Only in Africa

I ran the Mandela half marathon on Sunday. It was bitterly cold in the hour that we stood around waiting for the race to start, in our little skimpy club kit vests and shorts, with only a lightweight running top over all of it.

But what a privilege to be at there. By the time the race was due to start there was a large throng of people around us, which did help to increase the temperatures and cut back on the wind. Then the music started and people started singing. If you've never heard African people singing in harmony, you need to book your tickets to Africa now - it brought tears to my eyes and not just from the cold.
We started with the old favourite, Shosholoza. As this is sung at many rugby matches it is well known but white men at rugby matches can't sing, so it has never been a big deal for me.

This was followed by Johnny Clegg and Savuka's Asimbonanga, sung by all of those who knew the words and the meaning (We have not seen him/ We have not seen Mandela/ In the place where he is/ In the place where he is kept) which was particularly poignant as the great man has now passed on. the harmonies, the way a few people start and then everyone else joins in, and above all the tribute to Nelson Mandela, paid by all these people at the race in his name, brought goose-bumps to my arms and a lump to my throat.
The National Anthem then followed and I was proud to sing along because I finally learnt all the words in time for Comrades.

Where else do races start with such an upliftment of voice and spirit, and such a harmony of people and ?

The half marathon starts on a long slow downhill for 3 km, then ends on a long slow uphill for 3 km. It warmed up and I could keep my pace steady although there were a few hills that I struggled with, still. I know I could have done better on the last long uphill, but by then I knew I was heading for a good time so I was content to keep my pace steady.

I can't work out why I just seemed to run in order to create such a good PB for me (2:10, 9th in my age group category). Was it the wonderful uplifting start? The fact that I warmed up on the downhill? or the fact that I told everyone (including myself) that I was just going to treat is as a training run as I had run 10 km the day before?

Whatever it was, I'm glad I did it. I will definitely be back for this one next year, and even if I don't PB again, I'm sure it will still be a highlight of my running year.