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THE PENINSULA
VASBYT
ENDURANCE WALK

By Capt Karien v/d Merwe
Photographs by Insp Piet Smit
(A special word of thanks to Piet Smit, who sacrificed attending a year end function to provide the visual material for this article, to Sonja Strauss and Capt Lau Schoonwinkel for their friendly cooperation, and to the Corobrick team who shared some personal experiences.)

The two-day Peninsula route(2-3 December 2005) offered something of everything: inclines, declines, loose sand, rocky planes and some stairs thrown in for good measure ... the route taxed participants in many ways. But despite gasping breaths and burning legs, the beautiful surroundings of the Silvermyn Reservaat commanded attention. Shoulder-high proteas alternated with granite outcroppings, making it worthwhile to test one’s endurance in a setting other than the gym, for a change.

The end of day one saw blistered feet and tender spots due to chafing, and some participants quietly questioned their sanity. But, after day two had dawned, the aches and pains disappeared after a couple of kilometres. Then the Vasbyt-part of endurance walking kicked in: keep going, just keep going, putting one foot in front of the other, not breaking one’s rhythm, the team’s success depended on it! And with mind over matter, even the seemingly never-ending stairs were conquered. Of course team spirit played an enormous role, and with that came the comic incidents which could later be regaled: how one team member picked up a couple of guinea- fowl feathers in a sentimental gesture - only to drop them unceremoniously in favour of a banana or water bottle. Or the feet-focussed vasbyter who had a close encounter with a pole ... And when the going got really tough, the faithful seconds were there to pass on the cold water, a piece of chocolate or banana, not to speak of those much-needed ice cubes!

To conclude: good team spirit, dependable seconds and the indescribably beautiful natural surroundings, are the things that make taking on a 75 km Vasbyt worthwhile. And the following week, when one’s feet are ready for shoes again and one’s body feels like one’s own again, then one already envisages the next Vasbyt!

A Vasbyt is a singular experience. You find that your body and mind are much stronger and are capable of much more than you previously would have thought to be possible. You discover that you are capable of feeling compassion towards a team mate who is struggling. And then you cry when the last kilometre has passed under tired feet, and you know that you have conquered much more than mere physical distance. That is the true spirit of the Vasbyt experience.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO KEEP IN MIND FOR THE NEXT VASBYT:

Before the race:

  • Keep toenails short. Remember, once you feel pain, the nail will probably come off anyway.
  • Take off any rings as one’s hands tend to swell with physical activity.
  • Put Vaseline on all the areas that you think might chafe.
  • Always walk with a hat, cap or peak.
  • Either use a sunblock or a high factor sun lotion (15 and up) to protect the areas that will be exposed to the sun the whole day - face, neck (front and back), upper arms, shoulders, legs (especially the backs of your knees) and remember, ear lobes!
  • Don’t fasten your shoe laces too tight. Make a double knot to ensure that they won’t come loose during the race. When you have to stop to bend or squat in the middle of the race, you break your rhythm, and that is the time that cramps might hit or muscles be pulled.
  • A pair of lycra stretch pants is the best option to prevent chafing of the inner thighs - one of the most uncomfortable conditions to have to endure. Prevention is the magic word! Remember, T-shirts/shirts with sleeves might chafe under the arms - check beforehand.
  • Rather walk with a small water bottle to make sure you have water with you at all times. You can keep filling it up at the water points as you go along.
  • If you have seconds, you could leave the following with them:
    Extra water, Coke, Bananas, Sweets, Lip balm, Sun lotion, Ice, Headache tablets, Vaseline, Deep Heat, Cotton wool,
    Brufen/Norflex tablets - (not to be taken on an empty stomach)
    Vitrace (energy boosting chewable tablets): Carry some with you in a moonbag around your waist if you do not have seconds supporting you along the route.

During the race:

  • Drink water and Coke regularly. Not necessarily big gulps at a time, but small sips whenever your mouth feels dry or you feel slightly thirsty. But when you feel like having a good drink, do quench your thirst properly.
  • Have a Vitrace at least every hour and if you should feel a bit drained or when you have crossed the halfway mark, have one every half hour.
  • If you feel slightly dizzy or experience a sort of “detached feeling” from what is happening around you - pour water over your head and the back of your neck.
  • Do not talk while you are climbing hills or walking on the beach in very loose sand. Your breathing rhythm should not be disturbed as it will only make you more tired.
  • In case of muscle cramps, spray Deep Heat on the area if you have it available or just rub the muscle quite firmly with your thumbs.
  • Anyone having a difficult time or going through a physical “dip” in performance, should be put in front of your group. This is a psychological life-line as there is the tendency to just keep on falling farther and farther behind if left at the back of the group.
  • A good way of giving everybody in your team a chance to indicate how they feel, is to ask that they give themselves a mark out of 10 (10 is “excellent” and 1 is “a hospital case”). This offers an easy way out if somebody is suffering in silence and might otherwise not indicate the true state of affairs.
  • Remember - you should expect to suffer ... walking 70 - 75 kilometres against the clock is no small challenge! But, if you truly feel nauseous, are shaking, shivering or experiencing bouts of goose bumps and truly just feel completely “out of it”- stop, get into your seconding vehicle and call it a day.

COME AND SHARE IN THIS UNBELIEVABLE
EXPERIENCE!
Information pertaining to the rules, categories and entry fee for endurance walking was published on p 30 of the Nov/Dec issue of SAPS Journal. The following persons can be contacted for further enquiries and official entry forms:
Sonja Strauss: (044) 802 7411 / 082 487 2895 (National President: VasbytSA)
Capt Lau Schoonwinkel: 083 320 4283
Insp Bau Schoonwinkel: (021) 981 5453
Shanied Mchelm: 072 857 5609
Estelle van Rooyen: 084 714 1918