Author: Modern Athlete

‹ Back
Maintain Your Cycle

Bad Hair Day?

Modern AthleteRacingLeave a Comment on Bad Hair Day?

When Vanessa Haywood is not busy with a
modelling photo-shoot or an audition for a TV or film role, chances are you’ll
find her hitting the trails, but her lifestyle demands that she often goes
straight from mountain biking and trail running ‘tough girl’ to the glitz and
glamour of modelling and acting quickly, so she has learnt how to keep her hair
in good shape.

 

“I
have really long fair hair and the combination of sun, sweat, elastic bands,
helmets and caps wreaks havoc on my hair! It gets knotty and ends up looking
like an old Barbie doll’s nylon hair after a race – and I also colour my hair,
so the bleach dries it out severely. Fortunately, I use the most fantastic
products that fix all of the damage in an instant,” says Vanessa. She swears by
NAK Aromas Shampoo and Conditioner, which also have leave-in treatment to add
to their range. “It detangles and literally stops split ends in their tracks,”
says Vanessa.

 

Due to having
fair, sensitive hair, Vanessa has found that spray-on sunblocks made by Paul
Mitchell and Redken are great for her hair care regime. “Just make sure when
buying a sunblock hair treatment, that it contains both UVA and UVB protectors
in it.” Vanessa also tries to avoid washing her hair daily, as the natural oils
in the hair get washed away. “One has to wash one’s hair after a race, but
during the week, when training, try to stick to three times a week, especially
if you have long hair,” she advises.

 

SWIMMER’S HAIR

Despite
the fact that swimming is a great way to get fit, with minimal impact on your
muscles and joints, the effect on your hair is not quite so ‘injury-free,’ says
Nadia Bachini, who has been a
competitive swimmer for more than ten years, including competing at the World
Champs (in Italy) and doing the Robben Island to Big Big open sea swim in Cape
Town. She says that all the hours spent in the pool take a toll on one’s hair,
and she should know, given that she does up to 8km in the pool most some
training days.

 

“As a
swimmer, the key to ensuring your hair stays healthy is to wash it after every
swim with a shampoo that does not contain sodium,” says Nadia. “In addition to
this, a mask is recommended at least once a week, to replace all the lost
nutrients. These can be bought from a local pharmacy, and you don’t need the
most expensive brand on the market.”

 

Nadia says
she has also recently started supplementing with Prosana Hair and Nail booster,
which is formulated with vitamins to assist in hair care. “Vigro is also
something I have recently started using, as this brand has a tonic which can be
applied to the hair immediately after a swim, left in and then the hair can be
styled normally,” says Nadia. She also claims that she will leave her hair to
‘air dry’ as much as possible and minimises using a straightener to once in
three weeks.

Driven to Tri

Keeping the Rhinos

Modern AthleteFeaturesLeave a Comment on Keeping the Rhinos

The Bluffer was born in 2008 when 12 guys from Cape
Town decided to support a mutual friend’s training for the 80km Puffer Trail
Run. This saw them cover 100km of trail on the Cape Peninsula over three days, sleeping
over in SANparks camping areas, and they repeated the Peninsula setting for the
next two years’ runs, followed by two years running in the Overberg Mountains
around Elgin-Grabouw and Kleinmond. This year, in early October, the 25-strong
group will head to the Cedarberg Mountains up the West Coast for the 2013
Bluffer, and running with them will be former Proteas cricketer Mark Boucher.

 

Having decided to support a worthy cause with their
run, the Bluffers chose Mark’s SAB Boucher Conservation charity, which supports
the fight to protect the rhinos, and he was thus invited to join the run. He
admits it’s going to be a tough undertaking: “I’m not used to trail and the courses
I had done previously were nothing more than 14km, so when you’re expected to
cover about 30 to 40km a day, I knew I needed to pick it up in training!
Fortunately I’ve always been a nature lover, so 25km Saturday morning runs around
Table Mountain and Tokai Forest in the recent storms in the Cape were fun.”

 

FOR THE RHINOS

Mark says he is really pleased that the Bluffer will
be run on behalf of his charity and rhino conservation. “We look at any species
that need help. Right now, rhinos are on the tip of everyone’s tongues and
we’ve already raised close to R1 million. Once the Bluffer funds are collected,
I’d like to see the money go towards the Onderstepoort Veterinary Clinic, which
is helping build a DNA database for SA’s rhino population. I’ve been out in the
field for darting and DNA sampling operations, and the campaign is getting
there!”

 

More info at www.markboucher.co.za

Keep it Cool!

Running on Wine

Modern AthleteRacingLeave a Comment on Running on Wine

Around 600 eager trail
runners and lovers of good wine made their way to the Blaauwklippen Wine Estate
for the Cellar2Cellar Trail Run & Wine Experience, with the serious racers
first taking on the 20km or 12km trail runs, and then many of them joining the
12km Wine Experience ‘run.’ This took them through the vineyards of
Blaauwklippen, Stellenrust, Dornier, Kleinood, Waterford and Stellenzicht, with
all six participating wine farms, together with a Checkers Odd Bins tasting
station, tempting participants to linger and taste their wine along with
Portobello cheeses, chocolates and Wedgewood Nougats that were on offer.

 

In the serious racing, Matthew
Daneel took top spot on the podium in the men’s 20km Trail Run in an impressive 1:13:23, followed by Dawid
Visser and William Leslie. Thamar Clark won the women’s 20km in 1:37:03, with Linda Kinco-Smith second and Sarah-Jane
Jackson third. Claudia Wesemann was first woman home in the 12km, clocking 1:01:52, with Yolandi
Visser second and Nicola Collins third. Craig Burns took men’s gold in the 12km with a quick 52:52, with Jacques
Jantjies second.

 

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE…

Nicola Collins was one of
many runners that did both the 12km
Trail Run followed by the fun-filled 12km Wine Experience. “To just do the 12km or 20km at
Cellar2Cellar would be cheating,” she said. “The whole experience, atmosphere
and the people you meet along the way is just awesome, not to mention the
delicious wine, cheese, chocolate and nougat tasted along the way. I can’t
think of a more fun-filled way to spend a beautiful spring day with friends.”

Have Hypnosis

TRIED & TESTED

Modern AthleteColumnsLeave a Comment on TRIED & TESTED

Luna Mono Sandals 

While
these may look like flip-flops meant for beach holidays, the Mono (Monkey in Spanish) is actually a versatile
shoe that can be used for road and trail running. It has a light, flexible Vibram outsole and non-slip leather footbed for a combined thickness of 12mm, which allows enough traction and protection for rocky
trails. The ATS (All Terrain Strapping) laces and elasticised heel strap
provide a snug fit, but also that lovely feeling of fresh air between your
toes! I found the sandals light and supportive, but was more aware of
each step compared to my normal running shoes, so I
wouldn’t recommend the Mono for your next marathon – but they’re great for shorter
distances. – Lauren van der Vyver

GET
THEM: R1050 from www.thebarefootrunner.co.za
(free shipping to major cities).

 

TECHNIblock Sun Protection Spray

This South African company was one of the first in the
world to produce an aerosol sunscreen in the early 90s and now offers various
sprays from SPF15 to over 50, in various sized tins from 125ml to 340ml, and
all offering both UVA and UVB protection to prevent sunburn, cell damage and
premature aging. Being transparent and non-greasy, the spray is so easy to
apply, even to hairy arms and legs like mine, with just a bit of rubbing
required to ensure full coverage. And if, like me, you hate that ghostly white
look once you’ve applied sunscreen, you’ll love this product! Another bonus is
that these sprays are easy to apply to your head if you have somewhat less hair
than before – as I unfortunately do! – Sean Falconer

GET IT: R189 (340ml, SPF 30), R214 (340ml, SPF 50+) at
Dis-Chem, selected Clicks stores and other independent pharmacies.

The Cow Bar

The Cow Bar forms part of the product range from
MOOTRITION™, a range of quality food energy products sold to raise funds for CHOC
(Children’s
Haematology Oncology Clinics), which plays a key role in providing care for
children in SA diagnosed with cancer. The cereal food energy bars come in three
flavours: Apple cinnamon, choc peanut butter or banana nut – my favourite is
the choc peanut butter – and I found them rather tasty, plus it felt like I had
a bit more energy on my morning runs when I had one for a pre-run snack. These
bars are quite ‘chewy,’ so I found it best to eat them during a run or bike
ride once they had warmed up a bit and were easier to chew. –
Craig van der Westhuizen

GET THEM: R10
per bar, sold in boxes of 10. Place orders with [email protected]

adidas adistar Boost

 Adidas rolled out its springy new Boost
midsole material end of last year and is now carrying it through to other shoes
in its range. This lightweight model mixes the new material and adi’s independent
Formotion crash-pad on the outer side of the heel with a section of traditional,
firmer foam on the inner side of the midsole, so you get a super-springy,
cushioned landing and boosted toe-off, but with that stable feeling on the
inner side of the shoe that really kicks in as you get tired later in a run and
your feet start pronating a bit more. Having run in the original Boost, I found
the new shoe even more springy, which I absolutely loved. I was positively
bouncing down the road! – Sean Falconer


GET THEM: R1299 at adidas concept stores and select sports
retailers.

Peanut Power!

Core Foundation

Modern AthleteColumnsLeave a Comment on Core Foundation

When we talk about the core, we are referring to the
muscles deep within the abdomen and back, attaching to the spine or pelvis,
that work together with the more superficial muscles of the trunk to support
the spine and keep the body balanced and stable during movement. The transverse abdominis (a muscle layer on
the front and side of the abdominal wall)
is the major abdominal ‘core’ stabiliser, along with the multifidus (muscle along the vertebrae) and the quadrates lumborum (lower back muscle). However, if one is doing a
simple squat, for example, a collection of prime movers are activated: The
quadriceps, hamstrings, hip flexors, calves and gluteals.

 

So when you think core, you should think about the
muscles from your mid-torso to mid-thigh. Your core is your hub of energy, and
without stable core muscles, energy won’t be properly transferred to the rest
of the body. Think of your body as a wagon wheel where your core (the centre of
the wheel) needs to be stable so that the energy created can be sent to the
spokes of the wheel (the rest of your body). Shaky spokes won’t make for a
great journey and you’re likely to feel the effect of an unstable journey in
your feet and shins. The same applies to your core.

 

CORE BENEFITS

Maintaining a strong core will help to improve your
running in a number of ways.

 

1 More power: As you extend your
stride on a run, your lower abdominals are put to work, and with a defined
core, more force can be applied and you will immediately feel okay to pick up
the pace. When you reach a hill, too, the lower abs, hamstrings and glutes need
a stable platform to ‘push off’ from.

 

2 Better form: A strong core will
improve overall posture, which will help you maintain form in the second half
of a long run. With a strong, balanced lower back, you are more likely to stay
upright while running, thus reducing fatigue. If your core is weak, you’re more
likely to slouch at the end of a race, putting added pressure on your shins and
calves. Weak abs can also cause you to propel your pelvis from side to side, which
will leave your hips absorbing more impact.

 

3. Improved agility and balance: You will also have enhanced agility because your trunk will have a
better sense of motion, while your balance will steadily improve, too – perfect
if you’re hitting the trails!

 

4. Less niggles: Most importantly, once
you reduce impact on a run, you’re less likely to pick up injuries. Strong
glutes and hip flexors allow your body to absorb more impact, especially on the
downhills.

 

While your engine might be ready to hit the road, your
frame needs to be in the right condition to handle the mileage and terrain. So
whether you plonk yourself in a plank or do squats every day, you are working
your biomechanics for a better performance in the long run!

Kasha Dickie is a Biokineticist and Exercise Scientist
at the Sport Science Institute of South Africa.

Join the Club

Fuel Your Finish

Modern AthleteFeaturesLeave a Comment on Fuel Your Finish

After 90 minutes of strenuous activity, your glucose
stores are depleted, which brings the nervous system function to a near halt,
making continued exertion almost impossible. This is what marathon runners
refer to as “hitting the wall.” Therefore, it is important to fuel up every 45 to
60 minutes during a long ride or run, with around 30 to 60g of carbohydrate per
hour.

 

The form of carbohydrate does not seem to matter physiologically
– some athletes prefer to use a sports drink, whereas others prefer to eat solids
or gels and consume with water. You can mix and match different options and should
experiment to find what works best for you during training. Prolonged exercise
may affect appetite and varying salty & sweet foods during the day can
help. However, what makes a good snack during a ride or a run is about more than
just providing your muscles and glycogen stores with the correct nutrients, it
needs to also be portable, convenient and sustainable, and should be able to
handle high temperatures (should not melt).

 

If you are cycling, it is important to start eating as
soon as you feel comfortable on your bike. During your run, start eating and
drinking early in the session (within 30 to 45 minutes). A very good phrase to
go by is the following: “Eat before you’re hungry and drink before you’re
thirsty.”

 

SNACKS YOU CAN TRY

Energy or sports bars: A simple but effective
snack, and usually well balanced in their carbohydrate, fat and protein
content. Cutting the bar into smaller pieces makes the snacking process a lot
easier.

 

Baby potatoes or Salticrax biscuits: This snack is packed with
carbohydrates and potassium. Approximately three to four boiled baby potatoes
or eight Salticrax biscuits will provide you with your needed 30g of
carbohydrates per hour. By adding a little salt to the baby potatoes, you get a
lovely savoury treat that will also help to replace sodium lost through sweat.

 

Peanut butter and syrup sandwich: The bread and syrup provides you with the needed carbohydrates and the
peanut butter provides protein and healthy fats. Cut the sandwich up into four
small squares or triangles to make eating as easy as possible.

 

Sports drinks: Approximately 375 to
500ml of sports drink (6-8g of carbohydrates per 100ml) will supply you with 25
to 30g of carbohydrates. Sports drinks also contain electrolytes to help
replace those lost.

 

Energy gel sachets: These are easy to
carry and two sachets provide you with approximately 30g of carbohydrates
(depending on the brand).

 

Trail Mix: Dried fruits supply
you with a concentrated source of carbohydrates and salted nuts supply you with
potassium and healthy fats.

 

Jelly sweets: These as generally
the easiest to carry and consume during a long ride or run. They supply you
with an instant source of simple carbohydrates to help increase your blood
glucose levels. Approximately five to six sweets (jelly babies, jelly beans,
Super C’s, etc.) will provide you with roughly 30g of carbohydrates.

 

To get the most out of your training rides and runs,
and of course race day, the timing and type of food you eat is important. As a
general guide, you should aim to eat a main meal three to four hours before a
run and then a lighter snack one to two hours beforehand.

Bafana Runner

Managing the Mission

Modern AthleteColumnsLeave a Comment on Managing the Mission

For a man with such a demanding job, Doug Jones has
quite the running CV: It includes five Comrades Marathons with a PB of 7:50, three
Old Mutual Two Oceans Ultras and a Puffer 80km run. He has also taken on four
94.7 Cycle Challenges, the Ironman 70.3 and the Midmar Mile – all while heading
up one of the country’s leading retail franchises. Doug has spent six years at
Massmart and has been Managing Director of Makro for the past year, and says he
continues to be inspired by the company. “I love the unique offering we give
people. It’s a small business but a big operation,” he explains. “We offer
across the board, to all ages, and we just have a lot of fun!”

 

Despite the long hours, on top of being a husband and
father to three young children, Doug still finds time to train and race,
although this year his running has been curtailed by a hip injury. “I normally wake
up at 5am and I’m excited to go out for a run. After that, I’m excited to get
to the office. Running is good for you in business – you remain positive and
enthusiastic,” says Doug. “Like life, like business, running tests your will to
follow-through on something. If you’re not fit, if you’re not committed, you’ll
bail.”

 

And so, in peak training, Doug runs time trials on
Tuesdays and Thursdays, with some track work for speed in the evenings, a
longer 20km on Wednesdays, and a tempo run on Friday mornings. His weekends are
reserved for long runs. “It’s great having a wife that is also active, that
runs with me and understands what running is all about,” says Doug. “She’s
allowed me to do what it takes to get to my goals.” And their kids, Kate (11),
Matthew (10) and Scott (2) also take part on weekend running getaways. “They’re
dragged to races, but I think when your children see you accomplishing your
goals, it can only be a positive influence. I work hard and succeed, and they
can do the same.”

 

RUNNING PEDIGREE

Jo’burg born and bred, Doug was always active at
school, using running to get fit for cricket, rugby and squash. After studying
to become a chartered accountant, he moved to Canada, where he ran his first
marathon in Toronto in 2000, with his wife Robyn, but with kids on the way and
a move back to SA in 2003, Doug took a break from serious running for a few
years, until he joined the Bryanston Bombers training group. “This group of
guys had run Comrades and all these crazy races, and we became a close-knit
running family. They took me from jogger to runner, and that’s what makes
running so amazing – that nobody cares who you are or what your title is when
you have your running gear on! You just go out with your friends and it’s a
break-away from everything!”

 

Doug’s second shot at a marathon came in 2006 at the
Soweto Marathon, and eventually he moved onto Comrades in 2008, clinching a Bill
Rowan medal in 8:50. He went on to run five consecutive Comrades before missing
out this year with the hip injury, but says he will be back. “On my first go, I
remember crying when I crossed the finish, with my arm raised in the air.
Comrades is all about the journey and the build-up. The actual day? Well, it’s
a beast! But the hours on the road and meeting strangers is what makes it so
special!”

 

NEW GOALS

While being sidelined from running this whole year
after an op on his hip, Doug has been swimming and recently started running
again. He says he is determined to come back stronger than ever, and has a
bucket-list of running goals he’d still like to tick off. “I want a silver and my
Green Number at Comrades, and I want to run a sub-3:00 marathon. In the next
few years, I’d like to do Ironman, a 100-miler, maybe Washie, maybe the Skyrun,
and swim and mountain bike more.” And while it might seem a stretch for a busy
businessman, he explains that it’s all about compromise. “I don’t judge people
who say they don’t have time, because I also work hard and I stress, but one
needs to compromise. You need to get that balance right!”

NOBLE ENDEAVOUR

Man with the Most

Modern AthleteColumnsLeave a Comment on Man with the Most

Anybody looking for advice
on how to tackle the Comrades Marathon would do well to ask Dave Rogers for a
few tips. After all, the sprightly 70-year-old from Hillcrest is the leading
all-time finisher of the race with 45 medals to his name, including three gold
medals, a third-place finish and a best time of 5:52:00. However, his wisdom is
built on more than just mileage: “The most important factor in Comrades success
is that you must enjoy running. There’s no point in doing a sport if you don’t
enjoy it, especially running, or you’re not going to last long,” says Dave. “If
I don’t have my daily run, I get grumpy!”

 

Now Comrades runners with
40 or more finishes wear a distinctive race number with four vertical green
stripes, and Dave says this means he gets a lot of attention from fellow
runners. “Many runners wish me well – that’s the fantastic camaraderie of
Comrades – but the funniest was a couple of years back when I had a few
Japanese runners near me. One asked me how many I had run, and then they asked
me to stop so they could each take their picture with me, one by one!”

 

WAY BACK WHEN…

Dave ran his first Comrades
in 1961, aged 18, running with his older brother Ken – or Tank, as he is widely
known thanks to his robust style of playing soccer in his younger days – and
they finished together in 10:13:35. “It all started when Tank came home from
work one day and said he had met one of the founders of Comrades, who had been telling
him about the camaraderie of the race, so he said he wanted to run it, and asked
will I run with him? I asked how far it is, and when he told me… well, my
answer is unprintable! But we submitted our entries.”

 

Tank went on to complete
the race 18 times, while younger brother George earned 15 medals, but “I’m the
only silly bugger still running out of the brothers,” jokes Dave. In the 53
years since his first Comrades, he has only missed five races, and of the three
years he failed to finish, two were exceptionally close shaves. “One year I
missed the final cut-off by 14 seconds, while another year I missed by two
minutes. But thank goodness the race has actually become easier over the years.
The topography of the roads has changed a lot since the 70s, especially the
lower section as you get towards Durban. The old roads were a hell of a lot
hillier, even though the distance was roughly the same. In the 70s and 80s they
were saying the race had become easier than the 30s and 40s, and now the same can
be said of the present versus the 70s!”

 

FAMILY AFFAIR

Dave has lived in Durban
since his parents were transferred there when he was 12, and he worked in
engineering and labour relations before ending up as the CEO of a medical aid fund.
He married Wendy 45 years ago and they have four children and six grandkids.
“Wendy has been an absolute star for me all these years, assisting with all my
races. At Comrades, she seconded me from 1966 right through to the late 70s,
when motorbikes replaced seconding cars, and nowadays she strolls half a kay
down to the route near our home in Hillcrest, with the grandkids, to wait for
me to pass. My sons Sean, Kevin and Michael have all run the Comrades and
sometimes ran with me, and my daughter Tracey was keen to run it two years ago,
but then fell pregnant. I reckon she will be back in a few years.”

 

Unsurprisingly, the most
common question this veteran of the Comrades hears these days is how many more
medals he thinks he can earn. “When will I have run enough? The day I stop
breathing,” he laughs. “I have picked up a few injuries in recent years, but if
my luck holds and the body allows, I can keep going.

It would be an absolute
dream to reach 50, which means at least another five years, but if I don’t,
then no problem, because I have thoroughly enjoyed my running and made lifelong
friends along the way. For me it has always been that I enjoy running, so I
will keep going until I can’t run any more.”

Stand by Me

Touch & Go

Modern AthleteRacingLeave a Comment on Touch & Go

Most of us know the basic
rules of touch rugby, but in 6-Down, teams have six ‘downs,’ or restarts, to
score a try, after which possession is turned over. When touched while carrying
the ball, a player must place the ball on the ground and step over it – this is
called a rollball – and a teammate then picks up and continues play. “The game
is virtually non-stop, so you need to be really fit,” says Gill, “and there is
a lot of strategy involved. We use a driving strategy to draw the defence in on
the initial downs, then closer to the try line we use line moves.”

 

The sport is played by
teams of six players on a half rugby field, with rolling subs, either in men’s,
women’s or mixed (minimum three women) combinations. “The nice thing about
6-Down is that it is cheap to play – you just need a field and a ball – and you
can play competitively or socially,” says Gill. “Touch is also a great way to
get a good workout, plus it has an enjoyable social side. I have made good
friends through the sport.”

 

SUB-HEADER HERE

Gill (37) grew up in Cape
Town, then studied BA Human Movement Studies at Stellenbosch University,
followed by a teaching diploma. She began teaching at Rustenburg High School for
Girls in Cape Town in 1998, then taught in the UK from 2001 to 2003 before returning
to Rustenburg. Last year she was promoted to Deputy Principal: Pastoral Care,
and she coaches the school’s Touch first team.

 

It was at varsity that Gill
was introduced to 6-Down. “In my third year, some guys in the department invited
us to play, and a couple of us girls thought why not. We had a couple of practices,
then played the Western Province team – and got thumped. A lot of us then
entered the Cape Town league and soon improved.” The following year Gill made
the Western Province team, going on to be selected for the SA squad for the
last three World Cups, in Japan (2003), South Africa (2007) and Scotland (2011),
and helping the SA mixed team finish fourth in Japan and third in SA, then
leading the over-30s senior mixed team to third in Scotland.

 

Overall, the SA team did
well to finish third at all three World Cups, but Gill says getting to these
tournaments is a challenge. “Touch is a small sport and we need to pay own way.
The next World Cup is in Australia, so it may not be SA’s strongest team going.
Also, a lot of younger players come from less privileged communities and can’t
afford tours for provincial tournaments, let alone World Cups.”

 

GROWING POPULARITY

6-Down is now played in a
number of countries, with Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and England
leading the way. “In many countries, the sport was introduced by an Aussie,
Kiwi or SA player who helped get it started,” says Gill. “Here in SA, Touch is massive
in schools in Gauteng, with some schools entering eight teams. At Rustenburg we
have at least four teams each season, and a number of other schools are now
offering Touch. So I’m going to keep playing for now, maybe try for another
World Cup, but soon it could be time to let the youngsters come through. Still,
they need a bit of experience on the field…”

PROUDLY SAFFA!

Wheelchair Warriors

Modern AthleteFeaturesLeave a Comment on Wheelchair Warriors

FANUS ROSSOUW

I was involved in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident in
2005 and I ended up with several broken ribs, a broken back and suffered major
head trauma. The doctors told my wife that I wouldn’t survive the operation,
but after two and a half months I was out of ICU and started rehab. Paralysed from
the abdomen down, I started to do some strength work, but it was difficult.
It’s then that I met Pieter and the group of guys at Rademeyers.

 

Pieter told me to start off with a 10km with him.
Little did I know he was tricking me and it was an extra 5km, but my love of
races was born. So we stepped it up to 21km, then 32km and eventually a
marathon. Now, we’re ticking off 100-milers! You just go, and Pieter always
encourages me if I feel like stopping. I managed to get 805km for a silver
medal in the 1000km Challenge. At races across Gauteng, we get a great
reception from runners. When there’s a steep incline, they’re more than happy
to push and help. It’s always a fun experience and we joke along the way.

 

Pieter and I race in our normal day-to-day chairs,
just to show athletes that it doesn’t take a big expense to start! While we
struggle to wheel on grass at most finishes, we carry on! What’s life without a
few hiccups, anyway? If you try one race, who knows what can happen? It has
definitely changed me as a person – I knew that I could do so much more than
sitting at home.

 

Pieter Pretorius

I feel like Fanus and I have had two lifespans in one
– one on our feet and one on wheels. I was involved in a car accident back in
1992 and was left paralysed from the abdomen down. About five years ago, I met
Thea Wilkins and the wheelchair group at Rademeyers, ‘The Kloofies,’ and they
convinced me to do my first 5km. After that I never thought I’d double it up to
10km, but I got stronger and eventually I met Fanus and conned him into doing
races with me! We use a front freewheel on our normal chairs instead of racing
chairs, because we want to let other wheelchair athletes know that there is no
need for fancy chairs.

 

It’s been two years now that the 1000km Challenge has
been open to wheelchair athletes and there’s more awareness out there. This year,
I managed to get in 1 200km for a gold medal and it’s been a great experience!
Fanus and I finished in 23:37 at the Dawn to Dusk 100 Miler and were ninth in a
time of 20:21 at the Golden Reef. There are a few more 100-milers we’d like to
do, the Comrades – if we’re allowed one day – as well as the London Marathon. Apart
from some blisters, swollen hands at the end of a race, and flat tyres, we love
every minute of it!

 

Since I’ve started racing, there’s been an improvement
in my health – my blood pressure has dropped and I’ve got so much confidence!
In the end, it’s a battle against yourself. I always thought I was in the way,
but now there’s so much support. People tell us that we’re an inspiration, but
it’s the runners who boost us!