hobbs
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