It was a festive atmosphere at the flood-lit field at Albany Sports Club on Wednesday night as hundreds of runners stretched and warmed up for the annual Makana Brick Nite Race.
It was a festive atmosphere at the flood-lit field at Albany Sports Club on Wednesday night as hundreds of runners stretched and warmed up for the annual Makana Brick Nite Race.
Yes, it was a fun 8km race, but as with any “race”, there was an air of anticipation, of competitiveness.
Runners dressed in their club colours, or shirts boldly reading “Ironman South Africa” or “Two Oceans Marathon” really looked the part, compared to my plain black running shorts and vest.
I’ll admit, the adrenaline was pumping as the race official gave the race briefing just before the start. It was my first proper “race”, and I was not sure how I’d fare against the rest of the field.
The start was a mass of bodies, with many of the younger athletes sprinting ahead to the front of the field, only to stop and catch their breath after the first corner.
As the race progressed, the field stretched out into an almost single-file line as we tackled the first gradual incline on Fitzroy Street.
The small rise was unforgiving for many runners, who slowed down to walking pace.
The pace quickened along Park Road, partly due to the flatter surface, which ambled down in an easy descent, but mostly due to the encouraging screams and shouts of the Kingswood College pupils who lined the road.
The 4km marker on Beaufort Street was a definite boost for most runners – half way!
I glanced down at my watch, and saw I was comfortably under my target time. However, I felt a side-stitch developing – never a great feeling while running.
Yet just after, a good friend caught up to me, and with advice on breathing techniques and application of pressure on the stitch, I was able to run through the annoying pain.
We both kept up a good pace for the remainder of the race, up the last incline on Somerset and snaking our way back towards the finish, the rhythm of our footsteps on the tar keeping us going.
The last stretch – a lap around the field at Albany Sports Club – was longer than it looked, but powering through, we reached the finish line together, beating the sub-40-minute time we had aimed for.
The feeling of contentment and satisfaction after a race is second to none.
The feeling of having achieved something, pushing your body and running against the clock is what keeps most runners coming back.
Yet it is only at the end that I saw the finer details around me.
The fact that people of all ages, races and creeds unite and run together, encouraging one other along the route, and keeping each other going.
Pupils, fancy-dressed participants and runners with their dogs all took to the road in a friendly and fun-filled event.
A few minutes after I had finished, I witnessed a truly inspiring sight – a man crossing the finish line in a wheelchair, being pushed by a friend.
This is what sport is all about.
A fun race like this brought together students, professional runners, disabled athletes, townsfolk and visitors.
It brought the Grahamstown community together, an event where every athlete had the same objective – to complete the eight kilometres.
No divisions, no political agendas or arguments. The beauty of sport. And of course, a delicious pineapple at the finish!
