... or walking

 Good morning, dear Blogger friends. As I said in yesterday's post, I am either working ...

or

walking!

Earlier this year I wrote in to take part in an annual event arranged by our regional radio station called the East Coast Radio Big Walk. You could enter to do the 5km or the 10km. I signed up for the latter. On Sunday 26 May 2024. 

As I have posted ad nauseum  regularly  Skabby and I do the 5km Parkrun here at home on a weekly basis.

Taking part in the Big Walk was a lot different. I had to travel to the city (180km from the farm). I also had an appointment with Weigh-Less HO CEO on the Friday, so I traveled down for the weekend.

Ready for the off!

I always set out early 

Waiting in the Weigh-Less Head Office

After a fruitful meeting with my Weigh-Less employer, I stopped off at the designated venue to collect my goodie bag for Sunday's event. 

My race number, a tee shirt, lip balm, bottled water, several power snack bars and a small tube of sunscreen

I drove to the North Coast and stayed with my SIL, Shelley (my birding mentor) for the weekend. 

On Saturday, while everyone slept on, I de-activated the burglar alarm, let myself out of their house and drove to the nearest Parkrun.

Ballito Parkrun 

After the Parkrun, I met up with Shell and Chilly, my BIL and their older son Bruce, his wife, Amy and their baby girl, Anna

I spent a restful Saturday afternoon and evening with Shelley (walking on the beach with her six dogs) and back at home cooking pasta for dinner and catching up on all our news. 

Early, very early on Sunday morning, I, once again deactivated the burglar alarm, let myself out of the house and quietly drove off to Durban. 

Starting out on the Big Walk

7am and the sun rising over the Indian Ocean

At the 1km mark, I met one of my favorite radio announcers, Deon G (Govender)

The participants stretched far ahead into the distance. There were 20, 000 entrants to this event. More than the Comrades Marathon which is run between the two cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg every year!

When I passed the 5km mark, I thought, mmm, that's my Saturday Parkrun done and dusted. It was also here that those who had signed in for the 5km distance, veered off to the right and to their destination

2km further we passed under the freeway, the N2 

Our very own Sydney Opera House lookalike: The Moses Mabida Stadium

As we approached the last 1500meter before the finish, we were entertained by various artists. These three ladies caught my attention belting out Zulu beats

And then I was at the finish line. Whoohoo! 

I noticed a couple taking photos of each other, so I offered to take one of them together under the FINISH banner. I asked the gentleman to take a photo of me 

Along with several other participants, I was bussed back to our vehicles at the start. It was 9am. I set off out of the city; and by 12 noon I drove into the farmyard. 

Greeting Skabby who was ecstatic to see me and walking into my house, I checked my watch...

20, 722 steps which translate into 17.5km

I slept well that night!

HAPPY MONDAY TO YOU ALL!