Author: Modern Athlete

‹ Back
Trail runners in action during the 2013 FNB Platinum Trail Run presented by ISUZU. Photo Credit ~ Cherie Vale / NEWSPORT MEDIA

The Forgetful Runner’s Checklist

Modern AthleteColumnsLeave a Comment on The Forgetful Runner’s Checklist


You have trained hard for the Two Oceans Marathon and you don't want to hit a night before panic by discovering that you left some running essentials back home. It might be something replaceable like safety pins or gels.

But maybe you forgot to pack both your racing shoes(confession) or left your favorite socks or lucky underwear at home. When traveling to a race, I always travel with my race day essentials in my carry-on back pack, in case my checked-in luggage gets lost.


For a change the weather forecast is looking good for Saturday, but be prepared for any weather.
To avoid the forgetful runner panic, make a checklist and check it TWICE!

Pre-race


– Hotel-and flight confirmation
– Race confirmation and address where to pick up your race number.
– Course map
– Chargers for cellphone and GPS watch
– Vaseline
– Safety pins
– Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses
– Pre race breakfast
– Water bottle

Race day


Get your racing gear ready the night before, to avoid last minute chaos in the early hours of saturday morning!


– Race number
– Racetec timing chip
– Running shoes or Racers
– Running shorts
– Sports bra
– Running Vest
– Sunglasses and sunscreen.
– Shocks
– Compression shocks
– Energy drink and gels
– Stopwatch or GPS watch FULLY CHARGED
– TOILET PAPER

Post Race


– Recovery drink
– Post race snack
– Dry clothes
– Socks
– Rain jacket
– Towel
– Plastic bag for wet sweaty clothes.

Enjoy every moment of the World's mosts beautiful marathon!

Schoeman Wants That Podium

Modern AthleteNewsLeave a Comment on Schoeman Wants That Podium


Even though he really wants a place on the podium, Henri Schoeman will also be happy with a place in the Top 10 at the ITU Discovery World Series in Cape Town on Sunday 27 April.
Schoeman (23) is the newly crowned African Champion after winning the Championships in Harare, Zimbabwe over the weekend. Richard Murray and Wian Sullwald finished second and third respectively.


Schoeman is very happy with this result after not having the best time regarding injuries the past three months. “I have been dealing with two injury setbacks, one in my knee then one in my ankle. My ankle is not 100% yet but I have been able to do some running. I am happy with my swimming and biking form and I would have liked to be a little bit faster with my running at the moment. I had a very good race this past weekend and that was a very good confidence booster going into the Cape Town race next weekend. Judging from that performance I think I am happy with my current form and fitness going into WTS Cape Town.”


Schoeman reckons everybody – athletes and spectators – should be ready for some fast paced action. “It will be a flat and fast race in Cape Town. The water temperature might be a factor with it being so cold. It would be ideal if a small group of about 10 athletes could be in front out of the water and in a break away on the bike. I would love to achieve my best result in Cape Town, which would be on the podium. I will still be happy to place amongst the top 10 though.”

The South African trains with World Champion Javier Gomez from Spain. Gomez along with Michael Phelps are Schoeman’s sporting heroes. “Training with Javier Gomez is really good and truly an eye opening experience. I gain so much knowledge from the way he trains and prepares for big races. Apart from training he is the nicest guy you could ever meet. He is very humble and down to earth which is something I admire about him so much.”

Nils Frommhold wins Ironman South Africa 2014 (Photo credit: Robbie Little - FinisherPix)

How to Control Pre Race Day Nerves

Modern AthleteColumnsLeave a Comment on How to Control Pre Race Day Nerves

Starting to feel the butterflies in your stomach with 3 days to go to Two Oceans Marathon? Nerves are normal as race day is creeping closer and closer. Believe me! Whether you are running the half marathon or ultra, racing to win or just aiming to conquer the distance. All runners go through the same emotions in race week. Uncertainties will arise during race week. Did I train hard enough? Should I have done more? Should my long runs have been longer?

The best way to overcome these uncertainties is to think back of the progress you have made, from December on the beach till now. Remind yourself of the weeks of preparation, early mornings and sacrifices you made to get you to this race. Don’t compare your training with anyone else’s, it will only plant seeds of doubt in your mind. Trust your training! No workout in race week can make you any fitter. Overdoing it in race week is more of a concern than under doing it.

Relax! Try and get your mind of the race by doing some non-running related activities, reading a book, watching your favourite movie or just spending time with family and friends. The most important thing to do now is to rest your body and your mind!

Do Pacing Buses Work?

Modern AthleteColumnsLeave a Comment on Do Pacing Buses Work?

Pacing buses help thousands of runners around the country secure medals at races every year but are they for you? Once again at this weekend’s Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon and Half Marathon there will be ‘bus drivers’ pacing groups through to various time goals, as they will at this year’s Comrades Marathon too.

Are these groups more of a help than a hindrance? Will running within one help you secure the medal you are after? How do they work and do you have to ‘sign up’ to run in one of them? All those questions are answered on today’s Ask Coach Parry Podcast below.

Simone Braendli wins Ironman South Africa 2014 (Photo credit: Robbie Little - FinisherPix)

The first blind man to compete at the Discovery World Triathlon Cape Town

Modern AthleteNewsLeave a Comment on The first blind man to compete at the Discovery World Triathlon Cape Town

Francois Jacobs (43) of Centurion will be competing in the Discovery World Triathlon Cape Town from 26 to 27 April at the V&A Waterfront. This is the first time that a leg of the ITU World Triathlon Series will be hosted on the continent and the first time Jacobs, who has been blind from birth, will be competing with his guide Mike Fannin. The International Triathlon Union made the announcement in November 2013 that Cape Town and Chicago in the United States of America would make their debut at the 2014 series.


Jacobs, a successful business analyst at a leading financial services company, enjoys competing in triathlon events, accomplishing an impressive list of sporting achievements. Jacobs says: “Cycling used to be my strongest discipline, but I’m enjoying the swim more and more. Nothing quite gets to the vitality of an open water sea swim!” Jacobs has finished five Ironman events, including the 70.3 Ironman and Ironman Western Australia, the Comrades Marathon and several other Olympic distance events.


Jacobs will be guided by Mike Fannin (41) of Cape Town, who runs a division of an investment advisory business. Born in Durban and raised in Port Elizabeth, Fannin has been actively participating in triathlon since August 2013. This will be their first triathlon that they tackle as a team. “I was asked by coach Steve Attwel of Embark Training to help Francois. I enjoy the swimming part the most and have done about five standard triathlons, one half Ironman and one Ironman. Sporting wise, I’m proudest of completing the Ironman.”

Jacobs continues: “I do recreational cycling, and two months ago I took up kick-boxing to increase my overall fitness. When a friend pitched the kickboxing idea, I told her that she’s mad, but after my personal trainer at Virgin Active Centurion said yes, I had my first session and I was totally hooked.” Fannin adds: “I lift weights occasionally, and am starting mountain biking. I also do some surfski paddling.”


While Jacobs often participates to raise support for the Sabona Sonke Foundation, the organisation that works to avert preventable blindness in the Eastern Cape, he will be competing at the Cape Town World Triathlon to thank Virgin Active Health Clubs for their backing. “I’m doing it in appreciation for their tremendous support getting me in my current state of fitness. My goals for 2014 is to lose another stubborn 7 kilograms,” says Jacobs. “I want to have a good finish at the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge and pursue a personal best at the Eleven Global Sun City. I hope to find a guide to make Ironman 2015 my best ever.”


Fannin would like to do more of the same during this year. “I love doing triathlon and multisport. I just want to keep doing as many events as possible whilst having fun.”


Jacobs considers Bruce Fordyce, multiple Comrades Marathon titleholder and motivational speaker as well as Natascha Badmann, Triathlete champion, as his sources of inspiration. Says Jacobs: “I was very disappointed by my finish time at the 2012 SA Ironman. I worked so hard towards my personal best time. During the awards night Badmann shared how she overcome serious injury by making a conscious decision to try, and try again, until she came out on top. It was exactly what I needed at the time, and those powerful words will stay with me forever”.


Fannin concludes that Lewis Pugh is a big hero of his. “I’ve been privileged to hear him speak a few times. My family also inspire me, as they’ve always been so supportive, as well as my faith.”
 

Frith Expects Old Mutual R1 million bonus to shake her 25 year record

Modern AthleteNewsLeave a Comment on Frith Expects Old Mutual R1 million bonus to shake her 25 year record

Former South African road-running star Frith van der Merwe believes the women’s record she set at the Old Mutual Two Oceans Ultra Marathon 25 years ago could be broken this weekend. The R1 million prize offered by Old Mutual could give the winners the extra push they need to fly across the finish line in record time.

Old Mutual is offering the lucrative cash bonus to both the male and female winners who break the marks held by Thompson Magawana (3:03:44 in 1988) in the men’s event and Van der Merwe (3:30:36 in 1989) in the women’s event of the 56km race in Cape Town on April 19.

Looking back on that day, Van der Merwe said she was surprised at how comfortable she felt, particularly in the latter stages of the race, and confirmed the bonus incentive of a new car had carried her to the record time.

“The car was enough to motivate me, so the R1 million bonus this year is an incredible incentive,” she said in the build-up to the annual race. “It’s going to attract very good marathon runners. It will take an athlete with natural speed to break the record.”

Van der Merwe smashed the South African standard marathon record just two months before her remarkable record performance in 1989, clocking 2:27:36 at the SA Championships in Port Elizabeth.

And she believed it would take an athlete who could dip well under two-and-a-half hours in a 42 km race to be able to challenge her Old Mutual Two Oceans mark.

Russian athletes have dominated the women’s race in recent years, led by twins Elena and Olesya Nurgalieva (who are running again this year), but nobody has come within three minutes of the record.

However, with the cash incentive on offer by Old Mutual attracting top East African runners to the race this year, Van der Merwe said this is likely to be the year her record is finally broken.

“There is a long recovery period needed after an ultra, so there hasn’t been enough money on offer in the past to motivate the top standard marathon athletes to take part every year, but this year should be different.”

Rene Kalmer, the only South African woman to have dipped under 2:30 over 42 km in the last 15 years, will line up at the Old Mutual Two Oceans Half Marathon again this year, but she has no plans of stepping up in distance to ultra-marathons in the foreseeable future.

“Unfortunately there aren’t any South African women who run ultra-marathons and have the necessary speed to break the record. I’ll be sad if the record is broken because it’s been 25 years and it’s dear to me,” adds Van der Merwe.

Mokaedi Dilotsotlhe, General Manager of Marketing at Old Mutual, says, “This is the 15th year that we are sponsoring the world’s most beautiful marathon and there’s no better way of celebrating this milestone. We can’t wait to see how the bonus R1 million prize money will push the top runners beyond boundaries in an effort to grab the big prize.”

Men's podium at World Triathlon Auckland on Sunday

Fourth Jonkershoek Mountain Challenge set to thrill again

Modern AthleteNewsLeave a Comment on Fourth Jonkershoek Mountain Challenge set to thrill again

The countdown has started to the Jonkershoek Mountain Challenge (JMC), one of the highlights on the South African trail running calendar.

The fourth running of the JMC will take place on 4 May and will for the first time form part of the exciting Mountain Challenge Series (MCS) with a total prize purse of over R50 000. The main race on the day will be the 36km while there will also be shorter options – the JMC Lite 22km and the Jonkershoek Mountain Run (JMR) 10km.

The two shorter races ensure that there is something for everyone on race day, from the elites to those who are still new to trail running, but the main attraction will definitely be the “big daddy”, the 36km race between the top guns of South African trail running.

The race has gone from strength to strength since it first took place in 2011 with top runners such as AJ Calitz, Thabang Madiba, Michael Bailey, Iain Don-Wauchope, Bernard Rukadza, Katya Soggot, Landie Gryeling and Linda Doke all participating in previous years.

Last year the JMC served as the South African Long Distance Trail Running Championships and this year it will again be one of the qualifying races where the national trail running team that will compete in the USA later this year will be selected. For this reason, all the big names in trail running are once again expected to take part in this epic challenge.

Mountain Challenge Series launched


One of the most exciting aspects of this year’s race is the establishment of the Mountain Challenge Series – a three-race challenge taking place on some of the most beautiful mountains in the Western Cape with each event offering its own unique challenge.

The first race of the series, the Jonkershoek Mountain Challenge (JMC) will consist of 36km and more than 2000m of climbing. Two weeks later, on 18 May, runners will take on the Helderberg Mountain Challenge (HMC) in Somerset West. Though this race is considerably shorter than the JMC with a total distance of “only” 24km, it climbs just under 2000m in a shorter distance and many runners who have taken part in both have been known to say the HMC is actually harder. Last up in the Series is the new kid on the block, the Marloth Mountain Challenge (MMC) just outside Swellendam on 9 August. This epic race of 60km will take place for the first time this year on the closed-down Swellendam Hiking Trail and will climb almost 4000m in total.

The winner of the MCS will win R3 000 as well as prize money in every race and a Series Bonus of R5 000 if he/she wins every race in the Series. The winner of the Series can win as much as R15 000 if he/she takes top honours in every race and wins the King and Queen of the Mountain hot spot at every race.

For more information on the Mountain Challenge Series or any of the races in the Series visit the website at www.mountainchallenge.co.za

Ironman and Comrades Double?

Modern AthleteNewsLeave a Comment on Ironman and Comrades Double?

It has been just over a week since Ironman South Africa and as the body recovers, the mind starts looking for the next challenge. A handful of people complete Ironman South Africa every year and then go on to run the Comrades Marathon. Is it physically possible? The short answer is yes. Is it wise? Well, that is a whole different debate.

Comrades Marathon substitutions close at the end of April and if you’re considering doing the double then you need to listen to today’s episode of the Ask Coach Parry Podcast

Merrell Hobbit Entries Now Open

Modern AthleteNewsLeave a Comment on Merrell Hobbit Entries Now Open


 

“Intriguing mountains, enchanted forests, running streams and cascading waterfalls – The Hobbit Trail Run in the Amatola Mountains. It is a mystical and magical place that will awaken your imagination and heighten your love for the trails”. These are the words used to describe the Merrell Hobbit Trail Runs presented by Nikwax. The event, which includes the two-day 100km and one-day 38km, 16km and 5km distances, is like no other. Scheduled for the 28/29th November 2014, entries for these magical races open today.

The 100km event takes runners on a magical journey along the Amatola Hiking trail, with over 5000m of ascent, making this is one of the toughest multi-day trail running events on the calendar. The “rustic” overnight at Cata Hut makes this truly a unique experience. The two days are long, with average finishing times of 8-12 hours each day, giving the runners plenty of time to reflect on life’s subtleties, as they experience the physical, mental and emotional highs and lows that come with covering the extreme route. Entries for this unique trail run are limited to 45 runners.

While the 100km runners make their journey from the overnight hut on Saturday, 29th November, three shorter one-day events are offered around the mystical town of Hogsback in the Eastern Cape. A 38km event takes runners on a loop out and over the famous “Hogsback Mountain”, while the 16km runners do a loop in the forests surrounding Hogsback, both enjoying magical views of Hogsback. A far tamer 5km loop gives families and kids a taste of single-track trail running at its best.

Arminel Hotel provides the perfect venue for the event, with discounted accommodation on offer.

Entries for all events open at 12h00, 14th April 2014. There are limited entries available for the two-day Merrell Hobbit 100km.

Check out the www.mountainrunner.co.za for full details.