It’s a stunning Spring morning in Constantia, and I am trying to locate my running shoes in the depths of my garage. It’s been a year since my last timed race, thanks to a finicky torn knee ligament.
I’m so excited to get back on to the road and have been waiting in anticipation for the K-way VOB Constantia Valley Grape Run 2015 all year. Set in the heart of the Constantia Valley and its spectacular vineyards, this race has become a firm running favourite on the event calendar for local racing bunnies!
I’ve challenged some of the Full Circle Wellness Fitness Team to enter the race this morning – representing my Boot Camp classes are some clients preparing to smash the 21km and 14km routes while my Sporty Forty Body Conditioning ladies are proudly ready to hit the 5km route! Offering varying routes of 21km, 14km and Family Run 5km – all through the historic wine farms of Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia, Buitenverwachting and Constantia Uitsig – means a great morning out in our local area, for ALL levels of fitness! 14km routes don’t come around often, so this option is often a popular choice!
As always, K-way VOB running club are super-organised – registration was a breeze! Parking around the Constantia Village area made the morning flow smoothly and I was impressed by the toilet facilities and the selection of food vendors available (I had to hold myself back from inhaling a pancake before the race!).
After the 21km and 14km runners routes have pounded off in the direction of Buitenverwatching and Klein Constantia, the 5km runners line up. The gun goes off on time, and I switch into my running mode (brain complaining of sore legs – “OFF”) and head down towards Brommersvlei Road and onto the Constantia Greenbelt.
The 5km route was a great outline of the suburbs of Constantia – our race took us through the trail part of the Constantia Greenbelt and up into Bel Ombre – past some beautiful homes! Completely shaded by the trees of Constantia, the race was a perfect mix of hills and descents. Marshalls were friendly and encouraging the entire duration of the race – always needed on a Sunday morning after some Rugby World Cup action!
Water stations were perfectly placed and the route well marked.
It was a great feeling to cross over the finish line and get back into the running game – and even more so to see the friendly and familiar faces at VOB all round! I proudly have taken my 5km medal home, and displayed it next to my 42.2km medal – a sign of great things to come!
My Full Circle Wellness clients enjoyed the morning immensely – thank you VOB for an incredible morning in our Constantia Valley! Being so close to home, we were able to head off for our second (and much deserved) breakfast at Green Constantia (in our running gear, with our medals, proudly displayed around our neck – no shame!)
Looking forward to the next VOB running event in March!
Article by Claire Davidson – Full Circle Wellness/Personal and Group Training. Images by VOB Running Club and Full Circle Wellness.
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