The big 50 - kilometers in walking that is ...

Back a few years ago and being an avid race walker, doing ultra walks was all part and parcel of what I did. The Gaterite was nothing different and for me was just another challenge. What made this one different was you only had to complete 3 in order to obtain your permanent number. The race only started in 2004 and I had done the previous two. It was always held the month before the Ilembe ultra 50km, so was quite a challenge doing two 50km races within a month of each other. Nevertheless I did. This is the layout I did of my final Gaterite 50km race and achieving my permanent number - number 18. The journalling is as follows:

"The Gaterite 50km is a tough, hilly race. It starts in Verulam with a steep climb into the town and then undulating all the way down to Umhlali and along the promenade. We then head up to the old main road and into La Mercy constantly climbing as we go through the residential area. We go under the freeway to the beachside and then cross the freeway again and continue along the bad camber road into Tongaat. From Tongaat we head on back towards Verulam but at Canelands we come off the main road to go through the residential area. By this time people are out shopping and the roads are extremely busy. The last two years' races the weather was boiling hot and this year was no exception! This is the one race where Reg has walked with me the whole way until the end when my "scorpion tail" kicks in and he can't keep up!!! This particular race was a special one for me as when I finished it I would get my permanent number. My finish time for the 50km was 7h22:23 (my best time for this race) and I received permanent number 18. That means I was the 18th person to have done all three of these races so far. Janine and Sharon also did this race but I don't know their times. After a long and hot race like this, ice lollies go down very well!!!!"

This was also one of the few where the organising club arranged plates of breyani (an indian rice/curry dish) for all the finishers and it was worth having walked 50km to have some.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

Ultra marathoner signing off ....