Below find my St Helena Running Festival 2001 race report, two press reports of same and some pictures of St Helena.
Back to Jean-Paul's RUNNING page
Back to Jean-Paul's HOME page
FHAC Takes Top
Honours in Inaugural
St Helena Festival of Running
After
the success of the "Governor's Cup" Cape Town to St Helena Yacht
Race, the concept of an annual or bi-annual St Helena "Festival of
Running" was conceived. Chet Sainsbury stood forward as organiser and
invited a number of prominent, influential Cape runners for a complementary
dinner aboard the RMS St Helena, the last surviving Royal Mail Ship and St
Helena's only regular link to the outside world. Yours truly, being one of
those abovementioned prominent, influential and above all humble runners,
thought he was in for a free lunch sorry dinner and attended the Festival's
launch, got to see the video, realised he was going to be on sabbatical leave
at that time, had a few Hunter's Dry too many and scribbled what my lawyer
described as a legally binding signature on some booking form.
Fast
forward six months and an overdrawn bank account (which fool said that the best
things in life are free?). The RMS sails into the Jamestown Bay and a couple of
dozen keen South African runners are ferried across from the RMS to the
Jamestown Quay. The runners are keen but somewhat apprehensive: the RMS
departed Cape Town a day behind schedule, sailed off into a heavy swell which
downed half of its passengers for a day or so, training facilities en route
were somewhat limited (two spinning bikes, a 3 meter long splash pool and 3
floors of stairs for the die-hards), the on-board chef kept whipping up
sumptious five-star meals and the RMS's anchoring was delayed for half a day by
a shore-side rockfall. As we sailed in, we got our first look at the famed 200
meter high Jacobs Ladder clearly visible, and swallowed. Hard and deep.
The
next morning, Saturday 29 Sep., sees
the start of the first event: a 10 kilometer circular run. More than sixty
runners at the starting line, at 9:00 ... island time. Eventually, the Island's
Governor fires the starting gun, or rather tries to ... and again ... and again
... in vain. In the end, he just shouts go and off we blast, hard and fast and
keen and eager -- after all it's only a 10 kilometer. Nobody had warned us.
Chet will have to live with his "undulating course" promise for a
long time to come. St Helena does not know roads with inclines of less than
10%. I read somewhere that no car on the island ever got to use its 4th gear,
and I, for a fact never used my rental car's third gear either. First gear for
uphills, second gear for downhills. That's it. For the entire island's road
network. This little aside just to say that by the 5 kay mark, everyone was
completely exhausted. Yet we had to hang in there. I had been trying to catch
the local sports hero Errol Duncan (St Helena's official athletics representative
for the Inter-island Games) for the first 6 kays of the run. He was just too
fast for me, being a 2:40 something marathoner. Yet, on a sharp downhill, I
managed to pull away just 10 meters. A steep uphill, another 10 meters gained.
A flat section ... Errol doesn't come back. Then a one kilometer-long steep
uphill, followed by an ever steeper descent. I didn't look back. I ran my lungs
out and got to the sports field, completely devoid of spectators bar a time
keeper and camera man. 42:46. Not my best time but good enough to take the line
honours. Errol comes in a full three minutes later, first "Saint"
(=islander), second overall.
Meanwhile,
just slightly further back another battle is taking place for first lady.
Caroline Brawner competing with the faster track and medium-distance runner
Judy Everingham. In vain ... victory goes to Celtics' Judy with Fish Hoek
taking a still honourable but just that second place in 52:55.
Fish
Hoek gears up for real battle: the half marathon event takes place two days later.
Not wanting to be caught out with course surprises again, "Team Fish
Hoek" decides to prospect the route on Sunday using mountain bikes. Big
mistake! It is a straight 500 meter elevation climb just to get to the start of the half marathon route, completely
shattering our poor and stiff leg muscles. Sunday evening sees two exhausted,
painful cyclists-cum-runners-cum-idiots massaging their legs into shape.
Monday
morning 8-ish (island time, remember?): the start of the half marathon. Only a
dozen or so starters, hardly any islanders. It quickly becomes clear why. The
course, three connected loops is tough. I mean TOUGH. The toughest road half
marathon course I can recall. Most of us set out at a cautious, comfortable
pace. Team Fish Hoek because their muscles are completely stiff and the legs
feel like led. The others because they know what's in store. Errol, after
losing 3 minutes in the last 2 kays of Saturday's 10K race and then being
psyched out by me telling him that I'm a long distance runner and do things
like run across 5500 kilometres across Europe and just love doing 100 milers,
does not dare to run any faster than me and sticks to my side like glue. Suits
me fine, cause little does he know that my muscles are screaming and
threatening to tear. In the first couple of kays, my breathing is strained
while he just chats on and on. The first loop isn't too hilly, fluctuating
between 500 meters to just under 800 meters when passing Diana's Peak (St
Helena's highest point). All around us is flax - a tough plant used after WWII
to make textiles for export, a straw for the economy in those days but now a
curse to the little native vegetation that remains. We slowly start to
understand why so few islanders run - and why local Errol gave a cry of despair
when he heard the route. Undulating my foot! Even I wouldn't dare abuse the
English language like that.
After
we go past the halfway mark somewhere in the second loop section, my legs relax
and finally ease out somewhat, allowing me to gradually increase the pace. The
sun disappears behind some high mist - and that's the last sun we'll be seeing
for the duration of our stay. We'll see lots of stars though: the second loop
consists of relentless ups and downs. After each uphill, Errol has to work just
that little bit harder to catch up to me. Then, just at the "Boer
P.O.W." cemetery, a killer hill, or rather, hillier kill and he falls back
a good 10 metres. I grab the moment(um) and push even harder. Don't look back.
A killer downhill. A short flat and then the killer uphill back to complete
this loop section. At the top, I cross the two leading ladies who are now just
starting the shorter third loop. Caroline only about 10 or 20 seconds behind
Judy. Caroline shouts to me that I'm clear of any pursuers. I'm too exhausted
from the climb to do anything but grunt. I nearly kill myself going down to the
finish. The rest of the world doesn't know what real hairpin bends are. A bemused goat stands atop an abandoned car
wreck in a nearby field. A last but deadly little uphill. AAARGH! 1:40. My
slowest 21K racing time. But it's a winners time and the course record. Errol
finishes some three minutes later. Judy comes in 4th overall, narrowly beating
a very disappointed Caroline who is the last one to break the 2 hours for the
course. Lots of what-if scenarios... What if she had cottoned on to Judy's race
tactics just that little bit earlier?
What if she had not exhausted
herself completely on the bicycle ride the previous day?
But
there is little time for regrets - the mind and body must get right for the
final event: the Island's first official Jacobs Ladder Challenge. The ladder
consists of 699 or 700 (hey, don't ask me, even the Saints don't seem to know
for sure) HUGE steps, gains 200
meters of altitude and climbs at an average angle of 40 degrees. Although there
are various unofficial records, no one seems to be sure what the real fastest
time up the ladder is and everyone is curious what the fastest time in the
Challenge will be. Having spent most of the night typing up a proposal with
suggestions re future Jacobs Ladder Challenges for the Tourist Board, I arrive
late at the start. No problem ... the race hasn't started yet ... island time
... But no time to warm-up the tight cold calfs or get my circulatory systems in
race state: as the winner of the other events I am seeded first for the staged
start (the ladder is too narrow to overtake).
3, 2, 1, GO! I run up the first 100 steps, then switch to a rhythmic
stepping pace. My entire body screams for the first minute or so, then settles
down a bit. However, my lungs keep crying out for maximum oxygen, but I can't
breathe any faster or deeper. I try to optimize the energy expenditure balance
between lower body/legs/pushing up the steps and upper body/arms/pulling up from
the handrail. I miss a marker (every 100 steps) - suddenly only 100 steps to
go. After what seems to be eternity I get near, start running again for the
last 30 steps and, to loud cheers, collapse dizzily at the top. My lungs
burning, a dry cough, and legs weaker than jelly. The legs recover withing a
couple of minutes, the cough takes about two hours but my lungs keep burning
for the rest of the day due to the rapid fluid loss from breathing too deep,
too hard, too fast, too long. After some back-and-forth consultation my time is
officially determined at 5:43,65.
One
by one, the other fifty or so runners/climbers are released and climb up the
stairs. Of all events, this is the one that cuts the Saints closest to their
heart: they have turned up in huge numbers to support the event - even entire
classes of schoolchildren came with their teach to supporter. The event is
broadcast live on the island's radio - its only and essential
"always-on-in-the-background" broadcast medium. Police, firebrigade,
Governor, officials, newspaper reporter, ... everyone is there. This is the one
event where the Saints can beat the South Africans, their hopes are high and,
frankly, I would like to see them win. I've gotten enough trophy pictures of
wire birds. But, with Errol strangely absent, the next two
"runners-up" (pun definitely intended) don't come even within two
minutes of my time. Then, the excitement mounts: Tom is from Ascension Island -
not a Saint (Helenian)! but has been working on the island for a couple of months.
He has been training on the Ladder every day. He demonstrates a very peculiar but - with perfect hindsight -
extremely efficient climbing technique and races to the top. He finishes in
what is clearly a very good time (and seemed much shorter that what I felt I
took). The tension mounts whilst the officials calculate his time. I hear
mumbles and murmurs: "one second". Lots of double-checking. After all
is over, it turns out that I beat Tom by less than three seconds. With more
training or a sprint at the finish, he would have beaten me. However, with some
more training or just some practice to adopt a better technique, I bet that I
could cut at least half a minute off my time. Whatever my time, it is a soft
record, but good enough for the day nonetheless.
The
event is not finished yet: first seeded lady to start up the steps is Judy. She
does 8 something minutes. Next lady up is Caroline. She is on a mission: she
has got something to prove. The smell of revenge. Blood. Guts. Strong, steady, stylish, rhythmic. YES! 6:56! First
lady. And, unlike the men's, this record is likely to stand for a while.
I'll
spare you the (de)tales of prize giving (e.g. spot prizes to all participants
except for the winners) or the reception thrown in honour of all runners at the
Governor's mansion Plantation House (where you ask for a Martini-on-the-rocks
and you get a tall 250ml tumbler glass full). Suffice to say that the Running Festival
meticuously organised (of course, with Chet and Eric in charge), fun was had by
all, the particpants were great, South Africa beat Saint Helena hands down and
Fish Hoek Athletics Club showed its true colours and superiority to Celtics,
VOB and similar inferior clubs. Enclosed please find an invoice to the FHAC
committee to cover race related travel expenditure ;-)
If
the powers that be decide to host another Festival, will I be back to defend my
title(s)? I'd love to. I want to take and show my family the indescribably
beautiful hikes on the island: e.g. the
vulcanic scenery to Lot' Wife's Ponds, the green ribbon in the desert valley
with excisite birdlife (fairy terns, wire bird) leading to Prosperous Bay, the
kamikaze claymud slide down Thompsons Valley) and the 100 others I have NOT
done. I want to meet the amazingly friendly Saints again: each day took me
longer and longer to walk down Jamestown's Main Street, as island etiquette
requires everyone you know to talk to you. I still want to snorkel the coast. I
want to improve my car racing skills on the suicide drive to Sandy Bay, or any
other road on the island: they're all single lane, winding and full of blind
corners and hills. I want to spend a holiday again in a place where prices are
affordable (e.g. 10 pounds per day for all-inclusive car rental) despite the
fact that everything has to be shipped in from afar. In fact, even paying in
pounds doesn't hurt as much because the St Helena pound notes and penny coins
looks so much nicer than the British ones. Do you know a place that closes down
completely on Wednesday afternoons and weekends? Where you can't buy bread in
the entire village after 11 am? Where you can't buy potatoes because
they are still busy unloading them off the ship? Where does no one lock a door?
Where does the police crime report consist of one single incident: a man
"under influence" uses foul language to the neighbour and has to be
reprimanded verbally by a police officer? The Island where the downhill roads
are so steep that they are closed to bicycles? Where, if you as a
know-it-all-much-better tourist, DO ride your moutain bike down those roads,
the Chief of Police finds out by the next morning and "drops it
casually" in your next "coincidental" conversation? Where
travelling to and from your holiday destination is a true holiday it its own
right - complete with gourmet meals, lots of laughs and unending highly
personal service (even for the lowest of the lowly super-special-economy C-deck
cabin passengers)? Yes, I'd like to go back. And let Eva beat the womens course
record of the Jacobs Ladder. Sylvia be the youngest challenger. Jonathan meet
Jonathan (the turtle in the Governor's garden). Anneke go shopping. Of course,
everyone can plainly see that the St Helena Shipping Line or Tourism Board
should sponsor our trip... Perhaps I can even organise a trail run for them?
Below are two mirror
images of press reports also available on-line: UCT's Monday Paper and The St Helena Herald
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Over the past seven days St Helena saw an
unprecedented display of skills, partnership, organisation, co-operation and
friendliness than have ever been seen in any similar event. Sporting personnel
representing as many as five countries came together to compete in the first
ever international running events on St Helena, "The Festival of
Running".
Eric Benjamin, Chairman of the National Amateur
Sports Association (NASAS) said the Festival of Running was a great success and
it was due to the willing and helpful hands lent by many, including his hard
working committee, members of the public, the organisers in Cape Town, and the
visiting runners and their families. He particularly mentioned Carolyn Ellis of
St Helena Line (SA) and her fianc Keith Enzlin whose idea this Festival of
Running was. He praised the skills of the Manager of the events, Chet
Sainsbury, who has vast experience in this area being organiser of the popular
Two Ocean Marathons held in Cape Town each year.
Eric said that runners in this inaugural
Festival of Running included Belgians, Americans, South Africans, English and
St Helenians. The weather, he reported was kind and favourable, and the
participation was of a very high standard. There is every possibility that this
Festival of Running will become an annual event. The visitors spoke favourably
of the islanders and their skills as well as the beauty of the Island. They
praised the courses set for both the 10 kilometre and 21 Kilometre (Half
Marathon) runs, claiming they were tough and challenging circuits, but each
with its own exceptional beauty. When asked if they would do it again the
answers were unanimously positive.
The three events attracted some one hundred and
twenty-eight entries. There were 66 for the 10 Kilometre run, with an age range
from 9 years to 77 years, 18 runners in the 21 kilometre run and 31 contestants
in the Jacobs Ladder Challenge. Running neck and neck for most of the
10-kilometre course our own Errol Duncan was not able to outrun the Belgianborn
Jean-Paul
van Belle. Jean-Paul finally clocked up a brilliant time
on our most difficult roads of 42 minutes and 22 seconds while Errol followed
close on his heels bringing in a time of 45 mins 03 secs. Less than 4 minutes
later came Peter Young. Judy Everingham, the winning lady finished in a time of
49mins 08 secs, whilst our Yvonne Williams closed her circuit in a time of 1
hr. 09 min. 44 sec.
The 21 Kilometre on Monday was indeed a
challenging course in which, Jean-Paul again, took first place with Errol once
more finishing only three minutes behind the Winner. In speaking with the
runners it seems as if they had so thoroughly enjoyed the event that NASAS the
Chairman was requested to organise similar runs at more regular intervals.
Visitors commented on the natural styles and skills of some of our local
runners and aroused interest in specialised training for some of our up and coming young
athletes. This is a matter that NASAS will certainly pursue.
The climax of the Festival was the Jacobs Ladder Challenge where every
ounce of energy was put into the near vertical climb up 699 steps by each of
the 31 contestants. Jean-Paul Van Belle had the fiercest competition as Tom
Crowards almost crunched the winning time. Tom sadly lost to Jean-Paul by just
two and a half seconds. Between two and three hundred persons turned out to
watch the contest, they included School children, shoppers, visitors and even
workers who escaped their bosss watchful eyes. It was obvious that the
occasion was enjoyed by all and this was shown by the cheering and hand
clapping as each contestant began the arduous lift off from the base of the
mighty Jacob's Ladder to take up the challenge of this painful and exhausting
event.
The events went smoothly and without any hitches. Four brilliant time-keepers
kept watchful eyes on their stop watches as the organiser made quite sure that
no time was lost between heats. That of course kept the Recorder entirely busy
during the whole of the Jacobs Ladder Challenge. Jean-Paul Van Belle came in 1st with a time of
5mins 43 secs, Tom Crowards, 2nd, 5 mins. 46 secs; Tony Peters, 3rd 6 mins. 38 secs
and Peter Young 5th with 7 mins 18 secs. (The full Score Sheets can be viewed at Broadway
House) Police, firemen, media services were all present in support of the
occasion which rounded up after a display run and slide down by two young
athletes to the delight of everyone.
Chet Sainsbury, Manager of the Festival of Running,
in addressing the participants said how much he enjoyed the events and thanked
everyone who had helped with its organisation. He expressed the hope that this
had started something that will long continue and which he hoped might be an
annual event. Mr Benjamin, at the presentation of the Jacobs Ladder Challenge
trophy, which was made in Cape Town and took the form of a victor at the top of
a ladder, the whole having been skilfully made from wire and mounted on a
wooden base. He said that this event was a new one for the Island and he said
that it had been a great success having forged new friends and connections. He
continued by saying that the event would hopefully generate interest in the
Cape and subsequently around the world as its fame and challenge of the Ladder
became known. He praised all those who had taken part and thanked all those who
had supported the successful running of the events and expressed a wish that
our visitors would visit regularly to take part in sporting challenges of this
type in the future. He thanked the sponsors of the races, in particular, Chet
Sainsbury, who had taken the idea and brought sponsors, Mutual Assurance on
board along with others to supply the necessaries to manage the events
properly. Yesterday evening all those who took part in the Festival of Running
were in attendance at a reception at Plantation House as guests of HE the
Governor. All participants were presented with a special certificate of
participation, which indicated the event and the time taken by that competitor
in the event entered.
And here are some other pictures from St Helena
Two hours after the run, the goat was still there!
My finish of the Jacobs Ladder challenge.
Back to Jean-Paul's RUNNING page
Back to Jean-Paul's HOME page