Fitswazi100 Photo Finish…….

 

Pictures don’t lie…….

Some people still live by the saying “seeing is believing”.  Whether or not you are one of those people, here are some awesome pictures that were captured on Sunday 23rd March 2014, the last leg of the Fitswazi100 – 100 km run over 3 days.

Although these pictures don’t cover the full 100 km journey or include all the runners that participated, they do show the strength, endurance and determination of the runners! To wake up sore, tired and even blistered and complete the final days run on achy legs, takes a lot of these.  There were many happy, smiling faces throughout the run.  I know I was one of them!

And yes, it was our ‘Victory Run‘, so we brought out our best ammunition – our bright and colourful running gear, and brightened up the streets of Manzini City!

Acacia Hill descent

Stretching the legs….Killing the downhill

Who said runners aren’t fashionable!

Big smiles… Running is fun!

Pictures tell a thousand words……

There are lots of things we don’t see when we run.  We don’t see ourselves and the people behind us, the way we run and how we are feeling at a particular point during the run. We sometimes don’t see that everyone else around us is feeling the same way, ‘bushed’, after a hill climb or after a tempo run.

There are lots of things you don’t see when we run.  You don’t see the strong, fighting, determined and never-give-up spirit that we bring out when the going gets tough.  You don’t see the grit, pain and aches we push through.  You don’t see the support, encouraging, motivating and cheering on we give each other when it’s needed. You don’t see that when we are on the road, we are equal, we are all runners!

Then there’s also the support and assistance of the people working behind the scenes, organising or encouraging us on.

These pictures show all of this.

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…And when its all said and done, and we have our bruised and blistered toes to heal, deep down there’s that feeling of accomplishment and self gratification, that 100 km was run over 3 days!

That feeling no one can take away! 

 

 

“IT ALWAYS SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL ITS DONE” – Nelson Mandela

All done. Yeah!

Running Crazy ………. Fitswazi100

Run 100 km over 3 days.

When I mentioned this, people were convinced what they’ve always suspected. That I’d definitely lost my mind! Well either that, or there are some other ‘closet crazies’ out there!  I did not do this alone. There were many accomplices. Actually, 9 others who ran all three days and covered the entire 100 km.

The last three days have been such an awesome experience.  I’m still trying to find the words to express how I’m feeling. Keep posted for a detailed encounter of the three days. Till then this is my recollection:

• We had perfect running weather over the three days
• A super turnout of brave runners (averaging 15 runners per day)
• Ran 3 days of good routes with many rolling hills
• Had good conversations and lots of mingling, yes most of it whilst we ran
• Lots of refreshment stops
• I got to learn and practice some running tips and tricks
• Leg massage on Friday and Saturday after each run
• We all complained of sore and tired legs and body at some point
• We had a few good sprints and tempo’s on the runs
• We ran and ran and ran and ran…………

A big ‘Thank you’ to the support and back-up crew for your time and assistance.

I would like to congratulate and thank all the runners that took the Fitswazi100 challenge.  ‘Big Ups’ to:

• Mark
• Thandeka
• Mphile
• Kwesi
• Lungile
• Vusi (vvo)
• Banda
• Loncwala
• Jespah
• Nathalie
• Stanley
• Busi
• Bongani
• Xolani
• Artwell
• Lindiwe
• Sibiya
• Mxolisi
• Thobile
• Phetsile
• Sisusa
• Nkosingiphile
• Bahle

No matter your reason or motivation for running, whether you ran all three days, two days, or even one day, you are super awesome! For those training for Comrades 2014, this mileage has now been stored in your ‘tanks’ and you have taught your legs to run when they are tired.  From this experience, I hope you have learnt that you are able to do more than what your mind currently tells you, you have stepped out of your comfort zone, pushed past your limits and have gained a new confidence in yourself. Most importantly, I hope that you reaped the benefits of the run, enjoyed the run and the camaraderie.