The joy and fun of running near the sun

The ‘world’s most spectacular half marathon’ event, is now under a week away. Huge excitement is building in Ingwavuma. Or at least it is in the Toulson household.
We have had plenty of dramas so far. We have had villainy in the form of Ithala Bank. (They promised to be one of the sponsors for the event. And then they broke their word. Despite threats that we would change the name of the race to, ‘Running against Ithala Bank’, they have not changed their mind. We plan plenty of negative publicity on the day.) We have had near catastrophe as we faced the prospect of no race t-shirts. (These are being picked up today in Durban.) And we have had lots of generosity. For example, the local supermarket and the nearby DIY store are both giving us cash. The DIY is also stumping up our ‘wow’ first prize – a very handsome red wheel barrow. We are assured that it is highly sought after.

Plenty still remains to be done before the weekend. Prayers are being said daily and, increasingly, with Islamic frequency (by Mary Muezzin). Remaining headaches include, planning without numbers (anywhere from 4 to 400 people could turn up); arranging transport for the competitors; sorting out the water stations and organising the braii (bbq) for after the race.

Time is also being set aside for prayers to hotus and humidius the twin Ingwavuma weather gods. The course designer, a certain M. Nature, has said she is hoping to, ‘test the participants (she preferred not to use ‘athletes’) to the fullest. Flat is dull. I prefer hills and spills’.

Mary, due to work restraints has trained less than me. She is debating whether to do the 10 or 21k race. I am confident I can get round the 21k course and may even be the first white man home (no others have yet declared themselves). However, the willingness of the bookies to offer a price on my victory owes largely to the remote possibility of a Foinavon scenario. At 100,000-1 I have yet to attract any money. The bookies are though shortening the odds on two Olympic standard runners in the field.

I will, of course, let you know within how many hours I finished of them. And Mary will report on her race experience. Now time for more prayers.