"I'd rather be seen on my bicycle than on a park run" - Quote from the dark side

Monday 3 January 2011

Bling and my first race for 2011


The beginning of a new year means I start a new bling collection. Every year I hang my medals all over the house and then take them down at the end of the year to start the process again in January. All my medals, except for the current year's, are kept in a cupboard as I have too many to display.
My 2010 medals

As part of my 2011 bling collecting effort I signed up for the “Run for the Bling of it” challenge and if you haven’t done so go check it out here.

My first race of 2011 is this Saturday. I’ll be off to the South Coast of Kwazulu Natal on Thursday morning to run the Odyssey Ultra on Saturday. I posted details about the race when I entered but here is a short recap:

Date: 8 January 2011

Distance: 90km

Start: 03:00 Hibberdene

Cutoff: 23:59 Port Edward

The route is unmarked bar the start and finish areas. Simply follow the coastline until you reach the finish.

Runners/Walkers must carry water and nutrition for the duration of the day. There will be one water-table/checkpoint en route only. Local communities may provide drinks (for sale) at various accessible venues en route, but this is unreliable.

A race sweeper will follow the last runner and will be in radio contact with the organizers.

There will be a dedicated event medic on standby in the event of an emergency.

Race cut-off is at a predetermined 23h59 Saturday 8th January 2010 and is only enforced for your own safety.

If you withdraw from the race it is your responsibility to inform the organizers as soon as possible, failure to do so could result in an extensive and costly man hunt.

So I’m off to the coast on Thursday for my first 2011 race. This should be a fun one!

Have a great week everyone!

46 comments:

Karen said...

Sounds like a fantastic race! Bring your own water - that is hardcore. Have a great race :)

Kate Geisen said...

I'm with Karen...sounds hardcore, all right. A route along the coastline sounds like it'll be beautiful. Looking forward to hearing about it. Good luck!

KovasP said...

So look forward to hearing how it goes - enjoy the coast!

Christi said...

That sounds like a crazy race. Good luck!

Mike said...

Fun Pic of your medals! Good Luck running Odyssey Ultra. Running down the coast sounds like fun!

racing dawn said...

Sounds quite intense!!! Can't wait for the recap! Good luck with the race! And that's quite the stash of medals for the year! Way to go... :)

Marlene said...

That's quite the bling collection from last year!

Sounds like a great race coming up but crazy to start in the middle of the night! How do you prepare for that??

misszippy said...

Nice pile of bling you've got there! Good luck this weekend--sounds like an epic adventure.

Patrick Mahoney said...

Sounds really awesome, have a great race.

Cindy said...

Have a great race!

Teamarcia said...

Ah the annual bling collection of a true running machine. Here's to an awesome year of racing--hope there's no need for a manhunt!

ajh said...

That sounds like a hard core race for sure! And that is absolutely an amazing bling collection. I will have to go check out that link.

Natalia said...

Good luck, hardloop vinnig, en pasop vir die boomslange.....even though I am not sure they are found along the coast.....maar daar is sand slange...... mooi loop and looking forward to seeing the pics!

DRog said...

Love your "bling system" !!!

GL on the coast!

D

Scott McMurtrey said...

Great way to start off the year. Looks like it will be a wonderful challenge. :)

Char said...

That race sounds like a huge adventure. 90k is a massive event!

Jason said...

You have the greatest races. Once I get past this year's HIM's and qualifying for Boston I am going to truly investigate the Ultra runs here in the States as yours sound so amazing.

Good luck this weekend. I am running a race 1/6th the length of yours for my first race of the year as well.

Bethany + Ryan said...

wow, good luck! i like the man hunt part, lol. i look forward to seeing your recap after this one, to see how you did but more importantly to know there was no man hunt for you! have fun!

Julie said...

Hi Johann,
Holy cow!!! You have an impressive bling stash there!! You have worked so hard this year and run in so many amazing races:)

Good luck to you in 2011! I am expecting several awesome race reports from you:) Take care and Happy New Year!

Happy Feet 26.2 said...

getting started with the 2011 bling bling! Hope the day is fun and goes as planned.

The Green Girl said...

Wow - I can't believe how many medals you accumulated in a single year - that is so awesome!

Good luck this weekend, I'll be thinking of you!

Laurie said...

I am signed up for Run for the Bling of it,too. So far, though, zero races on the calendar.
I never know what to do with my medals -- some are in a bin in the basement, my favorites are around a bedpost in the gustroom.

Adrienne said...

Good luck with your first race. I'm sure it will be awesome.

Nathan said...

OK This ultra strikes me as both potentially beautiful and deadly! Haha!

One station? That's pretty risky! I am sure you will do great and are very well prepared, though =D ....

I just think now I am REALLY not tough enough for these ultras. Hah!!
4 days, Johann! Rest up!

Ewa said...

Can't wait to read your race report. It sounds like this is going to be one cool race. Hope it is not foggy and nobody will loose their way.

HappyTrails said...

Quite the pile of BLING Johann - wow!!! Looks like a very challenging race - have a great day out there and enjoy the views on the coast!

Abby @ Have Dental Floss, Wil Travel said...

Totally self-supported? Sounds like an adventure race!

Good luck :)

Unknown said...

Fantastic Johann! Good luck this weekend and have a fun race. :-)

Bethany + Ryan said...

it was SO easy to set up the email thing! In our blogger profile there was an option to add an email address which we previously selected NO. All we did was yes YES and create and email address. its whatever you want it to be @blogger.com. So now when i take a pic on my blackberry, i just email it to my blogger address. or i can just type an email. it's to easy, and it appears within minutes. Its genius. wish i set it up sooner!

Lindsay said...

good luck this weekend! that is a lot of medals from last year - you sure do race a lot!

Chris K said...

That race sounds crazy. Completely and totally unlike I have ever done. Lots of luck Johann.

ultra collie said...

no chance of getting lost then!
have fun

Jamie said...

Sounds like an interesting and fun race. Good luck!

ranrunrunning.com said...

So cool! Be sure to take pictures. I will be waiting o hear about it.

Jill said...

Look at all your cool bling!! :)
I hang all my bling on my closet door and then retire them to a plastic bag marked the year on it, just in case something happened to me my kiddos would know which year I got them. Then I start the process all over, just like you :).

Have a great race, Johann! I am so very excited to hear how it goes. Just have a blast, ok!!???

Staci said...

Hi Johan. I know you are leaving for your race today, travel safe. Have a fantastic time away and a great race! I trust all your hard work will pay off and you will run effortlessly and easily. Looking forward to your race report and your great pictures. Staci

Lesley Looper said...

Impressive bling, Johann! Many healthy, fun running miles and races in 2011! Good lucj this weekend!

Kevin said...

Nice race bling.

Kevin
http://halftriing.blogspot.com/

wendy said...

Good luck on your race, Johann! Can't wait to hear how it went and see the pics!

Andrew Opala said...

Good Luck Johann ... you always bring new challenges into my mind ... impossible for me to fathom in most cases!

I have no bling ... I wonder if I will every see anything.

Molly said...

Holy cow, that sounds hardcore. Have fun, I know you will!!

Christina said...

Good luck

Nathan said...

Can't wait to read your race report!
Hope all went well!!

It's going to be a great story, I am sure. :)

RunKathyRun said...

What an awesome way to start 2011; I can't wait to hear all about it.

Black Knight said...

I hope that you ran a good race.
I am going to join the "Run for the bling of it" group.
However when I left the old house I lost all my running awards, what a pity!
Have you received the t-shirt?

Sherri said...

I hope your race went good...I'm excited to read about it!