Author: Modern Athlete

Jumping off buildings, doing fight scenes and being set on fire are all in a day’s work for film industry stuntwoman Lana Katz, and she uses a daily run to make sure she is fit enough to handle this physically demanding work.

– BY SEAN FALCONER

 

When Lana Katz meets somebody new, invariably the conversation focuses solely on what she does for a living. That’s because stunt work for the film industry sounds exciting and dangerous. And that’s why the 32-year-old heads out for a 5km run at the start of each day, usually along the Blouberg seafront roads in Cape Town, or she hits the treadmill if the wind is pumping too hard, because she needs to be in top physical shape in order to do her job.

 

“I run every morning, to keep fit and lean, usually for about half an hour, nothing too hectic, because my day is quite full. The run is usually followed by an hour of Jujitsu, then an hour of yoga, with another two hours of Jujitsu in the evening,” says Lana. “The way I look at it, I train to work, and work to train, so I am always looking to increase my skills and ensure my physical fitness. The worst thing would be to be on set and you can’t do what they need, so you need to ensure you are fit enough and have the skills to do the stunts.”

 

Naturally, Lana also has to be in peak shape in order to fill in as a stunt woman or body double for an actor, so fitness and training are just as important in terms of looks as ability to do the stunt work, but Lana says it is more about being strong enough to take the hits. “If they need me to go down the stairs or hit the ground 10 times, I need them to know I can take the knocks. I want my body to be strong enough to last long in the industry, so being fit, eating right and looking good all make sense.”

 

Time for Change…

What is even more interesting about Lana’s job is that she only took up stunt work a few years ago, having previously worked in the advertising industry. However, at the age of 27 she decided to follow a new path. “I was a senior executive on the client service side, dealing with clients, running budgets, briefing work into studio, and I had been doing that for about eight years. But I didn’t just wake up one morning and decide to become a stunt woman – a lot of other things happened in my life to push me in that direction,” she says. “My marriage of five years ended in divorce in August 2013, and that made me look at my life and question whether I was actually happy, getting up each day to sit in traffic for two hours, and sit in the office all day doing mundane stuff over and over – and just living for the weekend. It wasn’t making me happy, and I realised I was on the wrong path.

 

“My husband and I were supposed to go to Thailand that November, and I decided that since I had booked and paid for a holiday, I may as well still go. It was there that I met two stunt guys from the USA and chatted to them about the industry. I told them I would love to do that kind of work, but I thought it may be too late, as I was already in my late-20s, but the guys said I should just do it. One of them said that if I could get to Los Angeles, he would be happy to help train me. So, when I came back from Thailand, I got off the plane and told my parents I was going to be a stunt woman. They were a little shocked, but I think that after everything I had been through with the divorce, they saw a positive change in me.”

 

Following the Dream

Lana stuck with her advertising job initially while saving as much as she could for the trip, and also attended stunt workshops while getting to know the local stunt community. In spite of her fitness and martial arts background, the physical demands of the new work unfortunately led to some injuries: She initially tore a ligament in her foot, and then when she got her first casting for a feature film, and resigned her job in order to pursue the opportunity, an old knee injury put her out of action.

 

“I was still working and saving, but then got the call that they needed me on a film, so I decided the time had come for me to say goodbye to the job and make the transition, so I resigned. However, I had been feeling a niggle in my knee, from a previous stunt job, and just before I was due to start the new film, I decided to go have it checked out. The doctor told me I had a torn ACL. I’ll never forget sitting in his office and thinking, great, I’ve just resigned, and I have work on a film, but now I need knee surgery.”

 

The surgeon said she would need a year for rehab, and that she should postpone her trip, but Lana was having none of that. “I told him I didn’t have a year, and then I really went for it with the rehab, in between doing freelance work in the advertising industry to tide myself over. I was even in the gym on crutches at one point, and I was running again as soon as possible. Eight months later the biokineticist did a strength test just before I left for the USA, and the knee was 98%. It took me two and a half years to get to LA, but it was an amazing experience, thanks to the stunt community being so welcoming. I was like a sponge for three months, just learning as much as I could, about martial arts, firearm, horse, stunt driving and open water SCUBA stunt work, and I am still constantly learning. I just love the challenge of the work.”

 

No Guarantees

Lana says there is a lot of work for stunt performers in Cape Town these days, with a number of studios in the city and a lot of foreign films, series and commercials being shot here, but there are never any guarantees. “You could get a phone call for a two-week shoot, or just for one day, or you may go a full month where there is just no work, so it’s a very up and down industry, and very seasonal. That’s why I am supplementing my income at the moment with waitressing, which works for me because I can put in shifts when it suits my schedule, and I can get my shift covered when I need to go for a casting or a shoot, or a stunt workshop or training session, which often come up at the last minute.”

 

“I am still very young in the industry and just establishing myself, so I am just making the most of the experience. It has been difficult going from a nine-to-five job with a guaranteed salary, to not knowing what could happen next, but I’m happy, because the days that I get to be on set make it so worthwhile. I gave up that other lifestyle because being able to do what I love is what’s important.”

As a project manager for Old Mutual, Amanda Makwakwa has worked on many of the biggest running events in South Africa, and that not only got her into long distance running, but motivated her to tackle the biggest ultra’s in SA. – BY RACHEL PIENAAR

 

It was pretty much inevitable that the running bug would bit Amanda Makwakwa hard, given that much of her working career has focused on various running or walking events. Having studied marketing at PE Technicon, she found herself in Johannesburg working for the sponsorship team at Discovery, with one of their main events being the Discovery Walk the Talk. “When I began to work at Discovery, I think that’s where the healthy living started. My sponsorship properties have always been health and fitness, which fitted my personality and the way I do things.”

 

Amanda then joined the Old Mutual Sponsorship team in 2009, where she again got to look after various endurance events, including the Old Mutual Soweto Marathon and the Old Mutual Om Die Dam Ultra. Being around these events and all the runners rubbed off on her, and that motivated her to take up running herself, doing 5km, 10km and eventually 15km events. However, it was trip to the Comrades Marathon to work at the Expo that really got her running going.

 

“I’d been going to Comrades Marathon Expo for three or four years as a marketer, but one day I decided I wasn’t going to go home straight after the Expo, and instead I went along the route with everyone on race day. I think that really introduced the love of running for me. I remember walking out of there after the race and saying I think I should do Comrades too. At the time I hadn’t even done a 21km, so when I came back I made the decision to take my running more seriously.”

 

Sister Act

Amanda proceeded to rope her older sister in as a running partner and together they would tackle at least one 10km race a month. Seeking out new challenges, Amanda then ran her first 21km in 2016 at the Dis-Chem Half Marathon. “I remember cramping so badly and I was thinking oh-my-gosh, I still have 5km to go, but I finished it.” She says that made her realise she needed more training if she was going to attempt a marathon in the future. “Luckily I found a training group who meet at the Wanderers Club four to five times a week, usually in the morning, which suited my schedule perfectly.”

 

When the entries for the 2017 Comrades opened, Amanda decided to go for it. “When they launched entries, I looked at it and said is it this year?” She had not attempted a marathon yet, but had a good few 21km races under her belt, and motivated by her desire to run the Comrades, she roped another novice running buddy into doing the Sanlam Cape Town City Marathon with her. Even though she struggled during the race, Amanda says she switched off the negativity and pushed through to the finish. “I ran and walked and ran and walked till I got to the end, and once you get onto the blue carpet you are like, I have arrived! Suddenly you have this amazing feeling. When I finished, I remember my legs just locked – I couldn’t move – but I was so excited to have finished, and I think this gave me even more motivation to carry on with running.”

 

The Major Motivator

Knowing that she could now conquer a marathon, Amanda decided to take the plunge and enter the Comrades. “I looked at the registration and said to myself, maybe I’ll cancel later, but at least I know my entry is there.” Soon after that she decided to also enter the Old Mutual Two Oceans Ultra, and she hasn’t been afraid to tell people of her goals. “I have been using the hashtag #TheYearOfHighRisk, because I am going big this year!” That also saw her change her approach to training, with regular time trials to work on speed and track her improvements, on top of longer training runs.

 

Even though she is still looking for that all-important qualifying time to be able to run the Comrades this year, Amanda says she is simply enjoying the running journey she is on. “Because I am doing what I love, working in the running space, it is a no-brainer that I run myself. I really love what I do and I really enjoy running, so it doesn’t feel like an effort, but rather a perfect fit for me. Even though there may be challenges, I probably don’t even recognise them as challenges, because it’s just part of who I am in my daily life, because I just get to do what I love.”

The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) is saddened by the loss of its Finish Procedure Convenor, Dudley St John-Ward. He passed away last Friday at the age of 70. Dudley was funny, friendly and always smiling with an admirable period of volunteerism at the Comrades Marathon, spanning nearly three decades.

Dudley has been described as a genuine people’s person who was positive, humble and always approachable. He loved the Comrades Marathon, having run the race 11 times consecutively, from 1980 to 1990 with a Comrades best time of 8:23 in 1984.

He was a proud member of the Comrades Marathon Green Number Club and further went on to receive his Comrades Green Name award in lieu of his exemplary voluntary service to the association.

CMA Chairperson, Sifiso Nzuza says, “He was a popular, beloved and invaluable member of Team Comrades whose role as Finish Procedure Convenor was absolutely integral to the smooth running on race day and the success of the Comrades Marathon. During the 17 years that Dudley was in charge of the Finish Procedure, hundreds of thousands of runners passed through the well-oiled machine of the Comrades finish chutes, proudly clutching their medals and badges, being offered a refreshing cold drink or a cup of hot soup, and when necessary, dispatched off to the Medical Tent.”

Nzuza tells us that Dudley’s volunteerism is inspiring. “He will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by all members of Team Comrades on 4 June when the best tribute we can pay to him is to carry on in the proud tradition of selfless and voluntary service to others which he exemplified. He inspired many people to give of their best. Rest in Peace Dudley, and our sincere condolences to his wife Anne and family.”

Former CMA Chairperson, Peter Proctor tells us that Dudley helped out on the Comrades Marathon’s Finish Procedure Portfolio for many years until he became the portfolio holder in 2000.

Peter says, “Dudley was a friend to all. He was a jovial and lovable character and always showed a kind heart and willingness to help. His years of service to the Comrades Marathon was a glittering example where he carried out his duties without complaint or falter.”

CMA General Manager, Chris Fisher says, “Our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences go out from the Comrades Marathon Association to Dudley’s family and friends on his passing. It was an honour to have been a part of his life. We were truly blessed to have known and to have worked alongside such a wonderful person for so many years. He will be truly missed and always remembered.”

Chris adds, “The playing of the Last Post on the Comrades finish line at 17h30 at this year’s race will hold particular significance for all CMA members.”

Former CMA Chairperson, Jeff Minnaar says, “Having been to school with Dudley and working with him at Comrades for 17 years, I am shattered that my dear young friend has left us without notice. Dudley was a pleasure to work and socialise with, so easy-going and always willing to assist and find solutions not only to his problems but for yours as well. Dudley was a friend indeed and a friend in need. Rest in peace Dudley!”

Desagie Naidoo, Workshop Manager of the Pietermaritzburg Mental Health Society says, “Dudley was just such an affable person. The bulk of the people at our society are intellectually challenged and psychiatrically ill; however in spite of this, Dudley always treated them with dignity and respect. I remember Dudley’s wonderful gesture after last year’s Comrades Marathon when he bought a packet of biscuits for each of the 105 members at the society as a personal token of gratitude for the packing of the Comrades badges and flashes for the athletes. Everyone at the Buxton Protective Workshop will miss him dearly.”

CMA Board Member, Isaac Ngwenya says, “Dudley was an amazing person who always made time for people. I am so shocked at his untimely passing. He was helpful and took his volunteerism at the Comrades very seriously. He went beyond the call of duty to ensure that his portfolio was immaculately executed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time. We are going to miss him greatly.”

CMA Elder, Henry Makhathini says, “I am very sad and shocked to hear about Dudley’s passing. I knew him from back in 1989 when I met him at the Fire Department where he worked for a long time. We then started working with him at Comrades from 1990 when he was involved at the finish. Dudley had an everlasting smile. He was always happy. Whenever you met him, you had to laugh. He was also very gifted with his hands. Our homes were separated by a railway line and I vividly remember him coming to my house to check my built-in cupboards. From the moment he arrived right up until he left, we couldn’t stop laughing at all the stories he had told us about his childhood days. May his soul rest in peace.”

“When I assumed the position of Race Director three years ago (and just 2 months before race day) the Finish Procedure portfolio was managed by Dudley. His first meet with me was fun, happy, bubbly, laid back interaction where his words of “Don’t worry my china all is under control, you can focus elsewhere.” True to his words that was the case. In the years that followed I never needed to focus on that portfolio as I knew that Dudley had it under control. Such was the meticulous and professional approach that he had to his portfolio. He was and always will be an iconic figure on the finish line and someone who managed it admirably.”

CMA Marketing Manager, Thami Vilakazi says, “I will miss your friendly smile and the funny jokes you used to tell every time we met. Rest in Peace Dudley!”

CMA Procurement Officer, Alain Dalais says, “Dudley always had an entertaining story about his past Comrades Marathon experiences, and he always shared these stories every time we met. He was always bubbly and cheerful, from the time he greeted us with the words “Howzit China”. His passion for the Comrades Marathon and his Finish Procedure portfolio was admirable and I looked up to him and respected him both as a great man and as a person that truly embodied the spirit and camaraderie of the Comrades Marathon.”

Manager of the Nedbank Running Club, Nick Bester says, “It is indeed sad news to have lost Dudley. He will be remembered as a stalwart on the Comrades Marathon finish line. May he rest in peace.”

CMA Technical Portfolio Convenor, Henry Somaru says, “I'm very saddened to hear of the sudden passing away of Dudley. It was an absolute pleasure to have worked with him at Comrades and to have known him. My condolences to his family, colleagues and friends.”

CMA Maintenance Officer, Louis van der Linden says, “Except for Dudley''s contagious laugh and never-ending doses of good humour, I will always remember him as the guy who set up the timing clocks on the Comrades lead vehicles. Virtually every year, different cars were being used and Dudley had the daunting task of having to make a plan to fix the clocks on the roofs of cars that were not really designed for roof carriers. But Dudley never gave up. At two o’ clock on the morning of the race, one will invariably see Dudley sweating away, making a plan and tuning the clocks to the correct times. We will miss you Dudley!”

CMA Board Member, Alen Hattingh reflects on his first meeting with Dudley, “I met him almost 30 years ago when the new elite club, Maritzburg Striders was being formed in Pietermaritzburg. At Cross Country, at the gun, Dudley would take off like a rocket and be in the lead for about 100m and the field would only catch up with him once they were in the bush. We always laughed and joked about the way he always gave the top runners a fright. Every time we met, we rehashed the story and as we all know, Dudley was a great story teller. I loved being in Dudley’s company and enjoyed working with him in the finish area at Comrades. I will miss you Dudley.”

Former CMA Board Member, Terence Hoskins says, “I was privileged to have known Dudley from our running days. I also met his wife, Anne and enjoyed many a good time with them. His dedication to the Comrades Marathon was outstanding. His sense of humour and goodwill amongst all who knew him will be missed for a long time to come. On behalf of Lola and myself, I wish Anne and the family strength and comfort.”

Colin Higgins says, “On behalf of everyone at Pretoria Metal Badge and Button, our sincerest condolences on the loss of Dudley. Our hearts go out to his family and the Comrades team during this time.”

The memorial service for Dudley will be held on Wednesday, 26 April 2017 at 14hoo at the Lutheran Church – 2 Bester Road, Hayfields in Pietermaritzburg.

After an incredible 2016 that saw 400m superstar Wayde van Niekerk add the Olympic title and the World Record to his 2015 World Champs title, he is now looking forward to chasing more titles in 2017 as the World Champs come round again. – BY SEAN FALCONER

He may be quietly-spoken, but when Wayde van Niekerk speaks, people tend to listen. That comes with the territory when you are the reigning Olympic Champion and World Champion, and broke Michael Johnson’s 18-year-old World Record (43.18) in Rio with a scintillating 43.03! We managed to sneak a quick Q&A session with him, and asked about his plans for 2017 and trying to do even better than his stellar 2016 season.

 

MA: These days you are the ‘poster boy’ of SA athletics. How are you handling all the attention?

WvN:It’s definitely been a great journey, and I’m really just enjoying the space, the environment and the experiences I’m going through right now. It’s really been a massive blessing, and a huge motivation to keep on doing what I’m doing – and appreciating this moment that I have.

 

MA: The big news late last year was that you proposed to girlfriend Chesney Campbell…

WvN:It’s long overdue, because I’m always so busy, but I really felt I it was the right move. I’m really in a good space now, and I’m excited about it. I think it’s another great journey to go on, sharing the special moments with somebody that you love and care for, and she plays such a massive role in keeping me focused on athletics.

 

MA: Are your studies on hold due to all your success on the track?

WvN:I’m progressing, but not in the same way that a normal student would. I do what I can, and try not to force it, so that I can do well with what I have, but also not neglect my training, and so be able to reap everything that I’m going through now with track and field.

 

MA: What about after your studies? Do you plan to stay in Bloemfontein and continue training with Tannie Ans Botha?

WvN:Yes, it’s an ongoing journey. If Tannie Ans and I are still finding success and things are going our way, I don’t see any reason to change, so we’ll see what the future holds in store for us and go from there.

 

MA: Your relationship with her is really close, and that seems to help you perform better…

WvN:She is such a strong character and such a great person, and you can really learn so much from her. I mean, at the age of 75 and achieving the peak of her career… who wouldn’t find that inspirational? I am only 24, and by comparison, I still have another 50 years to reach my dreams!

 

MA: Let’s move on to Rio. Going into the final, how did you feel about running in the outside lane and not being able to see your opponents?

WvN:I really didn’t mind running in lane eight. I just thought it’s a final and I have to get the job done. So for me it was about staying focused and use that opportunity, not taking for granted the occasion and the moment I had. So whether I was in lane one or eight, I was going to go out there and give it my best – and luckily that was a World Record and Olympic Gold this time around.

 

MA: Because you were in the outside lane, it looked like you just ran the race as hard as you could, as if to say to the others catch me if you can – and even accelerated away fro them in the home straight – but did you know what was going on behind you?

WvN:I literally did not see a single person the entire race! I think there is some truth to the fact that because I was in lane eight, I just went out there and ran, and I still see it as a massive blessing in disguise, because I had been struggling with hamstring and back injuries over the last year, and I felt some pain that day as well, but because I was in lane eight, not having to chase anyone probably did play to my advantage. And it ended up being the reason why I won the Olympic gold.

 

MA: You collapsed on the track after winning the Wold Champs title in Beijing, so you couldn’t do a victory lap, but in Rio you made it round the track again. What was the difference?

WvN:In Beijing, it was really because of the mental aspect of the 400m, and of winning at that level. If you think back, I had only been doing the 400 for two to three years, and that’s really nothing… you need years to get yourself mentally strong, not just for the 400m itself, but also the feeling afterwards. That’s what I have tried to do ever since Beijing, to be able to run my best, then enjoy the moment and do that victory lap. I think in 2015 I was not mentally strong enough to take myself through that, because in the 400m you really start to feel the effects straight after the race, and that’s something I had to fight. Luckily in 2016 I got it right and could enjoy the moment.

 

MA: What did the other athletes say afterwards to you? Usain Bolt came over to congratulate you, but what about your main rivals, Kirani James and LaSawn Merritt?

WvN:There was a lot of respect shown amongst us, and I have always shown respect to the guys I have competed against, because they portray a positive image for track and field. Actually, it’s still something that I have to remind myself about, that this is my reality, because I never thought I would make it this far, so I’m really just using this opportunity, and not letting it slip, building myself as an athlete and using every single door willing to open for me.

 

MA: Last year, you ran a sub-10 for 100m, sub-20 for 200m and sub-44 for 400, becoming the first athlete ever to achieve that. The question now is, will the 400m stay your focus?

WvN:I actually love the 100 and 200 way more than the 400, but the 400 is my God-given blessing, and I’m not going to let it waste. So this year I am going to spend some more time on the 100 and 200, to work on my speed and because I love to play around in the short sprints, and I think I will compete seriously in the 200, but I will need to put the times on paper before I can get the races. But I still have work to do in the 400m, and that will remain the focus.

 

MA: That raises the question, do you think you can ‘Double’ in the 200 and 400 at the World Champs in London later this year?

WvN:That’s the plan… I have already decided I want to double up at World Champs, but for now I am just taking it one step at a time. As you have seen, I love the 100 and 200 as well as the 400, so wherever I place my focus, I will invest in it and see where it goes.