South Africa's own Tarahumara

Real Tarahumara Indians

Did you know, the Garden Route has its very own Tarahumara Indian?  
Well, practically...    ok, not quite. He's not Mexican, he doesn't live in a canyon or have to run around the wilderness for days looking for food. But he does wear huaraches - they're the real handmade McCoy and he's a runner. That's about as close to Tarahumara as a South African can get.

Andrew Scott, better known as Drew, is a sworn huarache convert. Not only does he make his own Tarahumara-style thonged sandals, but he's tossed all his other shoes. And I mean ALL - he has a pair of huaraches for work, a pair for running, and a "smart leather pair for going out". That's it.

Drew's seasoned foot in his seasoned huarache.

I met Drew when I ran the Addo Elephant Trail Run in March. It was 15min before race start and this guy was running around, leaping up and down and making final adjustments to the thongs that secured a thin strip of rubber onto each foot. He ran the Addo 50km that day - on stony trail, through rivers and up steep switchbacks, all in his huaraches. He's no slouch either - this non-Mexican finished in 14th position out of 137 finishers.

It's all about the thong...  and the rubber.

Drew reckons the huaraches are good for all types of trail running...  apart from muddy conditions, that is. Mud between foot and rubber sole makes the foot slide around and makes gripping a problem. As for grit, pebbles and water, Drew says no problem, he just kicks it all out as fast as it comes in!

"If you love something enough, it becomes a lifestyle," says Drew.

(Personally I'll stick with my trusty Salomons, but hey, whatever blows your wild hair back!)

Two Oceans, the world's most beautiful marathon

Cape Town weather struts its stuff every Easter Saturday for the Two Oceans Marathon, usually with sunshine and wind. Yesterday it showed its mischievous sense of humour - the skies pee'd down good and proper, drenching all Half and Ultra runners to saturation.
(The race could've been more appropriately named Four Oceans - one on each side of the peninsula, and one in each shoe.) Then, not long after the gun marked the Ultra's 7-hr cut-off and hence the end of the race, the rain stopped and the sun came out across Chapman's Peak Drive (only for a couple of hours, admittedly, but long enough for Hout Bay to show off its beauty).

the finish after 6 hours of rain + more than 22 000 pairs of feet!

This blog post isn't about yesterday's race - the Two Oceans is a road race after all, which makes it a Rockhoppin' No-Go. Instead this is a heartfelt appreciation to the organisers of the event that's affectionately known as "the world's most beautiful marathon". The Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon (which, for those few readers out there who're not in the know, is not actually a marathon but an ultra - it's 56km) makes every South African road runner proud - not only does it showcase the best of Cape Town, no matter the weather, but logistically the race rates up there amongst the megaliths of international road racing around the globe.

Yesterday's soggy and cold conditions really showed the race's organisation at its best. Those adverse conditions must be any event organiser's nightmare! The +3 000 volunteers who manned the +40 refreshment tables for hours and hours in that pouring rain were incredible, full of energy and enthusiasm - they WERE our sunshine!
A huge thank-you to the organiser and sponsors, and all the volunteers, marshals, referrees, officials, medical crews, minstrel bands, DJ's, bands, pom-pom girls, cheerleaders and spectators who make this fantastic race so great. You do South Africa proud!

And to all the runners who took part in the Ultra and the Half: a big congrats! Here's to the best way there is to spend Easter Saturday!
(images from http://www.twooceansmarathon.co.za )