Saturday 8th March 2025

This race is hosted by TotalSports VOB Running Club and the route offers some of the most scenic routes in the city. It started at 06h15 from the Constantia Village Shopping Centre, Main Road, Constantia.

We started off as seven girls running the VOB. But things change, as they do and we ended up just being five. Five of us that could fit into Anelle’s car parked at the Blouberg Total Garage. This is where we met at 05h00 and set off immediately never knowing what the traffic or parking availability will be. Once in Constantia however, Anelle was able to locate a good off street parking for us proving a very easy walk to the start line . . .and bathrooms! I had yet to collect my number which was painless to say the least and within minutes it was pined on my WCAC vest.
We could quite frankly have done with some outside ablutions to compliment those inside the mall. Not only was the queue out the door, time was ticking by with some rather nervous athletes wondering if they would make it in time. After the amount of traffic in and out of the bathroom’s I must say they were in pretty good condition after all was said and done.
This year the runners were divided into starting groups. And how I’ll never know, but I got landed with an A on my number which meant we would be the first batch off. I took no heed of this preferring to hang back instead of going out to fast and keep my pace constant. Me going out to fast . . . ha ha, as if!!
There was a mighty good turn out of West Coasters. Again some I knew and am familiar with and some I’ve never seen before. But with one thing in common the gun went off and at 06h15 it was practically daylight although one still had to be aware of not only the slippery elevated speed bumps but the cat’s eyes too.
This would probably be my third VOB but I stand to be corrected? It’s a lovely route which offers flat roads, up hills and of course down hills. The tiniest bit of gravel plus some wooden bridge work through a green belt park. All very pretty indeed!
Water tables were good. Water was plentiful. Coke was plentiful. Marshals were helpful, friendly and visible. The traffic police made their presence known and were such an important aide to our day out on the road. At the very time they did stop the runners for one minute flat, I was quite relieved that they had done so and gave me some welcome breathing space!
Being a 15km, and a race that I had previously competed in, I was hoping for a reasonable time in and that’s exactly what I got. Looking back at Strava I noted that I had done quite well a couple of years ago. But that was a couple of years ago. I’m now older and from the look of current photo’s – shorter than I used to be 😊.
Quite a few hills in Constantia hey, almost hidden by the outstanding properties of those who live in this prestigious area. Nothing shabby or overgrown. No sirree – not here in Constantia. Every now and then one would come across another park or green belt. Yes another one. Thank goodness for the most wonderful weather. I almost forgot to mention how ideal it was. Just perfect actually. Little breezy, little overcast – lovely running weather.

Crossing the finish line was a good start to a Saturday morning. I accepted my wooden medal, downed a good couple of cokes and made my way to the nearest tree. And there to my surprise our gazebo was up, offering fabulous fresh watermelon, sweets, crisps and . . . . cold coke! I really had no idea the gazebo would be at the VOB but I’m extremely grateful that it was. We gathered there to chat about the race and congregated for the all important photo session.
Now it was time to leave with Mandy and I arm in arm heading off to the car. As the others caught up to us we realized that none of us had actually taken note of where we’d parked. So without exaggerating – this is the honest truth – it must have taken a good thirty minutes with us walking up and down, chatting to folk along the way telling them that we had lost the car to eventually find it hidden underneath a tree shadowed by another larger car.
So now I’m pretty familiar with the streets of Constantia. We’d walk down one road only to discover that we’d already covered that ground. Spotted landmarks but weren’t sure if we’d seen them previously in the car or on foot? Oh it was a total fiasco. A comedy of errors. We could really have done with Mariana as she has a built in GPS and would have led us to our car without further delay. Sure it set us back a little but we laughed out loud whilst doing so.
This was a good run. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Very well organized too. Gotta love Constantia. So thanks VOB – hope to see you next year!!