Afritrex - The Marathons
Knysna, South Africa
Distance: 26 miles /42kms
Date & Time: 12th July 2008, 05:30
Altitude: from 10m to 480 m above sea level
No of entrants: 1000
Average temp: 19 degrees
Holders: Stephen Molepo & Davera Magson (RSA)
This race takes place in the lush verdant forest and nature reserve around the stunning coastal town of Knysna, South Africa with the route winding through the surrounding forests and hills climbing to a peak of over 400m above sea level. The place looks straight out of the cretaceous and the fact that at any turn you might come across an elephant only adds to the sensation of otherworldliness. This would be a truly wonderful place to run on a regular basis but a pain to run a marathon in. It is like a cross country race but the length of a Marathon. Don’t they know how tired we are?
This is going to be sheer pain, with a 56 mile race just fifteen days behind us we will have to dig deep and drag ourselves through the forest to make the finish. Definitely a time for mind over matter. Just keep counting the miles. Only 20 to go, the first 6 were ok….
One of the major benefits of the location of this race and the comrades, is their proximity to the unbelievable beaches of the Eastern coast, and therefore the sea. There is no therapy for sore legs and a tired mind like a gentle swim in the ocean (albeit in shark infested waters smelling of weakness). By this stage we will have truly earned a week’s relaxation. Come-on, one week in 52 can be spared, surely. Oh, well, back on the road; deadliness to make, borders to cross, mountains to climb, and yes, more marathons.
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Marrakech | Comrades | Knysna | Victoria Falls | Nairobi | back to Marathons
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