Salt Rock local runs Two Oceans in her backyard

Runners across the country would not take the cancellation of the annual Two Oceans Marathon lying down with many opting instead to run it in their driveways.

One such runner, Salt Rock resident Sandra Taylor, said she had been preparing for the marathon by keeping fit during lockdown and before that through her running club, the Dolphin Coast Striders.

“We runners are a bit crazy but I did not want all of the training to go to waste and besides, it was a bucket list item I did not want to pass,” said Sandra.

Come Saturday last weekend, Sandra started her run at 5am and spent the first three hours listening to music through earphones while her family continued to sleep.

Three hours into her run, the household was awake and East Coast Radio could be heard echoing through the yard while neighbours cheered her on from their respective properties.

“This was my first Two Oceans and first attempt at an ultra marathon. Marathons run differently in the sense that the terrain and scenery is constantly changing which keeps the mind fresh, and there is usually huge support along the road. It is a totally different vibe from that of running in my garden,” said Sandra, adding that she at least did not have hills to contend with at home.

Joining her for the last ten kilometres of the ‘Two Oceans from Home’, Sandra’s husband Rodney was by her side encouraging her.

A total of 58.2kms (or 1165 garden laps) and six hours, 46 minutes and 26 seconds later, Sandra had completed the marathon and was awarded a medal her children had made.

The Two Oceans is normally a 56.2km marathon however, a slight route change was announced earlier this year with the addition of two kilometres. She kept track of her distance and time using her Garmin Fit Pod.

“My pace chart had me finishing in seven hours, so I am stoked that I came in below my predicted finishing time.

“Unfortunately Two Oceans had not given the option of using a virtual run as a qualifier, but I had already qualified last November when I ran my first marathon, the Kaapsehoop Marathon in Nelspruit.”

Looking ahead Sandra hopes to do her first Comdrades Marathon later this year.

“I only committed to training for Comrades 2020 last July, so I think I have managed to progress quite well, despite a knee injury leading into my November marathon which had me out of training for four weeks post marathon. But things are now looking sound and I am excited to reach my goal of running Comrades, if it does go ahead this year. If not, then there’s always next year.”