By Tobie Reyneke
(from the Magnolia Club newsletter)
The first time I ran the Rhodes 52km trail race in 2010, I worried about getting up a steep hill called Mavis Bank around 21km. I barely survived to tell the tale. I noticed that some of the runners were sporting Rhodes trial run gear with a list of things you must do. These included having a drink with the race organiser Evie Raubenheimer and joining a thing called the Polar Bear Club. We did not have accommodation in Rhodes, so we left after watching an exciting Soccer World Cup match between Germany and the Netherlands in the local pub.
In 2011 we were lucky to get accommodation in Rhodes. I told my friend Ian Fyshe, a Rhodes veteran, that I want to join the Polar Bear Club. He agreed to join me in the fun. This Rhodes tradition is only for the brave and may I say slightly mad runners. It entails stripping and jumping into the icy waters of the Bell River at around midnight, wearing nothing but a silly grin.
This was serious stuff and I did not finish drinking my half jack OBS at the end while cheering the last runners in at the finish, like I did in 2010. No, this year I kept half of it as a comfort for the much anticipated nocturnal adventure. We waited and chatted with fellow runners in front of a warm fire.
Promptly at 11:50 Ian and I left for the bridge over the Bell River just outside of Rhodes. We were the first there. The car blinked the outside temperature electronically as minus 5 degrees Celsius. We wondered what the water temperature was going to be. We guessed at least minus 10 degrees Celsius. We have run through the snow and ice with Guy Jennings dressed as a Polar Bear. We have seen the footprints filled with ice, the frozen waterfalls and broke the ice plates in the rivers as we stepped in. It was going to be really cold and we came prepared with warm clothes and towels for a quick exit.
As we waited, a twenty something lone ranger arrived in his car. He jumped out and proceeded to strip completely. The next moment the big procession of wannabe polar bears arrived from Rhodes and he was caught in their headlights. He realised that he was maybe a bit premature as he ducked for some darkness.
It seemed that there were two possibilities. You could jump of the bridge into the cold water below or you could walk into the river from the sand embankment. The lone ranger was torn between the options. All he knew is that he wanted to be the bravest and thus first into the Bell River. He finally decided to go for the sandy bay beach. Unfortunately for him, he was piped to the post by a braver bridge jumper.
I decided to do I bridge jump and I quick swim to the side. The water was freezing, but I felt 30 years younger from the adrenalin rush. In 2010 I missed the river jump and decided to jump in again just to cover the 2010 race. I was immediately followed by the lone ranger and his mates. As I stood shivering in my towels I saw the lone ranger running around looking for his towel. I think he forgot that he left it in his car when arrived in such haste to show off more than his bravery.
Ian finished his jump and we dragged our numb bodies and wide open eyes back to the fire and half a bottle of OBS. I was now entitled to claim membership of the Rhodes Polar Bear Club and wear the t-shirt. This tradition made us feel young and carefree again. Long live the Polar Bears of Rhodes!
In 2011 we were lucky to get accommodation in Rhodes. I told my friend Ian Fyshe, a Rhodes veteran, that I want to join the Polar Bear Club. He agreed to join me in the fun. This Rhodes tradition is only for the brave and may I say slightly mad runners. It entails stripping and jumping into the icy waters of the Bell River at around midnight, wearing nothing but a silly grin.
This was serious stuff and I did not finish drinking my half jack OBS at the end while cheering the last runners in at the finish, like I did in 2010. No, this year I kept half of it as a comfort for the much anticipated nocturnal adventure. We waited and chatted with fellow runners in front of a warm fire.
Promptly at 11:50 Ian and I left for the bridge over the Bell River just outside of Rhodes. We were the first there. The car blinked the outside temperature electronically as minus 5 degrees Celsius. We wondered what the water temperature was going to be. We guessed at least minus 10 degrees Celsius. We have run through the snow and ice with Guy Jennings dressed as a Polar Bear. We have seen the footprints filled with ice, the frozen waterfalls and broke the ice plates in the rivers as we stepped in. It was going to be really cold and we came prepared with warm clothes and towels for a quick exit.
As we waited, a twenty something lone ranger arrived in his car. He jumped out and proceeded to strip completely. The next moment the big procession of wannabe polar bears arrived from Rhodes and he was caught in their headlights. He realised that he was maybe a bit premature as he ducked for some darkness.
It seemed that there were two possibilities. You could jump of the bridge into the cold water below or you could walk into the river from the sand embankment. The lone ranger was torn between the options. All he knew is that he wanted to be the bravest and thus first into the Bell River. He finally decided to go for the sandy bay beach. Unfortunately for him, he was piped to the post by a braver bridge jumper.
I decided to do I bridge jump and I quick swim to the side. The water was freezing, but I felt 30 years younger from the adrenalin rush. In 2010 I missed the river jump and decided to jump in again just to cover the 2010 race. I was immediately followed by the lone ranger and his mates. As I stood shivering in my towels I saw the lone ranger running around looking for his towel. I think he forgot that he left it in his car when arrived in such haste to show off more than his bravery.
Ian finished his jump and we dragged our numb bodies and wide open eyes back to the fire and half a bottle of OBS. I was now entitled to claim membership of the Rhodes Polar Bear Club and wear the t-shirt. This tradition made us feel young and carefree again. Long live the Polar Bears of Rhodes!
