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The Brew for You

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There’s nothing better than a soothing cup of herbal tea on a cold winter’s day, but besides being a tasty, warm, caffeine-free pick-me-up, herbal teas provide many health benefits. These herbal infusions are packed with powerful curative properties, aiding indigestion and relaxation. – BY SALOME SCHOLTZ, REGISTERED DIETICIAN

There are so many wonderful herbal teas on the market, so when it comes to choosing one, it’s important to look for a well-sourced product made from high-quality natural ingredients and which does not contain any added essential oils or flavours! Here are a few of the most common herbal teas which can all be found in your local supermarket, and their benefits.

Rooibos: Probably the most famous herbal tea in South Africa, it is high in vitamin C as well as other minerals. An easy drinking tea, it’s largely grown locally and has been touted for its antioxidant properties, which help ward off disease and signs of ageing. It has also been shown to help with common skin concerns, such as eczema.

Peppermint: This tea is recommended to relieve the symptoms of abdominal gas and bloating, and to relieve muscle spasms. It’s also good for nausea. However, if indigestion or heartburn are problems, it is recommended to avoid peppermint altogether. It can be made using fresh herbs from the garden, and it is one of the easiest herbs to grow. Peppermint is also said to cure bad breath!

Ginger: Another great digestive aid, ginger can be used to curb nausea, vomiting or motion sickness. Make fresh ginger tea by simmering a piece of ginger root on the stove for 10 to 15 minutes. Add fresh lemon juice and honey when you have a cold for a powerful germ-fighting combination. Ginger tea is also excellent for improving circulation, and is one of the best herbs for improving digestion, lung congestion and arthritis.

Chamomile: Used widely for stomach ailments and as a mild sedative, chamomile tea has also been shown to ease heartburn, nausea, and vomiting. A mouth rinse with chamomile may relieve mouth sores caused by cancer treatments, and some research suggests that chamomile could help with other conditions such as diarrhoea in children, haemorrhoids, anxiety and insomnia. When used on the skin, chamomile helps with skin irritation and wound healing.

BREW THE PERFECT CUP
When you are making your herbal tea, use fresh, cold water. Do not use aluminium cookware, as it can affect the taste – rather use glass, cast iron or stainless steel. A tea strainer is very helpful, as it lets you create your own blends of teas or herbs, and stops the leaves and flowers from escaping into the drink. Once the water has boiled, add one heaped teaspoon of herbs for every cup of water. Cover and let the herbs steep for ten minutes. Do not over-steep the herbs, as the flavour may become too strong and taste more medicinal than pleasant. If you want to enhance or sweeten the flavour of your tea, add honey or lemon.

About the Author
Salome is a registered dietician based in the Johannesburg area.

Conquering the States

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At the end of June, ultra trail runner Ryan Sandes added yet another prestigious win to his already impressive record when he won the Western States 100 Miler in California in the USA, but he had to overcome extreme racing conditions before he could finally claim the win he has been chasing since 2012. – BY SEAN FALCONER

Been there, won it… that’s pretty much how one can sum up 34-year-old Ryan Sandes’ ultra-distance trail running career. He burst onto the world stage in 2008 as he won both the Sahara and Gobi March events, two of the four races that make up the 4 Deserts Challenge. The following year he finished second in RacingThePlanet Namibia, then won the Jungle Ultra Marathon in Brazil, and then in 2010 he added the Atacama Desert and Antarctica events to not only join a very small group to have ever done all four of the big desert races, but become the only runner to have won all four of these gruelling 250km, six- to seven-day events.

More titles followed in the next few years. In 2011 he won the Leadville 100 Miler in the USA, in 2012 the North Face 100 Miler in Australia, and in 2014 he won the North Face TransGranCanaria on the Canary Islands, a race that forms part of the prestigious Ultra Trail World Series Tour, which he now competes on each year. But there was one win he still wanted, in a race that he had come to obsess about, the Western States 100 Miler in the USA. “It’s just an iconic event, the original 100-mile trail race, and has a lot of history,” explains Ryan. “The legends of the sport have run it and won it, including Scott Jurek, Kilian Jornet and others. But for me, what makes the race so cool is the community that gets behind the race. Well over 2000 volunteers work on a race that only takes around 350 entries each year!”

“I finished second there in my debut in 2012, with a super fast time that also broke the course record, but then in 2013 I injured my ankle six weeks before the race and couldn’t run. In 2014 I was fifth, but after too much racing that year I was overcooked. In 2015 I got sick the Thursday night before the race and woke up dizzy and nauseous. I still tried to register, but almost collapsed, so I stumbled back to the hotel and missed the race. Then in 2016 I didn’t go, so I wanted to go back in 2017 and finally put it to bed.”

BRUTAL RACING CONDITIONS
Well, that’s exactly what he did. Overcoming brutal running conditions, he maintained a steady pace throughout to eventually take the lead in the second half of the race, and went on to claim the win in 16 hours 19 minutes 39 seconds, but he admits it was one of the toughest years ever for this race. “After a really huge winter, there was loads of snow still on the mountains, and they even had a ‘plan B’ to avoid the snow, but they announced two days before the race that we would use the original route. The first 30km were all snow, which took up to 20% more energy than normal to get through and made it slow-going to start off, so we were already on the back foot by the time we got to the lower altitude – and then we were whacked by one of the hottest years ever. At times we hit hot pockets of air for about 2km that made you feel almost like you couldn’t breathe. A lot of the race came down to managing the heat and keeping cool.”

Pre-race, the American Jim Walmsley talked about going after the course record, saying he thought he could become the first runner to break 14 hours, and in spite of the snow, he went for it, but Ryan bided his time. “Jim went out really hard and gave it a full go, but speaking to him afterwards, it was cool that he didn’t make any excuses – he said he burnt all his matches and set himself alight. I was lying second most of the race, and at the back of my mind I thought Jim might come unstuck, so I tried to stay within reach. At Forest Hill, around 100km in, I think the gap was around 45 minutes, but I got feedback that he wasn’t looking good.”

“I passed him around the 120km mark, just before the Rucky-Chucky River crossing. He was walking and looked pretty broken, and I knew I had it if I just kept going. When I crossed that line, I was just elated. This win brought me huge satisfaction, because it had become my biggest ‘Bucket List’ event. I won’t lie, I don’t think I have ever been so shattered at a race finish, but at the same time so elated, because I had waited a long time for that win. It was a dream come true.”

FINALLY FEELING RIGHT AGAIN
What made the win still sweeter for Ryan was that he finally felt like he had gotten over two years of struggling with illness and loss of form, which he attributes to his exploits in 2014. “That was a really big year for me. I won the TransGranCanaria, the first race in the Ultra World Trail Tour, which encouraged me to over-race to maximise the points. I eventually finished second overall in the Tour and probably did way too much racing that year, having also done the Drakensberg Traverse record run. It caught up with me when I contracted glandular fever at the beginning of 2015, and that whole year was a write-off. I still did some races, but was always on the back foot.”

“Looking back now, that was my toughest year, not knowing if I could get over it, and at the end of 2015 I took two months off. Then I decided to go back to my core reason for running, to enjoy it. Some days I would head out, and if I was not enjoying the run after 10 minutes, I would just turn around and head home again. Luckily I worked through that, and in 2016 I had consistent results, but nothing big – fourth place at Grand Raid Reunion, third at Tarawera Ultra in New Zealand, fourth at Ultra Trail Australia. All were part of the World Ultra Trail Tour, and I ended up fourth overall in the Tour, so I was fairly happy with my season, but still disappointed, because I knew I could do better. This year, I haven’t raced as much, because I wanted to focus on Western States. It’s risky to focus on one race – if something goes wrong, all your eggs are in one basket – but I realised that you need to focus for races like this.”

BACK TO THE BUCKET LIST
Looking ahead, the big question now for Ryan is what to focus on next. “I have other races coming up on the World Tour, but Western States was that one race I really dreamed of winning; the other is Ultra Trail Mont Blanc in France. So part of me wants to go back to Western States next year to defend my title, but another part says I’ve ticked that off, so rather go to UTMB. In 2015 I dropped out at UTMB because of the effects of the glandular fever – my legs were nowhere after just 40km – and I went back in 2016 but had stomach issues and dropped out again. So I haven’t decided yet… still plenty of time.”

Never Say Never

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I believe that you should never let anybody tell you that “you will never do this again,” because if you really want it, you can do it. – BY SU-YEN THORNHILL

For the last 10 years I haven’t had an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). For those who don’t know what it is, it’s basically an essential bit of the knee that holds it in place, and most medical professionals will say that without reconstruction you are looking at a permanent disability, arthritis, pain and muscle deterioration. About 20 years ago I fell down some stairs and went over my knee. As you well know, that joint only bends one way, so you can imagine the agony when I flipped it. I had already ruptured the ACL in a lacrosse injury a few months prior and thereafter my knee would literally buckle and leave me in agony. I had the reconstruction and it was good for 10 years before I tore it again playing netball.

It was then that I moved to South Africa and was introduced to the multitude of outdoor sports available here, including trail running and triathlons. I set my sight on an Ironman and began my journey into the world of endurance training. I was 36 years old, and at first my knee was okay, but on my first 21km run, I overenthusiastically dashed towards the finish and sprinted on tired legs. There weren’t any obvious signs of distress to begin with, but the following day, while I was walking in the supermarket, my knee suddenly felt extremely stiff and within minutes it was swollen to five times its normal size.

LASTING EFFECT
I didn’t give it much thought, as over the years I’ve learned to live with it being a bit temperamental, but after three days of it remaining swollen, and with the Argus Cycle Tour looming in 10 days, I decided to seek advice. After an MRI at the Rosebank Sports Clinic, I was told the only way I could continue training was to undergo a second ACL reconstruction, with up to 18 months rehab, or I would never compete in anything again. I was given a dose of cortisone which reduced the swelling and was told to book in for surgery. I rode the Argus.

From there, I went on to complete my first Ironman, following a number of shorter distance races, got into trail running and to date have completed over 200 races, ranging from open water swims, trail, road, bike and triathlons. I might be pig-headed, but I refused to believe surgery was the only route to recovery. I worked with my personal trainer to strengthen all the muscles around the knee in order to keep it stable, and while there have been a few hiccups along the way, I haven’t allowed it to define me and keep me back. In the last couple of years, I also qualified as a yoga instructor and the improved core strength has also kept me racing.

SHOULD BE FASTER…
From time to time the knee still swells up, but rest, ice and respecting my body has kept me going, although recently, I’ve scaled back my racing as my business has taken off and I don’t have as much time to train. Having podiumed a few times and usually been near the top end of the finishers’ table, I thought I would find it difficult to take things easy. But I did… so easy, in fact, that I’m now often seen walking trail races!

It has been an incredible journey from racing snake to being just another person in the crowd. I had to contend with the ‘judgey’ voice in my own head that told me to push harder, to think about the expectation of those knowing you are in the race and were once a medal contender. Would I be teased from hero to zero? And do you know what? You get just as much of a cheer from the crowds coming last as you do first. You can admire the view and take in your surroundings. You make friends along the way and you are still out there enjoying yourself.

I still like to compete if I’m fit and strong, but I also want to be moving for the rest of my life, and if I have learned anything these past few years, it’s that life is movement… and never let anybody tell you otherwise. Whatever your age, you can still get out there and walk.

About the Author
Su-yen is a Johannesburg-based life coach, medical microbiologist and self-taught chef, as well as an ultra trail runner and Ironman triathlete. She teaches vinyasa yoga and brings to her practice all her life experiences to create an uplifting, soul-enhancing yoga experience. She will also take on any challenge, as she doesn’t understand the word ‘no.’

Keeper of the History

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The current generation of South African track and field athletes is setting the world stage alight, but South African athletics has actually been blessed with many great athletes and achievements throughout its history. This includes gold medallists in the early Olympic Games of the 20th century, and various World Records or Bests by ‘greats’ that have long since disappeared into the realms of time, but thanks to Dewald Steyn, their legacy lives on. – BY SEAN FALCONER

Dewald’s detailed five-volume History of South African Cross-Country, Middle and Long-Distance Running and Walking, covers the full spectrum of the sport from 1894 to 2014, featuring an absolute treasure trove of stories, results, stats and photographs. The well-known athletics author says the project was born in 2013 when he realised that it would be a tragedy if the history of SA’s cross-country and distance running was lost to the current and future generations. “I knew that the only way was to actively engage in research and document it,” says the 74-year-old author and statistician.

“It is really important to preserve the history of our sport, because there are current athletes who don’t even know who legends like Fanie van Zyl or De Villiers Lamprecht are. Van Zyl was almost unbeatable in his time, was an amazing strategist and one of the best middle-distance athletes this country has ever seen.”

Furthermore, he decided to do more than just consult the available records and statistics in publications and media archives, but also to speak to as many of the living legends of South African athletics as he could, to get the best stories and photos. “It took four years to complete this set of volumes and a lot of research was put into this. I also spoke to a vast number of athletes, and this opened up a whole new world of information. Most of them had scrapbooks and memorabilia documenting their individual achievements, and those not only served as a wonderful source of information, but also led to further interviews and interesting anecdotes, all of which have been captured in the books. Some of the athletes also generously donated their scrapbooks to be preserved, and I’m still looking for the right place to house these valuable documents.”

Passion for Athletics
Born in 1943 in Sabie, Dewald later studied botany at the universities of Potchefstroom and Pretoria, and his career included posts as a teacher, researcher, lecturer and even Deputy Director at Department of Water Affairs. However, his unquenchable passion for athletics is what defines him. That was born out of being inspired by a speech in Potchefstroom in April 1964 by coach Arthur Lydiard, who was touring South Africa with Olympic gold medallist Peter Snell of New Zealand.

“The very next day after hearing the great man speak, I resigned as secretary of the Potchefstroom University Rugby Club and first team scrumhalf to become a long distance athlete,” he recalls. It didn’t take long for him to make his mark: In 1966 he finished second to De Villiers Lamprecht, South Africa’s first sub-four minute miler, at the South African Universities Cross-Country Championships, and he went on to represent South Africa in cross country against Rhodesia in 1967.

Dewald may also hold the record of the athlete that has represented the most provinces during his long career: He received provincial colours from no less than five provinces, namely Western Transvaal (1964-1966), Border (1967), Southern Transvaal (1968), Orange Free State (1969-1971) and Northern Transvaal (1972-1988), in track and field, cross country and road running. He also earned national colours by being selected for various South African Universities teams, competed in more than 70 South African Championship races, and won the Hardy Ballington Trophy as the first novice to finish the Comrades Marathon in 1975, when he finished 16th in 6:26. He went on to run the Comrades 10 times and earn Green Number 1940, with a best time of 6:25.

Early in his running career, Dewald also became involved in the administrative side of the sport. He served as a provincial secretary, later as a selector and race referee, and excelled as organiser of big meetings, including putting on both the South African Cross-Country Championships and the South African University Cross-Country Championships in 1966. Later he went on to serve 11 years as race organiser of what was then the biggest standard marathon in SA, the Hyper-to-Hyper Marathon in Pretoria, as well as other events. He also managed the distribution of the SA Athlete monthly magazine of the former SAAAU national body from 1973 to 1978.

Helping Hand
Besides his own athletic achievement, Dewald is best known for assisting many athletes from SA and neighbouring countries with coaching, management, bursaries, jobs, accommodation, transport, entries and gear, and many of his athletes went on to win prestigious races or titles, and represent their countries on the world stage, including the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships. “I think some of my favourite moments as a coach and manager was watching Mike Fokoroni of Zimbabwe finishing 11th at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Marathon, and then Namibian Helalia Johannes finishing 12th at the 2012 London Olympic Marathon. Those were really proud days for me.”

He has also sent athletes to 23 different countries in Africa, Europe and Asia, and they have come back with more than 20 international marathon titles. “One of the really unique trips we do is to North Korea. I am the only South African manager who can take athletes to the Pyongyang Marathon, and we’ve been going there for more than 10 years now.

On home soil, his coaching groups have produced more than 50 winners in prestigious races such as the Comrades, Two Oceans, Loskop and Om Die Dam ultras as well as the Soweto, Cape Town and Johannesburg marathons. To make all this possible, he built a room in his own backyard to supply overnight facilities for black athletes from outside Pretoria, obtained and drove a sponsored mini-bus to transport these runners to many races, secured jobs for many of them when their competitive days were behind them, and often paid for the athletes out of his own pocket. Deservedly, Dewald was awarded the Reggie Walker Merit Award by ASA for special services to athletics.

Getting back to Dewald’s incredible books, perhaps the best way of summing up the vastness of the project is best left to Professor Pieter Labuschagne, who not only features in the books as a former great, but is also most famous for having coached Zola Budd and Elana Meyer: “The construction of the various volumes was indeed a mammoth task with the information scattered over the entire country, stored or contained in private collections and much of it dumped in cardboard boxes. But if you need a man with the doggedness of a committed private investigator to achieve this, Dewald is your man. In putting together this collection of information, he has once again made a major contribution to athletics in South Africa.”

Get the Books
Dewald’s book is available on order for R1380 for the entire set of five volumes plus index, or individual volumes can also be ordered. For enquiries or orders, contact [email protected] or 082 442 1860.

Speed Coach

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As one of the leading athletics coaches in South Africa, Hennie Kriel is one of the main contributors to the current resurgence in South African sprinting. – BY REGGIE HUFKIE

After years of South African sprinting not quite living up to the potential this country boasts – for example, the men’s 100m record was ‘stuck’ at 10.06 seconds for 26 years – the last few years have seen an incredible surge in faster time. That includes SA now having five men who have dipped under 10 seconds and a current SA record of 9.89, with several more athletes knocking on the door of long-standing SA records. And one of the leading players in this resurgence of sprinting is Hennie Kriel, Head Coach at the Tuks High Performance Institute in Pretoria.

Working alongside assistant coaches Chris Conradie and Thabo Matibedi, they employ an integrated training philosophy called the Grigora System – Grigora is Greek for Quick – and this programme has already seen them deliver nine new South African records in various age categories and across the various sprinting distances. In 2014, then ‘Grigorians’ Henricho Bruintjies and Ncinci Titi combined with Simon Magakwe and Akani Simbine to clock a new SA men’s 4x100m relay record of 38.35. The following year, Gift Leotlela set new SA 100m and 200m under-18 records, Henricho became only the second South African sprinter to dip under the magical 10-second barrier, and Taylon Bieldt set a new SA under-18 record for the 100m hurdles.

In 2016 Taylon added a new SA Record in the under-20 100m hurdles, and in 2017, the 100m, 200m and 300m under-20 records fell to Clarence Munyai and Gift, while 16-year-old Sokwakhana Zazini set a new World Best in the boys under-18 400m hurdles. However, typically humble at all times, Hennie is quick to give others credit for the incredible run of records. “It is very important to note that I am not solely responsible for the performances of the athletes. Chris Conradie and Thabo Matibedi play important roles. And I only mentioned athletes who improved records whilst in the system,” he says.

CALL TO COACHING
Boasting 31 years of top flight sprint coaching, Hennie originally hails from Jan Kempdorp in the Northern Cape. He was a talented sprinter in his younger days, winning a silver medal at the South African Youth Athletics Championships in the boys’ under-18 200m. After school he joined the police force for four years, then attended the Pretoria Teachers’ Training College, studying to become a math teacher. However, he admits that coaching was his first love. “I grew up doing all kinds of sports and it was a natural progression to start coaching when I stopped competitive sport myself, so I became a teacher because I wanted to coach sport.”

Once he had completed his studies, Hennie began coaching track and field sprinters, and with a keen interest in speed, he found himself digging deeper into research and training methods. A big believer in the human body’s physical ability coupled with the power of the mind, Hennie was convinced that South African sprinters could do better if they got their mindset right. “A lack of belief in the ability of our athletes, or rather a lack of belief that a sub-10-second 100m could be run without the use of performance enhancing drugs, was keeping South Africans from going under 10 seconds. Also, outdated training methods showed a lack of understanding how to develop speed levels to achieve those times.”

His career has included coaching Myrtle Bothma, whose long-standing SA women’s 400m hurdles record has stood since 1986, and his success with sprinters caught the eye of the Blue Bulls Rugby Franchise, who brought him on board as a speed coach. That saw him play an instrumental role during the Blue Bulls’ highly successful years from 2000 to 2005, alongside eventual Springbok Coach Heynecke Meyer.

THE BEST IN SA
Today Hennie and his team of coaches look after a group of more than 80 athletes, ranging from the best youth sprinters in the country to established senior stars such as LJ van Zyl and Wenda Nel, and he says he is kept busy by the job. “Most days I am with the athletes at the gym between 6:30am and 9am, attend meetings until around 10am, and then I have a late breakfast and catch up on admin. I fit in interviews and other commitments before I make my way to the track at 2:30 to start preparing for the afternoon session that starts at 3pm and normally finishes around 6:30 for 7pm,” he says.

Looking ahead, the 2017 calendar includes the IAAF World Youth Championships and IAAF World Championships taking place in July and August respectively, and Hennie is hard at work to prepare his athletes for these meets – and hopefully bring home still more medals and records. “South African sport has been kept hidden from the world and it is my duty to contribute to not only show the world, but also our own people, and especially those responsible to administer and grow our sport, what can be achieved by straight-forward hard, honest and intelligent work.”

Making My Heart Sing

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“What makes your heart sing?” That is a line I read in a book, and it made me ask myself many questions. Have you ever wanted to do something completely out of your comfort zone? Ever had the urge to try something new? Have you ever been motivated by someone else doing something spectacular? And have you then done any of those things? Over the last few years I answered yes to all of those questions. – BY CARLA FARINA

We grow up in an environment where we are constantly told who we should be and what we should do. We are very often placed into boxes and the second we deviate from those boxes, we are seen as breaking the rules. I am a tennis player. I am a tennis coach. I am fast, agile, light on my feet, and good at ball sports. Growing up I was told to stick to ball sports, not to do endurance anything. “You are not built for long distance,” they said. Meanwhile, I was in the first teams and got colours for all my respective ball sports, and to this day I’m a high-performance tennis player and coach competing at a relatively high level. These sports always came naturally to me. The training was easy and I enjoyed it.

I was 25 years old when I decided I was going to do my first Half Ironman. It was something that I’d had in the back of my head for years, but it took me another year before I bit the bullet and entered. I was signed up for the Durban 70.3, and suddenly the reality hit: I had no idea whatsoever about Ironman or the training involved. It was something so completely different to anything I had done before.

Suddenly I found myself waking up at 4:30am to be in the pool by 5am, and doing hours of riding in the Cradle, and learning to run long distances. Although it was an incredible challenge, I was really enjoying the process – I was completely out of my comfort zone and found myself challenged in ways I never thought possible, but it was a challenge. And oh how I do love challenges.

Plans Derailed
All of a sudden I was a week away from my first ever Half Ironman, and then disaster – I was put on crutches for a dislocated knee! The doctors said I was not going to be able to race. They even told me, yet again, to stop endurance sport… but I would have none of it. I went down to Durban anyway to support my best friend, who was also doing the race, and at registration I politely asked whether I could maybe just do the swim. (I am, as I have been told, completely bonkers, after all). I was told a firm no, and at race briefing I was even given a special mention: “Please note, the girl on crutches may not do the swim!”

With hindsight, I am quite glad I didn’t do that swim, because it looked horrifying. Instead, I had a wonderful holiday in Durban with friends, and the second entries opened for the following year’s Durban 70.3, I sent in my entry. Training commenced and this time around I focused far more on strengthening my legs and being injury-free. I was going to do the 70.3 come hell or high water! I also picked up a speed trainer to ensure my tennis didn’t go out the window…

A few months down the line I entered the 94.7 Cycle Tour as a training race, and again, disaster: 30km into the race I fell off my bike and broke my scaphoid in my wrist! What did I do? Obviously, I got back on my bike, carried on and finished the race, then did a 1km swim event, and only after that I was put into plaster for 12 weeks… which did neither my training nor my bonkers, adventurous personality any good. I just carried on with what I could, including some running in the Eastern Cape and loads of spinning classes. Then in June 2016 I did it, I completed my first Half Iron. I was so proud of what I had overcome, and what it had taken to get there… but now it was done… and I needed a new, exciting challenge.

In the Deep End
Trail running. I wanted to do trail running. So what did I do? No, I didn’t enter a little starter 10km, I entered the Three Cranes Challenge in February this year, a three-day stage trail run with the daily distances of 28km, 41km and 22km! And why did I enter that? Because I needed accommodation for a wedding in that area on the middle day of the race! Crazy, I know, but that was the weekend I got bitten by the trail running bug.

The weekend was amazing. On the Saturday I did 63,000 steps as I completed 41km, then went to a wedding, had two hours of sleep, and ran the next day. Added to that, the final day was cold, wet and miserable, and my knee was in excruciating pain, but was I going to quit? No! Was I going to bail on the last day? Absolutely not. I just walked day three. I was slow, I was sore, I was grumpy, and I looked as though I had run the entire way on my face, but I finished. And I recovered.

The point is that had I listened to everyone telling me what I couldn’t do, I would never had experienced these things. I would never have learnt what it’s like to cross the finish line of an Ironman, I would never have known how much I love trail running, and I would never have known what I was really capable of. The point is that if you want something in this world, it’s up to you to go and get it. No-one can stop you, just as no-one can do it for you. You have to make it happen, and while you’re doing it, you may as well “go big or go home.”

Life Lesson Learnt
I am still looking forward to many more exciting adventures out there, and making friends along the way. I often sit back and think of what I would have missed out on had I not followed my heart and done all of these exciting things. Sure, it comes with ups and downs, and the road is never smooth, but you have to trust that the highs will outweigh the lows.

I’ve had my fair share of highs and lows over the past two years: I was on crutches three times, I had a broken arm, I had fallings out with friends, I had family troubles, I faced huge obstacles at work and I had financial instability, but on the other hand I had adventure, I learnt new skills, I learnt about myself, I learnt to appreciate those who love and support me unconditionally, and I learnt that you can do anything if you put your whole heart into it.

So what makes my heart sing? Tennis is my first love, but I am so much more than that. I love adventure, challenges, being active and pushing my boundaries, and I will continue to do these things, whether people think I can or not, because at the end of the day we have to find the things we love and we have to do them. So who knows what else lies out there for me. Maybe I’ll see you all at the Dusi…

New DARE TO TRI Season Up and Running

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The Modern Athlete DARE TO TRI Academy has had six very successful years since we started with our initial coaching project that took 10 novices to compete at the 70.3 Ironman South Africa in 2012. Now the 2017/2018 DARE TO TRI Programme kicked off on 10 July, so sign up today and let us help you reach your triathlon goals.

This training programme has transformed many everyday athletes and even self-confessed ‘couch potatoes’ into triathletes that have not only finished their first ever Standard Olympic distance triathlon, but then gone on to cross the finish line at Ironman 70.3 as well as the Ironman African Champs in PE.

The success of DARE TO TRI (DTT) is that it is an affordable, manageable and sustainable training programme that fits in with your family, work and social commitments. The programme is designed to take complete novices to the ultimate triathlon finish of an Ironman event, and this is done with a carefully planned gradual increase in training over the triathlon season. DTT specialises in training novices, and this past year we also took visually-impaired triathlete Helen Webb to her first ever triathlon finish at BelaBela, and seven months later she finished Ironman African Champs in PE, where we had nine novices amongst our 12 finishers.

This year’s programme will work toward these main goal events (but we will also plan to do other events on the calendar, including some of the shorter sprint triathlons):
• 12 August 2017: 5150 BelaBela – 1.5km swim/40km bike/10km run
• 24 September 2017: MiWay Cape Ultra – 1.9km swim/90km bike/21km run
• 26 November 2017: MiWay Midlands Ultra – 1.9km swim/90km bike/21km run
• 28 January 2018: 70.3 East London – 1.9km swim/90km bike/21km run
• 15 April 2018: Ironman South Africa – 3.8km swim/180km bike/42km run

Tried and Trusted Programme
Each week (usually Mondays) all members receive an e-mail detailing the week’s recommended training as well as the month ahead. The programme will have two training plans – one for novices and one for those who have already completed a Half Iron triathlon and are looking to improve their times. Weekday training is done by yourselves, or with friends, a training group or your clubmates, and then weekend coached sessions will be presented by DTT Coach Derick Marcisz, and all athletes are encouraged to come along and train with the Group. (Specifically structured training is available if you require it, and is especially recommended if you need a beginner’s programme for one of the sports.)

The weekend coached training sessions will be as follows:
• RUN training will be on Saturday mornings from Jeppe Quondam.
• SWIM training will be on Saturday afternoons, starting with indoor pool sessions at Virgin Active Bedfordview, and then we will start open water swims in September as the weather warms up again.
• BIKE training will be on Sunday mornings, either out in the Cradle or in the South of Joburg.

The DTT Academy will also host the following specialised workshops:
• SWIM WORKSHOPS (one indoors and one outdoors) – focussing on swim technique and open water swimming.
• BIKE WORKSHOP – basic bike maintenance.
• BIKE/RUN WORKSHOP – learn how to transition from bike to run.

Still the Most Affordable Option!
The good news is that we have once again kept the costs down, and for just R1500 you will receive coaching and be able to join coached weekend group training from 11 July 2017 till Ironman PE on 15 April 2018. You cannot get this level of coaching for this period (nine months) at this cost anywhere else, so go to https://daretotri.canbook.me/dtt-2017 and follow the prompts to register.

Meet The Coach: Derick Marcisz
The Modern Athlete DARE TO TRI Coach is 62 years old and can look back on 47 years as a runner, cyclist and triathlete – and he is still an active athlete. Derick has a marathon PB of 2:17:17, a sixth place finish at the Old Mutual Two Oceans 56km Ultra-marathon, and a top 20 finish in the Cape Town Cycle Tour. He has been involved in triathlon since 2000 and has competed in more than 120 triathlon and duathlons, at all distances from sprint to Ironman. Derick has represented the South African Age Group Team at five World Triathlon/Duathlon Championships. He is a qualified TSA triathlon coach and has been involved in coaching athletes for more than 20 years.

Race Calendar August 2017

Modern AthleteRacingLeave a Comment on Race Calendar August 2017

South African athletes are blessed with a packed race calendar, with so many choices of great events to participate in, so check out these events for the coming month, including road and trail runs as well as other running disciplines! – BY TOM COTTRELL AND SEAN FALCONER


GAUTENG

CENTRAL GAUTENG
Wednesday 2 August
Kinetic Night Trail Run 8km & 4km, Bryanston Country Club, Johannesburg, 7:30pm & 7:40pm, Heidi Muller 082 564 6468
Friday 4 August
Serengeti Night 15km, 10km & 5km, Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate, Kempton Park, 7pm, Shane Gouldie 082 332 9552
Sunday 6 August
Old Edwardian Half-Marathon, 10km & 5km, Virgin Active Old Ed’s Club, cnr 4th Street & 11th Avenue, Lower Houghton, 8am, Race Organiser 011 728 7335 (W)
Wednesday 9 August
Totalsports Ladies’ Race Johannesburg 10km & 5km, Mary Fitzgerald Square, Newtown, 8am, Stillwater Sports 082 911 0445
Ubuhle 3-in-1 10km & 1.6km, Sam Ntuli Stadium, Matsemela Street, Thokoza, Johannesburg South, 8am, Race Organiser 072 464 0041
K-Way Ladies Night 15km, 10km & 5km, Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate, Kempton Park, 7pm, Shane Gouldie 082 332 9552
Saturday 12 August
Jeppe Annual 5km Fun Run & Market, Jeppe High School for Girls, Roberts Avenue, Kensington, 8am, Sara Schroder 011 616 5090 (W)
Sunday 13 August
Slow Mag Pirates 10km & 5km, Pirates Club, Braeside Road, Greenside, 8am, Hennie Booysen 082 801 0924
Zoo Trot August 10km, Centenary Lawn, Johannesburg Zoo, Upper Park Drive, 7am, Lebogang Mathope 011 712 6817 (w)
Thursday 17 August
Ruimsig Trail Run August 10km & 5km, Ruimsig Country Club, Hole in One Avenue, Ruimsig, 7pm, Race Organiser 011 958 1905 (w)
Saturday 19 August
Clearwater 10km & 5km, Clearwater Mall, cnr Hendrick Potgieter Drive & Christiaan de Wet Road, Strubens Valley, Roodepoort, 7am, Andrew Young 083 236 9275
Sunday 20 August
Arthro Choice Half Marathon, 10km & 5km, Inanda Country Base, Rose Road, Knopjeslaagte, Midrand, 7am, Marietjie Airey 082 801 5666
Saturday 26 August
Merrell Spring Run Johannesburg 20km, 12km & 6km, Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens, Roodepoort, 7:30am, Tatum Prins 083 449 0760
Sunday 27 August
Wanderers Aucor Property Half Marathon, 10km & 5km, The Wanderers Club, 21 North Street, Illovo, 7am, Dylan Burgess 063 389 0681
Wednesday 30 August
Merrell Spring Night Run Powered by Black Diamond 8km & 5km, Delta Café, Marlborough Avenue, Randburg, 6:30pm, Tatum Prins 083 449 0760
Thursday 25 August
Brooks Dark Dead Night Trail Run August 8km & 4km, Glenvista Country Club, Vorster Avenue, Johannesburg South, 7pm, Clive Chowles 082 322 5620

GAUTENG NORTH
Wednesday 2 August
Jackal Night Trail Run 10km & 5km, Copperleaf Country Club, Ernie Els Boulevard, Centurion, 7pm, Shane Gouldie 082 332 9552
Saturday 5 August
BiGen Africa Charity 10km & 5km Fun Run, The Innovation Hub, 1 Mark Shuttleworth Street, Lynnwood, Pretoria, 9am, Shane Gouldie 082 332 9552
SPAR Women's 10km & 5km – Centurion, SuperSport Park, cnr South & West Streets, Centurion, 2pm, Race Organiser 011 203 5300 (w)
GEM Trail Series #4 CANCELLED
Wednesday 9 August
Castle Walk Shopping Centre Women’s 10km & 5km, Castle Walk Shopping Centre, cnr Nossob Street & Louis Avenue, Erasmuskloof, Pretoria, 6:45am, Liesel van Zyl 079 869 5030
Thursday 10 August
Tortoise & Hare Night Trail Run 8km & 5km, Big Red Barn, Nelson Road, Olifantsfontein, 7pm, Shane Gouldie 082 332 9552
Saturday 12 August
Clicks Wierie Half-Marathon, 10km & 5km, Laerskool Wierdapark, Centurion, 6:30am, Kierie van der Schyff 082 804 4803
AGN Cross Country League #2, LC de Villiers, Univeristy of Pretoria, Time TBC, Michael Seme 073 148 5332
Saturday 12 – Sunday 13 August
Smuts Ultra Trail Run, Sat: 30km & 15km, Sun: 21km & 10km, Jan Smuts House, Jan Smuts Avenue, Centurion, 8am, Shane Gouldie 082 332 9552
Wednesday 16 August
Owl Night Trail Run 10km & 5km, Irene Country Club, Pretoria, 7pm, Shane Gouldie 082 332 9552
Saturday 19 August
Romans Pizza Phobians 15km & 5km, Pretoria Boys High School, Roper Street, Brooklyn, 6:45am, Graham Strangleman 076-2465185
AGN Cross Country Championships, TUT Soshanguve, Time TBC, Joel Baloyi 084 448 4873
Saturday 26 August
The Barn Doggy Day Race 8km & 5km, Big Red Barn, Nelson Road, Olifantsfontein, 9am, Shane Gouldie 082 332 9552
Friday 26 – Saturday 27 August
Dawn2Dusk 100 Mile & 12-Hour Circuit Race, Gerrit Maritz High School, Daan de Wet Nel Drive, Pretoria, Fri 4pm (160) & Sat 7am (12-hour), Gerrie Strydom 082 940 5453
Sunday 27 August
Land Rover Centurion Mountain Monster 20km, 10km, & 5km, Hakahana Trails, Middel Road, 15km from Pretoria, 8am, Ruan Botes 063 686 7315
The Barn Trail Run 20km, 15km, 10km & 5km, Big Red Barn, Nelson Road, Olifantsfontein, 8am, Shane Gouldie 082 332 9552

VAAL TRIANGLE
No races scheduled for this period.

WESTERN CAPE

BOLAND
Saturday 5 August
PPC Riebeeck Berg Marathon, Half-Marathon, 10km & 5km, PPC Cement Plant, Riebeeck West, 7:30am (42), 8am (21), 8:30am (10) & 8:45am (5), Ilze Vlok 079 523 5145
Sunday 6 August
Spur Cape Winter Trail Series #3 13.5km & 7.5km, Taal Monument, Paarl, 9am & 9:21am, Race Organiser 021 821 9898 (W)
Wednesday 9 August
Run The Vines Trail Run #7 17km, 10km & 5km, Olsen Private Vineyards, near Paarl, 7:45am, 8am & 8:15am, Lans Pepler 082 787 2472
Saturday 12 August
Spur Kleinmond XL 23.3km, Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, Kleinmond, 8:30am, Race Organiser 021 821 9898 (W)
Spur Cape Winter Trail Series #4 13.9km & 8km, Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, Kleinmond, 9:15am & 9:36am, Race Organiser 021 821 9898 (W)
Winter Trail Run 15km, 12.5km, 7.5km & 5km, Dirtopia Trail Centre, Delvera Farm, on R44 between Klapmuts & Stellenbosch, 8:45am, 9am, 9:15am & 9:30am, Dirtopia 021 884 4752 (W)
Banhoek Duo Challenge Trail Run 25km & 10km, Boschendal Wine Estate, on R310 between Pniel and Franschhoek, 9:20am & 9:30am, Info: www.amoija.com
Sunday 13 August
Green Forest 21km, 10km & 5km Trail Run #1, Lebanon Forest, Grabouw (21 & 10 runners bussed to start from Hickory Shack Restaurant, just off N2 between Grabouw & Botriver), 8:30am (21) & 9am (10 & 5), Dominique Provoyeur 084 363 4104
Saturday 19 August
Staalwater Trail Run 15km & 7km, Caledon Casino, Hotel & Spa, Caledon, 9:30am & 9:45am, Dirtopia 021 884 4752 (W)
Saturday 26 August
Tru-Cape Packhouse Challenge Half Marathon, 10km & 5km, Elgin Grabouw Country Club, Eikenhof Dam, near Grabouw, 7:30am, Petra van Rensburg 082 776 8811
Sunday 27 August
Change of Season Trail Run 15km, 11.5km & 7km, Uitkyk Wine Estate, on R44 between Klapmuts & Stellenbosch, 8:30am, 8:45am & 9am, Dirtopia 021 884 4752 (W)

SOUTH WESTERN DISTRICTS
Saturday 5 August
Herbertsdale Race Against Crime Half Marathon, 15km & 5km, Agri Hall, Herbertsdale, 8am, Diane Oosthuizen 084 369 2731
Saturday 5 – Monday 7 August
RCS SOX 3-Day Trail Run, (Full: 30km, 30km & 20km or Lite: 18km, 10km & 20km), Wilderness Hotel, George Street, Wilderness, 8am, Janine Swart 083 662 2022
Sunday 6 August
Circles in the Forest 30km & 15km, Mother Holly Tea Garden, Millwood State Forest, Rheenendal, 8am & 8:15am, Janine Swart 083 662 2022
Wednesday 9 August
Nedbank Women’s Day Challenge 10km & 3km, Klein Karoo Agri, Park Avenue, Oudtshoorn, 8am, Race Organiser 083 376 7414

WESTERN PROVINCE
Saturday 5 August
Hout Bay Trail Challenge 40km, Hout Bay Harbour, 7am, Richard Sutton 082 643 6186
Brackenfell Pick n Pay Family Store Half Marathon & 5km, Brackenfell Primary School, Church Street, Brackenfell, 7:15am & 7:30am, Leon Visser 072 222 6843
WPA Race Walking Grand Prix #3 30km, 20km, 10km, 5km, 3km & 1km, Youngsfield Military Base, Wetton, 7am (30), 8am (20), 9am (10) & 10am (5,3,1), Stefano Aracena 076 948 8483
Sunday 6 August
Lourensford Trail Run 16km, 10km & 5km, Lourensford Wine Estate, Somerset West, 8:30am & 8:40am, Race Office 021 789 0188 (W)
Western Province Cross Country League #8, Elfindale, 11am, Andy James 082 707 6040
Wednesday 9 August
Totalsport Women’s Day Challenge Cape Town 10km & 5km, Grand Parade, Darling Street, Cape Town City Centre, 8am & 8:30am, Stillwater Sports 082 991 0445
Women’s Day Trail Run 6.75km, Durbanville Hills Wine Estate, Tygerberg Valley Road, 8:30am, Japie Swanepoel 082 443 3033
Saturday 12 August
Western Province Cross Country Champs, CPUT, Symphony Way, Bellville, 8am, Andy James 082 707 6040
Sunday 13 August
Reutech Solution John Korasie 30km, Naval Sports Grounds, Martello Road, Simon’s Town, 7am, Luqmaan Patientia 082 847 1680
Saturday 19 August
Lipco Law for All Puffer 80km, Good Hope Nature Reserve, Cape Point, to Ferryman’s Tavern, V&A Waterfront, 5:30am, Andy Campbell 082 799 6785
Strandloper 22km Trail Run, Noordhoek Sports Field, Katzenellenbogan Road, to The Hub, Scarborough, 7am, Race Office 021 789 0188 (w)
Atlantis Harriers Half-Marathon & 5km, Wesfleur Sports Grounds, Saxonsea, Atlantis, 8am, Desmond Arendse 084 392 1061
Sunday 20 August
Helderberg Mountain Challenge 24km, 15km & 11km, Helderberg Nature Reserve, Somerset West, 7am,8:15am & 9am, Race Organiser 021 821 9898 (w)
Saturday 26 August
Langebaan Half Marathon, 10km & 5km, Club Mykonos Resort, Langebaan, 8am (21 & 10) & 8:10am (5), Bossie Boshoff 083 462 4400
Sunday 27 August
Khayelitsha 10km & 4km, Mandela Park Stadium, Tambo Street, Khayalitsha, 7:30am, Patience Nkohla 083 946 7154
PSFA Blisters for Bread 15km, 10km & 5km Walk, Green Point Cricket Club, Vlei Road, Green Point, 7:30am & 8am, Top Events 021 511 7130 (W)

KWAZULU-NATAL
Wednesday 2 August
Giba Gorge Night Fun Trail Run Series 10km & 5km, Giba Gorge MTB Park, Stockville Road, Pinetown, 6pm, Fiona Williams 079 508 7268
Friday 4 August
Durban North/Umhlanga Rocks CPF August Nite 10km & 5km, Crusaders Sports Club, Durban North, 6pm, Dave Ward 082 492 1995
Saturday 5 August
Longest Day 12-Hour Circuit Race, (Minimum 80km run or 60km walk), Collegians Sports Club, 381 Boshoff Street, Pietermaritzburg, 7am, Race Office 082 750 0822
KZN Cross Country League #13, KwaximbaXimba, Time TBC, Puseletso Dladla 073 658 7997
Sunday 6 August
Illovo Eston Trail Run 18km & 9km, Eston Farmers Club, Eston, 6:30am, Stu Berry 083 456 8435
Mtunzini Bush 16km, 10km & 5km Trail Run, Mtunzini Town Hall, 7am, Paul Mannix 082 5711 6559
Women in Action Ladies’ Challenge 10km & 5km, Chatsworth Stadium, Trisula Avenue, Arena Park, Chatsworth, 8am, Dees Govender 083 785 4333
Tuesday 8 August
Funky Full Moon 8km, Crusaders Running Club, Blue Lagoon, Durban, 6pm, Billy Harker 082 654 6542
Wednesday 9 August
AACL Trail Run 10km & 5km, Animal Anti-Cruelty League, D657 Road, Leckhampton Valley, Hammarsdale, 7am, Dave Ward 082 492 1995
Saturday 12 August
KZN Cross Country Champs, Beaulieu Dam, Time TBC, Bill Pellew 082 040 6880
Sunday 13 August
Supa Mama Savages Half-Marathon Challenge & 10km, Morningside Primary School, North Ridge Road, Durban, 6:30am, Robin Honeysett 083 553 5647
Tinman 10km, Suncoast Casino, Durban, 7am, B-Active 031 764 1885 (w)
Marriott Dargle Trails Festival 21km, 12km & 6km, Lions River Club, Dargle, 7am, 7:15am & 7:30am, Julia Rees 073 141 4844
Weenen Nature Reserve 21km, 16km & 7km Trail Run, Weenen Nature Reserve Campsite, Weenen, 7:30am, Brian van der Bank 082 779 8406
Saturday 19 August
Aquelle Harburg Tour de Krantz 10km & 5km, Harburg Hall, Harburg, 7:30am, Rolf Lutget 082 555 0432
Sunday 20 August
Maritzburg SPAR Women’s 10km & 5km Challenge, Oval Cricket Stadium, Alexandra Park, Pietermaritzburg, 6am, Race Organiser 060 356 9044
uMngeni River Run 50km, 25km & 10km, Faulklands Farm, Table Mountain, 6:30am, 7:30am & 8am, KZN Trail Running 082 791 7069
Friday 25 August
Dafco Urban Challenge Night Trail Run Series 8km & 4km, Amanzimtoti Sports Centre, Riverside Road, Hutchison Park, 6pm, Cathy Colley 083 767 9471
Saturday 26 August
Mandel Day Trail Run 15km, 8km & 4km, Mandela Capture Site, outside Howick in Tweedie, 6:30am, Race Organiser 082 791 7069
Sunday 27 August
Mandela Day Marathon, Half Marathon & 10km, Royal Showgrounds, Chief Albert Luthuli Street, Town Hill, Pietermaritzburg, to Mandela Capture Site, outside Howick in Tweedie, 5:30am, Race Organiser 033 897 6700 (w)
Nedbank Trail Run 12km & 5km, Eston Farmers Club, Eston, 7:30am, Travis Dalrymple-Kelly 076 424 0694

FREE STATE
Saturday 5 August
IBL Sun to Sun Half Marathon & 10km, Mmabana Stadium, Milner Street, to Black Mountain Hotel, Groothoek Dam Road, Thaba Nchu District, 8am, Pretty Booysen 083 204 2973 NEW DATE – WAS 12 AUGUST
Free State Cross Country League #6, UFS X-Country Track, Bloemfontein, 2:30pm, AFS Office 051 430 3251 (w)
Saturday 12 August
Free State Cross Country Championships, UFS X-Country Track, Bloemfontein, 9am, AFS Office 051 430 3251 (w)
Friday 18 August
MediClinic Welkom Night 10km, Ladies’ 5km, Kids’ 1.5km PLUS 1.5km Wheelchair Race, Welkom Mediclinic, Meulen Street, Welkom, 4:30pm (kids & wheelchair), 6pm (5km) & 7pm (10km), Race Organiser 072 499 2602
Castle Lite Trail Run 10km & 5km, Wild Olive Estate, Bloemfontein, 6pm, Info: www.pureadventures.co.za
Sunday 20 August
Q4 Platberg Trail Run 20km & 10km, Platberg Eco Park, Harrismith, 7am, BoutTime Events 082 562 9841

EASTERN CAPE

BORDER
Sunday 6 August
Amathola Marathon, Stutterheim Main Road, to King Williams Town, 6am, Alex Kambule 084 202 4872
Saturday 12 August
Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipal Athletic Club Half Marathon & 5km, Jan Smuts Sports Ground, East London, 7am, Collet Chelesi 073 481 0668
Saturday 26 August
White Clay Coffee Bay Halfish Marathon Trail Run 21km, Ocean View Hotel, Main Road, Coffee Bay, to White Clay Holiday Resort, 7am, Roy Sparg 083 979 4499
Sunday 27 August
Mdantsane Kasi Race 10km & 5km, Sisa Dukashe Stadium, Sandile Road, to Masizakhe Children’s Home, Spine Road, Mdantsane, 7am, Alex Kambule 074 139 0550

EASTERN PROVINCE
Sunday 6 August
Spur PE Trail Series #3 10.2km & 4.9km, Pine Lodge, Cape Recife, Port Elizabeth, 9am & 9:21am, Race Secretary 021 821 9898 (W)
Chokka Trail Run Challenge 62km, 30km, 23km & 18km & 5km, Cape St. Francis Resort, Da Gama Road, Cape St. Francis, 5am (62), 7am (30), 7:30am (23 & 18) & 11am (5), Esti Stewart 073 825 0835
Saturday 12 August
SPAR Oak Cottage Mountain Drive Half Marathon, Rhodes University Prospect Field, African Street, Grahamstown, 8am, Stephen Penney 082 468 8384
Saturday 19 August
Nelson Mandela Bay Diva Women’s Run 10km & 5km, NMMU Second Avenue, Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth, 8am, Mike Mbambani 079 149 6796
Sunday 20 August
Hopewell XL 28.3km, Hopewell Estate, Rietkuil Road, Port Elizabeth, 8:30am, Race Secretary 021 821 9898 (W)
Spur PE Trail Series #4 11.1km & 4.9km, Hopewell Estate, Rietkuil Road, Port Elizabeth, 9am & 9:21am, Race Secretary 021 821 9898 (W)
Tuesday 29 August
Town Lodge Business Night Relay 5×3.5km PLUS 3×3.5km Walk, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Fettes Road, Port Elizabeth, 6pm, Michelle de Bruyn 041 484 7860 (W)

FAR NORTH

LIMPOPO
Satuday 5 August
Exxaro Mogol 3-in-1 Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km & 5km, Lephalale Mall, Onverwacht Road, Lephalale, 6:30am, Wikus Geyser 083 304 1073
Wednesday 9 August
Maroela to Maroela 10km & 5km, Phalaborwa Road Runners Clubhouse, Kingfisher Private School, Sealene Street, Phalaborwa, 8am, Molatelo Rankweteke 084 552 4323
Saturday 26 August
Tzaneen Lifestyle Spring Opener Half-Marathon, 10km & 5km, Tzaneen Lifestyle Centre, Danie Joubert Street, Tzaneen, 7am, Paul Zaayman 083 460 4204

MPUMALANGA
Saturday 5 August
Skukuza Castle Lager Half-Marathon, Skukuza Rugby Field, Staff Village Green, Skukuza, 8:30am, Martie Oosthuizen 082 680 3864
Saturday 12 August
Buffalo Gorge Trail Series 18km, 10km, 6.5km & 2.5km, Buffalo Gorge Eco Adventure Centre, Buffelskloof Farm, Middleburg, 8:30am, Ryk Diepraam 083 528 9586 NEW DATE – WAS 5 AUGUST
Saturday 19 August
Rotary Greatest Train Race 28km & 15km, (Solo or Relay entries), Witbank/Emalahleni Station, to Middelburg Municipal Offices, 8am, Elsabe Dawson 086 118 7246
Wednesday 23 August
Eskom Old Medal Nite 10km & 5km, Eskom Clubhouse, Eskom Park, Witbank/eMalahleni, 7pm, Paul Bester 082 966 7767 NEW DATE – WAS 6 SEPTEMBER
Saturday 26 August
Cara Cara 10km Trail Run, Ruby River Resort, Groblersdal, 7am, Andrew Collett 079 523 5498
Wednesday 30 August
Kutting Mpumalanga Night 10km & 5km, Kees Taljaard Stadium, Middelburg, 7pm, James Faber 082 443 4193

NORTH WEST

CENTRAL NORTH WEST
Saturday 26 August
Nedbank Schweizer-Reneke Half Marathon, 10 km & Business Relay POSTPONED TO 2 SEPTEMBER

NORTH WEST NORTH
Saturday 12 August
Magaliesburg Challenge 50km, 36km, 22km & 12km, Van Gaalen Cheese Farm, Skeerpoort, near Hartbeespoort, 6am, Caeli Manuel 072 924 2371

NORTHERN CAPE

GRIQUALAND WEST
Saturday 12 August
Rihanna Moshoeshoe Half-Marathon, 10km & 5km, Galeshewe Stadium, Phakedi Street, Galeshewe, Kimberley, 7am, Mase Mogorosi 071 853 3509

NORTH WEST CAPE
Saturday 5 August
Namaqua Daisy Challenge Trail Run 30km, 18km & 5km, Die Keldery, Vredendal, 7am, Reinier van Greunen 082 321 5200
Thursday 24 – Saturday 26 August
Namaqua Quest Trail Run, (Three days: 24km, 25km & 20km) Jakkalswater Guest Farm, Springbok, Three days: 7am, 7:30am & 8am, Race Organiser 083 662 2022

NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

NAMIBIA
Saturday 5 August
Husab Mine Marathon, 10km, & 5km, Husab Access Road, Swakopmund, 7am, Frank Slabber +264 (0)81 240 3383
Eros Girls 10km & 5km, Eros Girls’ School, cnr Independence & Eros Avenue, Windhoek, Time TBC, Eros Girls' School +264 (0)81 338 9911
Erongo Cross Country Champs, Omaruru, Time TBC, BK Karumendu +264 (0)81 311 8489
Sunday 6 August
Windhoek Light X-Trail 15km & 8km, Midgard Self Catering Lodge, on B6 Road about 80km from Windhoek, Time TBC, Yvonne +264 (0)81 142 9966
Saturday 12 August
Rundu 10km Challenge, Rundu, Time & contact person TBC
Friday 18 August
Moonlight Fun Run 8km & 5km, Windhoek, 6:15pm, Contact person TBC
Saturday 19 August
Oshana Region Street Mile, Oshakati, Time & contact person TBC
Sunday 27 August
Dr Sam Nujoma Half Marathon & 5km, Windhoek, Time TBC, Athletics Namibia +264 (0)81 288 1846

ORIENTEERING
Sunday 6 August
The Parys Rogaine, Buffelskloof, Parys Dome, Free State, Time TBC, ROC: Nick Cooper 074 188 9250
Sunday 20 August
Gauteng Bush Series #7 – Middle Distance, Moreleta Kloof, Pretoria, Time TBC, ROC: Nick Cooper 074 188 9250
Sunday 26 August
Polokwane Park Series #2 – Sprint Distance, Polokwane, Time TBC, POC: Ephraim Chuene 082 095 1035

OBSTACLE RACING
Tuesday 8 August
JumpCity Urban Challenge Women’s Day Edition, Gold Reef City Theme Park, Ormonde, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 5:45pm, Shift Concepts 011 022 0426 (w)
Saturday 19 August
Gajiga Run #12 Night Run, 5km with inflatable obstacles, Johannesburg Zoo, Jan Smuts Avenue & Upper Park Drive, Parkview, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 5pm, www.gajiga.co.za
Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 August
Toyota Warrior Race #5, Black Ops 15km (30 obstacles), Commando 10km (22), Rookie 5km (15) & Warrior Bratz 500m (8, unlimited laps), Blythedale, North of Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, Race Organiser 087 150 3144
Friday 25 August
Impi Day-Night Series #7, 5km with obstacles, OCT Rietvlei, Swartkoppies Road, Johannesburg South, Gauteng, 4pm, Race Info 087 013 5044
Sunday 27 August
The Grind 1704 Winter Warmer, Deep Grind 5km (Elite) & Rapid Grind 5km (Non-elite), Dvine Expo & Events, Dvine Estate, on R101 near N1 Huguenot Tunnel Toll Plaza, 9am, Race Office 021 813 9282 (w)

TRIATHLON & DUATHLON
Sunday 6 August
TrailAdventure Canoe Triathlon, 8km Canoe / 20km MTB / 5km Trail run, Rietvlei Dam, Pretoria, Gauteng, 7am, Shane Gouldie 082 332 9552
Cowhouse Cross Duathlon #4, Bull: 10km/28km/3km, Steer: 5km/14km/3km, Heifer: 2km/9km/2km, Calf: 1.5km/5km/750m & Lamb: 300M/600m/100m, Cowhouse Market, cnr Ridge Road and Oukraal Boulevard, Pretoria, Gauteng, 8am, 8:45am, 11am, 12pm & 1pm, Assie de Lange 082 453 0096
Saturday 12 August
Standard Bank 5150 Bela Bela Triathlon, 1.5km/40km/10km, Forever Resorts Warmbaths, Bela Bela, Limpopo, Time TBC, Race Office 082 476 6626
Banhoek Duo Challenge, Trail Run/MTB/Trail Run – Long 2.5km/25km/10km & Short 2.5km/10km/5km, Boschendal Wine Estate, on R310 between Pniel and Franschhoek, Western Cape, 9am & 9:10am, Info: www.amoija.com
Sunday 13 August
Tinman Triathlon #3, Tinman Challenge 1km/30km/10km (7:40am), Tinman Sprint 600m/21km/5km (7:20am) & Tinman Mini (200m/6km/2.5km (7:10am), Suncoast Casino, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, B-Active 031 764 1885
Saturday 26 August
Mandela Day Triathlon, Olympic 1.5km/40km/10km, Sprint 600m/20km/5km & Mini 200m/5km/2.5km, Midmar Dam, Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, Petrus Stroom Road/R617, Howick, Kwazulu-Natal, 8am, B-Active Sports 031 764 1885 (w)

ADVENTURE RACING
Sunday 27 August
Kinetic Adventure 25km, Run, MTB, & Kayak Challenge, Cowhouse Market, Hazeldean Trails, Pretoria, Gauteng, Time TBC, Heidi Muller 082 564 6468

TRACK AND FIELD
Saturday 12 August
Claude Sterley Memorial Masters Meeting, Pilditch Stadium, Pretoria, Gauteng North, AGN 012 327 4930 (w)

You Need Real Grit to Win the 2017 Oakley X-Over

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Just days after announcing their title sponsorship of the Colin Mayer Tour mountain bike stage race in Mauritius in October, Grit Real Estate Income Group (GRIT) announced its sponsorship of the 4th annual Oakley X-Over event, powered by Sharp, cementing the GRIT brand firmly within the family sporting community in Mauritius and South Africa.

The popular, 2-day Oakley X-Over sports-celebrity event took place 20-21 July as part of the J-Bay Winterfest and comprised three vastly different disciplines – a 15km mountain bike race, a surfing contest, and 9-holes of golf.

This year’s sporting celebrities was a star-studded list of Who’s Who in Sport – Jean De Villiers, Dale Steyn, Greg Minnaar, John Smit, Jordy Smith, Ryan Sandes, Garreth McLellan, Giniel De Villiers, Raynard Tissink, Ruan de Smidt, Lance Isaacs, Nick de Wit, Kerim Fitzgerald, Butch James, Seabelo Senatla, Tonderai Chavhanga, Australian wildcard, Tom Whitaker, and radio and TV personality, Ryan O’Connor.

In the mountain bike race, multiple Downhill Mountain Bike World Champ, Greg Minnaar, rode into the lead to stay ahead of last year’s overall winner, Raynard Tissink, with Giniel De Villiers finishing in third.

The surf event held at Kitchen Windows was unsurprisingly won by Australian surfer, Tom Whitaker. He put on an innovative display in the Kitchen Windows surf, defeating Dale Steyn and Greg Minnaar, who finished second and third respectively.

In the last event, the X-Over Golf Tournament at the Links Golf Course, South African golfer, Ruan De Smidt, took the win ahead of Butch James and Garreth McLellan, aka Soldier Boy, MMA’s favourite champion.

Once the final tally was calculated, Greg Minnaar was crowned the overall winner of the 2017 Oakley X-Over. The competition runner-up was former South African rugby player, Butch James, and third place went to ex-Springbok captain, John Smit.

Said GRIT Director, and former pro-surfer, Greg Pearson, “This brand association was perfect for GRIT. Here were the toughest sporting individuals in the world taking on each other in disciplines other than their own, and fighting to the end. Similarly, as a company, we compete in the toughest industry and go to war every day for our clients, challenging beliefs on what is possible, proving it’s not what you do that counts but who you are that makes the difference. And we are the best. It takes guts, resilience, initiative and tenacity to succeed – real grit!”

Recently, Grit Real Estate Income Group rebranded from Mara Delta to better reflect the current and future growth ambitions of the Company.

The new brand positioning captures the Group’s entrepreneurial and determined spirit, and its ambitions for growth in Africa while entrenching international appeal and stature. Grit has experienced substantial growth over the last few years, having recently paid its sixth consecutive distribution and has set even bolder growth ambitions for the near future, including listing on the London Stock Exchange.

“The Oakley X-Over Celebrity Challenge strongly aligns with our motto of ‘work hard and play hard’ and we are very excited to be associated with the event,” comments Pearson.

The J-Bay Winterfest took place from 12-23 July, and comprises the Oakley X-Over, the Corona Open J-Bay World Surf League Championship Tour event, the J-Bay Loggers Classic surf contest, the Endurade J-BayX Trail Run, the J-Bay Wind Farm MTB Classic, the Coldwater Classic open-water swim, fishing, kite festival, motocross and more.

About Grit Real Estate Income Group

Grit is the largest and only pan-African focused real estate income group listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and the Stock Exchange of Mauritius.

The Company focuses exclusively on real estate assets on the continent (excluding South Africa), underpinned by US Dollar and Euro denominated long-term leases with high quality tenants, delivering strong sustainable income.

Grit manages in excess of US$ 600 million worth of assets (post transfer of current acquisitions) with access to numerous acquisition opportunities. These include a strong pipeline of quality assets in Mauritius, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Morocco and others.

The Company’s immediate strategy is to consolidate opportunities within current countries of operation before expanding into other geographies.

www.grit.group

PUMA Reinvents Lacing with IGNITE NETFIT

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Continuing in PUMA’s tradition of developing game-changing innovations, the global sports brand recently introduced NETFIT – a unique customisable lacing system that offers infinite performance and style options in one shoe. The brand now releases its latest performance trainer featuring this innovation, the IGNITE NETFIT.

NETFIT technology enhances fit and support by combining a high-grade engineered net with form-fitting base materials. The IGNITE NETFIT user will now have complete control and versatility over how they lace up. No matter the style, needs or shape, anyone can customise their shoe the way they see fit. The options are limitless, bringing customisation to another level and giving everyone the chance to be as creative as they possibly can.

The IGNITE NETFIT also features PUMA’s evoKNIT form-fitting knit for added comfort and a fresh look. The heel is reinforced by PUMA’s TPU heel clip, locking the heel into the platform of the shoe for ultimate stabilisation.

The IGNITE NETFIT boasts PUMA’s proprietary PU foam with a brand-new chevron design giving users superior energy return and comfort. Combine this with the Molded EVA sockliner and the result is ultimate comfort on every run. The outsole provides a perfect platform for users to take every stride with confidence, while PUMA’s EverTrack outsole rubber gives durability and traction from heel to toe, with flex grooves allowing for full flexibility at toe-off. To add to this, a redesigned transition line runs from the heel to the toe of the shoe and mimics the natural gait of the user to create the smoothest ride possible.

IGNITE NETFIT offers full form-fitting comfort, allowing users to totally customise their fit and style. The innovation and performance teams at PUMA have developed five different lacing options to help provide guidance, but the possibilities to lace are endless. These five lacing systems include Standard lacing, for runners who need minimal support; Stability lacing, for runners who need additional medial support; Wide Foot lacing, for runners with wider feet that need extra room; Narrow Foot lacing, for runners with narrow feet; and Heel Support lacing, for runners who prefer a tighter fit around the heel.

The fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt, is training with IGNITE NETFIT for the World Championships in London 2017. “I do a lot of training – sometimes a bit too much – and it’s always different. Sometimes I’m doing power work, and then sometimes it’s speed and agility work, so it’s important to have a shoe that’s flexible enough to do the right exercise,” says Bolt. “The best thing about the NETFIT Technology is that it is customisable and I can lace them any way I want, not only to get the best fit, but it gives me the opportunity to be creative with it. Sometimes you wish you could just design shoes purely tailored to your own feet and now you can. Plus, they look great, and that’s always the most important thing, right?”

Adam Petrick, Global Marketing Director, said: “Our goal at PUMA is to constantly push the design of sports products forward in unique and innovative ways. NETFIT certainly does that: It’s a performance innovation that allows for athletes at every level and across a range of sports to create their own, perfectly customised fit. But maybe even more exciting are the opportunities for creativity – anyone can use laces of different colors, widths, lengths and styles to create a personal expression for each individual taste. With NETFIT, we’re bringing fashion and style to the world of sports in a way that is uniquely PUMA.”

PUMA IGNITE NETFIT will be available in PUMA stores from 15 July 2017, retailing at R2799 for men and R2599 for women.

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