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Andre Conquers His ‘Everest’

Vegan Songstress

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Born in
Mafikeng and then moving to Gauteng,
Nothende remembers growing up with music and receiving her first bass recorder
from her grandfather. Her passion for music was evident when she began writing
songs at age 11, and after practising church hymns, her school teacher made
sure she joined the choir. Soon Nothende was on the road to stardom: “I started
singing solo and I broke out of my shell,” she says.

 

After school,
Nothende attended a TV audition and someone heard her sing – and had her in a
studio within three hours to record her first single. Today, she’s a hit on
radio stations across the country, with several number one singles to her name,
and has grabbed South African Music Award (SAMA) nods for her debut album LoveLight. And Nothende says she puts
everything into her music: “Why bother if you don’t sing with emotion? Music
has to be real because it has the power to affect people. I want to give my
audience that high.”

 

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

A sports
fanatic at school, Nothende competed in athletics, swimming, gymnastics and
basketball, and says she appreciates the health benefits of running and eating
right. She fits in a run three times a week and often changes her routes for
different scenery. “I like to challenge myself and to dance on stage, you have
to be fit!” she says. “So in between music and tours, I keep active – time
doesn’t stop and you need balance. Even if it’s a 30 minute run! When it comes
to my music or changing my eating habits, I never limit myself.”

 

And so, three
years ago Nothende decided to give up meat and alcohol, and after six months
she could feel the difference. “I felt incredible. I adapted easily, and though
it was an experiment at first, it has changed my life.” Now, when touring, she
makes sure she carries fruit everywhere, and says she always asks organisers at
events to give her the vegan option. Nothende also grows her own vegetables and
makes juices and shakes at home, where she spends a lot of time in her kitchen experimenting
with recipes she shares with her mom, who has also embraced veganism. “I eat a
lot now, but I never get that full feeling. I’ve also not been sick the last
three years!”

Top Class Athletics Action

Mountain Man

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In 2003 he
made history by becoming the first black African climber to stand on top of the
world, and he followed that up by becoming the first black African to complete
the Seven Summits Challenge, to climb the highest peak on each continent, as
well the Three Poles Challenge, to climb Everest as well as trek on foot to the
North and South Poles. And he did it all to raise funds for various charities,
as well as to prove a point: “I wanted to tell the world that we Africans have
got what it takes to achieve greatness, regardless of colour.”

 

It was in
Sibusiso’s second Everest climb in 2005, on the more technical north face, that
he came close to death. “On the way down on summit day, I found myself alone,
without food, water or oxygen. I was seeing death in my face, but I didn’t want
to die, so I started crawling on all fours and struggled on for about three
hours until I made it to camp.”

 

RUNNING MAN

That’s the
same irrepressible spirit that Sibusiso takes into his running. He has finished
four Comrades Marathons and will be running his fifth in 2013, aiming to break
nine hours for a first Bill Rowan medal. He also recently did his first trail
stage race at the Pronutro AfricanX Trail Run, partnering Comrades legend Bruce
Fordyce in an unforgettable experience. “I have always used running in my
training regime for expeditions. I love running, and that’s why I started my
own running club near Nelspruit, called Born To Win, to help instil the belief
in young stars that they are born to win, whatever their circumstances.”

 

Sibusiso is
married to Nomsa and is the proud father of four, and today is self-employed as
a sought-after motivational speaker. “I look back and say, my goodness, it’s
amazing I have done so much, but my bucket list just gets fuller. I realise that
people look up to me for inspiration, and my message is simple: Every person
has their own Everest to climb, challenging you to reach the top, and if you
set yourself goals and work hard for it, you will get there.”

Epic-Ness

Dream Come True

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A few months ago, completing one of the
world’s most prestigious international marathons was nothing but a pipe dream
for Khubulani, whose job as a security guard in the West Rand has not afforded
him such an opportunity. But thanks to a charitable initiative undertaken by Virgin
Money South Africa, Khubulani, along with two other runners from
underprivileged communities, was given a unique opportunity to shine on an
international stage.

 

“It’s always been a dream to run in the
world’s biggest marathons, but I never thought I’d get the chance,” says
Khubulani, who had previously achieved four silver medal finishes in the
Comrades Marathon. “I have watched the London Marathon on TV, and when I found
out about this opportunity, I knew I had to go for it.”

 

This was a first trip abroad for
Khubulani, who was selected along with fellow athletes, John Persents and
Meshack Ndhlovu, based on the strength of their written motivations. According
to Khubulani, he will remember the four days spent in London for the rest of
his life. “It was amazing and we had enough time to take in all the famous
sights and the culture of the place. The support throughout the marathon was
incredible. It really helped to push me to achieve my best. I’ll look back at
this experience every day and smile. I did a really good job and it’s something
I’ll never forget.”

 

VIP
TREATMENT

Since returning to South Africa, Khubulani
has revelled in the support shown by his community. “Honestly, it feels like I
won the whole thing. The support has been amazing, and I couldn’t be happier. Virgin
Money also treated us well and made us feel at home
in a foreign place. I’m so grateful for the opportunity, and happy that I got a
chance to show my talent to the world.”

 

However, for Khubulani there’s little
time to bask in the spotlight. Over and above his work commitments, he is
currently training to better his finishing time at this year’s Comrades
Marathon. He has set his sights on returning to London one day, and also lists the
New York Marathon as one of his future goals.

On Top of the World!

Black Ribbon Race

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Forever Resorts Loskop Marathon, Middelburg, Mpumalanga,
20 April

With
5 000 athletes lining up in the pouring rain in Middelburg less than a
week after the tragic Boston Marathon bombing, a minute’s silence was dedicated
to the victims of the attack, and many runners donned black armbands to show
their support for their running brethren and the supporters killed in America. “We
were deeply saddened by the news of the bombings that took place,” said Kobus
Tait, Managing Director at Forever Resorts South Africa, title sponsor of the
Loskop event. “It is truly sad that a sports event that is meant to draw people
closer in camaraderie is used to target soft and innocent victims.”

 

Once the
race got underway, Nedbank’s Samuel ‘Seun’ Moleshioa seemed the favourite to
take the win after his strong showing from Kranspoort Pass
until the final climb, but once again Varaday’s Hill proved the decider as Transnet’s
Othaniel Phahlane came flying past him. The first-time Loskop runner then
zoomed down to the Loskop Dam finish to clock 2:46:10, just two minutes off the
course record set in 2005 by former Olympic Marathon gold medallist Josiah
Thugwane.

 

NOVICE WINNER

For Othaniel,
the win came as quite a surprise, not just because it was his first Loskop, but
also because of the tough conditions: “About 10km into the race it started to
rain really hard. When I saw one runner stop, I said I must just carry on, and
at 40km into the race I knew I could win this race.” Seun held on for second in
2:50:06, while 2010 winner Joseph Mphuthi (Toyota) was third in 2:50:25. “Finishing
third again is not good,” he said after the race. “I finished 15th
at Comrades last year and want to finish in the top 10 this year. We will see
how things go.”

 

In the
women’s race, Kenya’s Jennifer Keoch, running in Nedbank colours, was first
over the line in a time of 3:18:11, followed by Zimbabwean Lizhi Chokera (Nedbank)
exactly four minutes later, and Lizhi’s cousin Muchaneta Gwata (Maxed) third in
3:33:44. In the tough accompanying half marathon, David Manja (Nedbank) took
line honours in 1:09:53, while the women’s title went to Nedbank’s Myrette
Filmalter in 1:25:31.

Awesome AfricanX

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ProNutro AfricanX Trail Run presented
by New Balance, Boland, 20-22 April

Stage 1: 32km, 793m ascent

The cold,
wet conditions of the day before gave way to a beautiful morning in the
Overberg and the warm banter of excited runners. What followed was 15km that
disappeared in a blur as we headed through some neat single track and forest
plantations. Then the switchbacks up towards Paul Cluver Wine Estate brought
about the odd enforced walk. After all, three days and 88km in total lay ahead.
A little game spotting in the lands behind Paul Cluver even had me ready to see
if a local Bontebok was going to make me the next Youtube sensation!

 

Just as the
finish tones came into earshot, Dr Evil 2, aka Race Director Nicola Collins,
swung us up one last climb above the race village, and while we may have been
bleak at the ‘detour,’ the reward was an amazing view of Houw Hoek and the
valley.

 

Stage 2: 31.8km, 1041m ascent

A 6:30am
bus trip over Sir Lowry’s Pass set the scene on what was to come; a return trip
over the Hottentots-Holland on plenty of single track. The early morning rays
of sun coming over the Hottentots underscored the beauty of False Bay as we
climbed ‘Magic Mountain.’ Finally we strode to the base of the historic Gamtouw
ox wagon pass, scarred by hundreds of Voortrekker wagons dragged over the mountain,
and my wife reminded us that if ‘tanie in her ou kappie’ could have crossed
this pass, then best we kept moving.

 

Once over the
pass, the trail opened up into some magnificent sandy single trail, an endless
roller-coaster with countless switchbacks. By the time we passed the final
water point, my show pony wife and I were making our way up through the field.
Perhaps it was the sweet smell of the Brandy on the brew at the finish at Oude
Molen in Grabouw. A prized run through the distillery past the fermentation
tanks to the welcoming finish line was the ultimate ending.

 

Stage 3: 24km, 750m ascent

The final
day started stiff and laboured. And that was just the trip to the Bokomo
Breakfast Zone! The media chopper kept us company as the sea of colourful
runners climbed from the beautiful blue gum-encapsulated Paul Cluver Amphitheatre,
through the fruit orchards towards Oak Valley. Throughout the field, dodgy
knees creaked, ITBs twanged and quads cramped as legs braked. Downhills were no
longer friends or reasons to let loose, and instead were approached one tender
stride at a time.

 

Doctor Evil
2 had described day three’s contours along the Groenlandberg as rolling hills.
Clearly dear Nicki has never been to the Free State… THOSE are rolling hills.
The Groenlandberg is where your ISUZU gets its best value out of low range
gearing! On the plus side we were enjoying another stunner of a day, and
another fynbos overload in the varied and visually inspiring terrain. Eventually,
a bittersweet loop round the finish fields, knowing that the 88km trail was
complete. Three just perfect running days with my perfect partner at a tough
but magical event.

 

Big thanks everyone
from Stillwater Sports & Entertainment, the inspiring group of
commentators, the medics and masseurs and of course the sponsors without whom
events of this nature don’t reach their heights of presentation. And special
thanks to Houw Hoek and the amazing catering teams. Job well done, you all!

Spirit of Boston

Awesome AfricanX

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ProNutro AfricanX Trail Run presented
by New Balance, Boland, 20-22 April

Stage 1: 32km, 793m ascent

The cold,
wet conditions of the day before gave way to a beautiful morning in the
Overberg and the warm banter of excited runners. What followed was 15km that
disappeared in a blur as we headed through some neat single track and forest
plantations. Then the switchbacks up towards Paul Cluver Wine Estate brought
about the odd enforced walk. After all, three days and 88km in total lay ahead.
A little game spotting in the lands behind Paul Cluver even had me ready to see
if a local Bontebok was going to make me the next Youtube sensation!

 

Just as the
finish tones came into earshot, Dr Evil 2, aka Race Director Nicola Collins,
swung us up one last climb above the race village, and while we may have been
bleak at the ‘detour,’ the reward was an amazing view of Houw Hoek and the
valley.

 

Stage 2: 31.8km, 1041m ascent

A 6:30am
bus trip over Sir Lowry’s Pass set the scene on what was to come; a return trip
over the Hottentots-Holland on plenty of single track. The early morning rays
of sun coming over the Hottentots underscored the beauty of False Bay as we
climbed ‘Magic Mountain.’ Finally we strode to the base of the historic Gamtouw
ox wagon pass, scarred by hundreds of Voortrekker wagons dragged over the mountain,
and my wife reminded us that if ‘tanie in her ou kappie’ could have crossed
this pass, then best we kept moving.

 

Once over the
pass, the trail opened up into some magnificent sandy single trail, an endless
roller-coaster with countless switchbacks. By the time we passed the final
water point, my show pony wife and I were making our way up through the field.
Perhaps it was the sweet smell of the Brandy on the brew at the finish at Oude
Molen in Grabouw. A prized run through the distillery past the fermentation
tanks to the welcoming finish line was the ultimate ending.

 

Stage 3: 24km, 750m ascent

The final
day started stiff and laboured. And that was just the trip to the Bokomo
Breakfast Zone! The media chopper kept us company as the sea of colourful
runners climbed from the beautiful blue gum-encapsulated Paul Cluver Amphitheatre,
through the fruit orchards towards Oak Valley. Throughout the field, dodgy
knees creaked, ITBs twanged and quads cramped as legs braked. Downhills were no
longer friends or reasons to let loose, and instead were approached one tender
stride at a time.

 

Doctor Evil
2 had described day three’s contours along the Groenlandberg as rolling hills.
Clearly dear Nicki has never been to the Free State… THOSE are rolling hills.
The Groenlandberg is where your ISUZU gets its best value out of low range
gearing! On the plus side we were enjoying another stunner of a day, and
another fynbos overload in the varied and visually inspiring terrain. Eventually,
a bittersweet loop round the finish fields, knowing that the 88km trail was
complete. Three just perfect running days with my perfect partner at a tough
but magical event.

 

Big thanks everyone
from Stillwater Sports & Entertainment, the inspiring group of
commentators, the medics and masseurs and of course the sponsors without whom
events of this nature don’t reach their heights of presentation. And special
thanks to Houw Hoek and the amazing catering teams. Job well done, you all!

Master Act

Alan’s BIG 40

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Comrades 2013 will be a very special, but also highly
emotional journey for running legend Alan Robb. Special as this will be his 40th
journey, and emotional, as he will be running it entirely in memory of his late
wife, Merle, who passed away a few days before last year’s race. “I am nervous
that something could go wrong, because I have 39 hassle-free years behind me,
and excited because it is a big milestone in my Comrades career. There will
certainly be a lot of sadness on the day, because Merle will not be there. She
was always on the finish line waiting for me. This year will really be in her
memory. I will probably be running with her wedding ring,” says Alan.

 

At the finish line a special group of family members
will await him: Alan’s daughter Staci, who ran with her dad last year, decided
to not run this year, but rather wait for her running hero at the finish line.
She will be joined by Alan’s mom as well as both Merle’s sisters, to welcome
him home as he joins the select group of runners who have achieved the
magnificent feat of finishing 40 Comrades Marathons. Currently just six runners
have done so, and this year three more, including Alan, look set to be added to
the list.

 

A LEGEND IS
BORN

Alan was a good swimmer at school, but discovered his
running genes and love of the sport when the headmaster made the whole school
run a cross-country race. “I won it and enjoyed it, so I continued running. It
was much better than swimming two hours a day just seeing the same black lines
at the bottom of the pool! Then in 1970 I bet my scoutmaster R10 that I could
run to Pretoria. I couldn’t walk for a few days, but I won the bet!”

 

It is hard to believe that this talented runner
“chickened out” of his very first race. “In June 1973 there was a 10-mile race
which I decided to run. There were about 50 runners and they all looked very
good, so I chickened out and went home!” Fortunately, Alan kept on running and
in the first race he ran, he won and set a course record. “I then joined
Germiston Callies Harriers (GCH) and here I am, 40 years later! When I first
ran Comrades we used to hero-worship the guys who had run 10 Comrades, so
running 40 was never in my mind. I certainly never thought I would still be
running now!”

 

He says that Merle was his biggest supporter, right
from his early running days. “Fortunately, she loved sport, otherwise I don’t
think I would have run for so long. She encouraged me, motivated me and came to
all the races to second me. She always said that Comrades day was my Christmas
day and that January to June belonged to me. The rest of the year was Merle’s.”

 

LIVING
LEGEND

In his typically humble, understated way, Alan says he
is not so sure about being called a living legend, but it’s nice to know that
some people still remember his performances. And great performance they were
indeed! Alan is the all-time leading Comrades gold medallist with 12 golds, and
has four Comrades wins under his belt. In 1978 he became the first person to
break the sub-5:30 barrier, winning in 5:29:14, and says this run was by far
his best and most memorable. “I trained really hard and was very fit. It was
one of those races when everything went perfectly and I felt so good at the end
that I could probably have turned around and run back! I ran the entire second
half by myself and won by 20 minutes. I sometimes wonder if I could have run
faster if there was someone to push me.”

 

Alan’s training used to include a lot of long runs,
speed work and hill training, but this year has seen none of that. “This year’s
mileage has been the least I have ever done. In fact, I have only run the
Ottosdal Marathon and Two Oceans!” Nevertheless, he says he will be giving the
‘Up Run’ a good go, although he believes he has never been a good hill runner
and doesn’t enjoy the Up as much. “There are no easy sections on the Up Run, as
you are climbing all the way from the start to the top of Inchanga. Then in
those last 30km you are getting tired and it’s hot, so you have to have a
strong head to get you to the finish. I have finished in about 8:30 for the
last three years and I think I can still run that time, but I am also thinking
of having a really social run this year. I’ll see how I feel on the day.”

 

Alan is well known for his support of Liverpool
Football Club and is often seen running with his red Liverpool cap and red
socks. “Red has always been my favourite colour. Like everybody else in the
60’s, I loved the Beatles and they were from Liverpool, so that’s how it
started. One race day in 1974 I couldn’t find my socks so I went into my dad’s
cupboard and saw these red socks. I wore them, everybody chirped about them, so
I’ve worn red socks ever since… but only at races. I cannot find red socks
anywhere these days. About five years ago I bought 15 pairs, so I hope they
last!”

 

FUTURE GOALS

Alan has completed four Dusi Canoe Marathons, but gave
it a break after he contracted hepatitis. “I will be back next year. It’s far
more exciting than pounding the roads and there are plenty of war stories,”
says Alan, who also enjoys trail running and mountain biking. He would like to
carry on running Comrades for as long as his body allows him, but says he just
takes it one year at a time these days. “I’m not getting any younger and maybe
I might get to 50 Comrades Marathons.”

 

This year Alan is back in the colours of his first
club, GCH, of which he was made an honorary life member in 1980. After leaving
the club in 1992, he kept in touch and decided to return this year. “It is
great being back and they presented me with a great new vest and T-shirt
specially printed with my 40 years of running.”

 

ADVICE FROM
A LEGEND

Alan advises all Comrades runners to run their own
race! “Don’t listen to anyone who hasn’t run the race. Remember, there are
plenty of 42km and 21km races during the year, but there is only one Comrades.”
He takes his best advice from a poem with the final two lines, which read as
follow: “Think that you can and you will. It’s all in the state of the mind.”

644 Kicks off in Style

Acting Athlete

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Better known these days as nice guy Daniel on the
soapie Isidingo, Stephen has
established himself as one of the country’s most recognised actors. Other
notable roles in recent years include playing the controversial abusive drug
addict (also Daniel) in Home Affairs
and Laurence in Snitch, on top of
past appearance in Egoli, Backstage and 7de Laan, and he was a featured extra in the Hollywood movie Femme Fatal starring Antonio Banderas.
He’s also displayed his singing skills in a stage production of Hair, and done Shakespeare, as well as other
shows, programmes, films and adverts. However, he says his path to acting was
not exactly normal. “I wanted to get into alternative medicine but failed my
interview – at that stage I wasn’t confident, so I decided to study drama to
boost my people skills.” That worked so well that Stephen became an actor
instead, even going on to perform the role of Victoria Beckham in a theatre
production called We Will Rock You
that toured South East Asia!

 

Apart from preparing for his diverse roles and
learning lines, Johannesburg-based Stephen (34) also manages the marketing side
of Anita Unique Body Wear, a women’s clothing range run by his father for the
past 14 years that covers everything from sport lingerie to swimwear. “I was
always interested in medicine and turned to medicated clothing, so it’s a
plus,” explains Stephen. “Our Anita stand was very popular at this year’s
Comrades Expo and I believe in the product – beauty starts with the right bra!”
(And you can just imagine the stir it causes when a well-known hunky soapie
star is on hand to help the ladies find the right fit for a sports bra…)

 

KEEPING ACTIVE

As a youngster, Stephen was an avid rugby player at
school and also participated in athletics and swimming. Today, he uses his free
time to keep fit by going running and mountain biking, but says he prefers
staying away from busy gyms. “Running is a way to catch up with a running
friend, a time to break away from work. It’s something I set time for and feel
I have to do,” says Stephen. “And when I ride, I usually go for two to three
hours about twice a week, and sometimes my wife Claire and daughter Hayley join
in.”

 

As a father, Stephen also uses play time with Hayley
to keep fit. “We go for walks together with the dogs and we had one of those
runner prams when she was younger.” He also says that he does crunches and
push-ups when she sits on his tummy. “She is my 10 to 15kg bench press or bicep
curl!” He also integrates a lot of his hobbies in his healthy lifestyle, like
bird-watching on walks, running and cycling on family getaways in the bush, and
getting active on holiday and on tour. “I never sit still. On tour, I go rock
climbing, scuba diving and river rafting and experience everything!” says
Stephen, who adds that movement on stage is another plus to keeping his fitness
levels up.

 

EAT YOUR VEGGIES!

With all the exercise Stephen does, nutrition plays an
important role in his busy schedule, and he always aims to maintain a healthy
routine, especially when away from South Africa. He says he likes to embrace
traditional food when on tour – for example, in Hong Kong he ate fresh cod that
was gutted and skinned in front of him at a food market. “When you’re busy it’s
easy to eat ‘road food,’ but I stay away and don’t do fast food at all. I always
try and take in a lot of veggies and eat healthy small portions. On tour with We Will Rock You, I managed to eat right
while others looked to takeaways. I took in cabbage and shaved beef, and took
in good nutrients.” Stephen and Claire also prioritise healthy family meals at
home like meat, fish and salads which they also give to Hayley. “You can’t tell
Hayley to eat her veggies without you doing it!”

 

While trying to balance an acting career, marketing a
clothing range, making public appearances and MCing events, on top of being a
husband and father, Stephen says that some days are hectically busy, so he
keeps a diary to schedule exercise in between business, performing and family
duties. “You can’t rely on ‘No Time’ as an excuse and substitute guilt for no
exercise. Everyone should make time to clear your head.”

Jacaranda City Blitz

Captain’s Run

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One of the most fearsome sights in world sport is a
fired up ‘quickie’ running in to bowl the first few deliveries of a
high-pressure cricket test match, putting everything he has into sending that
red missile screaming towards the opening batsman. And pretty much nobody wants
to be that opening batsman – it’s a job that few people can handle, either in
terms of cricketing ability or temperament, but one player who thrives on this
pressure is Graeme Smith, and he says physical fitness is another key element
in an opener’s arsenal, especially when you’re batting second and only have 10
minutes between running off the field and coming back out to start the innings…

 

“If you’ve been out in the field for 80 overs and need
to bat the last eight overs of the day, and the opposition is fresh and running
in at 150 kays an hour, you need to be able to move. If you’re stiff and tired
and sore, your body is not going to react at the speed it needs to, and without
fitness, you can’t bat for six or seven hours. Also, people often underestimate
that cricket is a summer sport and played in some of the hottest conditions
around the world, so we need a high level of fitness.”

 

SEND IN A RUNNER

For this reason, the Proteas cricketers do a lot of
running in training. Graeme says their long runs are up to 10 or 12km, but most
of the running is high explosive intervals, sprints and shuttles. “The unique
thing about cricket is that you stand for a period of time and then you need to
be able to move quickly, so it’s about building up the strength and endurance
in your legs, plus having that explosive power.” The players then complement
the running with cross-training, which Graeme says is all the more important as
he gets older. “With the amount of cricket we play these days, you have to
manage the impact on your body and joints. I’ve had a few surgeries, so
managing the impact on my joints is crucial. Therefore I spend a bit of time in
the pool and a lot of time on the bike, and do core and stability work.”

 

According to Graeme, running outside of cricket is
becoming increasingly popular amongst the country’s top players. “There’s quite
a big group of runners in the squad, plus our physio Brandon Jackson has done
24 Comrades, coach Gary Kirsten just did Two Oceans, and now that Mark Boucher has
had his unfortunate injury, I think he’s looking to run the Two Oceans, so
there’s a bit of a bug being created. I’ve started to enjoy running more,
especially here in Cape Town where we’re blessed with great trail running. I
also like running with Mark and a group of our mates, because it’s a great way
to exercise and spend a bit of time with them while clearing your head and
de-stressing.”

 

Having already run a few half marathons, Graeme adds
that he is thinking about joining a running club and doing more races in the
future, along with his Irish musician wife Morgan, who recently gave birth to
their daughter Cadence. “Morgan is actually a good runner, but road running is
a new experience for her, having all this sunshine here!” he laughs. “I’m quite
keen for us to get involved in a running club and go running together. My
parents have run two Comrades each and my Mom has done the Two Oceans five
times, so maybe it’s in my genes… but I’ll need some convincing to do the long
ones at the end of my career.”

 

THE BIG TON

To help Graeme celebrate his 100th test, his apparel
sponsor, adidas, took him to the Khayelitsha Cricket Club in Cape Town in mid-October
for a special coaching session with 100 young cricketers selected from local
schools, who then all received brand new cricket boots as part of the adidas ‘Refresh
Your Gear’ campaign. After the session, Graeme wished the youngsters luck with
their cricketing careers, and told them that they can get to the top of the
sport and enjoy a long career if they constantly work hard at all aspects of
their game. “I’m 31 now and still hopefully have a few good years left in me,
which is why I work so hard to stay fit. I really want to be part of the team
and create something special, and we still have a long way to getting there. As
long as I keep enjoying it, the body’s good, the mind’s fresh, and the family’s
happy, then I will carry on.”

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Girls Meets Boy…

The Mountain Goat

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It comes as no surprise that the people of Harrismith dubbed
Michael McDermott ‘The Mountain Goat’ and used to write supportive messages for
him along the route of the Harrismith Mountain Race, much like supporters do in
the Tour De France. Or that the race organisers would set him up in the hotel
room with the number that corresponded with the win he was going for. That’s
because Michael became a hugely popular and inspirational figure in the town
thanks to his 16-year winning streak in their annual race.

 

Michael’s love affair with Harrismith’s imposing
Platberg began in 1978, when he was just 13. “I was alone at home and ran 5km
to the Harrismith Harriers clubhouse because I wanted to run that day, but
no-one was there, so I ran back home. Then they called me up to ask where I was
and came to fetch me. So before the race, I already ran 10km,” says Michael,
who ran the race and finished 32nd. “Nobody
believed I had completed the race, though, because I was so small!” he laughs.

 

In 1980, he finished eighth and qualified for a gold
medal, but had to receive it unofficially, behind the tent, as he was still
below the minimum 16-year age limit for the race. A year later and now ‘legal,’
he finished fifth, and then in 1982 he posted the first of his 16 wins, a world
record that has only been equalled by Michael McLeod of England, and which only
came to an end due to a freak injury suffered when he was on his way to a 17th
straight win. Having built up a strong lead, Michael looked back to see if
anyone was chasing, stepped skew and tore ligaments in his ankle. “I managed to
finish the race in fifth, which was really disappointing, but on the other hand
it was a relief because there wasn’t that pressure to win after that.”

 

EARLY INSPIRATION

The running bug bit Michael at the age of 12 when he participated
in a 1 500m event at school and came stone last. “I remember telling my mom that
I would never come last again, and she said if I wanted to do that I would have
to train harder.” A month later he won the school’s next cross-country meet. “We
lived on the fringe of the town where I could step out and run on the
mountain,” says Michael, “there were ten hills, 100m long, and I used to scale
them in 15 minutes.”

 

Just a year down the road and Michael won several North
Natal cross-country events, grabbed fourth position in the Natal Champs, and then
did well in his age category at the SA Championships. In later years, he earned
Springbok colours in 1988 for cross-country, and was invited to run a number of international mountain running events in the
early 1990s. He shattered the course record of the Swiss Alpine Marathon in
1993 and won the race three times, along with second and fourth place finishes
in subsequent years. He also represented SA seven times in the World Mountain
Trophy, from 1993 to 1999, with a best placing of fifth in 1993 in France.

 

CALL OF THE MOUNTAINS

After Michael’s ankle injury in 1999 ended his streak,
he subsequently picked up knee problems and felt he had to tone the running
down, so he took up mountain biking and found a new outlet for his competitive
nature. “I enjoy mountain biking and am leading the veteran
category in the Nissan Trailseeker Mountain Bike Challenge and I am also
currently second on the USN Mountain Bike Cup for veterans. The change to cycling has been great and I’ve become hooked. I feel like
I’ve always had a competitive edge, in running, cycling, running my business –
I try and do my best.” He adds that one of his great pleasures in
life is to share mountain rides with his wife Marietjie and his kids Marilyn
(16) and Leonard (7).

 

Today, Michael lives with his family in Pretoria and
owns and manages two Wimpy franchises in Balfour Park and Killarney. Looking
back on his Harrismith streak, Michael says that “Every year had its
own challenges, from blistering heat to rain and mud, gale force winds, icy
cold, thunder storms, even snow. Many top athletes tried to take first place
from me, and the pressure was always there – I even ran the race when I was
sick as a dog with flu, not a good start for such a tough race! It’s a race
that will stay in my heart forever.”