Happy New Year to everyone. May 2012 be “the” year for you.

I hope you all have your running resolutions in order and in place. If you are looking for a good time to start runing – NOW is the time, today, get out there!

For those doing Two Oceans and then Comrades, Gill’s program has been updated with the RAC club runs and races and you can see it and download it by clicking here.

If you are doing Ironman 70.3 in East London later this month and it is your first time, you might want to read Doug Jones’ account of the race. You can see it here in the Modern Athlete or the full version of the story here where he posted it. Terry’s account of her race is also well worth the read.

You will have seen that I sent you an invitation on Facebook to connect. I have set up a Bryanston Bombers Facebook Page that you can like and then get more regular updates on what is happening. Click here to like the page.

I have also set up a @BryanstonBombrs Twitter account where interesting news is being tweeted. You can see the latest tweets on the right side of the Bombers Blog. Follow us here. 

Well that’s about all for now – time to get out on the road for me. See you out there.

Iano

I would like to take this chance to wish everybody a happy and a safe holiday. If you are going away please travel safely, don’t overindulge (too much), try and train a little bit (20 mins 3 times a week will help you maintain your fitness).

On that note, Gill has been hard at work (as usual) preparing a training program for the next 6 months. So as of last Tuesday, the plans up until Comrades on the 3rd of June 2012 have been drawn up. You can see what is happening here and can download the program to put up on your fridge!! It is complete with races for 2012 (RAC Club Runs have been added to this version).

This weekend, if you are around, there is a memorial run in memory of runners who have lost their lives on our roads. It is from the News Cafe in Rivonia, starts at 06:30 and consists of a 10 mile and 5 mile race. I believe it is also hosted by Morningside, who some of the Bombers belong to. Click here for details.

Have fun.

As promised some news from France. It is nice to be with the family again. Very animated time after those few months on my own. I am still running every morning in Avignon and along the Rhone river. I have resumed my daily walks with my wife as well. I still need to find a group as nice as the Bryanston Bombers to run with.

Below are my details in case you need any thing:

email: edechezelles@fr.mccormick.com Mobile no = +33 (0) 6 26 87 11 37

Have a great day.

Etienne.

Well done to Bombers what ran the Hunters Challenge in Pretoria on Saturday 29th. I believe the Jacarandas were in full bloom and were stunning and they inspired some awesome performances. Fantastic!! Results were as follows (apologies if I missed any names:

Megan 1:37,
Izelle 1:38,
Ilse 1:40,
Leigh 1:41
Gill 1:42,
Mark 1:55, Sue H 1:56 Norah 1st GM 1:56

Well done everyone. Clearly Leigh’s training and guidance is paying off.
https://twitter.com/#!/BryanstonBombrs/status/130346125730398208

Over the last weekend I ran the Golden Gate Challenge on the Maluti  Mountains near Clarens. It was a 3 day stage race consisting of 28km, 27km & 17km stages over some awesome but technical trails. I really surprised myself by finishing 4th, 9th & 5th in each of the days for an overall position of 6th (out of a 130 field). My time was 8:20 for the 72km. Thanks to everyone who sent messages of support.

On another more sober note. I believe there was an incident this morning where a car jumped a stop street and nearly collected a few Bombers who were running. Fortunately noone wad hurt, but it does highlight how careful we must be. Carry on wearing white tops and assume no driver has seen you. That way you remain in control. Run safe!!

This Sunday is the Soweto Marathon. I only know of Doug running, and if anyone else is running – Good luck to you all. Let us know how you did. There is a move for runners to wear a black armband in sympathy of those runners killed in Midrand. Show your support too.

In the afternoon on Sunday you can watch the New York marathon on SuperSport. It should be a good race with the Kenyans using it as a selection race for the Olympics.

For the tech savvy, follows the Bombers on Twitter @BryanstonBombrs (note the spelling.

Cheers Iano.

For those of you who have noticed, you will have seen that the Bombers are now on Twitter @BryanstonBombrs (note the spelling) and the latest news is being tweeted on the Blog. IF you are on Twitter, then follow us. We are also on Facebook as Bryanston Bombers. So if you have any news that you’d like to share, please use these pages.

This weekend is a big running one – Leigh has been diligently training the group for the Hunters Challenge that is in Pretoria on Saturday. And from the few times I’ve been running on a Tuesday, I’m really amazed at how well everyone is running. So, best of luck to Leigh, Gill, Izelle, Ilse, Megan and Kerry-Lynn (hey, where are the guys? Doug, Dave, Mark, Etienne … why don’t you go too).

For me this weekend, I’m sitting looking at the mountains that surround me and am contemplating running up and over them for the next 3 days – fheew. I’m doing a new trail race called the Golden Gate Challenge (www.Goldengatechallenge.co.za ) and it is set in the beautiful Golden Gate Highlands Park on the Lesotho border of the Free State.

For the tech savvy of us, I’ll be tweeting how the race is going from @BryanstonBombrs and on the trend #GoldenGateChallenge. I also run with my cellphone and have an application on my phone called Endomondo (www.endomondo.com) where you can see where I am on the trail – in real-time! Quite a nifty app – I’d suggest everyone using it, both from an interest point of view, but also from a safety point of view. (I’ve been tracking Bridget and Terry walking in the mornings).

Leigh asked me to let everyone know that she is doing a collection for the guards at BMC who look after our cars while we go running each morning. We have been fortunate for the last few years that BMC has allowed us to park in the parking lot at no cost. It is a privilege and as a way of saying thank you, we have for the past few years done a collection for the guards and then Allie has given this to the guards. So over the next few weeks, please bring something (whatever you feel comfortable paying) and give it to Leigh (or Gill).

Have a fantastic weekend. I’ll be running (and tweeting) so follow me if you’d like

Cheers Iano

This morning a really tragic event happened to a group of Midrand Striders who were out on their morning run. They were hit by a drunk driver and 4 ladies and a man were killed.

Please spare a thought and prayer for their families.

Keep aware and safe on the roads, wear white tops and run facing into the traffic.

http://tinyurl.com/6a75l4q

https://twitter.com/#!/BryanstonBombrs/status/127789421289410561

Happy Spring Day!!

Isn’t this just a fantastic time of year. It’s warm in the mornings when we get up to run, it’s almost light the whole run, the blossoms are out with their sweet smells and the leaves are getting leaves on them again.

To celebrate, Spring, Denton is hosting his 3rd (and unfortunately last) Bombers Spring Run at his house in Fourways Gardens this coming Saturday 3rd Sept at 6 am.

This is a great opportunity for those that have been waiting for a better time to start running to START. It will also be great to see all the new Bomber faces, so Robyn, Mandy, Dave & Kerry bring the boys and girls to meet Denton & Angie’s new arrival, Jemma (apparently she is really cute!). Also, I know that Terry and Bridget will be walking, so any preggie ladies out there are welcome to join them. Baby Joggers are also welcome.

You need to bring yourself and all authorised hangers on! Some juice if you are a guy and something to eat if you are a girl.

Denton’s address is 11 Kareeboom Avenue, Fourways Gardens (click here for a map: http://g.co/maps/ut7e )

(Take William Nichol past Fourways Mall. At the Leaping Frog centre turn left into Uranium road. At the next set of robots turn right into Bushwillow. At the circle first left into Fourways Gardens Phase 1. Enter your access code to get through the boom. At the next circle first left into Kareeboom. Number 11 is the second house on your right).

Denton’s mobile is 0828047274, so please RSVP to him so he can SMS you the access code.

This is also a farewell for Denton, Angie and the girls who will be moving permanently to Durban (I can hear Gary and Lauren licking their chops) in a few months. So lets give them a big send off. I know that I probably wouldn’t have been running with the Bombers if it wasn’t for Denton – and I certainly wouldn’t have run my 1st Comrades!!

Spring Day is also the time that a few of the bigger races open their entries:

1. 2012 Comrades Marathon entries open on 1 Sept to 30 Nov 2011. The race is on Sunday 3 June 2012. To enter, go here http://www.comrades.com/Entries/Online-Entry.aspx
2. 2012 Capre Argus Cyc le Challenge entries open 1 Sept 2011 at 13h00. The race is on Sunday 11 March 2012. To enter go here http://www.cycletour.co.za/index.php/enter/south-african-entries
3. 2012 Two Oceans Marathon entrie open on 5th Oct 2012 and Half Marathon entries open on 11th Jan 2012. The race is on Saturday 7th April 2012. To enter go here http://www.twooceansmarathon.org.za/enter/enter-online

Well done to Doug for running his half marathon PB of 1:28:15 at the Wanderer’s Half last Sunday – awesome achievement and I doubt that time will last long.

Have a fantastic Spring Day – go for a swim! See you all on Saturday!

There are a few multi stage trail runs coming up that you may want to consider entering:

1. Golden Gate 3 Day Trail Run – 27th to 30th Sept 2011 This is a new race on the calendar and takes part in the exquisite Golden Gate Park in the Free State. There are about 10 entries left for the race, so if you are quick, you may just get one (I have mine already). If you are keen, get hold of Heidi Mocke on HeidiM@wildlands.co.za or 072 244 6061. For more details on the race look on the website www.goldengatechallenge.co.za

2. Three Cranes Challenge – 23 to 26th Feb 2012 This will be the 3rd time this event is put on and having done it this year I can tell you that it is awesome. This takes place over 3 days in the Karkloof “foothills” near Howick in Natal. Entries will be open to the general public on the 22nd Sept this year, but if you are interested in doing the race, email Heidi on HeidiM@wildlands.co.za and get onto the waiting list early. I’d also suggest letting Doug or me know, so that we can put in a good word for you with Heidi. For more details on the race, look at the website www.3craneschallenge.co.za

Regards
Iano

Hi All

The reality of moving down to the coast at the end of November this year has hit home. I have run thousands of kilometres with some of you and only a couple with others but the contribution you have all made to my life is invaluable. So to celebrate the joy of living, new life and good friends along the way, I would be honoured if you would allow me to hijack the Bombers annual spring run to say farewell and to introduce you all to the gorgeous new babe in my life – Jemma! This will be happening from our home on Saturday 3 September 2011 at 6:00am.

The plan is to do a very easy 10Km max (shorter if I can help it!) and have breakfast afterwards if you are able to stay. You need to bring yourself and all the hangers on you can find! Kids bikes, baby joggers and dogs are all welcome. Some juice if you are a guy and something to eat if you are a girl. If you aren’t sure give Iano a shout and I’m sure he will help you decide ie whether to bring food or juice – not to decide whether you are a guy or a girl!

You will need an access code to get in so please let me know and send me your mobile number so I can sms you a code closer to the time.

My address is 11 Kareeboom Avenue Fourways Gardens. Take William Nichol past Fourways Mall. At the Leaping Frog centre turn left into Uranium road. At the next set of robots turn right into Bushwillow. At the circle first left into Fourways Gardens Phase 1. Enter your access code to get through the boom. At the next circle first left into Kareeboom. Number 11 is the second house on your right. My mobile is 0828047274 if you need to call.

Hope to see you all there in numbers!

cheers

Denton

It was extremely generous and Scott (and his brother and sister) are extremely grateful! I look forward to introducing you all to Scott!

Doug and Robyn