Mnweni Marathon

tonymarshall wrote: ghaz, it would have been good to see you again, glad you finished, but you don't seem to have had a happy time at all.

I was also looking forward to seeing you - I guess we'll just have to plan a hike some time soon!

The event, by its nature, doesn't suite my way of doing things. I'd like the blame the ITB issue, which did play a part in reducing my training - but I did do 98km in the Berg between straining my ITB and the event, plus plenty on the treadmill and Worlds View - so it's not like I did no training for 2 months.

My issue with the weather was that it forced me into a corner - from 2600m on Mnweni Pass, I had almost no traction and a slip could have lead to a big drop. Thus backing down was not possible, and if something happened, I was in trouble. Not eating properly (really a rookie error) backed me further into that corner, seeing as I had insufficient energy and was moving really slowly by the top of the pass. This resulted in me being cold and really might have ended badly if the weather had been worse. With the number of people around, I'm sure I would have been fine, but I unquestionably would have turned around well before this if it was a normal day hike.

What I didn't like about the event was the time pressure aspect. I would have started at 5:30 at latest, so I would have done the entire road in the dark. This would have bought more time for a few short breaks along the way, thus resolving the not-eating problem. The conditions resulted in what should have been some really exceptional sights, but the entire route I was focused on moving (and the volumes of traffic on the trail in front of me) - rather than the sights that should have been really special. On the escarpment, I basically only saw the trail I was on - if I had set out for a trip like this, I would have had gear and time to enjoy it. Maybe build a snowman or throw some snowballs at fellow hikers. Even just getting more photos - that is the clearest view I have ever had of Icidi Pass.

What I did enjoy was chatting to other people, most of whom had never been in snow before. Nice to show off with a few peak names every now and again

From a strategy point of view - if I do it again, I will definitely only try to push the end. I comfortably held last place for the first hour, yet finished ahead of 37 other people. After I acquired last place, I think only 5 people overtook me for the rest of the race, and I repassed 3 of them on the road section at the end - and losing those spots was the cost of not eating, so with a slight improvement I would already be better placed.

I guess it boils down to what we enjoy in the mountains. The challenge was great, the event is well run, and the lack of fanfare was awesome (although the cheering at the end was pretty odd for me). If I was in shape to be competing for a top 10 spot, it would probably have more appeal to me. But at the end of the day, my Saturday can be described as a day hike on a route I have done before with 200 other people around. What I enjoy doing is a route I haven't done before with no one else around aside from the members of my team.

I think it was Intrepid who once said "if it doesn't speak to you, don't try to listen to it". Maybe my views will change over the next few months, but it isn't really my cup of tea.

tonymarshall wrote: Thanks for everyone's stories and pictures.

Rhinoandhedgehog, No disrespect or ridicule meant in my remarks, each to their own, live and let live.

I hope you will be at the start line (and finish line) next year.

None taken and I would make the same call again if I had to.
Plans for next year - can show the wife more pictures of the event and I think it will be an easier call next time if the weather turns - which appears to be the events habit at the moment.

Well I will also share my experience: This was my first real trial run. I have been running max 8kms (3 x week) on farm roads to keep fit for hiking so 38kms was out of my experience. At 60 years old one has to work harder to keep fit and the body feels more pain! My daughter Justine ran with me and this was a great blessing....her first time running in snow, on the escarpment and going up a pass. At Chi Chi Bush Camp I started having problems with the muscles around my knees/legs and the muscles on the inner side of my feet. I realized that the cause was that I was forcing my feet to run pigeon toed, unnatural to my normal style of running. This is because my shoes are size 13 and they kept on hitting the sides of the pathway causing me to continually stumble. So by twisting my toes in I did not hit the sides of the pathway. Wherever possible I ran out of the pathway in the grass. Even with the snow pathway between the two passes my shoes continually hit the sides of the snow. I had to help my daughter through some of the icy sections up Mnweni Pass especially the one with the rock drop off above an exposed slope. Going down Rockeries was fun and I noticed plenty blood on the snow where runners had cut hands on rocks. A few kms before the dirt road my knees became unbearably sore. I walked most of the last few kms on the dirt road with major pain getting to the end in 8:09 hours. I had a very frustrating run and will not run on Berg pathways again unless my feet can be cut off/amputated to a size 10 or smaller. I have always had a problem while hiking on the narrow Berg pathways but there is a huge difference between walking and running speed. Next year I will photograph the Mnweni Marathon in all its glory and hopefully there will be more snow.

My few words on the race...

This was my first Mnweni Marathon and I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it. I am not a runner so my plan was to hike as fast as I can with as few stops as possible. However, when that whistle blew I was running with the leading pack, which I could keep up for about 1 km . Following this, I alternated between fast hiking and running short bits. Due to a "shortcut" I tried around Icidi pools I was soaking wet from the tall grass when I reached Mnweni pass and seriously considered turning around as I thought it would get unbearably cold. Luckily I had a dry pair of socks, glove inners, long johns and a fleece in my backpack and the change of clothes was great. At the summit of Mnweni pass the sun was shining for a few moments, there was no wind and the view incredible, that bit at the top was by far my favourite, our timing must have been perfect. Within the first few meters down rockeries I fell, slid some distance and realised this was way more fun and faster than walking, hereafter alternating only to walking to periodically unfreeze my ass. I finally finished in 8:22 h feeling like a very old man.

A hiking stick really helped
I wore hiking pants with zip pockets stuffed with food, which meant that I could eat at any time without stopping.
I put a thick layer of Dublin over my Solomons, and wore long gaiters to keep my feet dry, this did not help
Lastly, when the grass is wet; it is better to be on the wrong path with everyone else, than the right path by yourself.

Thank you so much everyone for posting these pictures and stories! I can see myself re-reading this thread thousands of times before next year's Mnweni Marathon! Also, you inspired me to finish my video a bit ahead of schedule

Here it is:

Bruce’s report

www.southafricaadventures.com/mnweni-marathon-2017/

An amazing day in the mountains, congrats to all!

Here are a few pics I snapped when my fingers decided to work in the cold, gloves and long pants will be high on my priority gear list next time

According to the last mail with the results, they have decided to run a Spring Mnweni Marathon! Date is set for 2 September. Who is in?

I would be keen for another one without having to wait a whole year...although imagine how tall the grass will be then...?

When did you receive the mail with the results, I don't seem to have got one yet?

Macc wrote: When did you receive the mail with the results, I don't seem to have got one yet?

I was wondering the same thing!