April / May 2005

INDEX

CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTARY

FROM THE SECRETARY’S DESK

AROUND THE MEN’S BEND

LADIES CORNER

CROSS COUNTRY LADIES

WALKERS

NEW MEMBERS

BIRTHDAYS

TRACK AND FIELD

AWARDS EVENING

RESULTS

PDAC WEBSITE

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTARY

Club members and friends,

Hi! To you all,

I seemed to have blinked and one third of the 2005 athletic year is behind us. On the road the Marathons, Ultra Marathons and the PDAC Club League races have been competed, with our members acquitting themselves very well. Both Time Trial Leagues are in full swing, with both ladies and guys shaping admirably well. The Cross Country Season has commenced with the annual Parlauf at Westville with our ladies performing wonderfully, whilst the Guys who took part ran very well. Track and Field culminated with the big ABSA meet at Kings Park Stadium.

A very busy time, however, let’s not forget those who have their focus on June 16, Comrades Day. Entries close early May, do not forget or miss the deadline. I trust that your training is on schedule, that you are healthy and injury free and that you are still looking forward to the event. Hang in there if the mileage is getting you down, it will be worth it.

Congratulations to all who participated in the Two Oceans 56/21 kms Marathon and Half Marathon in Cape Town. Particularly Wayne Scott (Silver 56) and Roy Watson (Silver 21)! To all you other PDAC’ers that took part I hope you had a good run, achieved your personal targets and came away without disappointment. PDAC were once again well represented in numbers at the event. Well done to all of you.

Our Annual Awards evening was a great success, taking place at the Pine Dene Inn Hotel. Once again congratulations to those members who were recognised for their achievements in 2004. Thanks to Dianne for all her preparatory work and to steering events to ensure the evening was a success. To all members who assisted in any way thank you.

The PDAC Website is now very much a reality. If you have access to the internet please visit our site and give us some feedback on the content, layout etc. (www.pdac.co.za). We would like to keep the site as topical as possible so inputs from the membership will be welcomed. At this time it’s in its infancy, we still have lots to put into it, but I’m sure you would agree it’s looking good. Special thanks to our Webmaster Greg Anderson (the Iceman) for all his efforts. Staying on the IT topic, our club database is also established with not only membership details but also results per individual, per race etc. Reports may thus be pulled for such things as individual interest, Captains interest and Club interest. Once again the request here is that the data is only as accurate as that last loaded, so if you have changes in your life, address etc. please notify us in order to update the database.

The Club has acquired a freezer, many thanks to Rob Hardwick for his input into this purchase. No excuse for not having frosties now.

I believe it is very important that the committee is aware of the membership concerns and priorities and a method of determining this is to feel the pulse of the membership through a survey. We attempted this last year with a very poor response from the membership; numbers were insufficient on which to base any conclusions. This topics for the perception statements will be considered by committee for implementation, if they so desire, in the near future.

Not so very far away is our hosting of the PDAC 10 / 21 Race, and the two Time Trial League events. We will need your help and support at each of these meetings, so I make a special appeal to all our membership to assist us here, rather than leaving it to the dedicated few. Please do not disappoint.

Cheers for now

Vince

FROM THE SECRETARY’S DESK

I have now taken over the publishing of the newsletter and I hope you like the new format and some of the items I have introduced. 

I really would appreciate all comments so will have a box on my desk where you can write your suggestions.  You can also mail them to me at pdac@icon.co.za .

I would also like to enlist your help.  I am supposed to collect the mail from the Post Office, however my dad was mugged there last week at 5pm!!!  I live in Assagay so usually pop in to the post office before coming to the club at 5.30 on Thursdays so I am appealing to any company that sends their messenger to the Pinetown Post Office to please check the PDAC Post box once a week for me.  Please let me know if this is possible and I will give you the key.

Many thanks

Dianne

AROUND THE MEN’S BEND

Its that time of year again. Those of you doing the Big C should be well into your training.

On this note, next Saturday 7 May is our club long run. We will be meeting at Stokers at 4am and then going up to Pietermaritzburg to start at 5am sharp. The route will follow the Comrades route to Stokers in Kloof. There will be four running groups so please stick to a group to make the seconding easier.

There will be at least six second-vehicles. The cost will be R15 per person to cover the coke and petrol. The seconds will provide coke and water. Any personal preferences bring your own.

After the run, lunch at Stokers will be optional at your own expense.

PLEASE NOTE: You need to make your own plan to get to Stokers and afterwards. The second vehicles are not acting as taxi's.

Otherwise watch this space for our Boys weekend coming up in October.

Train hard for whatever you doing.

Yours in Running

Kelvin  

LADIES CORNER

Hi to you all!  Hope everybody’s training is going well and that you are all well on your way to achieving your goals. 

Congratulations to all you girls who have done well in races, winning category prizes and achieving PB’s .... too many to mention.

If you have any gripes, groans, aches or pains please do not hesitate to contact me.  I will try and help where I can.

For those of you who have access to the internet, go and visit our website on www.pdac.co.za.

Good luck to all of you training for Comrades.  April and May are tough months ... High mileage and dark mornings ... ‘Vasbyt’, it will all be worth it in the end.

REMINDER

We meet on the field below the club house at Lahee Park on Tuesday afternoons (from about 4:45) for speed work.  This is very informal and if you don’t feel like doing track work just come and run around the field.  You do not have to be a fast runner to benefit from this.  Either give me a shout or just go to the field and keep an eye out for me.  Will advise where I can.

QUOTABLE QUOTES:

Þ            The key to everything is to find balance.

Þ            “Too many people miss the silver lining because they are expecting gold.”

Þ            “Smooth seas never make skillful sailors.”

Your Captains-in-Training

Lise & Sam

(031) 701 4038

plumbcare@mweb.co.za

LADIES RESULTS ON THE LAST PAGE

CROSS COUNTRY LADIES

Hello ladies,

Only one cross country event has taken place since last news letter & that was the cross country parlauf which was held at Westville Club.  We managed to field 5 teams one of which happened to be the winning team so well done to Kim & Lise for that performance.  I unfortunately do not have the results at this stage.  Our teams were as follows.

Þ            Kim & Lise

Þ            Sune & Karen

Þ            Teresa & Sheree

Þ            Amanda & Sam

Þ            Myself & Lynda

I do hope that all these ladies will continue to participate throughout the coming league & thank you for all for running. 

All for now

June

Contact details.

Home:   261 7170           Work:    260 1259

Cell:      082 421 3037    watsonj@ukzn.ac.za

WALKERS

Hello there walkers

Did any of you manage to get to Kings Park for the ABSA snr track & field championships – weekend 15/17 Apr. - Marc Mundell (ex KZN) won the 20km walk in 1hr37.13mins and the 1^st lady’s time was 1hr42.51mins –  Absolutely fantastic.

Now back to reality - what a wonderful turnout we had at Queensburgh for the Highway ladies time trial league – but sadly we were pipped into 3rd position by Queensburgh (1^st) Highway (2^nd) but not to be out done, at Chiltern on the 7^th April – Colleen gave them a run for their money and WON the walkers section – Well done! Storm and I tried to prevent 3 or 4  Queensburgh ladies from passing us at the end – thanks Storm you succeeded, I only managed to keep 2 behind me. Have heard a few of QBH runners are now walking – training for the Dolphins Ultra – hence the numbers.  League 3 Thursday 5^th May – POBAC

Warm welcome to Barclay Hallett (Jandi’s husband) he has already shown that he will be force to be reckoned with - completed the Umgeni Water 15km (nearly 16km)- his first race in 2:16 – and then did 2:01 for the ‘Toti 15km. Not too shabby for a beginner.

Congratulations to all who received recognition at our awards evening for their wonderful achievements in 2004.  Only one walker qualified in the2004 Club League – that was Michelle – good going. There are 17 Club League races this year, we only have to complete 12 to qualify – so how about giving it a go?????  We have already had 3 races –14 to go - here are the next 4:

Þ            8 May Starling Plumbers 32/10km

Þ            15 May Savages 21.1km/10km

Þ            29 May Pavillion (very hilly)15km

Þ            17 July Phoenix Striders 15km

As you can see these races have distances to suit all walkers.

Queensburgh Mineshaft 10km on the 4^th April saw Colleen taking the honours by being 1^st lady walker!! Graham was 1^st master male – Congratulations!! It is really great to see the black & gold of PDAC receiving prizes, as the runners also did exceptionally well  - it was pay day for PDAC!!!

Remember…. those shoes were made for walking……………………

Lyn

I still have a few medium and large racer back crop tops (slightly longer version) for sale @ R50.00 each

Contact:    Lyn:

708 3784 / 084 803 512

1 x XL white long sleeve T shirt R50.00

1 x M white long sleeve T shirt   R50.00

1 x L black long sleeve T shirt    R55.00

TRACK AND FIELD

Citius, Altius, Fortius. (faster, higher, stronger)

In the December 2004 issue of the newsletter, I committed myself to having greater tolerance and being less judgmental in 2005 and that it was going to be a tough ask.  Little did I realize at the time how difficult it was to be.  For starters, within days the clubhouse was broken into, twice if my memory serves me correctly.  On return after the Christmas break, the field was in a shocking state, the grass was overgrown, the long jump pit was unrecognisable for weeds and there was trash all over the place.  What a start to my commitment.

Today as I write my contribution to the newsletter, I am on an absolute high after the last three days.  Two glorious days at the SA Track and Field Championships and then on Sunday watching the London Marathon on telly.

Training at Kings Park track the week before the championships, one could sense the excitement building as you watched the likes of Geraldine Pillay, South Africa’s leading woman sprinter go through an awesome warm-up and training workout.  What an inspiration for Kim, our budding sprinter, to train in that company – to see the effort that goes into achieving top class results.  How disappointing that more of our local athletes did not avail themselves of this opportunity.  I was so excited, anyone would have thought I was going to participate.  There were the usual thrills and spills.  There were competitors who qualified for the IAAF World Senior T&F Championships in Helsinki in August this year and those who disappointingly just missed.  There were South African, African and Commonwealth records broken. 

Two noteworthy results were: 

Jacques Freitag in the high-jump, clearing 2.35 metres (get your measuring tape out and see how high that is) and Oscar Pistorius, a double below the knee amputee who not only qualified for the men’s 400 metre final but achieved fifth position in 47.37 seconds.  It was goose bump stuff!

Following a slump in training, Kim Surmon, wisely so, opted out from pushing for inclusion in what would have been her first Senior Championships.  At the age of approaching twenty three, she has time on her side.  Kim, your day will come.

Barely over the excitement of the previous two days, it was time to turn on the telly to watch the running of the London Marathon.

On the local scene.  At the recent KZN track and field championships, Kim in the senior womens 100metres ran a PB to finish fourth in heat one of three.  Although she was eighth fastest did not make the final because of the qualifying criteria, ie first 2 in each heat plus 2 fastest losers.  Jean Foster, our only other PDAC competitor, after experiencing an upset tummy the previous two days as well as having to be on her feet most of the day assisting at the Masters table, ran her 400m in 99secs flat.  Twenty five minutes later ran her 1500m in 9min59secs.  The following day, on day two of the championships, Jean ran the 800m in 5min13secs.  A busy weekend indeed for Jean.

FIXTURES

6/7 May:

    SA Masters Championships

14-17 July:

    IAAF World Youth Champs

    in Marrakesh, Morocco.

05-14 August:

    IAAF World Senior T&F

    Championships in Helsinki,

    Finland.

Comrades runners, hope you all achieve your goals.  See you on the road somewhere.

Until next time.

Harold.

What awesome running from Paula Ratcliffe, winning in 2hrs17min42sec, a world record in a women only race.  Her time averaged a fraction over 3min15sec/km and for those runners who have run 400m intervals, 78.31seconds/400 and as there are over one hundred X 400metres in a marathon it was a magnificent performance. 

I have a recording on tape of the race.  Maybe we can organize a social evening for those interested to watch running at its best.  To put the performance into perspective Paula’s time at 10km was 32min17secs. The winning time in the women’s 10000metre race was 33min46secs and this at the SA Champs it proves how poor the level of our women runners.  Incidentally, before moving on to local news, Paula’s time at 21km was 68min27sec.  I sincerely hope this performance will put her detractors to rest.

Welcome to our New Members

Barclay Hallett

Bhekani Zondi

Blessing Masinga

Caiphus Ngubu

Cyprian Kleinbooi

I M Mabanga

Janine Kinsey

Kim Ground

Lahlokwakhe Ngidi

Mark Scharneck

Moses Mavuso

Mtokhona Maphumulo

Neil Coetzee

Richard Woolrich

Robin Edwards

Samantha de Bruin

Sifiso Nxumalo

Simphiwe Hadebe

Siyabonga Ndlovu

Teneal Featherby

Vezumusu Cele

COMRADES!!!

PDAC WEBSITE

The PDAC website address is:

www.pdac.co.za

Please send your contributions to webmaster@pdac.co.za

SUGGESTION BOX:

I did a survey one evening and the following were suggestions on how to improve PDAC.  I certainly can’t guarantee that any of them will happen but keep them coming!  In case you were wondering, they were comments from men.  Come on ladies!  Give me YOUR suggestions for the next newsletter!

·     Topless barmaid (Mark!)

·     Free beers at PDAC tent at races.

·     Naked runs on Thursdays.

·     Free beers on Friday.

·     Happy Hour for 3 hours on Thursdays.

BIRTHDAYS

We wish the following people a very happy birthday:

APRIL

03        George Palmer

06        Gregg Patterson

06        Gay Tilbury

06        Pieter Hougaard

08        Bonginkosi Memela

09        Tarryn Ballard

11        Denis Scott

13        Yvonne Lurie

13        Jan Landman

18        Colleen McCann

22        Brian Mullen

23        Menzie Kathide

24        Crawford Reid

25        Douglas Miles

26        Edwin Nel

27        Warrick Pitout

30        Mark Hadden

MAY

02         Eric Mbeje

06         Alan Bartholomew

08         Annemarie Botha

11         Simon Russell

15         Leonard Zettler

18         Rhys Kitching

23         June Watson

25         B Khomo

30         Quinton Doyle

JUNE

02         Amanda James

05         John Broomhead

09         Graham Clark

15         Michelle Ramsay

16         Mark Deeble

16         Thokozani Mabuya

27         Gary Butler

Wishing all our Club mothers a

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY on Sunday 08 May.

 CLICK HERE TO GIVE HER A
HEALTH SPA TREATMENT

http://www.myaffiliateprogram.com/u/healthsp/t.asp?id=1102

MOTHERS DAY JOKE: 

I was out walking with my 4 year old daughter.   She picked up something off the ground and started to put it in her mouth.  I took the item away from  her and I asked  her not to do that.  "Why?"  my daughter asked.
"Because it's been laying outside, you don't know where it's been, it's dirty and probably has germs" I replied.  At this point, my daughter looked at me with total admiration and asked, "Wow!  How do you know all this stuff?" "Uh," ...I was thinking quickly, "All moms know this stuff.  It's on the Mommy Test.  You have to know it, or they don 't let you be a Mommy." We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was evidently pondering this new information.
"OH...I get it!" she beamed, "So if you don't pass the test you have to be the daddy."
"Exactly" I replied back with a big smile on my face and joy in my heart.

WORDSEARCH

Cross off the words as you find them.  They may read up, down or diagonal but they are in a straight line.

ANTHRACITE     BED                 BITUMINOUS      BLACK           BLAST

BLOCK             CARBON           CART                COAL            CREW

CUT                DEPOSIT          DIAMOND          DIG              DRILL

DUST               DYNAMITE        ELEVATOR          FOREMAN       GOLD

HARD              HATS               MINERS             PASSAGE       PICK

PLATINUM        SHAFT             SILVER              TRAIN

Adapted from:  www.coolquiz.com

Circle the remaining letters and write them down below for a secret message:

----- ---- --- --- ---- -- --- -------- ---- ----

AWARDS EVENING

For those of you who were not able to attend the Annual Awards evening held at the Pine Dene Inn Hotel on 08 April 2005, the following certificates and trophies were awarded:

Club Long Run – Saturday 07 May

64km, Collegians Club in Pmb to Stokers in Kloof. Put your name down at the club!

And for next month,  HAPPY FATHERS DAY

On Sunday 12 June 2005

FATHER’S DAY JOKE:

A man with a small boy entered a barbershop and asked for a haircut. When the barber had finished with him, the man said, "I'm going down the street for a beer. Please cut the kid's hair." The barber cut the boy's hair, then waited for the man to return. Finally, he turned to the kid and asked, "Where the dickens did your father go?"  "Oh," said the boy, "he ain't my father. He's the guy who stopped me in the street and asked if I'd like a free haircut."

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YOGA with HELEN

Classes in

Þ           Pinetown,

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or phone 031 266 8561.