Absence makes the heart grow fonder

 

They say that “absence makes the heart grow fonder” and I can certainly say that when it comes to running, these words of wisdom ring true. When running is part of your everyday routine, taking time off to rest or recover from an injury or sickness is hard, frustrating and even painful.

Running on the mountain, through the beautiful fynbos and forests that we are so privileged to have access to in Cape Town, makes me incredibly happy. It may sound ridiculous, but I have been known to sprint down a single track, navigating through trees and around hairpin bends, hopping over boulders with an insane grin on my face. For me, running is more than exercise, it is pure bliss, a chance to get outdoors and appreciate the beauty of nature, a way to clear my head and continuously challenge myself beyond my comfort zone. I love running, so much so that in recent months my boyfriend has taken to calling me ‘Gump’; and without my daily dose of trail, I seemingly morph into an irritable and anxious person with twitching legs and way too much pent up energy.  I am no longer ‘Gump’, but ‘Grump’.

After a fall a couple of weeks ago that resulted in an injured knee, followed by flu and laryngitis, I decided to wave the white flag and give into a good old rest period. Taking my dogs for walks on the trails on which I should’ve been running frustrated me to no end and cycling; swimming and any other form of cross training was out of the question. My only saving grace over this period was regularly practicing yoga, which helped to keep me sane. As hard as it was to stay away from running, I know now that there was nothing as good as rest to help heal my injured body and give it a chance to recover.

On the up side, taking out those abandoned running shoes and stretching out your legs as you take the first few tentative steps on a run after a long break feels amazing and the sensation of running on fresh legs and expending all that pent up energy is incomparable. The feeling that one gets when setting off on a run after a rest period is almost worth taking the time off, it grows your appreciation for your fit, healthy body and shows us how lucky we are to be able to take time out of our busy days to get outside and do something we love, to run.

Running Wild

“People say we are crazy to run 112km over three days, but we say it’s crazy not to run, because that’s what humans were born to do.”

A few weeks ago, I took part in what will arguably be one of the most memorable running experiences of my life. A three-day trail running event that showcases some of South Africa’s most beautiful and untouched coast line. With only the Cattle paths and the footprints of those runners ahead of you to guide you, the Wildcoast Wild Run covers a distance of 112km over three days. My journey from Kei River Mouth to Hole-in-the-wall was shared with 80 other runners and blessed with balmy sunshine and a cooling ocean breeze.

 The running terrain is mainly made up of endless beaches, broken only by rolling green headlands littered with the brightly coloured rondavels of the local Transkei people. The lush green grass of these headlands provided a welcome relief from the soft sandy shores and steep camber of the beaches and the many river crossings a brief respite for aching, weary muscles from the building number of kilometres and the heat of the day. Besides a few friendly fishermen, the only beachgoers that cross your path are the lazy Nguni Cattle, cheeky goats and inquisitive sea birds.

Passing through tiny hill top villages, runners can look forward to encountering smiling groups of local children who fall into step beside you shouting “Sweets! Sweets! Sweets!” like the war cry of cheerleaders. The smell of food cooking atop fires wafts out of these colourful houses, causing your stomach to groan hungrily at the thought of eating anything other than a gel or energy bar.  Passing a bustling Spaza Shop, you cannot help but resist the temptation to stop and buy an ice-cold Crème Soda to get you through those last 10 kilometres of the day.

 The going is tough, the soft sand brutal and the hills quad-busting but the beauty of the Transkei is so magnificent, that any pain you feel whilst running is soon forgotten, healed by the bewitching spirit of this beautiful place. There is so much to see along the Transkei coastline and spending a couple of hours each day running through this untouched wilderness is certainly one of the best ways to fully appreciate your surroundings. From ever-changing sand dunes to forests of succulents, from having to climb up steep green headlands on your hands and knees to feeling the course beach sand between your blistered toes, from rusting ship wrecks parked on the shores battered by angry seas to abandoned cars, lonely in the middle of nowhere, from the welcoming spirit of the local people to the feeling of elation that hits you as you come over that last rise and see the race finish at Hole-in-the wall, the Transkei is a magical place and the journey of the Wildcoast Wild Run is the perfect way to take in all there is to see.