Bruce hits the Peak

No runner ever needs an excuse to run Chapman's Peak Drive – it’s there, that’s reason enough.

Runners from the Republic of Hout Bay (Noordhoek too, of course, but I’m biased) have one of the most scenic roads in the world on their doorstep – it’s just minutes away from anywhere in our valley and it beckons us at all times of day... and night.

Take a handful of runners, mostly from Hout Bay, and mix evenly in the beach carpark in front of Chapman’s Peak hotel at 4:50am on a Monday morning.

Add running legend Bruce Fordyce, who’s down from Jhb for the day and keen to enjoy the oxygen advantage of running at sea level.

At Hout Bay Time 5am (or 5:05 SA Time), start running up Chappies.

Ensure pace is comfortable, temperature cool and the air crisp.

Ignore when Fordyce complains that the wind’s blowing – it might be by Jozi standards, but the ocean below looks like glass. Jozies don’t know what real wind is.

Be smug when cyclists ride past and have to move over – it’s not often we runners outnumber cyclists on Chappies, especially during the pre-Argus training panic. This morning the road is ours!

Don’t stop at the viewpoint – run on another 2km to the sharkspotter’s corner and watch the mist rolling in across the 4km stretch of beach from Kommetjie towards Noordhoek.

As you take a gentle trot back towards the viewpoint, feel the majesty of Chapman’s Peak towering above, the power of the waves smashing into the cliff way below, and the first rays of sunlight fingering the mist that’s caressing the Sentinel as it guards the entrance to Hout Bay.

Keep temperature moderate. Enjoy the 5km downhill from the viewpoint to the beach – for once it really IS “downhill all the way to the finish”!

Ok, so it wasn’t trail, but it’s hard to beat such an experience: running on such a stunning route, in perfect conditions, with a world champion running legend.