Had the most amazing experience at the Winelands half marathon yesterday. Shells and I drove out to Stellenbosch on Friday night to find that the room we had booked had one double bed and not two singles. My wife and Shells man took the news very well indeed.

After an interrupted nights sleep we were up at 4:45 for the start of the race at 5:45. What a festive atmosphere compared to cycling races. Why are runners so friendly or more to the point why are cyclists so....unfriendly?

The run went very well until about 12km and I was well below my required splits for a 1:40. Then there was a sneaky turn to the left off the R44 onto a gravel road that was very corrugated and went on for about 5kms. That dirt road was tough - a steady climb and those corrugations made it very hard to keep a rhythm.

The last 4kms were all downhill or flat and I pushed hard. When I got to the finishing pavilion I really had nothing left....nothing! Anyways, am well chuffed with a 1:35:31 conidering my last attempt 10 years ago resulted in a 1:53.

This week I join a running club - well psyched to improve and get to know more runners.

A big shout out to Shelley for organising and motivating!