Randmark had plenty to boast about after cyclists completed the challenging Race to the Sun – a 161km (100 mile) journey which started at Hartbeespoort Die Oewer and finished at Sun City on Saturday, 8 May.
None of the 11 members – Charlene Beukman, Lee Kotzé, Thinus Forbes, Marius van Tonder, Carel Pienaar, Jan Kotzé, Anton Coetzee, Jan-Hendrick Visser, Yolandi Botha, Karin Bezuidenhoudt and Lizeth Rowan – disappointed and returned with medals as per their finishing times. The medals ranged from gold, bronze to black.
Carel, a bronze-medal winner who crossed the finish line in six hours and 48 minutes, said the race was a wonderful experience. “It was vibrant and energetic for me,” he told the Herald.
“I had a puncture at one stage and had difficulty fixing it, but I eventually got back on the saddle and kept on going,” Carel added.
Thinus, another bronze-medal winner with a time of six hours and 50 minutes said, “It’s very important to train well for this race because it’s a long event. If you are not fit enough, you will start encountering problems like cramps and stiffness, and your whole body won’t respond well on the long haul to Sun City.”
Anton, who also secured at bronze medal when he finished in a time of six hours and 54 minutes said, “I was worried that my leg cramps at the 100km mark would stop me from finishing, but I hung in there and managed to deal with it.”
A bronze-medal winner with a time of six hours and 47 minute, Jan-Hendrik added, “The final push was a bit emotional. My brain is very focused on the last bit and everything was getting to a point of shutting down, but I had to push hard. However, when we are in the last 1km it all turns into instant euphoria. And that’s the addictive part.”
Charlene, who won a black medal for the club, is proud of her time of seven hours. “The route was mostly gravel road so you had to stay focused. Unfortunately, I fell just before the halfway mark and hurt my knee, but I had to dust myself off, cope with the pain and cycle on.”
Lee who also finished in seven hours and won a black medal said her challenges started pre race as she had to train for the event while working full-time and studying part-time.
“Mentally I was strong and I knew I would finish, but convincing my legs was a different story.”
