Posts Tagged ‘Stellenbosch’
Gavin Noble. Irish triathlete. Joker. Poet.
pic design by Nikola
I met Gavin Noble early this year in Stellenbosch, South Africa. We were both on training camps. I just started training and Gavin – one of Ireland’s Olympic triathlon hopefuls – was already lean and mean.
It is comical how wildly our training styles varied:
Gav swam 6km group swims at 5.15 am. I floated 30-40 mins on my own when the sun sat high.
Gavin sometimes ran 3 times a day, I sometimes ran 3 days in a row.
Gav wears pink tights in public, (in summer) I wore pink speedos in the 80s.
But despite our wildly different training approaches, we got on like a house on fire. Seems like a special South African / Irish thing. I have grown to love the Irish through our mutual friend Bobby Behan from whom I learnt a vast array of Irish sayings in a more or less Irish accent. “Fierce nice guy like you know.”
Well, Gav is quite a character too. He is also a team mate. Not in the usual sense. Blogging team mates. Check it out here: TriathlonTeam.org
Gavin’s blogging is quite something. He is also really passionate about suffering and quotes. Which he manages to blend together nicely. Here are a few from his site: GavinNoble.com
“When I’m training, I need four things, a room, a bed, and maybe two blankets, for when it gets cold”
I always loved to watch distance running. I am one of those people who think the sight of an athlete in full flow is a beautiful thing. I love ‘the chat’ about the old days – when 5 of your neighbours could run sub 30minutes for a 10k – back when ‘men were made of iron and ships were made of wood !’
This is my favourite Gavin blog:
Motivation for the Week: Chase the Mammoth
If you run without sacrifice, congratulations you just jogged.
Running hurts. It always has. Wolley Mammoths didnt just roll over on a plate and serve themselves up to Prehistoric Man with a portion of gravy chips (loveabitofgravychipsme) and a cola. They had to be caught – and supposidly catching a Wolley Mammoth was a bitch !
Guess what ?
More Black and White Photography
The Cheetah sculpture collection in Stellenbosch by Dylan Lewis really has my imagination going. There are 23 Dylan Lewis animal sculptures in Stellenbosch, and you literally bump into one on every street corner. As I ride my cruiser bike around town I cant stop taking pictures…
Wish I had a real digital camera, my SLR is outdated & I dont have time to stand around in the dark room printing B&W test strips for hours anymore.
My last week in heaven
It is my last week on the farm, (before moving to Stellenbosch for serious training) so I’m trying to make the most of the special things I will have to forgo during the racing season.
After my 1h30 long run at 1900m altitude on Sunday, I took the long way home. Via the 2006 Toyota 400 Rally route. (I ride my dirt bike to and from my weekly high altitude long run)
The Caveman has landed! The Highveld is stunning this time of the year. We have had a lot of rain, and small fountains are springing up everywhere.
They call me “the Caveman.” I am: 6ft 3, weigh 85kg, 33 or 34 (?) years old. Professional triathlete for the past 16 years. I am an African. (Gets me funny looks in America)
