2010

Congratulations to all who participated. Danny Holton and Sham Singh for completing their 22nd Liberty Medical Scheme Rhodes Trail Run. Those who received their Permanent numbers and those who achieved a finish, that in its self a huge personal goal.

No consecutive Rhodes Trail Runs are the same! Last year we were knee deep in snow along the Lesotho View road and we decided not to take you over the snow covered Hooggenoeg Ridge, thinking that you would all be totally exhausted!! This year we had no snow, took you over Hooggenoeg Ridge and the comments at the end were along the lines of this year being harder than last year.

Whilst on the Ridge I sincerely hope you took the time to look around and enjoy the fantastic beauty before you. A number of runners find that section very spiritual and uplifting.

The pealing of a Church bell is mostly a moment of joy, in Rhodes on race day the bells have a double meaning - to make sure you are up and awake at 6am and to welcome the leader back to the Finish. At the end point we wait with baited breath to hear that bell from 11am.

Once again we were faced with challenges - other sporting events, no Eskom and worst of all - no snow!! Thanks to a generator we managed to get power for the PA system, and welcome as many of you as we could back into the village.

It was rather disappointing to record a start temp of only -5°C. There was also hardly any wind (a measure of 8 meters per second was recorded at the top of Mavis Bank.) All in all a perfect day for running, but some how many of you commented on how you battled this year.

I must mention an unpleasant factor as well. I was very disappointed to hear of the number of cars on the route - which resulted in about 50% of the runners complaining about the dust. Thankfully it was a dry year - if there had been ice it could have become very dangerous out there. Please remember that those on the route were your families and friends, making it most unpleasant for the other runners. As mentioned in an earlier email, we have received complaints from runners being pushed off the road towards the end when they are tired and wobbly on their legs. We also received complaints of runners using abusive language to other runners. That is most unsportsmanlike and totally unacceptable in ANY sport.

The Rhodes Police choir were so thrilled with the donation received that they asked to sing a few songs to the runners on Friday evening during registration in appreciation. The new keyboard accompanied the choir in a few items before they went back on duty.

Once again we are amazed at the generous donations received for the local community. Guy Jennings started off by donating much needed TV's and DVD players to the Rhodes Public School. They are now in a position to use the educational DVD's sent out by the Department of Education. A number of you brought huge amounts of new and used clothing, shoes, blankets, toys and toiletries to be distributed to the needy. These will be handed over to the local doctors for distribution at the clinics in the area. Thank you all so very much.

We were overjoyed to be in a position to assist Missionvale Care Centre who made the Power Balance registration and finisher bags. Missionvale is situated in one of the poorer areas of Port Elizabeth and was founded by Sister Ethel Normoyle under a tree in 1988.
Sr Ethel and her helpers provide various services, spiritual guidance and nourishment to the poor by means of food parcels. There is a group of ladies who sew a variety of items for sale or on commission as they did for us. We hope that you will use your bags for shopping, the beach, knitting or school books!!

Race photographs are available from the official race photographers from the site www.wix.com/rhodesrun/RhodesRun2010. They have some 4000 photos (!!!) so there should be at least one of you!

Liberty Medical Scheme, our title sponsor, whose assistance helps us organise a very special unique event for you. It was wonderful to have Chris Doyle and Jana Beckett running and representing our sponsors.

First Ascent for those specially made Switchblade shirts - with reflective sleeves.
Buff® for our distinctive Buff® for both runners and helpers.
UTi Sun Couriers for "fetching and carrying" for us.
1000km Promotions for truly stunning medals.
Power Balance for the registration and finishers bags.
Pepsi for the liquid refreshment at all the feeding stations.
Drifters Adventure Centre in Sandton City.
Ironman SA and Triangle South Africa for the timing equipment.
BLS Medical for their assistance on the route and at the Finish.

It was fantastic that new best times were set. Trevor Toerien with his 3rd win and his new Veteran's best time. Trevor is only the 3rd runner to have won three Mens titles.
Kerry Koen with three new best times - Queen of the Kloof, Hooggenoeg Point and 1st Lady.
Well done Kerry and Tracy Zunckel on your superb runs - it is the first time we have had two ladies placed in the top 10 finishers.
We look forward to having Trevor and Kerry back next year to defend their titles. Special mention and congratulations to husband and wife Sue and Lance Chapman who finished 3rd in the Mens and Ladies section. That's an extraordinary family achievement.
Wonder who had to wash the car when they arrived home!!

Thank you to all the helpers at the feeding stations and at the end point. This year the feeding station competition was hotly contested - offering you a variety of goodies, from Pepsi to Karoo oysters to Island cocktails to koeksusters to schnapps to potatoes to wors rolls to sandwiches, sherry and sweets. All of which was AYOBA!! Congratulations to the winners - Gary Robinson and the Kloppers clan at Table no 2 with the trio of "Ladies" on the Landy roof.

A big welcome to all the new Rhodes Trail Run Polar Bear Club^TM members - those of you who purchased your certificate from ‘Walkerbouts' the feathery vultures will certainly appreciate your donation. This informal club, the background of which is on the run website, continues with its unique Rhodes style of relaxed self organisation.

Mmmmm ...... the smell of those sosaties cooking at the Finish ............ and they tasted just as nice. Thank you to the Rhodes Christian School for providing us all with tasty meals during the week end.

Our thoughts and prayers with Miema Murray and her son Roy on the passing of husband and father Roy after a short battle with cancer. Roy died on the Thursday morning before the run. Miema would have run her 9th Rhodes Trail Run this year.

Please take care whilst you are out training, smell the roses and the blossoms. Look forward to once again seeing you in Rhodes. If you are looking for somewhere to spend a few days in the summer - try Rhodes. You will be surprised at the colour of the flowers, the trees and grasslands. Not to mention the tranquil sound of the rivers.

Finally, heartfelt thanks to all those who sent us a message on your return home.

With very best wishes

Evie Raubenheimer
Rhodes Trail Run
The Breathtaking Trail Run