Author Archives: Bob Norris

For many years traditional road runners have tried to frighten other runners out of running the Discovery Surfers. Given that the event has grown from a field of just 26 at inception to the 3000 mark in 2011 we can tell hugely successful the doomsayers have been and how the horror stories have generally failed.
One of the big bogey suggestions spread is that “you will fall and injure yourself.” Well being a most prolific faller – I have now perfected the roll – let me tell you runners can fall anywhere, like smooth tar roads; anytime, like in a race, on a training run and it does not stop them from bouncing back for more.
I recall a while back we had just done a bush run in the dark, and those are tricky to negotiate, but not once did any of us fall.
Once on the road back to our cars however, I tripped over absolutely nothing and badly gashed my knee.
Running Surfers won’t hurt you, unless you are unfit, but you yourself might hurt you by being careless on the run.
The other question that I am frequently asked is, “if Surfers is just one week away from the Buffs Marathon should I give it a skip?”
Two weeks would be ideal, but Surfers is only 17.5km and one would generally run 16-20km in training the week before a marathon anyway, so my advice is go for it.
Besides Surfers is such a great” feel good” event, that it will only have a positive effect on the marathon and ones running in general.
The question as to whether to race Surfers or simply jog through depends very much on the preparation that has gone into the marathon.
I would tend to simply keep the main opposition in my sights until Gonubie Hotel and then let loose – there is so much fun to be had catching others with the crowds egging you on.
So to race or not to race? Work out the best tactics to suit your strengths and give it a good go.

The racing up front of the Discovery Surfers is always intense and made more so by the different conditions facing runners each year.

It is well documented that the guys who win are special athletes and all have run at the highest levels of races in South Africa and in some instances, abroad.

What about the guys vying to sneak in to the Top 10 – and the prestige that goes with it?

They will be well educated in the knowledge that the slightest slip in the build up or on race day itself may have them relinquish their dream.

For the purposes of this article let us look at four men who are likely to be knocking on the door come 18 February. All four are at different stages of their careers with one literally starting out and another who has been around a fair while.

The running times of these four men at Surfers over the past three years have a similar thread and in 2010, when the tides were at their highest in memory, they were very close to one another. Interestingly it was the runner with the most experience of the four who triumphed in the conditions. Readmore…

A huge debate has been raging in running circles over the past year or two in respect of barefoot or natural running, as opposed to technical running shoes.

Over the years there have been some great athletes – mostly African – who have competed successfully in their natural state – feet wise that is.

Zola Budd is the most famous in this neck of the woods, but we have in fact produced numerous Border/Kei locals who have favoured the shoe less state too.

Zola will be in town this weekend {20-22 Jan.} at the 70.3 Ironman Expo. She will also be hosted by the Goons at Beacon Bay Country Club at 5p.m. on Friday for a talk on this subject and a short run thereafter. There is no charge, but with space limited contact me to secure a spot. Readmore…

Neville Wilkins, the long serving convenor of the Discovery Surfers Challenge, announced this morning that the 2012 event will incorporate a new Junior Surfers for U14′s.
It is an innovation that suggests that neither Wilkens, his committee nor the sponsors, Discovery, have lost their appetite to further grow what is already South Africa’s largest beach/trail run. Readmore…

Bruce Fordyce

Such is the allure of the Discovery Surfers Challenge that community personalities and indeed some celebrities pop up in the results.

I have picked out but a few to validate the point.

The Pollock name has long been associated with the Surfers and surfing in general to the extent that the late Mick Pollock was often the rallying point of Surfers entries.

It has been well documented in the media that the family organised a paddle out to  spread Mick’s ashes off Mermaids Pool.

This meant that son John was out from the USA and he was able to paddle the race with nephew, Grant, while wife Jeanette ran the race.
Brother David and family were also conspicuous on the day while young Jessica, daughter of brother Mark and sister to Grant, is a runner of huge potential. Jessica has surprised seasoned runners for two years in succession and this year beat her time by well over 16 minutes.

Bruce Fordyce was of course in the field and although he took it deliberately easy over the first 5km of rocky terrain, he opened the throttle from Gonubie River to the finish, passing masses of people in the process.

Brett Peterson, former SA swimmer was in on the run with an excellent 1:43:43 and former rugby player and top physio, Cassie van der Merwe finished comfortably in 2:14:27.

One of East London’s land barons, Russell Seymour has given up his running shoes for a surf ski and finished comfortably in 1:42:25.

The acting MD of Tourism Buffalo City, Colleen du Randt, did not run only the Surfers, but started out on the Monday with the Wild Coast Trail Ultra from Port St Johns. Still she managed a 2:15:21.

Old Selbornian chief honcho of coaching Mitch Grotjohn looked a tad bewilderred as he neared the finish with all the vocal support and former Springbok rugby player Russell Bennett took it real easy, but added some flair to the race.

Keith Fenn is somehow expected to be there, but the man is folklore in paddling all over the world in respect of the design and manufacture of craft, as well as for his paddling prowess. Keith paddled with his son which is always a great experience for a father.

Buffalo City’s Mr Fixit, Vuyo Zambodla, was one of two big surprise entries and on limited preperation came in 1076th position.

The other entry to catch folk off guard was that of the Daily Dispatch’s Dominic Peel. Peel gave up an afternoon of watching soccer in front of the tele and witha handful of training “outings” under his belt, finished in 1124thplace. In the aftermath he said “never again…the only reason I finished was the likely hostile reception in the newsroom and a youngster who kept trying to come past.”
Do you know of any others? Let us know too.