When three or so years ago I decided to join a group of my fellow gym mates for a regular street jog, I never thought it was something that I could be addicted to as I am today.

It all started one hot summer morning. I found all the treadmills were fully occupied and the idea of waiting until one became available did not sit well with me. So I joined a group of fellas who also ventured out.

Incidentally, there were a few weeks left before the annual Nedbank Soweto Marathon. It was while on this excursion that the race bug bit me. On the way one of the guys who would become our virtual coach, encouraged us to take part in the historic race.

We accompanied him the next day and he was generous with valuable running tips. Since then I never looked back and to date I took part in a number of high profile races.

These include: Nedbank Soweto Marathon (42,2km), Diepkloof Athletics Club's (21.2), Pick and Pay Marathon (42,2), Dischem half Marathon (21.2), Pirates Club's 'King of the Mountain' (21.1km) Om die Dam in Harteebeesport Dam (50km) City to City (50km) - from Pretoria to Johannesburg, Jackie Gibson (42.2km), Tough One (32.2km) and recently Old Mutual Two Oceans (56km).

Let me share with you my experience on the latter, in which I took part for the first time. Before the race, I devised a training plan that blended long and short distances as well as flat and steep courses. The idea was to build mileage and boost my physical endurance given the undulating nature of Cape Town’s landscape.

On a good week I averaged between 40 and 60kms. While still training I was lucky to chance upon a piece of information that gave hints about such problematic point of the race as Chapman's peak, Hout Bay steep and Constantia Nek. And this helped psychologically, as the saying goes, "forewarned is forearmed".

I arrived in Cape Town on a Thursday morning. This gave me time to relax and to allow the body to get acclimatized to the weather conditions. As for food, I ensured I carbo-loaded. Luckily the weather remained calm at least until race day. On Friday I went to fetch my racing numbers and the goody bag and spent some time at Cape of Good Hope Centre where a sports expo was held.

It is Saturday, the day every runner has been waiting for. By 05:30 all the runners were there kitted in their clubs' vests. I was seeded in row B. After waiting anxiously for a good half an hour the gun went off. We pounded the tarmac and on the route groups of residents egged us on by cheering or clapping. The course was flat and tempting but I made sure I controlled my pace, lest I fatigue prematurely.

The route meandered through some lovely scenic areas with a refreshing whiff of breeze coming from the sea on our left. At this time I was still in good shape and I took Chapman's peak with relative ease, averaging between four and five minutes a kilometre.

For me the real race started at 42km mark at Hout Bay road. Suddenly my legs started to get heavy. I tried to ignore the pain (not injury) as the route beckoned. Soon thereafter we were at the notorious Constantianek.

At the 46 kilometer mark the steep was getting even more unforgiving. Some runners dropped by the wayside because of cramps or various physical discomforts. Some of us engage a "run and walk" strategy.

I normally do not do this but had to under the circumstance. At this point the reading, from one of the officials' cars on the roadside, was four hours, twenty-two minutes and some seconds.

After huffing and puffing I finally conquered the stubborn Constantianek and the route got a little flat as slopes down. This provided some relief, but the thing is this: some of us do not enjoy down-runs particularly when legs are wobbly.

As a rule of thumb, I learnt to conserve energy for the last few kilometers, which can be both demanding and punishing. Obviously the distance to the finish point is much shorter but to get there is such a mission.

I almost walked but when I heard the deafening cheers and clapping of the spectators as runners enter the university grounds, I pushed harder. And I clocked 04:55:52.

For me, however punishing a race could be, there is nothing that beats the feeling like when you reach the finish point!