The Dean of Education at Rhodes University, Prof George Euvrard has just returned from successfully completing the gruelling 52km Rhodes Run up in the southern Drakensberg mountains.
The Dean of Education at Rhodes University, Prof George Euvrard has just returned from successfully completing the gruelling 52km Rhodes Run up in the southern Drakensberg mountains.
Stephen Penney: Prof, can you begin by telling us a bit about the race?
George Euvrard: It all began in the late 80s when a group of locals wanted to put Rhodes on the map and ensure that it didn’t fade into obscurity like so many other little Eastern Cape villages. So they came
up with what they called ‘the breathtaking trail run’.
And is it “breathtaking”?
In more ways than one! On the one hand it is absolutely glorious and truly aweinspiring. Running along the snowy mountain tops with these huge valleys below,makes one gasp at the bigger picture.
On the other hand, climbing out of these same icy, slippery valleys at an altitude of 2 680 metres leaves you breathless in any case!
How cold was it?
In the race organiser’s words, it was a ‘balmy minus 6ºC at the start. I actually found it rather nippy. There was a heavy frost everywhere and some snow and ice in the mountains, but it warmed up quite pleasantly.
I believe you had rather cool accommodation the night before.
Ja, accommodation in Rhodes is at a premium at this time and I didn’t feel like the has-sle of scratching around for a bed, so I slept in my car near the start. Took along our Makoti goose-down winter duvet, and
was as warm as toast.
And how was the actual run? Were you well prepared?
It is a challenging trail run at the best of times, and I somehow managed to make it even harder! I’d been lazing since the Three Peaks last year, and then as I started training I developed a serious vein infection in my legs, which was accompanied by a dramatically low haemoglobin count.
I eventually became gatvol of my forced anaemic inactivity and antibiotic intake, and headed onto the beach for a desperate run, only to pull muscles in both calves in the soft sand. So I had no choice but to continue to loaf and prepare myself mentally.
Did the legs come right on the day?
Yes, for the first kilometre! Then both calves went on strike. Over 50km to go. It became an epic contest. But fortunately I get on very well with myself and so personal negotiation and self-discipline is never an issue.
I developed a special minimal movement shuffle which enabled me to keep going in appalling style
but good spirits. And you managed to finish.
Hell yes! Apart from anything else, I was ‘carrying’ someone else’s number and if I didn’t finish, she would have lost that number and she had been trying for 12 years to get it. No pressure. I actually came in just after half of the field,which surprised me.
What’s next?
I think the next excuse for carbo-loading might be the Big Bafer – the six-day Amatola Trail as a two-day jog. Could be fun to see what it’s like to run into a second day. And that trailis so beautiful…
