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Top SA runner Rene Kalmer to run for Modern Athlete Magazine

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In a unique and exciting move, South Africa’s largest running publication, Modern Athlete magazine, has signed top South African runner Rene Kalmer as a Brand Ambassador for the magazine and its brand extensions. The multiple SA Champion and two-time Olympian will represent the Modern Athlete brand at various events and activations, will feature in the magazine as guest columnist and regular contributor, and will play an integral part in the magazine’s new school and corporate wellness programme.

Rene says she is hugely excited about this new chapter in her running career. “To the best of my knowledge it’s the first time ever for a running magazine to partner with a professional athlete, so it is exciting to be part of Modern Athlete’s plans. As a professional athlete, it is all about you and what is best for you, but now I have the platform to give back to the sport, both now and in the long term. As an athlete you don’t know where to start in terms of giving back, so this will allow me to do so much more that just answering people’s Facebook messages!”


“One of the things I am most looking forward to is the schools programme, given that I used to work as a teacher and really enjoy coaching young athletes. We want to motivate the kids to start exercising, and teach them about nutrition, so it will be a long-term involvement with the schools, and from there we will take it to corporates,” says Rene.

Speaking on behalf of Modern Athlete, Managing Director Craig van der Westhuizen says the whole team at the magazine is thrilled about their new brand ambassador. “To have South Africa’s top female athlete being part of South Africa’s largest running publication is terrific. Aside from her athletic feats, she is also one of the most respected, recognised and popular athletes in the country, with international experience and pedigree. We understand that Rene’s current medium-term goal is to qualify for the 2016 Olympics, so we will support her in every way we can to achieve that goal.”

“This is the first time we as a magazine are supporting a professional athlete, so both we and Rene will work together to see how we can best support each other in developing the sport in South Africa

On Wednesday night (26 March), Rene will fly to Copenhagen, Denmark, for the IAAF World Half Marathon Champs on Saturday 29 March, as part of the six-athlete SA team. She says she has been focussing on 10km and 21km races in recent weeks to get her speed up for these Champs, and will then revert to marathon training in her build-up to running a Big City Marathon at the end of the year. “I have not yet decided which marathon I will run, but I would like to run Berlin or Chicago, or perhaps return to Yokohama, where I set my PB in 2011*. It actually feels like I am loafing at the moment, because I am not in training for a marathon, but I am feeling fit and strong, and enjoying being injury-free.”

(* In 2011, Rene ran 2:29:59 in Yokohama, the first sub-2:30 by a South African woman in 14 years.)

For more information, please contact Craig van der Westhuizen on 011 454 1542 or [email protected].

Setting the Pace

Wagner first blind man to complete Antarctica Marathon

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Hein Wagner, blind adventurer and motivational speaker, has successfully completed the extreme Antarctic Marathon on the South Pole. On March, 9th 2014 Wagner completed what has been colloquially described as the harshest marathon on the planet. Nick Kruiskamp, well-respected athlete and race champion, was Wagner’s guide. This is the first time in the history of the 15-year-old event that a blind person has finished the gruelling race.

“I always knew the Antarctica Marathon would be a test of endurance, mental strength and perseverance. However, I never thought that being on the 7th continent surrounded by ice capped mountains, glaciers, icebergs, snow, penguins, whales and other wildlife will be so emotionally overwhelming,” says Wagner.

As expected, the treacherous race covered the most rugged terrain, made of mud, ice and sludge. Wagner describes his perilous start of the race: “Within a few minutes we tracked through the first bit of snow followed by loads of mud. This quickly turned into a series of small water streams and although we tried to jump over them, they pulled me in to the very centre of their icy cold. My mind was racing ahead to frostbite and amputations when I told myself to snap out of it; motivating myself by realising that it was just the beginning, so I forced myself to focus.”

“In a brutally honest way Antarctica reflects the ever dramatically changing world we live in as no 5 minutes down there are the same. A beautiful sunny morning at zero degrees can very quickly change into a snowy ice wind and rain with a chill factor of minus 15 to minus 25 degrees. I’ve never experienced anything colder than Antarctica. It had me shaking to my very core!”

Wagner refuses to stand back from a challenge. Despite this blindness, Wagner has a string of accomplishments to his name. Wagner is an avid sportsman and enjoys abseiling, running and cycling; he has won the World Cup Cricket for the Blind, sailed the Cape-to-Rio yacht race, completed the gruelling Ironman triathlon and finished the legendary eight-day stage Absa Cape Epic mountain biking race. Wagner is also the current holder of the land speed record for a blind driver at 322.52 km/h.

“Since I can remember, I’ve had a fascination with the North and the South Pole and when Mike Bailey, my runner guide, came up with the idea to enter the Antarctica marathon I jumped at the chance! Unfortunately, Bailey was forced to drop out of the race due to a serious knee injury. “I only met my new running partner, Nick Kruiskamp, a week before the race. This left me a little nervous. I knew guiding a blind person for the first time, through the toughest marathon on the planet, was not going to be easy. After a few cold beers in Buenos Aires I realised Nick and I will definitely find our rhythm!”

Wagner participated in the event to promote the abilities of those living with disabilities and to raise the profile of VisionTrust, an organisation dedicated to making the world more accessible to the blind. “After receiving the honour of running with race number 1, I knew that no matter what I have to finish the race and do so in a respectable time. I do not take representing blindness lightly. Wagner reached his goal to raise enough money to provide 20 previously disadvantaged, unsighted individuals with specialised computers and software to help them lead a normal live.

Wagner describes the most difficult thing he has had to do, was to accept his blindness unconditionally. Wagner describes how his sense of feeling was challenged in Antarctica, “I can only remember a few occasions in my life when I really yearned to see. Waking up to whales playing in the water, seals sun-bathing on floating icebergs and the backdrop made up of pristine, beautiful and breath-taking glaciers left me a little envious of the sighted. It wasn’t easy, but then I started looking at it from a different perspective. I believe this was my true test of endurance and to my surprise the pristine beauty of the 7th continent is so extreme it turned out that I could actually hear the view.”

Linford Lionheart

The Humanity Race

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The human side of a race – where strangers are friends.
The Humanity Race – by Alice da Silva
I think the first time I became aware of him was after the 21.1km. I remember as I ran past a group of about 4 people, hearing a joking voice saying, ‘That girl is running too fast’. I thought he was talking about me loud enough so I’d hear, I looked back and that was the beginning of the rest of our in-race mutual support.
From then on, we kept on overtaking each other. Me alone, and him with his group. Each time we would overtake each other, we’d exchange some joke or supportive comment. At first it was something like ‘We meet again’. I remember after a number of encounters, saying to him ‘We will finish together’ and he replied ‘It seems so’.
At one point when I overtook, he said ‘Now you look angry!’ I replied ‘I need Coke, I’m in a hurry to get to the next Coke table’. He said that they should just have Coke at the end of the race, in that case. Sometime after the Coke table, he overtook me and said, ‘I have good news for you, there’s more Coke up ahead’.
I think it was sometime after that Coke table or another one when he passed me and for a long time after that I didn’t see him or his group. I was a little disappointed, thinking that I must have fallen too far behind. I took it as a reflection of me starting to lose pace as I got more fatigued.
Then I think when there were less than 10km to go as I struggled along, I thought I saw him. He was alone this time, and I wasn’t sure if it was him. I had recognised him earlier because of the group he was with. But now it was just him, and I remember noticing he had something around the bottom of his right knee, it looked like a thin blue sweatband. Now I was really tired, and starting to doubt that I’d make the finish in the cut-off qualifying time. Maybe he felt the same. As I ran past, I said something about us still being able to make it. He was more tired than before and didn’t seem as convinced.
I don’t remember much of the last 5kms, except that I was really tired and beginning to face the possibility of not making the cut-off.
I remember passing him again in the last stretch, just before the straight downhill to the finish. I said something like ‘We can still make it, let’s push’. He was walking.
I was at that stage trying to run faster every now and then, but then needing to walk a little. Then we were in the downhill straight, not far from the finish but the clock was speeding on, faster than my legs, it seemed. From my previous comments, he knew I was trying to make it and he knew how little time there was left. While I was walking, I heard his steps come up behind me. He had gone from walking to catch up to me. He put his hand on my back, urging me to run on. I pushed on and ran, he fell back again. I ran awhile, then the tiredness made me want to walk. Again he came from behind me and this time I started running again. We ran together, time was running out. The streets were lined with people who had finished the race. Some were getting back to their cars parked on the sidewalks, with their supporters. Many people were now shouting ‘ You can make it, run!’ ‘You’re almost there, go faster’. Some were just looking. I remember passing a group of elite- looking athletes at the side of the road looking on. They shouted ‘You’ll make it, run faster, just push harder’. I pushed harder, ran faster, and felt a little light headed. We were so close, we were running. Then I heard the gun. We had missed the cut-off. I started walking. He was walking too. He was ahead of me. Then I ran up to him and said ‘Let’s finish strong!’ and we ran a few more steps, till we handed in our tabs.
I ran another marathon two weeks later. And when the doubt and fatigue crept in, I thought about what a difference it makes to have someone push you. My leg muscles cramped and my knee hurt. I did a lot of walking at a great cost time wise.
My next marathon was a month later. It was going well and my time was looking comfortable enough for a sub-5 finish. About 10km from the finish I was taking a walk break. I heard a loud voice from behind shout in military style ‘20713’. It was my licence number pinned to my back. I looked back and saw a group of about 6 runners. The loud voice shouted ‘Playtime is over. It’s time to run!’ I started running. One of the group ran up next to me and asked ‘Do you know who that is?’ I looked back at the group, thinking he was referring to the loud voice. He asked again if I knew who that was, that number? I realised he meant the 20713. I smiled and said ‘Yes, it’s me’. I ran on, grateful for some support. I have come to realise that when my legs and spirit are tired and I take a walk break, I possibly get slightly lost in that space and don’t resume running as soon as I could. Yes, I am fatigued, but perhaps I am able to do more than just walk and think.
The man with the loud voice was pacing his group. It seemed they were running nine lamp posts and walking one. I could hear the counting up and the countdowns. I kept running, telling myself I would try not to fall behind. Now and then I would take a walk break, and it wouldn’t be long before they came up behind me, with the loud voice shouting my number. He shouted that I should stay ahead, and I agreed, knowing that would help me. And so most of the last 10km went that way. Along the way, I often heard his loud voice shout at other runners struggling and walking along – some had their name on their back, and he’d use their name in encouragement, as he urged them on.
I was really fatigued now and the walk breaks seemed more and more necessary. But whenever I walked, it seemed like I had barely started when his group started approaching from behind. The loud voice would say something like ‘I am here, I am coming’ meaning I needed to run again to stay ahead. I ran on again, wishing I could walk longer, but knowing that I needed to keep running. At one point there was a busy road to cross and as I crossed while the traffic officer held up traffic, I hoped the traffic would be allowed after me so that the group would be delayed a little more so I’d have more time to walk. I looked back, and saw that they had crossed too. They were behind me, I carried on running.
During another walk break the loud voice shouted that I had to keep running ‘We have an agreement – you have to stay ahead’. I was grateful, and carried on running. When there were less than 4 kms to go, I was really tired. I wanted to walk more, but the loud voice with the group kept me going. Two kilometres from the finish I heard him say ‘We have 20 minutes’. One of his group said ‘We can walk’. ‘No!’ he said ‘We will not walk, we will run!’ We all ran, I was still ahead. But not for long. The fatigue was growing, I was tired and wanted to walk. I was still walking when they came up behind me. He shouted at me, reminding me of our agreement. This time, I could not respond by running. I said that I would catch up later. I watched them run ahead, for the first time.
Then there were less than 2kms to go. I suddenly thought, ‘I’ll make it. I can. I will catch up’. I pushed and ran. Then I saw the group up ahead. I saw them from behind, and recognised the thin blue sweatband around the bottom of the knee of the man with the loud voice! I realised for the first time it was probably the same man that ran finished with me in the previous marathon! As I ran past, I shouted ‘20713’. I ran on, now faster and motivated to reach the finish sub-5. I knew I was almost there. I knew I could. With the wind in my sails, I ran. I was now on the field, just running to the finish line. In a turn we ended up facing the runners coming from behind, and I saw him and his group. I was happy for them. They saw me too and I lifted my hands in prayer position to show my thanks. In the tent I got the medal and was very grateful for the bottle of Bavaria. The man handing them out said ‘Twist to open’. I asked him to open mine, as my hands were sweaty and I was too tired.
Outside the tent after the finish, I saw the man with the loud voice and said ‘I would still be walking if it wasn’t for you. Thank you for pushing me’. Then we both asked something like ‘Wasn’t it you at the other race?’
For more of my running goals, highlights and disappointments , follow me on twitter @run_alice_run

2014 African X – My Experience

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Driving back from a run we had done with some mates over December, my friend tells me about how she’d like to run African X but it’s a team event. She adds in there how Thamar and Rich are doing it (Thamar & Rich who can literally run a marathon backwards and still beat me to the finish). I completely forgot about the conversation until a watsapp message appeared with the link to the African X website.

So there I was, about 2 weeks later, having transferred the money to Dani so she could enter us as a team and then proceeding to cry in the corner for about an hour. I had never done multi stage trail running, had never done much trail running at all actually and have only ever run one marathon. 3 days of back to back distance running probably in the region of 30kms per day, what was I thinking? Christmas came and went and I had to get into the training from early January 2014.

I belong to Edgemead Running Club and we have a phenomenal coach, Gavin McCarthy who put together a training programme for me. It started out pretty simply until the Redhill 36km race was thrown in there within a week of having started the training. Well….after crossing that finish line, I convinced myself that there was no way I could run again the next day. There was no way I could even get myself home from the race. I then heard the following week that a few people had doubted my capabilities to finish African X and that served as motivation enough for me to continue the training with a force. One rest a day a week and back to back running and races over the weekends, with a combination of road and trail running. We threw all 4 Spur Trail Series events in, hosted by Wildrunner and which we thoroughly enjoyed. Before I knew it, African X was upon us and I was packing to leave for Houw Hoek on March 15th.

Day 1 and there we were at the start line, I hadn’t slept too well the night before but I felt prepared. I had trained, come on, I had this! We eased it into the run comfortably until Dani (my team mate) started feeling quite nauseaus. We managed to struggle past the first water point at Thandi and I’m sure with the climbing and blistering sun, Dani unfortunately couldn’t carry on. So there I was, making friends with the sweepers and pushing through on my own. Luckily not far along, I met a lady who had also lost her team mate due to an injury and we finished the race together. The climbing was torturous, there was a beaut thrown in at around 20kms where Monique (my new friend) had to literally put her hand on my back to push me up. Finishing down the single track into Houw Hoek I knew we were almost home and grateful that I had made it so far. 32kms was the longest trail run I had completed. Recovery on Day 1 was extreme and I was seriously concerned about day 2. I had trained, yes, but no, I was starting to doubt that I “had this”. I had gone into the race with a niggly calf injury but thanks to the physio’s, I was massaged out and strapped up again.

Onto the morning of Day 2 after a very restless night and sore sore legs, we were told that waterpoint 2 would be at 19kms and the organisers had enforced a cut off of 3:30 for this part. On the road, this would be easy for me but with 32kms in my legs, on trail, nothing seemed to be working. My legs didn’t want to move fast enough and the incline to the top of Gantouw pass was hell. I never even got a second to appreciate the spectacular views. At the top of a climb, I remember sitting down and crying my heart out. Then I remembered about everyone who believed in me and giving up just never became an option….truthfully though, carrying on didn’t seem like a great idea either. Nevertheless, I pushed on and wound down through pine forests to the 2nd water point. We paced consistently to make up time and ensure we never missed the cut-off however the water point was at 21.5kms and we were unfortunately just 6mins behind. My dad had come out to support me that day and when I saw him I broke down and cried, genuine heart sore sobbing. I was exhausted and sore, upset that I wasn’t strong enough to have made it within cut off. After that point was 7kms of climbing which I heard from friends was extremely tough so after having calmed down, I understood why the cut off was enforced.

Day 2 took a lot out of me mentally and physically. I have probably never pushed harder or wanted anything more than I did to make the cut off that day. It was a constant fight with my mind to keep pushing. We relaxed a lot that afternoon and reflected, I appreciated the advice that came from friends, both fast and slow runners and even a few of the elite guys. In particular my friend Bronwyn Davis who joined with her hubbie Jamo for this event. Bronwyn didn’t manage to get much running training in, in preparation for African X and came into it full of nerves. Yet there she was, every day, smashing those trails with a courage and strength that will keep me inspired for the rest of my life. Always with the biggest smile. So I packed my plate full of protein for dinner and whilst listening to the race briefing and watching the video hi-lights – I felt a slight elation. I caught Chantal Nienaber walking up a bit of a climb….so yes, these racing snakes do actually know how to walk….occasionally, and probably only once in the race.

Woke up in the morning after a great sleep, really pumped. It was the last day and I was going to throw my entire heart into the last part of the journey. Although I never got to appreciate too much of stage 2 amidst all the emotion, stage 3 for me was the absolute best. The descent into Botrivier was most appreciated and after the 1st water point, the climb to the top was so worth it to be afforded those magnificent views of the mountains. Running down the forest behind the finishing line and hearing our great friend, Sean Falconer, rooting for us was absolutely amazing. I was so happy to be home and to cross the finish line with my team mate, most of the journey would not have been possible without her. It was the biggest event I had ever completed and it has set such a standard for my next goal.

Could I have chosen an easier multi stage race as my first one, yes probably, but African X blew my mind away from start to finish. I am not an experienced trail athlete (not even an experienced road runner) but I can guarantee you those trails are some of the best that SA has to offer. The organisation of the event was superb, the accommodation and food was incredible and the entire vibe of the weekend was more than I ever expected. The sweepers (my ultimate friends who put up with the swearing, the crying, the anger) and medics, volunteers at the water points, who are literally out there for most of the day. We found 2 medics at the top of a mountain on day 3, no idea how they got there, waiting in that heat to ensure we had a safe journey all fully kitted out with their necessary equipment. We forget about these guys, the true heroes of the race. Obviously Seanie, who was on the mic for most of the weekend kept us pumped up and it was such a relief to run into his arms with a big sweaty hug at the water points every day.

So what do I take away from this – obviously the most important fact, I learnt that endurance running is by far 80% mental. Only a person who has had to mentally tell their mind to carry on will know that it is a constant fight out there. To keep moving forward, which Dani would insist on during the race. Dream big, have massive goals but every now and then, instead of looking forward, just look back and see how far you have come. Surround yourself with people who inspire and motivate you all the time. Get out there, believe in yourself, give your whole heart to everything and smile along the way, this is YOUR journey. There is a lesson to be learnt in almost everything that you do and getting that lesson is how you move forward.

Thank you to Stillwater Sport & Entertainment for a spectacular event, the organisation is world class. I will be back next year without a doubt to make friends with those mountains. And most definitely…nature gave me the most phenomenal run for my money

ShoOops!!

Kim

Ain’t that a kick in the shin

Dallas Marathon has served as Brandon Cumby’s motivation, taking him from life support to starting line

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Brandon Cumby was lying in his Parkland Hospital bed following an electric shock and 25-foot fall from a tree in August 2012. The self-described skeptic had tubes in his mouth, internal burns below his abdomen, a lacerated liver and a bevy of broken bones.

Friends and family were reading him uplifting passages from his favorite athlete’s books. One stood out: “We have two options, medically and emotionally: give up, or fight like hell,” from Lance Armstrong’s book,It’s Not About the Bike.

“I chose to fight like hell,” said Cumby, whose Facebook page is sprinkled with inspirational quotes. “I lay there and thought: ‘I’m going to get back as fast and as hard as I can. I’m not going to let this define me.’”

Despite a painstakingly slow recovery, beset by complications, Cumby, 34, focused on healing and regaining his strength. His goal, set before the accident, was to run the MetroPCS Dallas Marathon.

Cumby will be on the starting line Sunday thanks to moral and financial support from the running community and a free race entry from Dallas Marathon executive director Marcus Grunewald.

“That’s been the carrot dangling in front of him,” said his running partner, Rebecca Baker, who will run with Cumby. “It will be less than a year and half since he was on life suppor

Falling into the Run

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Overcoming obstacles, creating ‘routes’ in one’s natural environment and getting from point A to B in the most efficient way… Parkour and free running athlete Kundai Kenji Murapa from Zimbabwe chats about the latest craze to hit SA, the risks that come with his stunts, and how fitness helps his creativity. – BY LAUREN VAN DER VYVER

MA: For those who don’t know, please explain what parkour / free running is.
KM: It’s a form of training where you negotiate obstacles in your natural environment. Apart from the physical running, jumping, swinging and climbing, there is mental engagement and problem-solving skills. When parkour athletes train, we ‘jam.’

How did you get into it?
I found out about it online and with some background in dance and basic martial arts as a kid, I definitely had the basis for it. Eventually, I learnt the basics and it became a hobby. I found some people to train with and it developed into a passion – and now I’m getting paid for something I love. There’s a growing market for it in SA, and I’d like to see parkour grow with more crews and opportunities.

How does overall fitness and strength play a role in your jams?
Your fitness improves your technique. You need to be strong and we do a lot of conditioning to get to a state where we can perform at our peak. Our bodies need to deal with intricate movements and skills, so we have to maintain that. Soon, my team Sabotage Elite will be doing some cross-fit classes because conditioning sets the tone for longevity in the sport. I also do a lot of obstacle-based marathons and races. I love those events because it engages stamina and creativity!

There’s obviously a lot of risk that comes with the sport. Have you experienced serious injuries?
I was competing at a meet called Urban Sessions where I fell through a wooden floor that had collapsed. I fell one storey and I seemed alright at first, until I patted myself down and saw a nasty gash on my knee – right before a marathon I was supposed to do the next day! But for me, parkour has never been dangerous. An athlete’s priority is to train safe and within our means. People get fixated on the flash and danger of the sport, when it’s not like that. I pursued it because the sport pushes your body and mind to the limits.

You founded your own team, Sabotage Elite. How often do you guys meet and where do you like to jam?
The team meets the first Saturday of every month, and we’re involved in a lot of commercial and community projects that get the word of parkour out there. There are 12 members now, with the core being in Pretoria. Personally, my favourite place to jam is a place at the University of Pretoria and any gym. A gym’s springy floors are a help, and we like to use the equipment for some of our skills.

You won the parkour competition at the Mr Price Pro and there are more comps and opportunities in the country. Any plans for you in 2014?
The Mr Price Pro was definitely one of the bigger showcases and there will be some future events with New Balance this year, as I’ve been a brand ambassador since 2010 and they’re very invested in the sport. I’m also a stuntman, so there are a couple of international TV shows that I’ll be working for – I can’t say which yet! I’d like to see parkour gather a critical mass and carry itself. Apart from that, I’m also doing tricking around Cape Town, which is a form of acrobatics mixed with martial arts kicks.

What characteristics do you think you possess that help you in the sport?
I’m actually very impatient. When I want to do something, I do it and I remove all doubt in my mind. Of course, you have to remain within your limits, but I go that touch beyond what I’m capable of in terms of pulling off skills. There is always a place for progress. I’ve also realised how when I’m walking down a street, I see routes around me. It’s what we call “Runner’s Vision.” It’s just your mind adapting to what you love, and the more you do it, the more you see how you can overcome any obstacles around you.

 

For more info on parkour and Sabotage Elite, visit
www.parkour.co.za and
www.sabotageelite.com.

The Matter of the Heart

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With the clock just having ticked over two hours, Spanny Hidalgo Souto from Witbank crossed the finishline at the Dis-Chem Half Marathon in January. Forty-five minutes later he was on his way to hospital, having had a heart attack inside the medical tent at the finish. He told us that he’s thankful it happened when it did, and that running is proving his saviour. – BY LAUREN VAN DER VYVER

Unsurprisingly, Spanny’s memory of the day is somewhat disjointed. “Having taken the race easy, I felt slightly nauseous at the finish when I crossed with my CoalDust club mate Neels Vermeulen and was waiting for my girlfriend Riekie to finish. I had no chest pains, just felt queasy, but I decided to go to the medical tent anyway, because it wasn’t something I usually encountered,” says Spanny. “They told me to sit down. A day later I woke up, confused, pulling cords out of me when I saw the bruising down my arm.”

He had suffered a heart attack in the medical tent and the doctors stationed there had to defibrillate him – in other words, arrest the heart muscle with electric shocks across the chest – before sending him to hospital, where doctors had to apply two stents to unblock a clogged artery. According to the doctors, it was a genetic disposition to store bad cholesterol that had built up over the years. “I woke up and wondered why and what I could have done to avoid it, but I couldn’t have. I was living at my healthiest. I guess I have a healthy heart, but not enough blood pumping towards it,” says Spanny.

He describes the timing of the heart attack as a blessing in disguise. “It’s a relief it happened when it did, and not 300m before the finish, where I wouldn’t have had time. You never really think of medics at a race, but without them, maybe I wouldn’t be here today…”

RUNNING PLANS
Spanny’s running journey began in late 1999 and to date he has finished 13 Comrades Marathons and 12 Loskop ultras, having only missed 2010’s ‘Big C’ due to a football injury. In other words, he was the picture of health and fitness! “I was running every day, cycling, kayaking, working out at the gym and maintaining my weight. I’m at every time trial at CoalDust in Witbank, also being the Club Treasurer, and I’m always prepared for a race. So everyone was surprised that it happened to me, because of my lifestyle. I thought I was bullet-proof, because I’ve always taken up any challenge.”

He met Riekie three and a half years ago and also introduced her to running. They regularly attend time trials together, and she seconded him on the Comrades route, so she understands the frustration of a runner who can’t run, and is by his side on check-up days. Meanwhile, after years of only taking a multi-vitamin every morning, Spanny now has five different prescribed tablets, and he is slowly finding his feet again. “I started walking again two weeks after the incident, and I’m now doing 5km with my father and at time trials, but I lack energy and it’s frustrating, because I don’t work up a sweat. I’m not sure I’ll ever get to run the big ones again… I wanted to run Comrades with my son and do the Great Wall of China Marathon, but that’s on hold.”

RUNNING THE HERO
The main thing Spanny wants people to realise is that running is not at fault for his heart attack. In fact, it was probably running that prevented the heart attack happening earlier. “I believe that running saved my life, because sport makes you make healthy choices. I wouldn’t be here without it,” he says. “I think I’ll miss running like I did, because it teaches you about yourself. I sort out the world’s problems on the run, and I found that running was my go-to and I always learnt something new. The only thing I can hope for now is a 10-kay one day, and I hope I can just keep improving.”

DOCTOR’S DIAGNOSIS
Dr Jonathan Witt of St John EMS in Bedfordview was on duty at the Dis-Chem finish and tells us about the incident.

“Spanny’s ECG readings were normal at first before showing some warning signs. We had to defibrillate him for two minutes before sending him to hospital. He was definitely an abnormal case, because we usually just get muscle-related cases after races. I’ve been posted at Dis-Chem for eight years now and the advice I can give to runners is that you need to seek medical attention if you’re not feeling like you normally do after a run. If you have chest pain or shortness of breath, then get checked. It will take five minutes of your time and it will allow doctors to react.”

For more info, call 082 463 8732 or e-mail
[email protected]

One Lap Wonder

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Sprinter Justine Palframan holds two SA records for the 400m and has been representing South Africa on the world stage since 2009, including the World Champs in Moscow last year, so keep an eye out for her this year at the Commonwealth Games. – BY SEAN FALCONER

They say the 400m sprint is one of the toughest events on the track. For the first 300m it is all about speed, but in the last 100m the body starts shutting down and the winner will be the athlete who can hold on the longest before collapsing. According to Justine Palframan, this is so true. “You can hit the wall and it feels like you’re walking, just hoping to get to the end. It’s surprising that 400m athletes don’t just lie around on the track when they finish – we still have to try walk off and go die somewhere else!” she laughs.

One thing that is certainly not dying is Justine’s budding athletic career. Now studying B.Sc. Sports Science in Stellenbosch, the 20-year-old sprinter from Eshowe in KwaZulu-Natal has steadily been establishing herself on the international stage. She was selected for the 2009 World Youth Champs in Italy, finishing fourth in the 400m and ninth in the 200m, and brought home a silver in the 400m from the African Junior Champs. The following year she went to the World Junior Champs in Canada, even though still a youth athlete, and made the semi-finals of the 200m. Then in 2012 she was back at the World Juniors and finished fifth in the 400m, breaking the SA Junior record to go with her SA Youth record set in Swaziland.

RUSSIAN DOUBLE
In 2013 Justine enjoyed her biggest year yet, with two trips for global championship meets in Russia within a few months of each other. First she went to Kazan for the World Student Games, where she helped the SA 4x400m relay team bring home bronze, and then she was sent to the senior World Champs in Moscow. “Kazan was a great experience, with an amazing athlete village, great food, friendly people, an awesome track and everything nicely organised. Moscow was horrible, by comparison, because our hotel smelt of sewerage, the bed springs were sticking out and the hotel food was not great. We ate the same plain pasta and meat every day – until the last day, when suddenly they brought out pizza and wraps!”

In contrast, Justine really enjoyed competing in Moscow, even though she only appeared in the first round of heats. “I was really nervous at first, but as I stepped onto the track, I decided I’m here now, so I may as well enjoy myself and just try to do my best. I did my warm-up right next to multiple Olympic and World Champion Allyson Felix of the USA, and I found that the top girls are not that much taller than me. On TV they look huge! And when I looked at the times, I realised it is possible for me to get into the later rounds at that level, now that I have more experience. It’s not just a mad dream.”

SPEEDY FAMILY
Justine’s speed on the track is very much a family trait. Dad Stephen was a 400m and 800m athlete in his younger days, while Mom Trevlyn was also a sprinter – and they actually met on the track. Older sister Catlyn does the 100m and 200m sprint combination, while younger brother David is specialising in the 400m. Stephen is an accountant by trade, but doubled up as Justine’s coach for most of her high school years, with occasional help from then Durban-based coach Mohamed Allie, who subsequently moved to the Cape to head up the Maties Athletics Club at Stellenbosch University. Hence Justine decided to go study at Maties in 2013, so that she could be coached by him. And now that long-time boyfriend Cameron has returned from a Rotary Exchange year in France and moved down to Stellenbosch to study as well, she has even more support at hand.

Looking ahead, Justine has her plans for 2014 laid out already. “I’ve got the African Senior Champs coming up, then the Commonwealth Games, and in between I’ll also go run a few meets in Europe. Then next year it will be the World Champs again.” This means she has to juggle her studies a bit, but she says her lecturers are very understanding and helpful. “I managed okay last year, despite all the training and travelling, and only failed one subject, so I just have to work hard and maybe get some extra lessons this year. The lecturers don’t mind moving a test date or giving extra lessons here and there, which means I can focus on my athletics.”

Gazza on the Run

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Between 1993 and 2004, cricketer Gary Kirsten played 101 Test Matches and 185 One Day Internationals for South Africa, then launched a successful coaching career that saw him lead India to the World Cup title and SA to the world number one Test team ranking. Now running his own academy while still coaching overseas, he still finds time for a morning run, and the odd ultra. – BY SEAN FALCONER

Finishing the 2012 Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon in 5:33:31 was the fulfilment of a long-held dream for legendary Proteas opening batsman Gary Kirsten. “Being from Cape Town, I’d always wanted to run the breathtakingly beautiful route,” he says. However, getting to the start line was a real challenge, as he had to run a qualifying marathon while on tour in New Zealand with the SA team, and that meant a very long night…

“We finished the last ODI against New Zealand in Auckland on the Saturday night, around 10:30pm, and literally an hour later three of us jumped in the car to drive four-and-a-half hours to New Plymouth. We slept for one hour when we got there, ran the marathon, then drove back to catch a flight out of Auckland. It was a pretty tiring day, but a great experience, and gave me a healthy respect for that sort of distance. I finished in 3:53, but struggled a bit in the last 5km, so it was a good mental challenge, too.” Much like his cricket career, then, where he had to overcome the combined mental and physical challenge of facing the world’s best bowlers.

CARRYING HIS BAT
Gary wracked up a formidable set of records in his cricketing career. He was the first Protea to play in 100 Test matches, the first Test batsman to make hundreds against each of the other nine Test nations, and his 188 not out against the United Arab Emirates at the 1996 World Cup remains the highest ODI score by a South African and the highest score in World Cup history. He also held the record for the highest Test score by a South African after batting for 14.5 hours against England to make 275 in 1999. That mark was subsequently surpassed by Graeme Smith’s 277 in 2003, but it remains not only the second-highest SA Test score, but also the second-longest innings in Test history.

Unsurprisingly, Gary says he had to be really physically fit to be able to concentrate on batting for such long innings, and therefore has been running for 25 years, but reckons running an ultra is far more challenging than batting through a long innings. “Spending all day in the middle and running a marathon are very different experiences, but running a marathon is definitely a harder physical challenge!”

ALWAYS ON THE RUN
After his playing days came to an end, Gary turned to coaching, and his finest moments came when he led India to the World Cup title on home soil in 2011, followed by coaching South Africa to Number one in the World Test team rankings in 2012. In between all of that, he helped form a company called Performance Zone, focused on working with individuals and teams in business and sport, then established the world class Gary Kirsten Cricket Academy and also became a sought-after guest speaker.

In terms of running, Gary averages about 40km a week, mostly in the suburbs around his home in Cape Town and the nearby Kirstenbosch Gardens, and he says he prefers starting the day with a run. “Except for winter in Cape Town, I prefer to run in the mornings. It’s a great way to start the day, and my advice to people who think they are too busy to go for a run is to make it a priority in your day.” However, his hectic work and travel schedule make it hard to settle into a regular training routine, especially the months when he is overseas in India, coaching the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League.

“I find running a great way of seeing places I travel to, so my adidas running shoes are the first thing I pack, but when I am coaching in India I run mainly in the gym, because it is difficult to get around on the roads. I find running is a great time to meditate, or think of ideas to outwit rival teams.” Also, Gary’s training philosophy in cricket is easily adapted to his running: “Simple repetition in practice is important to build a strong mechanical base that can withstand the pressure of performance.” That’s what made him such a great batsman, and what is now working for him as a runner.

Bring on the Big City Races!

Babies Done, Now to Run

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With a very successful year’s running behind her,
Jenna Challenor of Boxer Athletic Club is looking forward to 2014 with great
excitement. Having given birth to her third daughter, Tao, just over 18 months
ago, the multiple KwaZulu-Natal champion at 10km, the half marathon and in
cross-country says she came back stronger than ever, which saw her win both the
Totalsports Ladies 10km in Durban in August and the Spar Ladies 10km in
Pietermaritzburg in September. She also finished third at the SA Half Marathon
Champs in September in East London, clocking a PB 1:16:21, and provisionally
booked her spot in the SA team for the World Half Marathon Champs in Denmark in
March.

 

“I decided to come back fairly quickly after Tao was
born and didn’t know what to expect, but ended up having a really awesome year.
I went to the Totalsports race unprepared, having been injured for a month
before, but I did alternate training and my world-class physio Wayne Holroyd
held me together, and I ran a time just one second off my PB of 34:58! Then I
won the Spar race, which I also won in 2011, even though I was tired after
three big races leading up to it, including the SA Half Champs. Now I’m waiting
to see if we will go to Denmark. I would love to be in the team and go run at
world class level.”

 

SPORTY ROOTS

Jenna ran middle distance at school and also did
lifesaving, being part of the SA team, along with future husband Brett, which
won the Lifesaving World Champs in New Zealand in 1998. She took a break from
running while studying teaching, but got back into it when she began working,
around the same time that she also turned her photography hobby into a business
venture. “I was doing my teaching, my photography, and running, and then my
eldest two daughters, Nicolette and Rylee, arrived. It all got a bit too much
and I had to choose, so I went into photography – it’s a lot more flexible for
my children, and my running. I do miss teaching, and one day will go back to
it, but now I can train, look after my kids, and still do my photography.”

 

She is a dedicated mother to her active daughters, and
says that Tao’s arrival completed her happiness. “I always wanted three babies,
and had to beg Brett for five years to get my third, but that’s me done now,
the factory is closed!” she laughs. “Now I can really focus on my running and see
where I can go with it. Thankfully, Brett is an incredible husband and father,
and is very supportive of my running – even though he travels a lot for
business, I wouldn’t be able to do so many races if he wasn’t so supportive. I
also need to thank my shoe sponsor Saucony and supplement sponsor 32Gi for
their awesome support!”

 

When asked what effect her three pregnancies have had
on her running, Jenna smiles as she explains she is now a better runner than
ever. “Some people say you struggle after having children, and I must admit I
did struggle to regain my fitness after my first two, but after my third, I
feel stronger than ever. Maybe it’s because I have to juggle a lot more now,
and be more disciplined and focussed, because I only have one-and-a-half hours
to train at 4:30am. I’m a mom of three and a wife, and I split myself a million
different ways, but I fit it all in. You just have to go out there and do it,
work it round your family and make it part of your life.”

 

LOOKING AHEAD

For now Jenna is focussing on distances up to 21km,
and this year she plans to get back into cross country, having run in SA
colours in 2009, but later she plans to step up to the marathon and ultras. “One
day I want to run a good marathon overseas, and having lived in Durban all my
life, the Comrades is in my blood. My mom has run 10 Comrades, and I feel I
have the endurance for it. I actually get stronger the longer the distance, but
Tao is still too young, so I’m not ready for that step up yet. I can’t train
for four hours and then come home to carry a one-year-old on my hip all
afternoon. At this age they’re very hands-on, but once they get to two to
three, it’s a lot less physically demanding. Then watch me go!”