Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Two Oceans fever grips the city
SOME have trekked from afar, put in hard hours of training and have set personal goals.
Today, as runners take their positions on the starting line at the world’s most beautiful marathon, many participants have funded themselves and sacrificed plenty, not only to enjoy the breathtaking views along the route, but also to be immersed in a spirit of camaraderie which draws thousands to the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon.
At the marathon’s three-day Expo hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre earlier this week, some runners were still dismayed at the news that they would miss the captivating views along Chapman’s Peak Drive. The route was changed following last month’s devastating fires.
Beaming while holding up his race number, Frederick Jaftha, 37, from Belhar, posed for a photograph as his wife snapped away on her cellphone.
“I’m quite excited and can’t wait for the race, and I’m trying to get my wife to join me at some stage,” Jaftha said, smiling at his wife Debbie.
He’ll be running the 56km ultra marathon for the third time.
A member of the Nedbank Running Club, he still fondly remembers his colleagues teasing him at work to motivate his efforts to complete his first ultra. “They painted a copy of the road map on a wall and drew a stick figure of me and an ambulance behind me along the way.”